Click here to go back to main movie index
The Godfather Part 2
Studio executives summary / pitch
Everyone doomed to die in pool of blood happily every after.
Short plot summary

Al Pacino plays Michael, the head of a Mafia family in decline. How to make friends and influence people Italian-American Mafia style. Feeling of decline in the air, not as depressing as first outing.

What our panel of critics thought

"By the time the credit's rolled, my ass was as numb as if Michael had smacked me in the butt for the whole of the three hours. Fantastic."

"Better fun than the first one."

"Lots better than the first one."

"Not better than the first one, just longer."

"If you shot someone in a boat that size you would be pushed backwards and would fall into the water clumsily, arms flailing all about, you probably would shout 'oh shit!'. A classic comedy moment missed once more by Coppola, who has proved again that he is too interested in building up the drama than going for some well needed comic relief. Such a pity."

"It's over 3 hours long, my ass was as numb as when I saw Lawrence of Arabia without an intermission. "

"A movie buff's / movie student's wet dream. Every possible device used on the screen. From cutting a cake as a metaphor for cutting up an old boy's empire, to cut backs in time to Don Corleone as young man. It has everything including a wheel barrow with vegetables in it."

"Still not legit after seven years, come on Michael you're not trying lad."

"I was worried about Frank dying. He looks like an actor who could have over acted. Thank goodness Coppola had the foresight to have him killed off screen. His final scene was a blood and bath tub triumph!"

"Could the bit where Vito Corleone cuts the Don who killed his mother actually happen? No wonder De Niro is the actor he is, to pull off a stunt like that. And such forearm strength too."

"Did I make a mistake or was someone murdered with a clothes hanger? Well done, I doubt any old plastic one would have worked - do they have special clothes hangers in guns and ammo shops nowadays? This could revolutionize the clothes hanger murder industry. Would a police officer ever arrest you with a clothes hanger? I doubt it very much mister. Check it out."

"Bad luck to the nurse who was persuaded to go have a Champaign drinkie for New Year and therefore allowed her charge to be smothered with a pillow. Was she sacked? I certainly hope so, the incompetent tramp."

"I do hope that lovely nurse was not sacked after she left her patient to go have a lovely drinkie. It was New Year after all, and her patient was very old. In any case, when they shot the attacker it could have shocked the old guy to death anyway."

"The comeuppance of that Senator was such a shame, he seemed like a nice boy with lots of spunk."

"Beats the crap out of any other movie", Nancy Regan's plumber.

Please tell me the ending (or tell me the whole plot if necessary)

The story of Michael Corleone, head of gangster family at wrong time in history. He fails to deliver on promise to wife to go legit in 5 years.

Wife has an abortion after making out she miscarried after failed attempt on life in bed after the drapes were opened while she slept.

On hearing of abortion Michael goes bazerka-mental.

He also finds out his older brother, sweet-Freido, betrayed him. Gets him killed, but only after their mother dies first.

Cross cuts repeatedly throughout movie to Vito (later to be Don) Corleone (Robert De Niro) as young man with new family which skillfully fills in background to how Michael ended up in current predicament.

Michael appears to go evil-eyedly berserk at end, many murders occur. No toilet scenes with possibility of dick in hand this time though. (see Godfather1)

Quotable quotes (real)

"Michael, why are the drapes open?" Pnnnn pfnntt eee eee ttt eeee.... etc

What snack should I eat while watching this movie?

As this is a much less violent movie than the first one, we suggest stale bread with out of date Italian cow-cheeses. It will give you the authentic taste of depression era Italy, and would be good for your Colon-eone.

If I were to watch this on video/DVD how best should I sit?

You may like to sit with both feet over your shoulders. If you are not a contortionist, slump semi-horizontally like the ancient Greek Emperor's did in the position of about to be handed a grape in mouth.

You may wish to have a couple of breaks during this movie as some viewers have been aflicted by a mild form of gangrene (or the less dangerous deep vein thrombosis) as their circulatory system breaks down. In Godfather 1 you had a number of surprising shooty moments to kick your heart off again if it falls to sleep; in this movie if you make it past the drapes scene, most shootings are well telegraphed.

If a character from this film were to be invited onto Jerry Springer how would the show be subtitled?

My younger gangsta bro keeps gettin pissy at me. WhatAmIgonnaDoAbatIt?

How funny is this film?

The 'why are the drapes open' part is funny. They must have been opened by someone as Keane's character must have drawn them before she fell to sleep or else she wouldn't have had to make the remark. Does she snore really loud? We are never told, but this is the only explanation as to why she didn't hear someone coming into her bedroom before pulling back the drapes.

There is little other humor in this movie, and nothing approaching the 'dick in hand' bit in Godfather1 (and the obvious playing for gags pro-wrestling scene on the streets).

If you listen closely during the part when Michael goes to talk to Freido and Freido is slumped splodge-like in a chair, a very quiet fart can be heard. Only for movie aficionados this one (be careful to turn the sound down quickly after hearing the botty-wind or your goldfish could be battered to death by the sound waves of Micheal's next words).

On screen bloopers left in? (including continuity errors)

Dianne Keaton is a well known giggler and on set prankster. In the emotional shouting scene, in which she tells Michael she had an abortion, not a miscarriage, both actors were completely inconsolable with mirth for most of the shoot as they kept hitting each other over the head with balloon animals. As you concentrate on the marvelous emotional performance take a look at Keaton's front belly - she quickly stuffed a balloon cow down there after Coppola shouted action all of a sudden.

The emotional scene in which Keaton's character says good-bye to her children before seeing 'evil eyes' Michael: In the original version of the story Pacino's appearance was enhanced by a set of comedy mustache and glasses with bouncy eyes on springs - in some versions of the print this has not been removed.

Would the scary bits make your cat jump out of your lap causing scratch marks?

Voted best film by the Cat Movie Association. You will have no problem with cats watching this film. They are likely to try to bring to the picture a nice juicy rat or mouse to chew to. They will purr with great satisfaction throughout.

Other comments

Much better than the first film, just as brutal but no machine guns at the toll booth which was one of our major objections to the Godfather Part 1. Not half as depressing either. Good to see a baddie cut down in size (even though he was only 5ft 6 in the first place). Can't wait for the third film in the series (only another 14 years to go).

Search This Site (Google) Please send a link to our movie main page to tell a friend about us by clicking here. Got a comment? We will print your best comments. Please email editor@thevoiceofreason.com (c) theVoiceofReason.com