The Godfather Trilogy

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I wrote this one the "what did you rent last night?" thread, so I thought more people might want to chat about the series:

Part II has two of the best scenes in Godfather history, and two of the best moments by an actor ever (both Al Pacino). One is when they're at the sex show in Havana and Fredo lets slip that Johnny Ola was the one who first took him there (after denying to Mike that he knew Johnny, thus revealing himself as the insider who was in on the hit on Michael). The way Pacino's face reacts to that, and how he almost doubles over in the background, is just incredible. The second moment is when he finds Fredo at the New Year's Party and tells him, "I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart." And then grabs him and gives him the kiss of death. Chills, everytime, I tell you.

And of course, the scene where they confront each other later. "You're my older brother, Mike! And I was passed over!" In fact, it's time for a sig change....

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I actually think Part II is better than Part I. I love seeing the backstory and Michael's arc. Part III had some good scenes interspersed with the crap.

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I was surprised to see some discussion on the Net from people who took it for granted that Apollonia was Michael's great love and that he was devastated by her death. I thought it was pretty clear that Kay was the love of Michael's life.

[LoveSparky]

I'm so glad to see that the GF movies have a thread here. I agree that Apolonia wasn't Michael's true love, but Kay. I always got the feeling that Apolonia was a lust thing. He hardly knew her ass when he married her. And he didn't seem all that busted up by what went down with wife #1. In fact, he seemed to rebound pretty quickly back to Kay.

And the Fredo scene "I'm SMAT! Not like everybody says!" is just priceless. The despair in his voice and eyes is just great acting. The late great John.......forgot his last name. He was engaged to Meryl Streep at some point, IIRC.

[Baby Fish Mouth]

It's interesting to wonder how Michael's life would have turned out differently if she hadn't been killed and they came back to the States together. She would have been a dutiful Sicilian wife, unlike Kay. Maybe that was part of the attraction.

The scene that always gets me in Part I is the restaurant scene, when Michael comes back from the bathroom. We see him struggle for several moments with what he's about to do, because he knows there's no going back. It's a wonderful piece of acting on Pacino's part, without any dialogue at all.

I didn't like how Pacino played Michael in Part III. He barked too much.

[zivvie]

That was John Cazale; he was also amazing in the Deer Hunter.

Yeah, I thought Appollonia was the object of lust (especially in the book: hoo-boy). But along with the college education, the participationn in WWII, and desire to stay out off the family business, I think Kay was part of the American-ization that Michael was trying to accomplish.

The fact that Al Pacino had so many remarkable moments in Parts I & II, yet won his Oscar for Scent of a Woman {?} will never cease to amaze me.

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Someone wrote not too long ago that Part III in their opinion was the best of all the "Godfathers".

I remember really admiring them for their bravery in even voicing that opinion. It almost Godfather lore that Part III sucked. I thought they might walk outside and find a mob of Godfather fanatics ready to have at them...or send them an email virus to make it more 21st century.

I know it's always been a debate and I don't know which side won but I prefer Part II to Part I...well sometimes. Other times I prefer Part I to Part II. I don't know!!! I'm CONFUSED!! Thinking about it makes my head hurt.

[workgeordie]

I know many peope say it but Godfather II is perhaps my most favourite movie of all time and Godfather I surely features in my Top 20. And poorfrances summarised it well with the selection of scenes. I have read somewhere that research has shown that Godfather II is the most masculine movie (mainstream for sure) ever with testosterone levels of male viewers reaching record high watching this movie.

But to Godfather III I can only say one thing - SofiaCoppola . If there is a worse actor in a Hollywood blockbuster ever then please let me know. Rob Schneider looks like de Niro in comparison to Sofia. Truly cringeworthy.

[Wol]

What is this trilogy you speak of? There are only two Godfather movies.

<<sticks fingers in ears, sings "la la la I can't hear you>>

[indygirl]

kris said:

I actually think Part II is better than Part I. I love seeing the backstory and Michael's arc.

ITA. And young DeNiro--wow!