The Godfather and its first sequel are each considered classics, however there’s all the time been a debate over which of the 2 is superior. Whereas each are sometimes listed among the many greatest motion pictures of all time, they every have their very own strengths and focuses, which implies that audiences could make up their very own minds about which one they like.
The Godfather nonetheless holds up at present, as does Half II. Though the third film, launched 16 years later, has by no means been as widespread, it did not injury the stainless legacy of the unique two motion pictures. Regardless of their clear variations, there could by no means be a winner within the ongoing debate over The Godfather and The Godfather Half II.
10
Half I – Marlon Brando’s Oscar-Profitable Efficiency Has Gone Down In Historical past
The Godfather Is Arguably Brando’s Best Hour
Marlon Brando was already a Hollywood legend by the point he signed on to make The Godfather, however his efficiency as Vito Corleone is arguably his biggest and most iconic. He brings a potent mixture of menace and sincerity to the position, with a touch that there is way more happening behind his eyes than he likes to let on.
Regardless of his restricted display time, Brando gained the Oscar for Greatest Actor.
The solid of The Godfather is stacked with appearing greats, however solely the primary film has Brando’s efficiency as Corleone. Regardless of his restricted display time, Brando gained the Oscar for Greatest Actor. By way of affect, it is laborious to argue in opposition to this choice. His shadow looms massive over the remaining two Godfather movies.
9
Half II – Robert De Niro Shines As A Younger Vito
Not Many Actors Might Have Adopted Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando left some large sneakers to fill, however Robert De Niro delivers an outstanding efficiency as a youthful model of Vito Corleone in The Godfather Half II. He maintains a variety of Brando’s mannerisms as Vito, resembling his languid voice and his deliberate actions, whereas bringing his distinctive type to the character.
With out Brando or James Caan, The Godfather Half II may simply have lacked the type of innate star energy that runs all through the primary film. Whereas a number of different actors step up, De Niro’s efficiency can also be key, and he retains the flashback sequences simply as fascinating as Michael’s story.
8
Half I – The First Film Has Extra Iconic Moments
Most Of The Godfather’s Most Memorable Scenes And Quotes Come From The Authentic
The primary Godfather film has the vast majority of the franchise’s most iconic moments and quotes, maybe as a result of it is not burdened with the load of continuous a narrative. Most of the greatest quotes from The Godfather come from the primary film, with Brando claiming a number of along with his distinct voice as Vito.
Associated
10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching The Godfather 52 Years Later
The Godfather is undoubtedly one of many biggest motion pictures of all time, however this doesn’t meant that it must be completely proof against criticism.
Francis Ford Coppola’s route nonetheless supplies highlights in Half II, however it is the primary film that has the horse’s head within the mattress, Vito’s introduction at his daughter’s marriage ceremony, the baptism sequence on the finish, Sonny’s dying and extra. Though Half II is longer, it would not squeeze in fairly as many jaw-dropping moments.
7
Half II – Half II Presents A Gritter View Of Organized Crime
The Second Film Corrects One Of The Frequent Criticisms Aimed At The Godfather
Though The Godfather was met with glowing critiques when it was first launched, some critics accused it of glorifying the mafia. A whole lot of the Corleone household’s grizzly work takes place off-screen, and there is a variety of ambiguity over how precisely they make their cash at occasions.
The Godfather Half II has a bit extra of an edge in the best way that it portrays organized crime. In each Michael’s story and Vito’s rise to energy, there’s extra violence, betrayal and sleazy political dealing. Whereas the primary film typically resembles a darkly absurd household drama, Half II peels again the curtain a bit of extra.
6
Half I – Half I Tells A Completely Contained Story
Half II Requires Some Backstory To Actually Take pleasure in
Though The Godfather Half II is a superb movie, somebody may get loads out of watching simply the primary film. The Godfather tells an entire, self-contained story that does not instantly arrange a sequel. It follows Michael’s journey from wanting nothing to do with the household enterprise to turning into the brand new Don Corleone after his father’s dying.
Half II is among the greatest sequels ever made, but it surely nonetheless depends on the primary film in the identical method that every one sequels do. Which means for a newcomer to take pleasure in Half II, in addition they want to sit down by way of the primary film. This is not essentially a disadvantage, however The Godfather could be appreciated by most individuals on a primary watch with none additional context, making it extra accessible.
5
Half II – Half II Contrasts Michael’s Story With Vito’s Rise To Energy
Michael And Vito’s Tales Play Out Concurrently
It is typically mentioned that watching The Godfather Half II may give somebody a deeper appreciation of the primary movie, principally becuase the inclusion of Vito’s rise to energy supplies the proper mirror to Michael’s story within the first film. The similarities and variations between the 2 males create a captivating character research.
|
How Completely different Overview Aggregation Web sites Rank The Godfather Films |
||
|
Web site |
The Godfather (1972) |
The Godfather Half II (1974) |
|
Rotten Tomatoes |
97% |
96% |
|
Rotten Tomatoes (Viewers Rating) |
98% |
97% |
|
IMDb |
9.2 |
9.0 |
|
Metacritic |
100 |
90 |
|
Display Rant |
9.3 |
9.0 |
In Half II, Vito’s rise to energy is proven alongside Michael’s fall from grace. Though Michael ends Half II by tightening his grip on energy, he does so on the expense of his private relationships. Vito would by no means kill his personal brother and destroy his marriage, as a result of household is what motivates him to do the violent and determined issues he does. This distinction is much less pronounced within the first film.
4
Half I – The Authentic Has A Extra Unpredictable Narrative
Half II Is A Little Simpler To Anticipate
The Godfather is the type of uncommon drama movie that’s genuinely laborious to foretell from starting to finish. There isn’t any certainty that Michael will assume Vito’s place, or that all the narrative is not a narrative of the Corleone household’s downfall. There are additionally some surprising moments, like Vito’s capturing and Apollonia’s sudden dying.
Whereas Half II additionally maintains a variety of this unpredictability, the actual fact that it is a sequel implies that it is a bit of simpler to suss out the broad strokes of the narrative. In fact, the flashbacks to Vito’s story are additionally extra predictable, even when the specifics are fascinating.
3
Half II – Fredo Is Extra Attention-grabbing In Half II
John Cazale Takes On A Larger Function
The Godfather was John Cazale’s first film, and it kicked off a flawless run of 5 consecutive Greatest Image nominees for the actor. Though his profession was sadly lower brief when he died on the age of 42, his performances within the Godfather motion pictures survive as testaments to his abilities as an actor. Whereas Fredo is a comparatively minor character within the first film, he comes into his personal in The Godfather Half II.
With Sonny and Vito gone, the connection between Michael and Fredo takes on an entire new which means. Fredo feels as if he is been handed over, and he finally conspires in opposition to Michael and the remainder of the household. Fredo is not the one character with extra significance in Half II, since Kay additionally takes on a brand new layer of complexity.
2
Half I – Half I Ends With A Flawless Ultimate Shot
The Ending Wraps Up A Excellent Movie
The Godfather saves one in every of its strongest moments for the very finish, and it ensures that the picture of Kay being separated from Michael lingers within the thoughts. The ending of The Godfather solidifies Michael’s transition right into a brutal Mafia chief, as he lies to each Connie and Kay about ordering the dying of Connie’s husband.
Associated
The Godfather Half II Ending Defined: What The Film’s Ultimate Shot Means
The ultimate shot of The Godfather: Half II underscores the tragic value of Michael’s rise to energy and compares him on to his father.
The Godfather Half II additionally has a memorable ending, particularly because it makes use of a flashback to distinction Michael’s reign as Don with life earlier than the occasions of the primary movie. Nonetheless, it is laborious to duplicate the symbolic energy of the ultimate shot within the first film, which neatly ties up all the sprawling narrative.
1
Half II – The Sequel Expands Its Scope
Half II Has Broader Considerations Than The Authentic
The primary line of The Godfather units out Francis Ford Coppola’s notion that the movie is an examination of America, but it surely’s not till Half II that this concept actually comes into focus. The sequel has a extra bold scope than the unique, utilizing the parallel tales of Vito and Michael to reveal some darkish truths about America.
The Godfather Half II accesses some broader common truths in regards to the human expertise.
In addition to specializing in the political and the historic parts of the narrative, The Godfather Half II accesses some broader common truths in regards to the human expertise. There are particulars of Michael’s story which appear to be lifted instantly from the Bible or the historical past of the Roman Empire, giving the story an epic high quality that eclipses the primary film.
