The Godfather's 40th Anniversary

[Mrs. Sawyer]

I know I'm more than a month old with this, but I don't care, so here it goes.

The Godfather, released March 15th,1972 is arguably the greatest movie of all time. There are many reasons why it is often called that (Movie portrayed mobsters in a more ambiguous light, great acting, etc.), but I'll leave that more to discussion.

So what are your opinions on The Godfather? Do you believe the movie is still relevant today? What do you like or hate most about it? What ar your favorite scenes?

 

[Solidus]

True classic films (well the first two). I got the collection on Blu and now I think is the time to watch it again. I think they are still relevant today. I show them to people and the love is still there. One of my favorite scenes is when Jack Woltz wakes up in the morning with his prized horse's head in bed with him. The build up of the music, and just the entire scene still sticks with me. Sonny's death was always another favorite part of mine, just so brutal.

As for Part 2 my favorite part is when Michael confronts Fredo in Cuba during the ball. "You broke my heart."

 

[Sawyer]

I just love Michael's story. One of film's greatest tragedies.

 

[Bim]

Ah, The Godfather!! One of the only movies i consider perfect. Not many get a 10/10 with me, but this one does (and so does the second one).

I think they're relevant today for sure. What do i love about it? My lord, what dont i love! Like i said, i think the movie is flawless: the acting is top notch, i enjoy the story and it all comes together wonderfully on the screen.

As far as favorite scenes? tough one. If we're talking only about the first one, i'll have to say the scene at the restaurant, hands down. That's a turning point for Michael, and you can see the anxiety in his eyes alone while he attempts to remain sitting as if nothing out of the ordinary was going to happen. I also love how thew movie starts with the wedding; it just sets the story and the characters up perfectly. And of course, Sonny's death pisses me off, i felt outraged lol. It's so strange that i find myself rooting for a bunch of mobsters, but i do . Of course, the icing on the cake is the end, where we see Michael becoming Don Corleone.

 

[bullets]

The Godfather is a masterpiece. Some people might not like it or find it boring but I love every scene.


The Godfather was a very unappreciated movie when we were making it. They were very unhappy with it. They didn't like the cast. They didn't like the way I was shooting it. I was always on the verge of getting fired. So it was an extremely nightmarish experience. I had two little kids, and the third one was born during that. We lived in a little apartment, and I was basically frightened that they didn't like it. They had as much as said that, so when it was all over I wasn't at all confident that it was going to be successful, and that I'd ever get another job.

--- Francis Ford Coppola

 

[EML420]

I love The Godfather and has any one read the book its amazing the movie is like 90 percent loyal to it an amazing adaptation.

 

[Crockett]

The first two Godfather films are Coppola's magnum opus and are considered milestone in the history of cinema and rightfully so, the fact that it has everything good right down to the directing, script, the acting and that it's so well-strung together, which is why they hold up phenomenally from repeated viewings.

It still astonished me to this day how Coppola managed to make the classic and iconic film that it is today with such pressure from Paramount for casting, the shooting and also that it needed to be a big hit which rest assure, the rest is history. The fact that he made another film which is as great if not better than the first one amazed me.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

I love The Godfather and the sequel. The first time I saw it, I was maybe 15 and my favorite character was Sonny. Badabing! The more I watched it, the more I liked Michael and Vito. It's always a fun and great watch, even on TV. I liked that AMC showed the Saga version a little while ago.

I like the second one more, mainly because of the Michael and Fredo stuff. Hyman Roth and Frank Pentangelli are such great characters, too. "This is the buisness we've chosen!"

My favorite scene from the first is Michael confronting Carlo at the end. My favorite scene from Part II is when Fredo explains himself to Michael ("I'm smart!"). Pacino and Cazale worked so well together.

 

[Mace Dolex]

Before seeing it just a few years back of course I had already heard countless good things about it yeah they're good films especially the acting which looking back is remarkable considering aside from Marlon Brando the rest (Pacino, Caan, Duvall, DeNiro, Keaton) weren't well known as they are now.

 

[The Shape]

Kiss of Death from Part II is the scene the gets me every time. That short scene alone should have won Pacino the Oscar.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

It's Pacino's birthday

 

[Sawyer]

Apparently the "The Family Corleone" book thats coming out in a few weeks is based on an unproduced screenplay from Puzo. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't intrigued.

 

[Call Me Darkman]

Kiss of Death from Part II is the scene the gets me every time. That short scene alone should have won Pacino the Oscar.

The guy who played Fredo was robbed. He wasn't even nominated.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

John Cazale was such a great actor.

 

[Call Me Darkman]

All his films were Best Picture nominees. Three of them won.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

Does anyone else think that Tom would have been the best don after Vito's death? I think Part II really shows Tom's abilities to be a good don. First, of course, was his first act as the head of the family, gaining Geary as an ally. Yes, he resorted to murder and deceit like Michael, but Vito did the same as well in his early years. When Kay gets upset over not being able to leave the compound, Tom calmly reasons with her with respect. He uses that same calm respect when he visits Pentangeli and gives him the ultimatum. These scenes remind me of Vito's way of handling things and I think Tom was the son who followed Vito's example the closest.

Santino was too reckless and too focused on killing Sollozzo to concentrate on the business side of the family. Michael saw murder as an answer to everything and became so wrapped up in vengeance that it made him cold and impatient to his family and his familia. Michael commits the ultimate sin of the franchise by having Fredo killed. That's something his father would never forgive Michael for.

It's Tom's absence that keeps me from watching Part III, because I figure Part III to be a waste of time if the movie is not about Michael vs. Tom. The groundwork was laid out for a Corleone civil war in the first two.

 

[Dangerman]

Am I the only one who recognizes only The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II? While I did think III was a good film I just look at it as a stand alone and don't really see it as part of the series.

 

[BritishChap007]

Am I the only one who recognizes only The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II? While I did think III was a good film I just look at it as a stand alone and don't really see it as part of the series.

I never even bothered to see III

 

[Doctor Jones]

I think the third film would have benefited greatly if Tom was in it.

 

[Dangerman]

I think the third film would have benefited greatly if Tom was in it.

Agreed

 

[El Payaso]

Perfect movie. Frame by frame, an absolute masterpiece.

 

[Gianakin_]

Do you guys no the initial story of GF3? Before Duvall's financial demands weren't met and he bowed out, forcing Coppola to write him out?

 

[RamseyBoy]

-The first two are true masterpieces. When I come across someone who says they found them boring a puzzled look always crosses my face. I don't know how a film packed with such rich characters and with amazing cinematography can be considered boring.

-Part III I think is underrated. It's clearly not as good as the other two but I liked the idea of Michael trying to legitimize the business as a way of redeeming himself. And Andy Garcia was brilliant.

 

[Gianakin_]

Andy Garcia is never brilliant.

But seriously, the onscreen couple of Garcia and Coppola are among my Bottom 5 of all time.

 

[RamseyBoy]

I thought he was great in Part III. And I liked his characters arc. Yes, Sophia Coppola was horrendous though, there scenes together stunk but I put the blame on her.