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The Second Part of This Exquisite Feast
northcoastSTAFFMOD 发布于 2023 年 02 月 24 日 9:24上午
As I slowly continue on through the cinematic Opera of the Godfather films (notice I didn't say "movies") . . .
Here we have The Godfather Part II --
As with the first, this is a work which I simply cannot watch over and over; with many of my favorite films, I may have seen them dozens of times, perhaps even a 100 times or more over my lifetime; but, The Godfather Part II is just too rich, too exquisite; last evening I saw it again, perhaps only for the sixth or seventh time . . . I simply must just prepare myself for this masterly work . . . I used to only ever watch this when it was rereleased in a theater, as a film like this deserves, but with the decline of "old" movies being given such wide rereleases (I do not live in a large metropolitan area), I must content myself with a Blu-Ray box set released by Paramount last year . . .
While not as good as The Godfather (1972), this second installment (1974) comes damn close; being made and released so near the original, with all of the original actors still alive and willing to take on another project certainly must've helped. Not many sequels can boast of such success, but a few come to mind (some of these have been said to be better than their predecessors):
The Empire Strikes Back
Rocky II
Mad Max II/The Road Warrior(1981)
Blade Runner 2049
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Friday the 13th Part II (1981)
But none of those match the pure, lustrous art that is The Godfather Part II.
There are flaws, of course, if few:
The oft-mentioned "Missing Marlon" of the birthday scene, which, had Mr. Brando agreed to a brief cameo, would've made Part II near perfect; but, the filmmakers did try, but Brando just would not agree to return. A shame. But, showing the prowess of Coppola, that birthday party sequence was filmed about as excellently and skillfully as it could have been without him. Not many directors could've pulled such a feat off (though surely this was made easier by the fact that the scene had more to do with Michael and Fredo, than with Vito Corleone).
A remarkable scene was that between Kay and Michael, when she tells him of her abortion. An excellent while simultaneously difficult scene to watch, we feel for Michael upon hearing of his second son being taken from him, while also feeling Kay's sense of entrapment, and Michael's brutality (a mirror, in a way, of the wife-beating scenes of Connie in the first Godfather. So difficult to watch).
Next up:
The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone. A reworking of The Godfather Part III, a film which everyone loves to hate, but one which I myself found not so bad, if not great. I look forward to seeing if Mr. Coppola's reediting has made that installment any better. I plan on watching it sometime this coming March, at which time I will post my thoughts, thus closing out this masterful saga.
bratface 的回复
于 2023 年 02 月 24 日 4:43下午
I've had I & II (the Copolla restorations) for a long time & bought the BR of Coda last year, (I still have the first two on VHS in a box). I've been meaning to watch all three in a marathon but keep putting it off (don't know why, as the first two are at 1 & 2 on my top twenty list of films). Maybe I'll give them a go tomorrow?
I'm glad you agree with me that Part II isn't better than Part I, we are in the minority though.
northcoast 的回复
于 2023 年 02 月 24 日 4:56下午
Good on you, bratface, if you can actually get through approximately nine hours of film (!) in one day.
Once upon a time I could do it, but no more-- and I know I am younger than you, so I admire your stamina!
I was able to watch The Godfather in one sitting for the post I wrote about that film, but Part II took me a couple of nights (maybe even three?)-- not because it was boring (far from it!), but simply because sometimes I've got it, and other times, I don't, and need a break between sections of a film that long! I do better when I am a "captive audience" in a theater, rather than when viewing at home.
I do look forward to what you think of Coda. Happy viewing!
bratface 的回复
于 2023 年 02 月 24 日 6:45下午
Thanks. Here's hoping I can get through all three. I have nowhere to be, so I have the time. I'm heading to the store to stock up on some wine, maybe make some 'peppers & sausage' with a marinara sauce, etc.? 🍝
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP4hzWFeHbI
I hate going to a movie theater although there have been a few movies that I think should be viewed on the big screen first, Bond movies, etc., & then I will wait until it's been out a while, I usually go on a Wednesday in the late afternoon when there aren't many people but the downside of having fewer people is the sound is so loud because of fewer people to absorb the sound. I have had the experience of seeing the first two in a theater when they were first released (I saw part one 10 times in the theater, and many more times on the TV screen, probably close to 100), I have only seen part three (original) at home.
tmdb53400018 的回复
于 2023 年 02 月 28 日 6:35上午
What's your take on Godfather III?
northcoast 的回复
于 2023 年 03 月 01 日 3:57上午
Hi, Celluloid Fan, I don't know if your query was for me, but if so--
I will be sharing my thoughts on The Godfather Part III, or, more specifically, Coppola's "Coda" re-edit, on that film's designated board; however, that probably won't be until mid- or late-March, as I have not viewed it yet.
tmdb53400018 的回复
于 2023 年 03 月 01 日 9:20上午
north: it was for you. Oopsie. Thanks. I will be looking out for that post.
genplant29 的回复
于 2023 年 03 月 01 日 12:26下午
@bratface, as we're not far apart in age and both remember TV presentations of decades back, remember the TV edit of the early '80s or so, that combined the content of I and II, putting all the scenes in proper chronological order, therefore II's scenes went before I's? I really liked the overall story presented that way. I believe it was perhaps gone about as Don Corleone looking back.
At any rate, I've always been a huge fan of I and II, though far less so of III.
I own the DVDs of I, II, and III and need to get around to watching them one of these months.
bratface 的回复
于 2023 年 03 月 01 日 1:34下午
Coppola actually made three compilations for TV: Saga, Epic, & Trilogy. I would love to see all three (have only seen Saga years ago) but sadly NONE are available on DVD!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather_Saga
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather_Saga#Additional_scenes
genplant29 的回复
于 2023 年 03 月 01 日 2:11下午
If I'm not mistaken, a few years back I saw, on Amazon, that the combined version I mentioned has a DVDs release. Decades back, that version aired on network TV, in primetime, multiple times, then aired on local stations, in syndication, for five or so years.
My apologies for going somewhat OT, north...tho at the same time I was kinda on-topic. 😉
bratface 的回复
于 2023 年 03 月 01 日 2:21下午
Yes, Saga was released on VHS & Laser Disc but never on DVD. It is also really hard to find the VHS or Laser Disc versions.