Movie #286 - Hudson Hawk

Hudson Hawk
1991 - Rated R - 1 hr 50 min
Director: Michael Lehmann
Starring: Bruce Willis, Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowell, James Coburn, Richard E. Grant, Sandra Bernhard, David Caruso, Frank Stallone

This movie is so early 90s, it's ridiculous.  It's campy, the comedy is kinda forced, and the characters are more like caricatures.  Bruce Willis isn't really so great as the goofy hero... and Andy MacDowell's dolphin bit just isn't funny.

Can you tell I don't really like this one?  It's not that I'm a snob, I just like my comedies to be a little more witty. A little less cheesy.  Mike loves this one, probably because he originally saw it when he was about 10, and I just can't get behind it.  If you have your first watch of this as an adult, you probably won't love it either.

Movie #232 - The Godfather: Part II

The Godfather: Part II
1974 - Rated R - 3 hr 20 min
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, Talia Shire, James Caan, Abe Vigoda, Danny Aiello

I probably remember this movie of the three best, and as a sequel, it certainly stands on its own.  The only sequel to win Best Picture at the Oscars, I think.  That's saying something, for sure.

So Michael Corleone is growing into his role, while we also flashback to 1901 and thereafter to see his father grow into his own role. At first, I didn't know why the flashbacks were here, but as the story progressed (leading to Michael's ultimate blood betrayal), I could understand why we see these two stories blended together in one movie.

And it's a looooooooooooong one too!  Two discs! Still, I really enjoyed the journey. Character-driven pieces like these (when they're well done) are always a treat.  And this family provides so many characters and so many interwoven tales, that I can see why this has become an iconic trilogy.