The Godfather Trilogy Official Appreciation and Discussion thread!

[scarlet-witch]

"fine" is way too generous for Garcia. Dude was garbage.
That's nice of Keaton to go to bat for Sofia but I doubt the majority of Godfather fans will be less harsh towards her. They seem to hate anything to do with Mary (and Kay for that matter)

 

[weezerspider]

I just finished watching the new cut. I dug it a lot. Obviously it’s not up to par with the first two films, but I thought this version was quite good and the title fits the film better. It really is a coda, not the third part of a bigger story.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I just finished watching the new cut. I dug it a lot. Obviously it’s not up to par with the first two films, but I thought this version was quite good and the title fits the film better. It really is a coda, not the third part of a bigger story.

Is it better? What did he do differently? And this is someone who likes the third movie already.

 

[Schlosser85]

I already never thought the third movie was as bad as it was made out to be. It’s biggest problems (IMO) are recycling material too much and Sofia Coppola not being able to act.

 

[weezerspider]

Is it better? What did he do differently? And this is someone who likes the third movie already.

It has been a long time since I saw the original cut, but the most significant change is

Spoiler: Spoilers about how Coda is different from Part III

the film opens with Michael meeting with the archbishop about giving the Vatican $600 million. That significantly changes the pacing of the film as the first scene really gets the plot in motion, where as this scene appears like 30ish minutes in the original cut. The vast majority of that footage is gone now. This scene with the archbishop cuts straight to the ceremony after party scene, again making it a lot more streamlined and introduces Andy Garcia pretty early on. The ending gets rid of the scenes from the earlier films.

There are more smaller cuts and re-arranging throughout the film, but those where the most obvious. I haven’t seen the original version in a long time, it is possible my opinion on it would be higher on a more recent viewing but as is, I think this is a pretty big improvement.

 

[weezerspider]

I already never thought the third movie was as bad as it was made out to be. It’s biggest problems (IMO) are recycling material too much and Sofia Coppola not being able to act.

This is fixed in the new cut

 

[The Shape]

The Godfather Part III in its original form is underrated, IMO. It had an extremely tough act to follow (Part II is essentially a perfect film and is among the best -- if not the best -- sequel films ever produced), but I find it to be interesting and a somewhat fitting trilogy-capper to the story of Michael Corleone. It's biggest issue is the pacing, as it does drag and feel pretty damn boring at times, along with Sofia Coppola's performance (she was clearly miscast).

Haven't watched this new cut yet, but it sounds like it fixes a lot of the issues with the film so I'm down for it.

 

[Doctor Jones]

It has been a long time since I saw the original cut, but the most significant change is

Spoiler: Spoilers about how Coda is different from Part III

the film opens with Michael meeting with the archbishop about giving the Vatican $600 million. That significantly changes the pacing of the film as the first scene really gets the plot in motion, where as this scene appears like 30ish minutes in the original cut. The vast majority of that footage is gone now. This scene with the archbishop cuts straight to the ceremony after party scene, again making it a lot more streamlined and introduces Andy Garcia pretty early on. The ending gets rid of the scenes from the earlier films.

There are more smaller cuts and re-arranging throughout the film, but those where the most obvious. I haven’t seen the original version in a long time, it is possible my opinion on it would be higher on a more recent viewing but as is, I think this is a pretty big improvement.

Oh, that's interesting. So it kind of opens like the first movie then?

Actually I found this is playing at my theater on Thursday. I'm gonna go check this out.

 

[Broseph44]

The Godfather Part III in its original form is underrated, IMO. It had an extremely tough act to follow (Part II is essentially a perfect film and is among the best -- if not the best -- sequel films ever produced), but I find it to be interesting and a somewhat fitting trilogy-capper to the story of Michael Corleone. It's biggest issue is the pacing, as it does drag and feel pretty damn boring at times, along with Sofia Coppola's performance (she was clearly miscast).

Haven't watched this new cut yet, but it sounds like it fixes a lot of the issues with the film so I'm down for it.

Agreed on your points. And to me one of the most incredible moments of the trilogy is Michael reacting to his daughters death. Pacino just nails it, completely heartbreaking and emotional IMO.

 

[weezerspider]

The Godfather Part III in its original form is underrated, IMO. It had an extremely tough act to follow (Part II is essentially a perfect film and is among the best -- if not the best -- sequel films ever produced), but I find it to be interesting and a somewhat fitting trilogy-capper to the story of Michael Corleone. It's biggest issue is the pacing, as it does drag and feel pretty damn boring at times, along with Sofia Coppola's performance (she was clearly miscast).

Haven't watched this new cut yet, but it sounds like it fixes a lot of the issues with the film so I'm down for it.

I think the new cut improves the pacing a ton. I really don’t get Keaton’s points about it improving Sofia’s performance, but maybe she’s just more bearable because the pacing makes the film a lot more engaging? Or maybe I need to rewatch the original cut again. Maybe she is that much worse in it.

I also forgot to add, I THINK the color grade in the new cut is a bit different. It looks great. I’ll have to confirm that, though.

I think a lot of people forget that on top of having to live up to its predecessors which are arguably the two greatest films of all time, The Godfather Part III also came out the exact year as GoodFellas, which did itself no favors. Having said that, if you re-read contemporary reviews at the time, it got fairly good reviews and was up for Best Picture. It’s reputation as bad is unfair.

 

[The Shape]

Agreed on your points. And to me one of the most incredible moments of the trilogy is Michael reacting to his daughters death. Pacino just nails it, completely heartbreaking and emotional IMO.

Agreed. Loved the decision to cut the sound in that scene as Michael is screaming, with only the score playing, before the sound kicks back in and you can hear his screams. Hits me every time.

 

[Broseph44]

Agreed. Loved the decision to cut the sound in that scene as Michael is screaming, with only the score playing, before the sound kicks back in and you can hear his screams. Hits me every time.

Definitely. Excellent decision to cut the physical sounds of the scene for a moment while the score plays, chilling stuff.

 

[terry78]

The Godfather: Paramount Says a Fourth Installment Still Possible

 

[Mysteryman]

It has been a long time since I saw the original cut, but the most significant change is

Spoiler: Spoilers about how Coda is different from Part III

the film opens with Michael meeting with the archbishop about giving the Vatican $600 million. That significantly changes the pacing of the film as the first scene really gets the plot in motion, where as this scene appears like 30ish minutes in the original cut. The vast majority of that footage is gone now. This scene with the archbishop cuts straight to the ceremony after party scene, again making it a lot more streamlined and introduces Andy Garcia pretty early on. The ending gets rid of the scenes from the earlier films.

There are more smaller cuts and re-arranging throughout the film, but those where the most obvious. I haven’t seen the original version in a long time, it is possible my opinion on it would be higher on a more recent viewing but as is, I think this is a pretty big improvement.

A lot of people were killed in the finale of the original cut , is that stuff still there?

 

[cabel]

Yes

 

[Schlosser85]

Who wants one now, with Michael dead and Garcia so much older?

 

[cabel]

Not that I’m encouraging it, id rather they make a tv series and mine material from the other Godfather books.

 

[Sawyer]

I like the idea Coppola and Puzo had for a fourth, with the dual storyline of Vito during the prohibition and Vincent Mancini taking the Corleone family into the drug game before going out like Pablo Escobar. But with Puzo passed on and Coppola not involved... probably best not to try a Part IV.

 

[cabel]

I believe Puzo wrote a draft of the Vito/Sonny portion and it was adapted into the novel “The Family Corleone.”

My issue with a Part IV is that outside of Vincent and maybe Connie there would be little connection to the previous films. Michael’s dead/retired, Mary’s dead, Kay and Anthony probably distanced themselves as far from the family as possible. Hagen’s son might be around, but he was barely a character in 3.

 

[The Shape]

So I watched the new cut of Part III and really liked it. Definitely a superior version of the film in many ways.

Also, maybe I was hallucinating, but I did find Sofia Coppola’s performance to be better in this and much more tolerable.

 

[:eek:]

"Godfather" 4K Remaster Comes To Cinemas - Dark Horizons

 

[Dr.]

"Godfather" 4K Remaster Comes To Cinemas - Dark Horizons

 

[moviefreak]

I am booked in to see it on 26th, fabulous!

Been a long time since I last saw it in the cinema. I missed seeing the 25th anniversary re-release. Last I saw was in the late '70s in a private screening (owner of the small cinema that regularly show blockbusters to the public is known to me heh).