THE GODFATHER PART II AT 45
“The Godfather Part II” celebrates its 45th anniversary with a solo Blu-ray release. What really needs to be said about the Godfather and its sequels at this point? This film takes the novel material excised from Film 1 and finds 2 incredible stories to tell. The study of a father and son learning how to be men and achieve success has never been so harrowing. Sure, jealousy and maladies befall them at every turn. It’s just in comparing Young Vito to Michael, we see how much difference a few decades can make.
Michael was hidden from the life, but raised in War. By giving the Army his formative years, Michael is able to apply a mechanical aptitude to street crime and raise it to new levels. The forgoing of Old World values and respect creates a new kind of gangster. Naturally, this film is about the Old World trying to find a way to stall or stop Michael’s rise to power. The betrayal of Fredo, the mishaps in Cuba and the Gaming Board problems are all tied to the new blood not towing the line.
In a way, this might be the greatest American film about the Post World War II experience. Studying the lineage of immigrants against changing business style remains groundbreaking. You can’t have a Gordon Gecko, a Boiler Room or whatever without what Michael achieves in this movie. This film is the ultimate study of Capitalism and what the economic model does to humans. Sure, Michael was threatened at every turn and could’ve been killed. But, it’s what he’s willing to do as part of personal cost analysis. That fishing boat on the lake might be one of the best visual metaphors ever captured on film. Hell, now I want to watch it again.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Commentary
A/V STATS
- 1.85:1 1080p transfer
- Dolby TrueHD 5.1
