 -- Part of a 3-Movie 4-Disc Boxed Set -- Some of the greatest masterpieces in cinema history, "The Godfather Collection" is the saga of the generations of successive power within the Corleone crime family, told in three films of staggering magnitude and vision, masterfully exploring themes of power, tradition, revenge and love. "The Godfather" (1972, 175 min.) - Adapted from Mario Puzo's best-selling novel, Francis Ford Coppola's epic masterpiece features Marlon Brando in his Oscar-winning role as the patriarch of the Corleones. Director Coppola paints a chilling portrait of the Sicilian clan's rise and near fall from power in America, masterfully balancing the story between the Corleone's family life and the ugly crime business in which they are engaged. Winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. "The Godfather, Part II" (1974, 200 min.) - This brilliant sequel continues the saga of two generation of successive power within the Corleone family. Coppola tells two stories: the roots and rise of a young Don Vito (Robert De Niro), and the ascension of Michael (Al Pacino) as the new Don. Winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. "The Godfather, Part III" (1990, 170 min.) - Now in his 60's, Michael Corleone 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. This special collection also includes an additional disc containing over 3 hours of bonus material. Storyline: The story begins as "Don" Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia "family", oversees his daughter's wedding with his wife Carmela. His beloved son Michael has just come home from the war, but does not intend to become part of his father's business. Through Michael's life the nature of the family business becomes clear. The business of the family is just like the head of the family, kind and benevolent to those who give respect, but given to ruthless violence whenever anything stands against the good of the family. Don Vito lives his life in the way of the old country, but times are changing and some don't want to follow the old ways and look out for community and "family". An up and coming rival of the Corleone family wants to start selling drugs in New York, and needs the Don's influence to further his plan. The clash of the Don's fading old world values and the new ways will demand a terrible price, especially from Michael, all for the sake of the family. Written by Charlie Ness Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Dustin Somner on February 7, 2010 -- Reviewing a production as profound as The Godfather is a great pleasure and also an exercise in futility. Those who haven't seen the film aren't likely to rush out and grab a copy based solely on my affectionate analysis, and long-time fans shouldn't need additional prodding. As such, I'll leave the rigorous debating to the film historians, and simply focus on the success of the film, as well as my personal opinion on its relevance.Last year, I went on a 26-mile backpacking trip with a group of six friends with a variety of backgrounds. One of the guys in the group was raised without a television, and spent the better part of his 20's catching up on everything he missed in his childhood. As an outdoor lover, I find it hard to criticize anyone who chose to promote physical activity rather than sitting in front of the television, so despite the shock of a television-free childhood, I could understand his parents reasoning. What I couldn't understand, is how he managed to dig into everything under the sun during the past 12 years, and never take the time to watch The Godfather trilogy. He earned his fair share of group chastising while the rest of us praised Coppola's cinematic gems, and eventually promised to watch the films back-to-back during the inevitable recovery period at the conclusion of our trip. Whether or not he followed through is irrelevant, but our group discussion of The Godfather brought two things to light. First, I've never stumbled across another film series with such a loyal following. If you walk down the street and ask ten people if they've seen The Godfather, I'd imagine nine of them will say yes. Second, everyone who views the film will come away with a different analysis of what makes it so profound. Coppola didn't simply make an entertaining film; he made a masterpiece with limitless appeal. Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) is a well-respected leader among the Italian-American community. Hidden beneath the exterior of a businessman in the olive oil trade, Vito is a charming dictator with his hands in a variety of legitimate and criminal ventures. One day, the Corleone patriarch is approached by the representative of a rival family with a request for assistance in a profitable narcotics venture, which Vito refuses. This sets off a tragic war between the two families, and eventually leads to a leadership transfer from Vito to his son Michael (Al Pacino). Michael is a well-educated young man with conflicting ambitions. On the one hand, he wants to legitimize the family business and escape the violent world of organized crime. However, he soon realizes the rival families are out to ruin the Corleone family, and intend to remove the head of the organization in order to cripple the body. With a constant target on his back, Michael is forced down a crash-course on betrayal and deception, as he furiously battles to protect everything his father built.Nominated for eleven Academy Awards and winner of three (Best Picture, Best Writing, and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Marlon Brando), the 1972 release of The Godfather is an epic portrayal of organized crime, told through the sympathetic eyes of the individuals embroiled within the conflict. Heroes become villains and vice-versa, until the lines between good and evil converge onto a singular path. In many ways, the meteoric rise of the Corleone family could be compared to the rise of the American nation in the years following World War II, making The Godfather the quintessential "American" movie during the early 1970's. Naturally, there are a myriad of reasons why the film became such a huge success, but to this viewer it boils down to two key factors. Pure, unapologetic glee at witnessing the power of greed coupled with self-righteousness, and the violent struggle that results when humans attempt to take what isn't theirs. In my personal opinion, there has never been another film (except perhaps The Godfather, Part II) that captures the essence of a lifestyle that seems entirely foreign to 99.9 percent of the population, but also draws an associative link with 90 percent of viewers. I still can't comprehend how Coppola pulled off the balance in such a rewarding fashion, but it remains a true testament to his ability as a director.Despite Marlon Brando's iconic portrayal of Don Vito Corleone and his resulting Best Actor award, this will always be Al Pacino's film. Stepping into the shoes of Michael Corleone had to be an ominous undertaking for a 32 year-old actor with only two films under his belt, but Pacino quickly demonstrated his worth as the conflicted successor to the family business. Standing next to accomplished actors such as Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, and James Caan, Pacino likely felt like a fish out of water during the initial days of filming, but when you consider his character is initially portrayed as an outcast from the family business, he seems the perfect fit for Coppola's vision. His slight frame, wide-eyed expressions, and unusual tendency to hunch over make him appear far less capable of filling his father's massive shoes. Yet his vicious cunning and willingness to do whatever it takes draws the respect of his peers, and propels him into an almost god-like status. I often wonder where the Pacino of those days disappeared to, but perhaps we're simply realizing the importance of a talented director in bringing out the best in his actors. If you chose not to pick up the original 4-disc collection containing The Godfather trilogy, and you despise The Godfather, Part III enough to pass on the wealth of special features included in the prior release, this is your opportunity to add a historical classic to your collection. From a personal standpoint, I'd much rather own all three films and a wealth of special features, but that's coming from a guy who doesn't dislike the third entry in the series. From a technical point of view, this is the same lovely presentation featured in the original set, which stands as the definitive example of what's possible when you clean the original elements rather than tampering with them. Cast Notes: Marlon Brando (Don Vito Corleone), Al Pacino (Michael Corleone), Diane Keaton (Kay Adams Corleone), Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen), Richard S. Castellano (Peter Clemenza), James Caan (Santino "Sonny" Corleone), Sterling Hayden (Police Captain McCluskey), Talia Shire (Constanzia "Connie" Corleone Rizzi), John Marley (Jack Woltz), Richard Conte (Don Emilio Barzini), Al Lettieri (Sollozzo "The Turk"), Abe Vigoda (Sal Tessio), Gianni Russo (Carlo Rizzi), John Cazale (Frederico "Fredo" Corleone), Rudy Bond (Ottilio Cuneo). IMDb Rating (07/24/14): 9.2/10 from 861,271 users Top 250: #2 IMDb Rating (01/27/09): 9.1/10 from 337,562 users Top 250: #2
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