Godfather 1 or Godfather 2?

[Teasing the Korean]

Just watched both of these back to back, first time in decades.

[Aggie87]

Can't pick one over the other. II is the best sequel that's ever been made, IMO.

[JSngry]

Two, but just by a teence, and fully stipulating that with out the original, the sequel would never have been conceived/made.

[Dave James]

Tough call, but I've gotta go with the original. More Brando and more Sonny make it the winner by a nose. This may sound weird, but the first one is way more "up" than the second. Godfather II is one of the darkest movies I've ever seen. The closing shot in II with Michael sitting by himself on the lawn of the Vegas compound is one of the very bleakest I can recall. Not a word is said, but volumes are spoken.

[Shawn]

Both films are highly entertaining, but I voted for The Godfather.

Not sure about "best sequel", I'd probably pick Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan for best overall sequel.

[thedwork]

i voted both equally, but boy it's been a long time since i've seen 'em. i'll have to watch 'em again soon.

personally, my favorite mob movie is easily GoodFellas.

Both films are highly entertaining, but I voted for The Godfather.

Not sure about "best sequel", I'd probably pick Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan for best overall sequel.

my favorite sequel, so far, is Before Sunset

Edited August 8, 2011 by thedwork

[Stereojack]

I tend to look upon the two films as one unit - the ongoing story of the Corleone family, presented in two parts. Years ago, the films were resequenced in chronological order for a network showing, and they also worked well that way.

The less said about Godfather III, the better.

[T.D.]

I've seen 'em both lots of times (annual cable TV "Godfather" marathons), to the point where I've gotten a bit sick of Mafia flicks.

I like II a lot more, but it's just personal taste and the original is certainly excellent. I guess I find the sequel much more wide-ranging and sweeping, with Michael's life following a sort of tragic trajectory. The original may be stronger photographically, but it seems more a straightforward narrative (especially since I read the book before the film was made) and less complex.

[Added] Though I prefer the sequel, I want to stress that the original is a classic film. IMO the "Sicilian Vespers" sequence, where Michael's godson's baptism is overlaid with rubouts of all Michael's rivals ("Michael Corleone, do you renounce Satan?") is one of the greatest in cinema.

Edited August 9, 2011 by T.D.

[kinuta]

I look on them as one film. 2 is stylistically different and wider in scope but I find it hard to pick one as a favourite.

The Godfather Saga was very interesting. Both parts were edited together including all the additional footage. I actually had a VHS copy of the Saga but somehow lost it.

[Harold_Z]

Godfather One by a nose. That whole thing about family love that draws Michael in resonates with me. GF two is darker and still a great flick. GF3 "we don't talk about."

[Teasing the Korean]

Thanks all for the replies. I never read the novel; Were the contents of the two films both covered in the one novel?

[Harold_Z]

Yes...and as great as the films were read the novel.

[paul secor]

My wife is a Godfather afficianado - at least 1 & 2. She can even quote dialogue as the films are playing. She says she definitely prefers Godfather 2.

I'm not into mob films, so I have no opinion. I'll cast my vote for her choice.

Edited August 9, 2011 by paul secor

[B. Goren.]

G1 got my vote.

[Teasing the Korean]

Yes...and as great as the films were read the novel.

SPOILER ALERT:

I just finished the novel. I was surprised that a lot of the plot/content around Michael in Godfather II was not in the novel at all (Roth, Miami, Fredo's murder, etc). Was much of that story written specifically for the film?