Part II is very good. Part III was redikerus.
Part 3 was as horrible as Parts 1 and 2 were outstanding. Of course part 3 was re-written at the last second as Duvall refused to participate because he was terribly low-balled on salary.
Part 3 could have been the best. It focused on Duvall’s character Tom Haden who was murdered in the proposed movie. Three parts, three brothers murdered, each in their own episode.
In the end, there was only Michael living, the one who wanted nothing to do with the family business.
Part 3 was as horrible as Parts 1 and 2 were outstanding. Of course part 3 was re-written at the last second as Duvall refused to participate because he was terribly low-balled on salary.
Part 3 could have been the best. It focused on Duvall’s character Tom Haden who was murdered in the proposed movie. Three parts, three brothers murdered, each in their own episode.
In the end, there was only Michael living, the one who wanted nothing to do with the family business.
Part 2 is the only DeNiro role worth watching, IMHO.
Part 3 would have been wonderful if Pacino's ego hadn't contributed to his overacting in 3. He received such acclaim for Parts 1 and 2 in the 16-year interval between 2 and 3 and became so rich and famous, that he forgot how tightly-controlled Michael's original character had been.
The story line of 3 was very prescient, seeming to see the future about the Vatican banking scandal and the suspicious death of a pope. And the scenery and music were beautiful.
I think the long break between 2 and 3 contributed to the perception that it was not as good, because without a deep refresher course in the first two, the third was harder to understand.