Morpheus2000
30-12-2001, 16:32
The Films:
From the opening of The Godfather you're introduced to Don Vito Corleone in his office on his daughter's wedding when he's meeting an undertaker looking for a favour. This gives the viewer as to how Vito Corleone likes to do business. While the wedding is going on we're introduced to other members of his family Santino (James Caan), Fredo (John Cazale) and Michael (Al Pacino). Michael, fresh out of the army and of the second World War. He wants nothing to do with the family business. When an attempt is made on Vito's life by other gangsters Michael is the one that heads the family.
The Godfather is an excellent film, the characters are well grounded each with their own history. The plot in this film is very well done and I love the cinematography in it. It's quite a dark film always watching it in a brown hue.
The Godfather, Part 2 is even better than it's predecessor. It's basically the continuing story of Don Michael Corleone while showing us Vito Corleone's past with Robert De Niro in flying form. The film compares how Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone conducted their affairs! While Vito Corleone did favours for others, Michael Corleone was far more ruthless and that's what I love about this film. I think there should have been more Robert De Niro scenes as his performance is excellent and it's all in Italian.
Again with The Godfather, Part 2 the plot in this film is very well done and the cinematography is the same as the first always watching it in a brown hue.
The Godfather, Part 3 is a different film from the first two. The plot isn't as good but the characters are very interesting. The film again starts in party form with Michael getting a Crowing from The Vatican. Michael is trying to go legitimate but fellow bosses want in on the deal and unfortunately it takes a turn for the worse. Overall it's a pretty good film, but I thought it ended far too abruptly.
I think it's a bit harsh say that Sophia Coppola was terrible in The Godfather, Part 3. I think people were just saying that because she's got a huge nose and doesn't really suit the role.
Where's Tom Hagen in The Godfather, Part 3? I don't remember any reference to him in the film. I think towards the end of The Godfather, Part 2 he was on the way out of the business but there's nothing concrete for an explanation of him missing for the third film!
At the beginning of The Godfather, Part 3 there's a shot of the Twin Towers and it's set in 1979. NOTE: They started construction in 1966 and one finished in 1972 while the other finished in 1973. If Hollywood are ever going to set a film before 2001 and after 1972 they'll have to show the Twin Towers if they're doing location work!
The Godfather, Bonus Materials:
I don't think Inside the Family is a great documentary there's not enough background information given its length. They're are some interesting bits, Robert De Niro did a screen test for the role of Sonny in which he was brilliant, but I think they made the right choices in casting particularly with Al Pacino as Michael. I knew that Sophia was the baby in The Godfather the Christening but I didn't know it was the same church in The Godfather, Part 3.
With the hour of additional scenes you can see why they were removed, they should have left the ones in with Sonny though. Also there's no Additional Scenes for The Godfather, Part 3 just an alternate opening.
I liked the featurette on Coppola's Notebook as it gives a real insight as how he pictured the film as a whole, very clever way of making a film from a book! The other behind the scenes features are very good except the 1971 feature! I thought the trailers were terrible particularly for the first film. Interesting to have the acceptance speeches on the disc though.
I haven't listened to the commentary yet, but I probably will at some stage.
Summation:
While the box-set is very designed I personally don't like cardboard boxes for DVDs as they won't be as resilient as a plastic keep case.
Overall this is an excellent trilogy and a worthy addition to everybody's DVD collection. I think the reason it stood the test of time is because it's a period piece so can be watched at any time considering it the brings the viewer into the world of the gangster (to a lesser extent with the third).
From the opening of The Godfather you're introduced to Don Vito Corleone in his office on his daughter's wedding when he's meeting an undertaker looking for a favour. This gives the viewer as to how Vito Corleone likes to do business. While the wedding is going on we're introduced to other members of his family Santino (James Caan), Fredo (John Cazale) and Michael (Al Pacino). Michael, fresh out of the army and of the second World War. He wants nothing to do with the family business. When an attempt is made on Vito's life by other gangsters Michael is the one that heads the family.
The Godfather is an excellent film, the characters are well grounded each with their own history. The plot in this film is very well done and I love the cinematography in it. It's quite a dark film always watching it in a brown hue.
The Godfather, Part 2 is even better than it's predecessor. It's basically the continuing story of Don Michael Corleone while showing us Vito Corleone's past with Robert De Niro in flying form. The film compares how Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone conducted their affairs! While Vito Corleone did favours for others, Michael Corleone was far more ruthless and that's what I love about this film. I think there should have been more Robert De Niro scenes as his performance is excellent and it's all in Italian.
Again with The Godfather, Part 2 the plot in this film is very well done and the cinematography is the same as the first always watching it in a brown hue.
The Godfather, Part 3 is a different film from the first two. The plot isn't as good but the characters are very interesting. The film again starts in party form with Michael getting a Crowing from The Vatican. Michael is trying to go legitimate but fellow bosses want in on the deal and unfortunately it takes a turn for the worse. Overall it's a pretty good film, but I thought it ended far too abruptly.
I think it's a bit harsh say that Sophia Coppola was terrible in The Godfather, Part 3. I think people were just saying that because she's got a huge nose and doesn't really suit the role.
Where's Tom Hagen in The Godfather, Part 3? I don't remember any reference to him in the film. I think towards the end of The Godfather, Part 2 he was on the way out of the business but there's nothing concrete for an explanation of him missing for the third film!
At the beginning of The Godfather, Part 3 there's a shot of the Twin Towers and it's set in 1979. NOTE: They started construction in 1966 and one finished in 1972 while the other finished in 1973. If Hollywood are ever going to set a film before 2001 and after 1972 they'll have to show the Twin Towers if they're doing location work!
The Godfather, Bonus Materials:
I don't think Inside the Family is a great documentary there's not enough background information given its length. They're are some interesting bits, Robert De Niro did a screen test for the role of Sonny in which he was brilliant, but I think they made the right choices in casting particularly with Al Pacino as Michael. I knew that Sophia was the baby in The Godfather the Christening but I didn't know it was the same church in The Godfather, Part 3.
With the hour of additional scenes you can see why they were removed, they should have left the ones in with Sonny though. Also there's no Additional Scenes for The Godfather, Part 3 just an alternate opening.
I liked the featurette on Coppola's Notebook as it gives a real insight as how he pictured the film as a whole, very clever way of making a film from a book! The other behind the scenes features are very good except the 1971 feature! I thought the trailers were terrible particularly for the first film. Interesting to have the acceptance speeches on the disc though.
I haven't listened to the commentary yet, but I probably will at some stage.
Summation:
While the box-set is very designed I personally don't like cardboard boxes for DVDs as they won't be as resilient as a plastic keep case.
Overall this is an excellent trilogy and a worthy addition to everybody's DVD collection. I think the reason it stood the test of time is because it's a period piece so can be watched at any time considering it the brings the viewer into the world of the gangster (to a lesser extent with the third).