66. The Godfather Part II (1974)
Probably one the best (if not the best) sequels in film history, this movie is a phenomenal follow-up to its 1972 predecessor. This movie, at times, doesn't even feel like a sequel. It feels like it can stand on its own, as most sequels should (but often don't). Half of it, because of its focus on the younger Don Vito Coreleone (played marvelously to Oscar-winning effect by Robert De Niro), feels like a prequel. Its the juxtaposition between young Vito's story and Michael Coreleone (played once again to perfection by Al Pacino) that drives this film so well. Plus the movie also has several iconic moments that define The Gofather series: the First Communion sequence (in Vegas!), Michael's hearing and teastimony, young Vito's first ordered hit (the running across the rooftops is still my dad's favorite scene!) and, of course, what I call "The Fredo Kiss," when Michael discovers it is his brother, Fredo, who betrayed him (like The Judas Kiss). The cast, in addition to Pacino and De Niro (two of the best actors of their era), is also just as brilliant including Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Lee Strasberg and Michael V. Gazzo. This film is so good! In fact, there are some (my father is one of them, I am not) who believe this film is better than its predecessor (but I'll talk about that one later in the countdown!).
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