Reviews of The Godfather

The Godfather review

Posted : 2 weeks, 3 days ago on 8 December 2009 07:48 (A review of The Godfather)

The Godfather: Part II is an absolutely phenomenal sequel to the classic film that is The Godfather. It isn't better than the first one but it has proved itself to be one of the greatest film sequels of all time. This one is longer than the first one is because we see more about Vito Corleone's childhood and past of how the family began. The way those scenes are structured are absolutely fantastic. It is clever how they get modern days of Don Michael Corleone and the childhood of Vito Corleone back in the 1910s/1920s. If I lived in the 1970s and loved The Godfather, I would have predicted that this sequel would have failed but it didn't fail in any way whatsoever. It is a rare treasure because it is a sequel that didn't fail and not that many sequels succeed. The other sequels I can think of that did succeed are The Empire Strikes Back, The Two Towers, The Dark Knight and Spider-Man 2. The second Godfather becomes more personal and deeply affectionate with the Corleone family. The Godfather: Part II is also the darkest one of the trilogy particularly because under Don Michael Corleone and there were a lot of deaths in this one. It is a story that takes and beats down lives including Michael's.


Al Pacino delivers the best performance of his career as Don Michael Corleone. Al Pacino was a better actor in his early days apart from Scent Of A Woman, The Godfather: Part III and Heat. His portrayal of Don Corleone made Michael one of the coldest film villains of all time. I actually feel sorry for Michael because in the first one before his older brother and newly married wife were murdered, he was having a normal peaceful life but after those events and since his father Vito died of a heart attack in the gardens, he became Don Corleone and he became obsessed with power and became a very dangerous man that nobody will betray and double cross. When I saw him in the sequel, I thought to myself "Is that really Michael Corleone?" because he becomes a whole new person in this one. Al Pacino is perfect for Michael because Michael is a rather slimy and scheming character and also a really powerful, dominant character which is what Al Pacino is like in some of the films he has been in before. Robert Duvall's performance is top notch once again as Tom Hagen who is the fostered son of Vito Corleone and is the family's lawyer. Hagen always tries to get through to Michael for what he is doing but doesn't listen. Tom Hagen doesn't appear in The Godfather: Part III. Robert De Niro's performance as younger Vito Corleone is an absolute legendary performance. Two legendary actors have portrayed a character both with Oscar winning performances. The late Marlon Brando portrayed Vito in The Godfather Part I and Robert De Niro portrayed the younger Vito Corleone in The Godfather: Part II. The Godfather: Part II became the ultimate start to Robert De Niro's legendary career. Some say that he is the best living actor right now and Marlon Brando was the best actor ever of the past. Thankfully, Robert De Niro didn't ruin Marlon Brando's amazing reputation of Don Corleone. His performance is almost in my opinion just as good as Marlon Brando's with the amazing Italian accent for an American man and also an absolutely fantastic way of portraying the gangster kind of character. Diane Keaton's performance as Kay Corleone is good but not amazing. I felt sorry for her when she was worried about Michael and for the sake of her children for what Michael was doing. Keaton isn't the perfect choice for Kay but she still a really good choice. As we reflect on most of the cast in The Godfather Parts 1 and 2, it is rather strange to see them almost 20 years older in The Godfather: Part III such as Al Pacino, Diane Keaton and Talia Shire.


Francis Ford Coppola proves once again after the first one that he is the only director who could have been able to pull off The Godfather trilogy. He makes The Godfather: Part II the darkest one of the trilogy but not the best. The way he directed was that he wanted us to feel the breaking down of the Corleone family and at the same time to learn how it all began which leads to young Vito's introduction and how he raised his four children Sonny, Fredo, Michael and Connie. The script is outstanding. Francis Ford Coppola has a great gift at writing the scripts for The Godfather scripts as well as directing and producing them.


The Godfather: Part II is an eternal masterpiece that takes its place as one of the greatest films of all time. It is one of my favourite films but I still love the first one more. The Godfather: Part II is in my opinion a tie for best sequel ever made after The Empire Strikes Back. I loved this film a lot and it led to a very good yet rather failed third Godfather: Part III because of the pressure of trying to successfully suceeded by being just as good as first two Godfather films. It is one of my favourite films of the 1970s as well as of all time. It is an absolute masterpiece that will never be forgotten. It is Al Pacino's best performance of his whole career, I loved Robert De Niro's performance as young Vito Corleone but I prefered his performances in films such as Raging Bull and Taxi Driver. The Godfather: Part II is a film that is a bit of an unexpected phenomenon that I don't think people were really expecting to be fantastic. I cannot think of one single person who doesn't like The Godfather Part 1 or Part 2. Love it! Always have and always will!

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The Godfather review

Posted : 2 weeks, 3 days ago on 8 December 2009 07:40 (A review of The Godfather)

The Godfather is probably the most famous motion picture that has been filmed ever. When I first saw a poster of Vito Corleone I thought to myself "what the hell is this film?" But I didn't really understand the plot of the film so I needed to see the film and find out myself. The first time I saw The Godfather I didn't understand it even though I really liked the characters. The second viewing of the film was absolutely incredible for me because I understood it more and finally realised how much of a classic it really was. The Godfather truly is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that is just a complete gangster classic. It is obviously rather dramatic but it is a thriller as well because there are some threats involving each of the different families within the film. The Godfather is a film that you just have to call a classic whether you like it or not. I can understand why some people wouldn't like this film because it is hard to understand and it is a long film as well. People would appreciate The Godfather because of how it was filmed, how interesting the characters are whether they are heroes or villains.


The Godfather including the second one has one of the best ensemble cast members of all time. The Godfather is the one film where the entire cast have all delivered top-notch performances. They are all ones worthy of an Oscar win. Marlon Brando delivers an ultimately legendary performance as Don Vito Corleone. Don Corleone is the father of Sonny, Fredo, Michael and Connie Corleone. He has an adopted son called Tom Hagen which is still classified as a member of the family. Marlon's portrayal of Don Corleone was very unique because he has a very bizarre voice and with absolutely awesome make-up as well. I think the producers and director wanted to make it look the least like Marlon Brando even though it is obviously still him. I think they wanted to make the Vito Corleone character as realistic as possible. It is quite hard to compare Marlon Brando as Don Corleone with characters like Stanley Kowalski and Terry Malloy because he is almost 20 years older and also Vito is a rather odd person. Marlon was an actor with a really specific taste of characters he would portray which is a very good talent for Marlon because he wanted to keep his reputation at a very high standard. There were some films that I have heard he has done bad performances in including his Razzie win. Unfortunately Marlon declined his Oscar winning performance as Don Corleone because Hollywood were discriminating against Native Americans. Al Pacino's performances in his early years are probably his best performances. His performance as Michael Corleone was really awesome. Michael became a totally changed person when he got himself involved with the family's affairs. Michael was just going to live a normal private life but when Don Corleone was assassinated but not killed, he ends up becoming a big part of the family even though he is the youngest son of Don Corleone. Al Pacino showed Michael slowly becoming a monster in which he did become in The Godfather: Part II. James Caan was really awesome as Sonny Corleone who is the oldest son of Don Corleone. Robert Duvall was absolutely awesome as Tom Hagen. Tom Hagen is the adopted son of Don Corleone. I really liked Diane Keaton as Kay Adams as well who is Michael's girlfriend and then ultimately becomes his wife and the mother of his children.


Francis Ford Coppola has created the start of a classic trilogy that are just legends of cinema. Coppola's Godfather is like Jackson's Lord Of The Rings. It's like Lord Of The Rings are this decade or maybe even century of The Godfather. The Godfather is a story that is a mafia sort of film that would be something Martin Scorsese would do but to be perfectly honest he would have made it rather crap. Francis Ford Coppola made it feel like I don't need to read the novels because the films are just so good including the third one as well. Coppola has made The Godfather a very unusual gangster film with dark settings, cinematography, costumes and make-up design. Coppola hasn't really directed any films at all really because I think he wanted The Godfather Parts 1 and 2 to be his most memorable works as well as extremely memorable works in cinema. The script is just absolutely outstanding with a famous quote from Don Corleone: "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." Despite the fact I haven't read the novels yet, I think the films are probably better.


The Godfather is one of the two trilogies that had had all three films nominated for Best Picture. The other trilogy is Lord Of The Rings. The Godfather is one of the all-time best classic films. The first is the best and most famous in the trilogy. The first one started absolutely amazingly and ended amazingly as well. The Godfather is one of those films you might have to watch twice to understand it like I did. The Godfather is Marlon Brando's most famous performance but it isn't his best and my favourite. My favourite is A Streetcar Named Desire which was his first film. Vito Corleone is one of my 10 favourite film characters of all time. I love Vito more than Michael. Al Pacino's best performance is still in The Godfather franchise but he is the best in the second film. The Godfather is my 5th favourite film franchise of all time after Lord Of The Rings, Star Wars, Batman and Harry Potter. The Godfather made me watch classic films no matter how old they are. I absolutely adore the second film but this one is better. The Godfather will always have its rightful place in history as one of the best films of all time and one of my all-time favourites ever.

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dont have much too say about it but is was great

Posted : 3 months ago on 21 September 2009 03:56 (A review of The Godfather)

I have read the book by Mario Puzo, now i have seen the movie and part 2. Mario Puzo is a genius, and it goes without saying that this is the best movie, and book. The story line was put together very well and the actors were just right for there roles, EVEN MY SISTER LIKES IT.

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My Favorite Movie Of All Time

Posted : 3 months, 2 weeks ago on 10 September 2009 11:55 (A review of The Godfather)

Top 10 reasons why the Godfather is my favorite movie of all time:

10. The late great John Cazale.
An actor who in his short film career, never starred in any movie rated less than an A+.

9. Marlon Brando is back with a performance uniquely his own.
Reportedly, at the time, his career was seriously on the wane. But then Fate steps in & hands him a role of which would become one of the most iconic in film history.

8. James Caan.
IMO, his best performance ever & the best character in the movie.

7. All the "oranges=death/violent act" scenes.
Many were impressed the way directors like M. Knight Shamalamadindong with the color red or Quentin Tarantino with scenes of John Travolta in the toilet, used tools of clues for the audience, to gve 'em hints on what's coming up in future scenes. But Coppola had already taken this style of storytelling & showed them how it is done in this series.

6. Apollonia!!!

5. Vito Corleone's "...And that I do not forgive" speech during the meeting of the criminal masterminds.
I always thought that people who memorized large chunks of speeches in movies as a way of entertaining & impressing others were nerds. Then one time, on a date, I found myself actually reciting this entire speech to the young lady whom I was with. And I didn't even realize that my mind had subconsciously memorized it. It's amazing the things one can find out about one's self when they're trying to get into a girl's pants

4. Lines like "Sleeping with the fishes" or " Time to take out the mattresses", phrases that have since become part of popular culture.

3. Sonny's death scene.
Considered as needlessly ultra-violent at the time, but for me, impactfully powerful when such a character seemed to take on such a role of almost indestructibility.


2. The theme song.
One of those rare times when the music is so tied with the film, that whenever I hear it, I instantly get in the mood to watch the entire trilogy all over again (yes, even the third installment. Which, even though I don't find matching in quality with its predessors, I still tend to disagree with the public opinion on this. IMO the Godfather: Part Three is a quality film. B#tchez.).

1. Francis Ford Coppola's masterful use of foreshadowing.
Example:When Luca Brasi (the guy who ends up sleeping with the fishes) goes to make a deal with the rival crime-family, he walks thru a glass door that leads to the bar where his fate will become sealed. As the door closes, the scene is shot looking at Luca from behind, setting up the shot to so that you will notice the fish designs that have been engraved into the glass & it will visually give the impression that the fish are surrounding Luca's body.
Awesome.
Simply awesome.




12/10

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The Godfather: Don't forget to love it.

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago on 13 February 2008 07:39 (A review of The Godfather)

Real film fans are scared to love 'The Godfather' these days; it has become the immediate social site, fav film answer for any shumck pretending to appreciate 'real' cinema.

Don’t let this attitude take over, there is a reason they have picked up on it...it is one of the greatest films ever made. Every little part of this film is master crafted; it should be on the walls of the Sistine Chapel.

The music alone draws you in, while panning shots sweep across detailed and busy streets, even the lowliest extra plays his part like a pro.

Very few other films can boast such a talented cast as Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and James Caan...not to mention the sea of brilliant supporting actors. The main characters are complex and interesting; the plot of vendetta and betrayal is gripping to the last.

The Godfather is such a pleasure to all the senses that it doesn't seem like it's from the same planet, let alone media as today's ten-a-penny Hollywood blockbusters.

Films like this will always be needed to appear now and then, shake off the high-gloss, Jennifer Lopez veneer from Hollywood and let the real artists crawl out for a spell. Come to think of it we're about due.


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Poonany's Thoughts

Posted : 2 years, 4 months ago on 24 August 2007 11:46 (A review of The Godfather)

The Godfather Death, power, violence but also love, passion and reason. This film has touched the minds of millions since it's realese. This film has no generic time span as it will remain a classic for the rest of time.

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