The Godfather

I'm surprised to see so many of you saying you just saw it for the first time, but I am NOT AT ALL SURPRIZED by your initial lukewarm reactions.

Why? Because I don't think it's the greatest film ever? WRONG. It is. It is among the greatest piece of film ever. Both I and II. III is a good movie, but nowhere near the first two.

However, the reason you guys didn't just LOVE it, is because you didn't fully get it. You can't, there is SO MUCH that a first time viewer of the series won't pick up on, won't understand. Each charecter is played so brilliantly, there are so many metaphors and layers of subtext that can only be deduced from repeat viewing.

I can't explain it. I guess the best way to do would be to compare it to Star Wars, but in terms of how much we love and analyze the charecters. It's the same with the Godfather. You just get to love learning and observing every little nuance, ever bit of subtext, ever sense of irony you can just feel ripping through the screen.

I mean, just watching Sonny and Tom, the young bumbling due try to take the reins and lead and keep control over the family in its time of need, it's something between these two best friends who are suddenly carrying the most awesome responsibility, stuff like that, the first time viewer doesn't really appreciate.

Also, the plot is pretty complicated, especially all the mafia related business and the Senate Judiciary in the second film. You better understand it when you have seen it all a few times, the first time viewer follows along, but doesn't appreciate the great detail and the little intracies of the plot.

 

This had to come back up, I can't be a threadkiller!

 

This had to come back up, I can't be a threadkiller!

Don't worry. The films are timeless so there will always be someone wanting to add to the discussion.

Anyway you are right about first time viewing. The plot is so complex in places that you can't really understand or appreciate a lot of things that go on until you understand the big picture.

 

DarthKarde I agree entirely with you.











Isn't that just Grand?

 

I loved it the first time I saw it but knew I had to watch it again and again to unravel the numerous layers of plot and characters.

Watching the Oscars tonight reminded me of hearing about the 1972 show. Cabaret was picking up awards left and right until The Godfather won for best adapted screenplay, actor and picture. I'd have to say the academy got it right with those 3.

 

I don't think they got much right this time around. I've not seen Chicago so I can't judge that, but I think Martin Scorsese definitely deserved the Best Director oscar, but instead was robbed.

 

The Godfather is one of those movies that I don't think I could watch every month as a ritual, but it's one of the best works of cinematic art I've ever seen. Since no one has mentioned this thus far, I'd like to point out the Godfather "orange" legend, which does have a lot of importance in the book as well as the movie. For those that aren't familiar with the theory, everytime something bad happens, the color orange is present. Most noticably during Don Corleone's death, but watch closely-- orange is a major symbol of bad things happening in all three movies!

Now, that's not just randomly placed in there by Puza or Coopola. I've read two different theories, and both are really thought-provoking. The first theory is that since oranges were such a rare treat in Italy at the time, the presence of the orange shows not only the wealth of the family, but also their almost careless misuse of their gifts. The other theory is that the orange represents the fruit from the tree of life, and all who have "picked it" are punished. Very interesting ideas, and it really gave me The Godfather in a whole new light.

But my absolute favorite scene is the ending sequence in the first movie. When Michael is becoming the godfather to the child, it switches between Michael, with the eerie music of the church service still playing, and the shootings taking place-- which shows Michael becoming the godfather to the mob. A truly gorgeous juxtaposition between something so holy and something so evil-- another great facet of Michael's character. There are just so many symbolic elements and scenes in the Godfather, but with or without, it's still a great story.

Michael's "fall from grace" is really riveting, which keeps on playing straight through II. The Corleone family flourishes as Michael's own personal morals fail. It's a morality thinker, but The Godfather isn't one of those "tucked in the wall" art films. It has great actors (many big name stars), and enough bloodshed to satisfy any war movie. Overall, I think this movie can be read on so many different levels to the film-- you can look at it as a personal story about Michael, a moral commentary, a social piece (just think, never before have we loved "bad guys" that much that they seemed "good"), a mob movie, or a work of art. It's just an incredible film on so many different planes, but I suppose it is all quite relative.

 

The baptism finale at the end of the first one is incredible but what was really the topper for me is that scene with Connie's turncoat husband Carlo where Michael tells him that Barzini, Tattaglia, Cunio, Stracci, and Mo Green are all dead and that he won't kill him if he tells him who approached him to set up Sonny. Then Carlo is garrotted in the car by Clemenza and puts his foot through the windshield and Michael and his men just watch and calmly walk way. WOW.

 

Both Godfather and Godfather Part 2 are two of the greatest films of all time. I also think that it's a disgrace that another author is writing another Godfather novel. That isnt the way it was meant to be. Puzo was a singular novelist and Im sure if he wanted to write a sequel to the Godfather than he would have.


I definitely wont be buying this book which I feel will more than likely not live up to Puzo's amazing legacy.

 

I definitely wont be buying this book which I feel will more than likely not live up to Puzo's amazing legacy.

I agree. The Godfather is Mario Puzo's story.

 

Can I just ask fellow Godfather fans if you agree that they should have gotten somebody else to play Johnny Fontaine? The character was supposed to be based on Frank Sinatra. Couldn't they have cast somebody who really evoked him, or at least had a better voice?

 

I thought that the guy (I can't remeber his name) did a pretty good job.

 

i thought the guy who played johnny fontaine did a good job. he was sort of a cheesy version of sinatra. i don't know if he actually sang or if it was dubbed and he sorta lip-synched or not, but overall i think the character and the actor were A-o.k.