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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 9927
Released: May 11, 2004 |
| Our Price: $15.00 |
| Used Price: $2.99 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
BRANDO IS DON VITO CORLEONE, THE SYMPATHETIC GODFATHER OF A NEW YORK CRIME FAMILY, WHOSE BUSINESS IT IS TO MAKE OFFERS PEOPLE CAN'T REFUSE. VISUALLY BEAUTIFUL AND IMAGES OF TIMES ANDLOCALES CONTRAST THE FILM'S GRAPHIC VIOLEN.
Description of The Godfather (Widescreen Edition):
Generally acknowledged as a bona fide classic, this Francis Ford Coppola film is one of those rare experiences that feels perfectly right from beginning to end--almost as if everyone involved had been born to participate in it. Based on Mario Puzo's bestselling novel about a Mafia dynasty, Coppola's Godfather extracted and enhanced the most universal themes of immigrant experience in America: the plotting-out of hopes and dreams for one's successors, the raising of children to carry on the good work, etc. In the midst of generational strife during the Vietnam years, the film somehow struck a chord with a nation fascinated by the metamorphosis of a rebellious son (Al Pacino) into the keeper of his father's dream. Marlon Brando played against Puzo's own conception of patriarch Vito Corleone, and time has certainly proven the actor correct. The rest of the cast, particularly James Caan, John Cazale, and Robert Duvall as the rest of Vito's male brood--all coping with how to take the mantle of responsibility from their father--is seamless and wonderful. --Tom Keogh
The Godfather (Widescreen Edition) Reviews:
insightful and Entertaining, The Godfather Transcends the Ordinary Mafia Movie 
2009-12-02 - The Godfather, while not one of my absolute favorite movies, is one of the most acclaimed movies for good reasons. With a suberb cast (though arguably you can't go wrong with De Niro and Pacino in the same movie), terrific film making, a vast scope, and storytelling, these are prime examples of greatness in this movie. There are plenty of crime movies that exist, but The Godfather still stands out amongst all of the crime flicks. For good reason too, as this movie is a masterful work in film making.
What makes this movie so great is it's insight. It's a slow moving movie for sure, but it's relaxed pace let's for all kinds of anticipation, real life feeing, and atmosphere soaking (at times). I also find great joy to see how things unfold, and, such as the assassination of Sollozo and Mclcusky and the untimely death of Don Corleone. Another great insight is the meeting that leads up to the assassination of the Don, the kidnapping of Tom, the murder of Bruno. This scene has nothing explicit, if you weren't paying attention, you would have no idea what it was about. However, if you pay attention, you could tell it was Sonny who let his guard down and ruined the whole empire in a sense (maybe his death was fate) This movie is a great character study, further cemented by the personality of the characters, and their ambitions, their motives, I could go on and on.
But it's also the story, full of plot that makes this transcend a simple character study (you listening, Dark Knight?). This story is rich, nuanced, and rewarding with repeated viewings. For example, watching Michael going from a "citizen" in the eyes of the mafia to a full fledged gangster is just beautiful. I could nitpick too many nuances and favorites in the storyline, but it would be much too tedious. Besides, you could probably get the whole plot written by me if I wanted to. Overall, its a great story and doesn't suffer from third person syndrome (unless your a gangster, but few of us are) one bit, thankful to memorable characters and a story that you will probably never experience. Thankfully, we have the movies, and we have this movie.
The story rules, but the visuals are just as good. The Godfather is a visually stunning movie, in my opinion. It's as lush and vibrant to look at as much as Francis Ford Copolla's visually stunner Dracula, but with less visual tricks of that movie. The interiors and exteriors are just beautiful, as it's perfectly placed in the times. I sometimes love looking at the interiors, from the chairs to the lamps to the decorations. Many sequences are visually stunning as well, such as the wedding scene at the beginning, that, while lasting almost a half hour, never gets boring because it changes and keeps your attention throughout. The music is great too. You have to the love the real severed head of a horse, it just makes the scene more horrific and the showing of the don's power.
This is a movie that has so many nuances and other things throughout, that I could do a whole commentary on it and not have to resort to filler as some commentaries do (Letter to commentary people: I do not care about how you met your producer). People often compare this movie to Goodfellas, and while that movie is also a masterpiece as much as this, I think The Godfather series and Goodfellas are different enough. Either way, The Godfather series is one of the ultimate in crime drama, and really, a movie to see if you want to boost your knowledge on film making and acting. Or, it's just an insightful entertaining movie with a great story that anybody who appreciates good movies can enjoy. Either way, The Godfather is a masterful work.
B+
A soap opera for guys... 
2009-10-19 - I am one of the few middle-aged males in the USA who had not seen this film until now. I watched to find out why people think it's one of the greatest films ever. Even Kubrick, whose films I love, thought so. I expected to be offended by a celebration of mafia violence and the underworld, but I was wrong. It was serious, boring, and utterly pretentious.
Yes, the actors are good, but who can take this story seriously? One commenter discusses the great drama of Michael Corleone's transformation from the 'good son' to the head of the family. From where I sat, it seemed to happen instantaneously and without conflict. Also puzzling was why his New England girlfriend, Kay, is so faithful to him through his desertion, despite being troubled by his activities. Just WHO is she?? Then there's the Irish Tom Higgins - we are supposed to just accept that a non-Sicilian, non-ITALIAN is the chief advisor to a Don who puts family and community above all. How multi-cultural! Of course, we don't get a clue about what his odd position might mean to Tom. He's a one-dimensional character like Kay.
I found the idyll during Michael's exile in Sicily laughable. (Was the mistaken car-bombing of his wife a allusion to The Big Heat, in which Marlon Brando's sister plays a character who meets the same fate?) Apparently the pull of blood and soil is too much for a Corleone to resist.
I gave this three stars because if you like watching incredible melodramas with some well crafted rub out scenes, this if for you. That is, if you entranced by the Mob, and can't get enough of it, this film will entertain as promised. It's not incompetent or truly bad, but just vastly overrated by a public that for some reason gets a vicarious thrill out of watching savages live outside the rules (how tiresome) of society.
A Masterpiece 
2009-06-01 - I must admit I was a little scared to write this review because no matter what I write, no words can do this film justice. So, where to start? I believe in this film. Let's be clear, this in not a gangster movie. The Godfather is about family ('a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man'), it's about post-war America, and it's about a war hero, a good man's descent into darkness and solitary. Yet, it's so much more. The screenplay is amazing and the entire film is a huge quotable. An epic poem, a three hour masterpiece.
From the iconic opening scene to the scenes in Sicily to the gruesome murders, the audience is always in awe. Coppola put it perfectly when he said that it was the best home movie ever made. You feel like you are a Corleone. No matter what they do you feel they are justified and you agree with what they do. They are never the bad guys. Even Brando as The Godfather is always likeable. This man has killed so many and still you feel for this man. That's great writing.
The title of this film is The Godfather yet the movie is about the rise and the loss of innocence of Michael Corleone. Pacino shines and is always chilling. He's always thinking. He has distanced himself from his family yet when his father is targeted he's drawn into the center of the drama. The key scene of his transformation is always chilling. He stands outside of the hospital with Enzo the baker and is attempting to prevent his father from being assassinated. He succeeds and as Enzo attempts to light a cigarette, he cannot because his hand is shaking so much. Michael reaches over and lights it for him, he stares at his hand and sees that it is steady as a rock. The transformation was complete. Following his return from Italy, a conversation takes place between him and his father. We feel right at home. Vito tells his son that there wasn't enough time and that Michael was supposed to be more: A Senator or a Governor, the one pulling the strings. As Michael becomes Don and head of the family, we are almost disappointed for Michael yet we support him one hundred percent.
The acting is amazing and it always feels natural. I could literally talk about this film for days. In any time period, any country, this film is relevant. It is life changing and it is amazing. The film starts with the iconic words, "I believe in America." Well, this film represents everything America is about and I truly mean it when I say that I believe in this film.
More like the GodAWFULfather. 
2009-04-25 - When's an editor when you need one? This movie is so long that I played it on my TV, drove across the state, and when I came back, it was still playing. Since when is a movie this long? Movies are supposed to be 1:30-2:00 hours long. Plus this movie is as boring as a trip to the doctor's. No good violence, no hot sex scenes, and furthermore, it stereotypes Italians. The only decent movie in this series is The Godfather III.
For a good crime movie, get Gigli instead.
A Must See, A Must Have
2009-03-25 - Oh, so that's what they meant about swimming with the fishies. This movie is so embedded in our culture that you find references and allusions to it every where. It's a must see, or go through life not knowing what going to the mattresses mean or the importance of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer," Marlon Brando's talent, Coppola's, Al Paccino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, James Caan, etc.
Also, I liked the DVD, looked clear and finely remastered to me. But sure, if they can do better, why not :)
