The Godfather (Widescreen Edition)
by Francis Ford Coppola
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, James Caan, Marlon Brando, Richard S. CastellanoDirector: Francis Ford Coppola
Brand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
Cinematographer: Gordon Willis
Writer: Francis Ford Coppola
Editor: Peter Zinner
Producer: Albert S. Ruddy
Producer: Gray Frederickson
Producer: Robert Evans
Writer: Mario Puzo
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 175 minutes
Published: 2004-05-01
DVD Release Date: 2004-05-11
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of The Godfather (Widescreen Edition)
Movie Review: The Godfather (Ecellente, Notevole, Fantastico)
Summary: 5 Stars
I read the Godfather book by Mario Puzo when I was 13 years old. I think the mastery of telling this story is what started my love to reading. Till now, I still vividly remember most of the details. My passion with this story didn't relate to how good or how bad the characters were, but to how related the delivery of a story to liking or disliking the plot. I hesitated before seeing the movie, as I didn't want to ruin that image I had of the book all these years. The movie, the direction, the music, and the cast were to my surprise a great complement to a great book.
Warning: By describing some details of a well known movie, I hope I'm not spoiling the ending for some People, but as it's a well known story, you can choose to stop reading now:
From the opening scene with Don(Vito) Corleone (Marlon Brando) dispensing favors to supplicants on the day of his daughter's wedding (The Godfather we are told cannot refuse a favor on his daughter's wedding day) to the closing scene with, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) being greeted as the new Don Corleone, the Godfather is a film of remarkable insight, passion, intensity and breadth set against the backdrop of normal family life. The traditional Italian wedding celebration in all its joy and happiness goes on outside while Don Corleone (The Godfather) carries on the business of organized crime inside the family house.
As Don Corleone receives and talks with those who have come to him seeking favors, we learn something about his character, about his sense of justice and his all important connection to his family. The undertaker, who is petitioning The Godfather to do something to the two men who attacked his daughter and were basically let go by the police. The Don asks him "Why did you go to the police first?" The petitioner gives some feeble reply then adds that a friend told him after he went to the police: "If you want justice go to Don Corleone." We see a look of pride in the Godfather's face at the recognition that he is the one who looks after his people. We are presented with the fact that there is indeed a difference between the law(police) and justice (The Godfather) and clearly justice is more important and reliable than the law. Amidst this talk of violence and retribution, we also hear the Godfather ask one of those in the room: "Do you spend time with your family? Because a man can only be a man if he spends time with his family"
As the wedding celebration winds on Don Corleone keeps asking where his son Michael is even though his other for children (Connie, Sonny, Fredo and Tom Hagan the adopted street urchin who is now the family Consigliere) are all present at the wedding. Perhaps some foreshadowing of the special connection that exists between Vito and his son Michael. Michael finally arrives at the wedding with his obviously non-Sicilian girlfriend, but yet he remains sort of detached from the whole celebration as he sits with his girlfriend talking about his family and yet at the same time distancing himself from criminal aspects of the family. Likewise we begin to understand the nature of the other siblings Sonny, the impetuous passionate son, whose brain seems to reside somewhere below his waist and rises and falls accordingly, Fredo the fun loving, insecure brother, Connie the congenial, passionate sister and Tom Hagan the measured advisor of whom it is said "He is a good lawyer, but he is not Sicilian"
As the film unfolds we are treated to display of some of the Godfather's techniques of persuasion when he is refused a favor by a Hollywood producer. Tom Hagan, who as Consigliere is sent to reason with the producer says by way of warning: "The Godfather never asks for a second favor when the first favor is refused."
Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo, a minor crime figure comes to see the Godfather to seek his financial support and protection to allow him to expand his small but growing illegal drug business. Don Corleone sees no harm in gambling, prostitution or money laundering, but he finds the idea of the drug trade reprehensible, in spite of the potential profits to be made, so he refuse the request of Sollozzo. This refusal triggers a small war between the Tattaglia and Corleone families. An attempt is made on Vito Corleone's life as he is shopping for fruit at the local fruit vendor (how normal)
As Don Corleone lies gravely wounded in the hospital, Michael goes to visit his father. As Michael enters the hospital he notices that the men sent to guard his father are gone. He senses that something is up and acts very quickly to move his father to another room to protect him from the assassins, who are on their way to finish the job. This is the beginning of Michael's transition from reluctant participant in the family business to eventual successor. His ability to quickly recognize the danger to his father and act in a decisive way to protect him shows that he has the perception and the ability to lead.
During his ordeal at the hospital Michael is assaulted by a police captain, who is in the pay of Sollozzo and who had removed the men guarding his father. As Michael, Tom and Sonny talk about the assault later, you sense their desire to revenge the insult, but taking revenge against a police officer it is said will release such a torrent of problems that it should be avoided. Michael very calmly and matter-of-factly says he will kill both Sollozzo and the Police captain to avenge his father and himself. More and more Michael is drawn into that which neither he nor his father wanted. As promised Michael gets his revenge against Sollozzo, after which he is exiled to Corleone on Sicily under the protection of Don Tomasino, until the heat dies down.
While in Sicily Michael meets and marries a lovely, spirited local girl, who is later killed as part of an attempt on Michael's life. Eventually, Michael arrives back in America, his brother Sonny dead, his father old and ready to hand the reigns of power to Michael.
Michael is reunited with and marries Kay his original girlfriend and with each passing day becomes more involved with the criminal activities of the family. More and more he is taking charge and emerging as the future leader of the family. From his foray into the casino business in Las Vegas, to his penchant for vengeance, we see that Michael has the right stuff to be the next Don Corleone.
With the death of Vito Corleone, Michael's father, the shadow of another generation of the Corleone family lost to the cycle of crime and violence looms ever larger. We hear Michael greeted as Don Corleone and an unnerving shiver travels up our spine.
I have illuminated only a portion of this marvelous captivating movie, but to capture the full impact and beauty of this masterpiece you must experience it for yourself.
Summary of The Godfather (Widescreen Edition)
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.Similar DVD Movies
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