The French Connection II (1975)

Gene Hackman returns as hard-bitten New York cop Popeye Doyle, this time working with the resentful Marseilles police to nab the first film's heroin-dealing villain (Fernando Rey). There are some exciting moments, but the film seems to ramble unduly, especially in its long middle sequence featuring Popeye kicking a forced heroin habit. If you were a fan of the original's masterful car chase, be advised that the major chase scene in this film is done on foot, and the garbage-strewn streets of Marseilles don't quite compare for atmosphere to genuine New York grit. It's not a bad movie, and Hackman's performance is perhaps even better than his Oscar-winning turn in the original, but action fans may find it a bit too leisurely for its own good. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide