The Godfather Sequel Tells Two Stories that Lead to a Tragic Conclusion

The Godfather 2 wasn't exactly the most exciting movie for me. This movie was way too slow for me, and while I did enjoy the message it was trying to portray, I don't think I would watch this movie over and over. However, I did like how original the film was when it came to the way it was telling two stories at the same time, comparing both journeys into the Mafia world. 

We continue the story of Michael Corleone, the new Don for the family name. We get a glimpse into his new world, and already, it isn't exactly going well for him. While his family is thriving around him, he doesn't appear to be happy. He has a wife and two children, but something seems off with his character. 

Then just when things seem peaceful with his wife, he is suddenly attacked out of nowhere by an unknown assailant, while in the bedroom with his wife. He sends his men to search for the mystery attacker, and then we get sucked into the past of his father, Vito, and how he was able to rise to power in the crime world. 

Even though Vito committed evil acts to become a crime boss, he deeply loved his family.

I thought it was interesting to see how Vito became known as the Godfather. He had lost his entire family at a young age, and despite his heavy loss, he wanted to continue to live. He started fresh in a new country, raising his own family. Once he heard about an evil Don invading the neighborhood, he decides to end this threat, to protect his family. 

He continues his reign of revenge against another man who was responsible for the death of his father, and despite the evil actions he did, he always put his family first. Even his friends were important to him, and he always kept everyone by his side, no matter what. 

Compared to Michael, it's a completely different story. 

Michael has become a cold and calculated monster, who is pushing his family away. Once he hears about one of his brothers betraying him, he begins to spiral into madness, determined to kill anyone that won't be a problem for him and his family anymore. 

Once his mother passes away, he decides to kill the brother who betrayed him. It was such a tragic scene to watch, knowing that Michael is a monster, who will continue to kill anyone who stands in his way of having his family always be in control.

He never followed his father's way of looking after the family. He pushed everyone away, because he put the protection and dominance of his family first before his love for them. Watching the very ending of the film was depressing, as we get a quick flashback to how Michael was always treated among his siblings. 

Each of them had treated him a bit differently, knowing that he never wanted to be a part of the mob life. They all show their anger towards him when they realized he had thrown away a gift his father had given him, being able to go to college. He had joined the Marines, to follow his own dreams. His siblings leave him behind at the kitchen table to celebrate their father's birthday, as Michael stays behind to smoke a cigarette. 

He wanted to follow his own path, a normal life with his wife, but even he ruined his own marriage, once she saw the monster he had become. 

The film ends with Michael sitting all alone outside, his family nowhere to be seen. 

Now that is a depressing way to end a film. 

The sequel wasn't exactly my favorite film ever made, but I do love the way Michael's character was written. I think the film was intentionally made this way, to show how much Michael's character has fallen after his transformation into a monster. 

And for that, I can appreciate the sequel in its own way. 

---

Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn