 -- 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 continuing saga of the Corleone crime family tells the story of a young Vito Corleone growing up in Sicily and in 1910s New York; and follows Michael Corleone in the 1950s as he attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba. Written by Keith Loh Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Dustin Somner on February 7, 2010 -- The epic tale of the Corleone family reached a temporary conclusion with Francis Ford Coppola's 1974 classic The Godfather, Part II. Nominated for eleven Academy Awards and winner of six (Best Supporting Actor for Robert De Niro, Best Art Direction, Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay), the second entry in the trilogy is just as good as the first, and in many ways better. Put together, the two films are unmatched in scope and intensity, creating a new standard for modern films to strive for. Few directors put as much emotion and effort into the creation of their art, and Coppola stands among a select few who remain unwilling to compromise and fully succumb to studio pressure. The end result is often worth it (Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, The Outsiders, Youth Without Youth), but you have to wonder what toll the experience takes in the years that follow.Following budgetary overages on THX 1138 (directed by George Lucas), Coppola's fledgling studio American Zoetrope needed some quick capital, which led to his agreement to direct The Godfather (with Paramount). His rocky relationship with studio executives (regarding casting choices, budget, etc.) almost led him to turn the reigns over to Martin Scorsese (Mean Streets, Goodfellas, Casino), but he eventually returned to direct the sequel when he was promised a higher budget and allowed the opportunity to direct his pet project The Conversation. American Zoetrope still continues to produce films by members of the Coppola family, allowing the legendary director new opportunities to make personal films for the sake of art. Operating outside the typical Hollywood studio system is exactly what Francis Ford Coppola originally wanted to do, and he's finally realized his dream. The second film picks up where the first one left off, with Michael (Al Pacino) expanding his family's influence and power in Nevada. Seeking to separate from the tumultuous state of affairs in New York, the Corleone family has moved to a compound in Lake Tahoe where Michael can oversee their gambling interests. One of his supporters in this new venture is a powerful man named Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg), who's running an operation down in Cuba and looking for Michael to return the favor by investing in his ventures down south. This relationship becomes difficult when Michael is visited by Frank Pentangeli (Michael Gazzo), who the Corleone's left in charge of their New York affairs. Frank seeks Michael's permission to kill the rival Rosato Brothers in in New York, but Michael refuses due to the brother's connections with Roth (and his desire to maintain a good relationship with Roth). The decision angers Frank and leads to an assassination attempt on Michael's life. Intent on finding out who put the lives of his family at risk, Michael sets a trap by visiting Hyman Roth in Cuba and divulging the identity of the man who ordered the hit. At the same time, he informs Frank that Roth was responsible for the attempt on his life, and bides his time while the cards fall into place.In between this continuing storyline set during the 1950's, we're shown clips of Vito Corleone's (Robert De Niro) earlier life, before the full establishment of the organized crime syndicate. Following a harrowing escape from Italy, the young Vito grows up as a poor orphaned immigrant in the bowels of New York City. He eventually finds a wife, begins a family, and settles down for a modest living as clerk at a local shop. However, he remains keenly aware of a heavy-handed enforcer named Don Fanucci (Gastone Moschin), who throws his weight around the neighborhood and demands payment from the local businessmen. When Vito loses his job due to orders given by Fanucci, Vito befriends a local thief (Bruno Kirby) and resorts to petty crime in order to feed his family. Fanucci learns of their little business venture and soon comes calling, but Vito is far more clever than anyone imagined.The Godfather, Part II is an evolution of the style originally conceived in the first film. The payoffs are better, the double-crosses are more profound, and the sins are more severe. Michael is no longer undergoing his ascension to Don, and is portrayed right from the beginning as a man to fear. One of the greatest scenes in the film is the opening sequence when Nevada Senator Pat Geary (G.D. Spradlin) attempts to extort $250,000 from Michael for a $20,000 gaming license. The hotshot senator verbally spits on the Corleone family name, while grinning ear to ear over the perceived power he hangs over Michael's head. After sitting calm and collect during the entire exchange, Michael tells the exiting senator he can have his response right now, and orders him to give them the license free-of-charge. He stops short of saying "or else", but the implication is quite clear, and establishes the mood for the rest of the film. Michael is no longer an innocent bystander in the family business, he IS the family business. If you cross the Don, you should likely start counting the days until your execution and look over your shoulder around every corner.The flashback sequences to Vito's journey from child to man offer a glimpse into the history of a family we know intimately well by the conclusion of the 2-part film. The reason they are so effective within the structure of the plot is because they serve as a reference point for the events that follow. We've all seen numerous rags to riches stories over the years, but it helps to know more about Vito's entire life, and how he achieved such a reverent status among his peers (in the first film). Looking at it from a different angle, we can associate with Michael's actions in the present day, since we learn of the hardships his father endured to give the family a better life. Imagine sitting around as a child watching your father build an empire, and then suddenly become the recipient and guardian of that empire. As much as you might disagree with aspects of the family affairs, you have countless individuals that count on you for their livelihood. Likewise, assuming the position of Don is not something you can easily give up without taking a bullet to the head. As stated by Michael Corleone "women and children can be careless, but not men". Every move must be calculated, and every strike precise in the chess game of organized crime. 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: Al Pacino (Michael Corleone), Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen), Diane Keaton (Kay Corleone), Robert De Niro (Vito Corleone), John Cazale (Frederico "Fredo" Corleone), Talia Shire (Constanzia "Connie" Corleone), Lee Strasberg (Hyman Roth), Michael V. Gazzo (Frankie Pentangeli), G.D. Spradlin (Senator Pat Geary), Richard Bright (Al Neri), Gastone Moschin (Fanucci), Tom Rosqui (Rocco Lampone), Bruno Kirby (Young Clemenza), Frank Sivero (Genco), Francesca De Sapio (Young Mama [Carmella] Corleone). IMDb Rating (07/24/14): 9.1/10 from 570,857 users Top 250: #3 IMDb Rating (01/27/09): 9.0/10 from 194,582 users Top 250: #3
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