| PRODUCT DETAILS | | The Godfather, Part III (Widescreen Edition) |  | |
The Godfather, Part III (Widescreen Edition)
In this third film in the epic Corleone trilogy, Al Pacino reprises the role of powerful family leader Michael Corleone. Now in his 60's, Michael is dominated by two passions: freeing his family from crime and finding a suitable successor. That successor could be fiery Vincent (Andy Garcia)... but he may also be the spark that turns Michael's hope of business legitimacy into an inferno of mob violence.
Manufacturer: Paramount
Price: $8.14
 The Godfather, Part III (Widescreen Edition)
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| User Reviews |  | Is it worth it?
rating: 5
The Godfather Part III is a great movie if you have watched the other two parts. As a stand alone movie, I can see why some people were not happy with it.
My sweetheart and I (reluctantly on my part) watched all three parts in a row for the first time this summer. It was a spellbinding story, that is remarkable not for the evil it portrays, but in that it shows the small moves toward evil that lead us on a course that ends up in a personal hell.
For me Part III is an essential part of the story, showing that there is no good to come from a deal with the devil. Karma, Fate, what have you, will require payment sooner or later, and the Godfather ends up as a wonderfully poignant tragedy, rather that a cops and robbers kind of crime story.
For me the crux of the whole trilogy comes with Don Michael's confession to his ex-wife that all he ever wanted was to protect his family, and in the end he lost them anyway, paired with the final tragic event in the story, the heartbreaking reality, that in the end, someone always has to pay.
So here's the deal, don't bother to watch Part III without seeing the other two parts first, preferably in a marathon viewing, but if you watch it as part of the whole, you will probably find it a moving end to the saga.
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Almost Unwatchable
rating: 2
Mario Puzo's fascinating characters, together with fine acting and directing, made Godfather I & II masterpieces. Puzo was a real story teller. The dialogue was brilliant and unlike any movies before them. I never tire of watching them.
It doesn't appear that Puzo contributed much to the screenplay. Neither our love of the characters nor the amazing acting talent can overcome the lack of a consistent story line, the painful near reconciliation of Michael and Kay or the retread feel of the movie. Sophie Coppola is no actress, but Talia Shire as Connie was terrible. It was not really Shire's fault: Coppola takes the flighty, feminine Connie from Godfather I and turns her into an unconvincing, interfering "Godmother" -- ordering killings, etc. Al Pacino, as has been the case in the latter part of his career, overacted the part of Michael and essentially changed Michael from a serious, unsmiling, calculating, cold-blooded gangster/killer to an outgoing, expressive, gregarious, repentant philanthropist. The transformation, although years in the making, is not believable.
While expectations were high and unreachable, this movie is abysmal.
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Excellent in nearly every way, except as a Godfather film
rating: 5
I can't rave enough about this film. A stellar cinematic achievement. Its only fault is being the third part of the trilogy. It can't compare to the other films. I and II consistently rank among top ten films ever. This isn't in the top ten films ever. Certainly, it ranks amongst the top 20 percent. (I'd probably put it in the top one percent of all films. Too much has been made of this film to re-rank or replace it among the other two.
One of the shining parts of this film is its commentary. Much of the commentary on the first two films are self-promotional. "I was great," "The studio hated me," etc. This commentary humbles Mr. Coppola. He becomes a strong pawn of the studio. Also interesting is the skeletonized version of the plot Mr. Coppola discusses of Godfather IV at the end of the film, rolling into the commentary, suggesting a film paralleling Godfather II (the rise of Vito in the Corleone family vs. the fall of Vincent Mancini & the Corleone family).
Also interesting are the discussion of casting decisions due to self-excising from the film of a few actors. Remember - the character of Clemenza was killed off entering the second film, and replaced by a 'parallel' actor, as well.
Finally - the decision of casting Sofia Coppola - certainly seen as a gross abuse of power. This casting decision could be paralleled to casting Talia Shire in the first Godfather film. Certainly, it seemed to have worked in his favor. Too much criticism has been thrown upon her performance. She is more than competent, if not brilliant, in this role. She was even a far more experienced actress when cast in this film than Miss Shire was when cast in the Godfather. I don't see her as strikingly beautiful, but appropriately desirable. Certainly Miss Coppola has distinguished herself as an artist since.
Finally - the plot surrounding the dirty ascension of a pious man into the shoes of the Pope brilliantly paralleled a modern tale. It is the essential corruption and rejection of power and grace in a stunningly realistic tale. Even now, I shudder at the unmaking of a man who worked so hard to remake himself.
Mr. Coppola - I thank you for this story.
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Just bad
rating: 2
I didn't watch Godfather for III for years because I always heard terrible things about it. Well, they were all true. This movie is awful. The only things it has going for it are the cinematography and Pacino's acting. The actress who plays his daughter is beyond awful- that girl couldn't have gotten a role in a high school play. The plot is weak, the characters are not likable or memorable for the most part. I wanted to just turn off the dvd player after the first fifteen minutes, but I wanted to at least know what happened. Well, now I know, and I will never watch this movie again.
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The end of the trilogy
rating: 4
I had to get this movie because I own Godfather I and II. I liked Godfather III, but I wasn't as thrilled as I was with the previous movies. I think that because it was so long between the second and third movies had a real negative effect on the third installment. I'm glad that I got it, to complete the trilogy, but it was out shined by the other two. But, it is a decent installment that brings these movies to a close.
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The Godfather, Part III (Widescreen Edition)
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