The Godfather

[Lightning Steve]

Okay this may sound bad (especially since I am a movie lover) but at 45 years old I just watched the Godfather (1 & 2) for the first time. What a great movie(s) it is. Don't really know why I never saw it before now, as I like gangster movies, it was just one of those that kept slipping by. The last couple of weeks it was on TV over and over. Started watching part 2 and really liked it, stopped watching (was half way through) went out and got part 1 & 2 for $22, and watched them back to back, ya long night!
Didn't pick up part 3 as I heard it doesn't compare to the first two, is this the case? Should I watch that one also?

 

[mike c]

yup it doesn't compare, but you know you have to watch it

 

[aberkowitz]

I believe #3 gets a bad rap for two reasons:

1) It wasn't as good as the first two. Problem is the first two Godfathers are two of the top 3-5 greatest movies of all time (depending on who you ask). There was no way that any sequel was going to live up to those standards.

2) It was made 16 years after the 2nd one. I believe if Coppola had been able to make #3 right away in 1975 or 76 that the film would have been much more respected.

As for the film itself I think it is a great conclusion to the story. Get #3 and watch it soon, particularly having just seen #2, and I think you'll really understand what point they were trying to get to with Michael. I also think #3 will help you better understand how Don Vito felt at the end of #1.

 

[Lightning Steve]

Yes I will have to pick this up (#3), most likely tonight. The end of #2, I thought, really left a lot hanging. I agree with you aberkowitz, if Coppola had done three the set would be perfect.
Made it half way through French Connection this morning (12hr night shifts eh!), have seen this before but it was in the bargan bin when I got the Godfather.

 

[stratman]

I believe #3 gets a bad rap for two reasons:

1) It wasn't as good as the first two. Problem is the first two Godfathers are two of the top 3-5 greatest movies of all time (depending on who you ask). There was no way that any sequel was going to live up to those standards.

2) It was made 16 years after the 2nd one. I believe if Coppola had been able to make #3 right away in 1975 or 76 that the film would have been much more respected.

As for the film itself I think it is a great conclusion to the story. Get #3 and watch it soon, particularly having just seen #2, and I think you'll really understand what point they were trying to get to with Michael. I also think #3 will help you better understand how Don Vito felt at the end of #1.

You must admit though #3 was full of ham-fisted over the top acting. I don't know....GF#1 and #2 are iconic, #3 just doesn't cut it. I would have replaced Andy Garcia with someone else and Sofia Coppola, come on, I know daddy runs the show, but gimme a break! I do believe if the film would've been done in '75 keeping with the same pace, style and "feel" of #1 and #2 it would have more appeal and would have ranked with 1 and 2. Sorry goombas, not in on this one.

 

[aberkowitz]

You must admit though #3 was full of ham-fisted over the top acting. I don't know....GF#1 and #2 are iconic, #3 just doesn't cut it. I would have replaced Andy Garcia with someone else and Sofia Coppola, come on, I know daddy runs the show, but gimme a break! I do believe if the film would've been done in '75 keeping with the same pace, style and "feel" of #1 and #2 it would have more appeal and would have ranked with 1 and 2. Sorry goombas, not in on this one.

Do not disagree that the acting was generally over the top, however I think Sofia C gets overly criticized for her acting job. She wasn't unwatchable, and people forget that she was actually a last minute fill-in for the role when Winona Ryder decided to abandon the project.

 

[Halon451]

The Godfather films rank among the top five movies of all time in my opinion. The third "episode" of course, maybe not quite as good as the first two, but it is still a continuation of the legacy, and I feel that it wraps up the trilogy quite nicely. It is interesting to see the effects that the years of being the top dog in the family has taken on Michael Corelone, and like someone mentioned above, how it mirrored the last days of Don Vito. It's very fitting.

There's no way to watch the first two, without at least seeing the third.

 

[skizzerflake]

The third Godfather reminded me of a bad opera. Way too much emoting and none of the subtlety and calculated slow burn in Micheal that made 1 and 2 so great. The plot was really gone once they got to the point of poisoning the Pope. It all went downhill after that up to the melodrama of killing Micheal's daughter at the church and his final silent scream.

 

[GlocksRock]

I haven't seen them in a long time, but yes, you must finish the series if you watched the first two. The original one is easily one of my all time favorite movies.

 

[Lightning Steve]

Just watched #3 last night, agree with what others said. It was okay and I liked most of it but it just didn't have the same feel as the first two did. That and way way too much of Diane Keaton.