The Godfather Part II
Summary
The ending ofThe Godfather : Part IIis a powerfully tragic one , with the final snapshot of the picture underscoring the film ’s stem . The follow - up to 1972’sThe Godfather , the film charts the wage hike of Vito Corleone after he moved to America and became a crook . His ascent to magnate is contrasted with his Word Michael ’s sweat X afterward to keep their criminal empire . The Godfather : Part IIis both a sequel and prequel , foreground the cost of these paths , particularly as Michael deals with friction between him and his loved ones .
While Kay and Michael ’s struggle is steeped in personal drama , it ’s Michael ’s actions toward Fredo that are the biggest reverse to the kinsperson . That subplot builds to the tragical stopping point of the film , which seesMichael jubilant in his goals but dead throw off by his victory . peculiarly when contrast against the flashbacks to the earlier twenty-four hour period of the Corleone kinsfolk , the ending ofThe Godfather : Part IIhighlights the key moral theme of the film andevery motion picture in theThe Godfatherseries .
The Godfather Saga has evolved into a cultural & artistic milepost over time . Here ’s every picture show ( & remaking ) in the trilogy ranked from worst to best .
The Meaning Behind The Godfather: Part II’s Final Shot
An Isolated Michael Corleone Must Reckon With The Choices That Splintered His Family
The last shot ofThe Godfather : Part IIshows Michael Corleone alone and isolated from those around him , underscoring the cost of his determination as the head of the Corleone crime family . The Godfather : Part IIis split into two parts , revealing the origins of Vito ’s criminal empire and his unseasoned son ’s efforts decennium later to maintain control of the organization . The finish of the moving picture directly contrasts the radioactive dust of their crusade . Whereas a flashback expose a bickering but ultimately united Corleone family under Vito ’s watch , Michael ’s story ends with him rightfully alone .
In this bit , Michael reckons with the weightiness of his recent actions — including orderingthe expiry of his brother Fredo . After the passing of their mother Carmela ( who had discourage Michael that he could n’t give to miss any more family members),Michael ’s decision to wipe out his buddy in the concluding stretch ofThe Godfather : Part IIhighlights the inhumaneness Michael has embraced , ironically for the " rice beer " of his family . This is reflected in the final shot of a reflective and contemplative Michael model alone , reflecting on his choices and the encroachment of his actions .
Why Michael Killed Fredo In The Godfather: Part II?
Michael Couldn’t Look Past Fredo’s Betrayal
InThe Godfather : Part II , Fredo unknowingly discover to his buddy that he has been working with rival crime boss Hyman Roth — which puts Fredo ’s life in serious hazard . During a opposition , Fredo reveal he betray Michael out of jealousy . Fredo was frustrated and bitter by Vito ’s decision to miss him and name Michael as their new leader . This plays into Fredo ’s insecurities about how he ’s perceived by the family . Although Fredo and their sister Connie beg Michael to forgive him , Michael in the end elects to have Fredo assassinated while on a sportfishing trip .
This moment is specifically juxtaposed alongside the murder of Roth and the death of Michael ’s former friend Frank Pentangeli . This contrasts them directly to the slaughter of the Corelone ’s enemy during the ending ofThe Godfather . Both case sequester Michael from his loved ones , even while aver his mogul . However , the dying of Fredo understandably pay heed over Michael differentlythan the other killings he ’d put , coiffe up a brief flashback to a all-important night for the house year prior .
The uncommon sequel that outstrip the original , The Godfather Part 2 is a classic — but why did director Francis Ford Coppola also give rise the film ?
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What Is The Purpose Of The Final Flashback In The Godfather: Part II?
Vito & Michael’s Power Grabs Had Different Impacts On Their Family
The flashback at the end ofThe Godfather : Part IIadds tragical layers to Michael ’s descent into overt villainy . The chronological sequence is dress in 1941 , year before the events ofThe Godfather , and sees the sept gather to fete an unobserved Vito ’s birthday . To the surprise of his sibling , Michael announce he ’s dropping out of college to enlist to fight down in World War II . Notably , Fredo is the only one of his sib to support this decision , highlighting how exit the pair used to be and how Fredo used to support his " kid brother " before betraying him years later .
The succession ends with the family leaving to join Vito , leaving Michael alone . This sense of isolation from his kinsperson , due to his choices , clearly weighs on Michael . It becomes worse over a decade later , as an older and harsher Michael reflects on how he ’s become even more detached . While Vito ’s feat never cost him his family , Michael is estranged from his wife , actively betrays his sister ’s self-confidence , and murders his brother . Vito ’s efforts transform him into a monstrous crime boss , but his family was safe and happy . Michael has no such solace , all because of his own choices .
How Vito’s Story Makes Michael’s The Godfather: Part II Ending Sadder
Vito’s Successes Make Michael’s Choices More Horrifying & Tragic
At the centre of both Vito and Michael ’s choices inThe Godfather : Part IIis an press out desire to protect their families . While Vito may have been a harsh grampus in his young person and rose to a side of office thanks to his willingness to commit terrible acts , his efforts to protect and elevate his family were ultimately successful . His birthday celebration is treated joyfully by his wife and nestling , with Michael expressly called out for enlisting because of how it messes with the kin ’s hope for him . In the oddment , Vito ’s story is bittersweet and violent , but ultimately well-chosen .
This contrast straightaway with the last snap ofThe Godfather : Part II , revealingMichael is rightfully alone . Michael ’s efforts have enrich the Corleone family but have divided them more than ever . Whereas Vito ’s report stop with his family emotional to see him , Michael ’s ends with family members dead at his ordination or furious with his choices . This carries over intoThe Godfather : Part III , which build up off the ending of the second film and finish Michael ’s tragical electric arc by further wiping off his loved unity and leaving him rightfully alone .
The Real Meaning Of The Godfather: Part II’s Ending
The Cost Of Power Is Too High For Any Good Man To Claim
At the core ofThe Godfather : Part IIisthe ruination of Michael ’s hopes to be a good man than his father . Vito may have done terrible things , but it was always in the name of category . This led to many felicitous year while he was Don Corleone , with a family that screw him . While the wealthiness and power that provided the house surface - degree security and joy persist , Michael ’s efforts to eliminate his enemy have be him that same family he and his father alike once strove to make lawful .
In this way , Michael has become more muscular than Vito , but betrayed his ambitions . Both men wanted the family to hug a path toward nobility , andMichael ’s ruthless overture cost him everything they really want . The flick ends with Michael winning but broken , a lonely man in an empire of his own qualification . The real meaning ofThe Godfather : Part II’sending spotlight the cost of tycoon is too slap-up when it comes at the disbursement of family and humanity , leaving the once lonely noble Corleone as the most evil of them all .
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Cast
Francis Ford Coppola ’s The Godfather II stay Michael Corleone ’s story as he amplify the Corleones ' presence as a crime syndicate . The film is also half devoted to the backstory of Vito Corleone , following his acclivity to power in 1920s New York City . While The Godfather is consider one of the majuscule picture show ever made , The Godfather Part II was able to survive up to the original and secure six Oscars at the 1975 Academy Awards .
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather II continues Michael Corleone’s story as he expands the Corleones' presence as a crime syndicate. The film is also half devoted to the backstory of Vito Corleone, following his rise to power in 1920s New York City. While The Godfather is considered one of the greatest movies ever made, The Godfather Part II was able to live up to the original and secure six Oscars at the 1975 Academy Awards.
