In GFII, which do you think was better overall, Young Vitos story or Mikes story? Take into consideration everything acting, scenery etc.

I love Deniro's performance as young Vito. I chose him because we get the full force of why Vito became who he was. It was close, but I think Deniro has the edge here.

I too preferred Vito's story, too me pacino and de niro were equal on performance, but it might jus be me but i felt tha michael's story was a bit hard to grasp at some stages and i had to watch it over again to understand it properely.
Might jus b me though!

Good question Johnny O. My first impulse was to go with Young Vito. I just loved the whole story. It was so authentic, beautifully acted and really touched a chord with the way things "were" during that era. Then I think about Michael's story, and that too was so intense and beautifully acted. Bottom line, I picked toss-up, cause I can't really decide. With Pacino/DeNiro the leads in each of their eras, and considering both are the two best actors around, made the choice even harder.


TIS

This was tough call as I think both are fantastic. But I gave the nod to Young Vito's Story. One reason is due to Robert DeNiro's acting he was awesome as young Vito. I'm not taking anything away from Al Pacino cause he was damn good as well.

They're both different, Vito is building up the Family, he marries Carmella he becomes a father, while when Michael is the Don you see the Family crumbling down, and Michael is just becoming a zombie, losing Kay and Anthony and Mary. They're basicly the opposite, that makes it so tough to pick a favorite. And, it makes it even tougher when the two greatest actors of all time both are in the same picture, so I picked the toss-up.

The Story of Michael Corleone's cunning rise to power are the best goddamn moments in scenematic history...His lust for power...his rise to power and moral downfall...pacino's performance is mesmerizing...

Very astute observation! Though they were both dons, and father and son, they were really completely opposite. Mike was formally educated, his father not, and as you pointed out, Vito built up the family, and Mike destroyed it. Vito did it out of survival,and Mike did it out of greed.

Both stories grasped my attention greatly. I enjoy the destruction of the tale of Michael Corleone and Al Pacino's performance. However I like Vito's story more. Robert DeNiro was more charismatic as the young Vito Corleone and they captured the atmosphere of the time period more than any other film could.