As far as sequels go, this often gets trotted out as one of the best. Personally I prefer even PART III to PART II for not being as obtuse and slow-going. I also didn't care for the constant cutting back and forth from the more interesting 1950's Cuba / Political Corruption / Rival Gang story to the 1900's Vito Corleone origin story. It just felt like the film was a little too bloated for sake of completeness where some judicious cutting and a couple more shootouts would have helped keep things moving. Added to that, it's extremely talky with scene upon scene of Pacino meeting with people in dark rooms, trading lines and brooding stares. It's also a bit confusing with Pacino playing so many characters off each other at the start, making you wonder if he's telling anyone the truth or lying to everyone. This only becomes clear(er) with the big kiss.

That said, the film is an emotional roller coaster in a way that the other two films are not. It takes Pacino's Michael Corleone into all new realms where he is easy to root for in some scenes and easy to hate in others, yet all the while mesmerizing to watch. His relationships with his wife, his lawyer, and his brother all come off as multi-layered, complex, and somewhat relatable. For those of us who loved THE GODFATHER, which in my opinion is one of the top 5 greatest gangster films ever made, this film serves as a solid companion piece and exploration of "what happened next" without besmirching the original's legacy.

It's high on dialog and low on action and murders, so while not my favorite of the bunch I'll still certainly recommend it. Love it or hate it, this film is meticulously crafted in a way that any other sequel would dream to be. Though not quite as efficient and iconic as its predecessor, it has many moments that come close.