The Godfather Collection [VHS]

Francis Ford Coppola and Paramount Home Entertainment held a press conference and street fair in Brooklyn, and yours truly was there! The exciting news, of course, was announcing the release of THE GODFATHER DVD COLLECTION on October 9, 2001! If the preview of the set is any indication, then I must say this will be the crown jewel in any DVD collection!The three films will only be released together in this set. The Godfather and The Godfather Part III will each be on one disc, and The Godfather Part II will take two discs. The first of the good news? Francis Coppola has recorded full-lenth audio commentaries for all three films!But wait, there's a fifth disc that will blow your socks off! Check this out -- the bonus disc contains 3+ hours worth of special features, including: > "The Godfather Family: A Look Inside" documentary > "Francis Coppola's Notebook", an inside look at taking the book to screen! > "On Location" with production designer Dean Tavoularis! > "The Godfather Behind The Scenes" 1971 featurette! > "The Cinematography of The Godfather"! > "The Music of The Godfather" -- two featurettes! > "Coppola and Puzo on Screenwriting"! > Storyboards from GF2 and GF3! > "The Corleone Family Tree" character and cast bios! > Academy Award® acceptance speeches! > Photo galleries with captions! > Theatrical trailers! > Filmmaker bios! > Corleone Family timeline, with real-life events mixed in! > Never-seen alternate opening of GF3! > And "all" of the extra footage found in the televised Godfather Saga!The picture quality looked fantastic -- Coppola's American Zoetrope did a wonderful job restoring the films! From what I could tell, the sound quality was perfect, and the on-screen menus looked great. And the DVD packaging looks very nice.All three films are in widescreen format with English 5.1 surround sound, French mono, and English subtitles.Perhaps the only "bad" news I heard was that there were no plans at this point to release the chronological version on DVD. Francis said that the films were meant to be seen with the flashbacks, and I tend to agree. The biggest plus of having The Godfather Trilogy or Epic on tape, or watching The Godfather Saga on TV, was all the extra footage included. Well, the bonus disc in The Godfather DVD Collection contains "all" of the extra footage, and even something we've never seen anywhere before: an alternate opening for The Godfather Part III. Francis didn't give a firm "no" though; he cited technical reasons for not being able to include all the extra footage on DVD: the different scenes are in various levels of production ("they weren't mixed and scored"), making it difficult to add them seemlessly with today's technology. Maybe, but they seemed to be okay in the boxed sets and on TV to me.Do yourself a favor and order the biggest DVD release of all time!

A great collection. I loved Parts 1 and 2 but 3, not so much. Coppola should have stopped at 2.

WE WATCH THIS ANNUALLY. GREAT PRESENTATION BOS AND INDIVIDUAL MOVIES.

Set of dvd’s in excellent condition. New as advertised. Arrived quickly. Thank you!

This breathtaking classic of American film-making frames Francis Ford Coppola as one of the all-time great cinematic craftsmen.Having inexplicablyl missed out on this piece of Americana at the time of its popularity, this reviewer bought the three-film set in time to finish it just after his fiftieth birthday. It was worth the wait.This epic saga of a mob family that cannot escape the burden of honor no matter how hard it tries (or, at times, fails to try) does not glorify gangsters or their ways. To the contrary, we grow to pity Michael Corleone for the centuries-old Sicilian trap into which he has unwittingly fallen.Along the way, gorgeous cinematography delights both eye and ear even as it saddens the soul. The Corleone family, and Michael in particular, passes through the various autumns of their fate en route to the ignoble demise of Il Padrino in his sunlit chair. He is old, bereft, and apparently forgotten.It is a quite splendid sadness that this trilogy leaves in its majestic wake. Evil is not so much a roaring lion as the end game of a thousand small decision, any one of which might have changed the game. Alas, none did.With inexorable, unforgiving and unforgiven beauty, autumn begets winter.

After my yearly view of these films and 6 months after buying the re-release James Bond collection it has become obvious to me that it can't be too long before a new edition of these movies comes out. The picture on all 3 Godfather movies (in this release) is so full of specks and the sound so limited, it's hard to believe Paramount won't do something about them soon. The new Bond release shows the technology is there for something so much better.About the movies themeselves, every time I watch #I, I always come up saying that has to be the best movie of all time. I don't care all that much about the Miami section of #II but when the last hour of that film comes up and Michael tells Fredo "he's not a brother, he's not a friend" and then "forgives him" at the funeral (while giving Neri the not so forgiving look) well, I'm just not so sure which ones is the best.#III is obviously not in the same league as the other II. It has plenty of sublime moments but:a) If not Winona Ryder, why did it have to be Sofia ? Why couldn't Coppola face the truth while watching the dailies ?b) Why cut Tom Hagen, my single favorite character of the first 2 movies ?c) Who can buy Michael's son going from law student to established opera singer in about 2 weeks ?Andy Garcia may be best thing in this movie but as good an actor as he is he can't possibly convince you it hurts him to dump his cousin or, for that matter, dump Bridget Fonda for his cousin.Still, the opera ending is phenomenal and Sofia's death scene incredibly powerful (thanks to Pacino, obviously). Michael Corleone's confession as well as his death scene are two of my favorite moments of the series so I can not consider #III a total waste.Motion picture history as a whole wouldn't be the same without the Corleones and forgive me for not including any "offer that can not be refused" in this review.

This all time best Francis Ford Coppola's movie has simply dazzled all its viewers and won their admiration. From Iraq's unseated dictator Saddam Hussain to the average American Joe, all have named this movie as their all time favorite.Produced in the 1970s about a story whose settings take place in post World War II New York, Coppola skillfully transformed Mario Puzo's The Godfather into a successful movie with Hollywood giant Maron Brando and America's favorite Al Paccino playing the roles of a mafia leader and his younger son who took over family business after the father became too old to handle the business and the elder son who was slated to take over was shot dead in one of the mafia settling scores activity.The success of the movie made its producers release parts II and III. However, the first one of this sequel remains the jewel of The Godfather crown.Vast literature has been written about the anthropological and sociological manifestations of this movie. Two main themes, however, have found their ways to the forefront. First, the movie captures the mood during 1970s America during which most communities where abandoning civil rights movements in favor of promoting retrieving their different community character and the Italian-American community was no exception. Second, the movie has been often compared to the rise and fall of dictatorships around the world especially in Syria where the life of its late dictator Hafez Assad looks almost identical to The Godfather. Assad was grooming his elder son, Bassel, was killed in a car accident. This forced Assad to groom his second son, Bashar, who was not into his family's business but was later forced to succeed his father. In both the Godfather and Syria, things eventually slip from the hands of the second generation and become more difficult for the successors to keep things as they were during the days of their fathers.The movie is a classic and is certainly a movie collector's item.

Upon purusing the various five star reviews, my four out of five star rating my stick out to you like a sore thumb. Well, I did this for two reasons:1)The Bonus features, while nice, are missing one essential element: the actors' thoughts. You hear a lot of stuff from director Francis Ford Coppola. But also, you hear way too much stuff from the producer, Mario Puzzo, etc. These guys say way too much. Francis Ford Coppola gets his due in the one documentry and comentary on all three movies. I really enjoy what he had to say about his classic trilogy. But I need to hear more from the actors. While they do get some words in, we just don't hear nearly enough from them. Sadly, Marlon Brando doesn't even appear on the bonus disc. And guys like Al Pacino, Robert DiNero, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Andy Garcia, and the guy who played Fredo (sorry, but I can't remember his name), need their own actors' documentry and actors' comentaries on the movies that they appear in.2) Now don't get me wrong, I adore the Godfather Part III. But it has one fatal flaw. And that is god-awful acting by Sophia Ford Coppola. The preformances by Pacino and Garcia are to be regarded with the highest honors, but this is heavily marred by Sophia Ford Coppola. It seems to me like Francis Ford coppola's only flaw in directing is his nepotism. If he would have been fair and had casted a better actress for the part, then the Godfather III would be as respected as the other two.That being said, I love the Godfather trilogy. Everyone I know loves it just as much. Even if you are not a movie buff, I can pretty much guarentee that you'll like the Godfather Saga.Now, I offer a brief overview of the three films:1) Ah, yes the ledgendary first installment of the Godfather Saga. Many ledgendary scenes that are now parodied, respected, well known, and imitated come from this movie. Marlon Brando delivers the best preformence of his very famous career. Duvall's preformence as Tom Hagen is also one of my favorites.2) The second installment is the perfect sequel. There's no doubt about it. This installment compliments the first part so well, that I believe that it is greater than the first. Al Pacino and Robert DiNero deliver great preformences, in my opinion the best of there careers.3) Overlooked in many ways, the final installment is a classic ending. Aside from the flawed acting of Sophia Ford Coppola, the thrid part offers a Shakespearian tragic ending, much like the first two. Andy Garcia should have won an oscar for his preformence.As a final word, if you are like me and highly admire the Godfather Saga, then read Macievelli's The Prince. It'll go nicely with the Godfather.

Before you even think about buying Goodfellas or Casino, you must buy the Godfather. Mafia films such as these are brilliant, but do not match up to the beauty of the Godfather. Directed by Frances Ford-Coppola and based on the book by Mario Puzo, the Godfather is one of the best trilogys ever alongside Lord of the Rings and the original Star Wars. Set in three parts, each its own story, not a continuation, the Godfather is not just about the Mafia; the Mafia are the sub plot - family love and trust is the story.Godfather Part I (1972) - Starring Marlon Brando as the old Mafia Don, Vito Corleone, the first of the three films, set in the late 40s to the mid 50s, is a study of the Cosa Nostra and how far family go for each other. This made Al Pacino who plays the reserved youngest son of the Don, Michael. Other co-starring actors are James Caan as the fiery oldest son, Robert Duvall as the adopted son, John Cazale as the innocent, warm hearted son, Taila Shire (Coppola's sister) as the whiny, annoying daughter, Diane Keaton as Michael's anxious and detached girlfriend and Richard Castellano as the fat, loyal henchman. This is the film that made crime a genre.Godfather Part II (1974) - Following Part 1, the second artistic masterpiece of the Godfather trilogy illustrates how power can corrupt even the most innocent. Like the first part, it's sentimental and beautiful. It runs from the mid 50s to the 60s but there is an added bonus; a young Robert De Niro stars alongside Al Pacino as a young Vito Corleone who journeyed from the Mafia infested island of Sicily, his family murdered. It shows his rise to power (the epic scene of the rooftop stalk is a must see) and his return to Sicily for revenge.Godfather Part III (1990) - An underrated film, the finale of the Godfathers shows the fall of Michael Corleone. Set in the late 70s, Michael Corleone is already an old man and has no son to pass his title onto until he stumbles across a lost nephew, played by a young Andy Garcia. Michael returns to Sicily where he wants to die. The film features Diane Keaton and Tailia Shire, as well as Eli Wallach but also Bridget Monoghan, Joe Montagna and Sofia Ford-Coppolla. The films climax is moving and abrupt. Although inferior to the other two, Part III is different yet maintains the same beauty as the rest of the trilogy.The Godfather Trilogy gets better every time you watch it. The trilogy is not a gun-toting film like films such as Scarface, but the power is in the words and imagery. The music, composed by the late Nino Rota, is beautiful, featuring the infamous Godfather Waltz. The acting is superb and the film leaves the famous scenes in your head; the horse's head. The film is far superior to the book because it is less of a documentary. Watch the films before you read the book.These are some of the best films ever made that you should definately see before you die. Films packed with power, emotion, brutality, love and sentimentality.

Que dire devant un tel film ? Immense chef d'oeuvre du cinéma américain, adaptée du roman de Mario Puzo, l'enfant du Nouvel Hollywood. Le Parrain pour moi, c'est plus qu'un film, Mais une leçon de vie. Le film qui m'a suivi toute mon enfance jusqu'à aujourd'hui. Coppola nous offre ici une vision quasi réaliste et documentariste de la mafia à ce jour encore inégalé, tout en abordant des thèmes qui lui sont chers, Les valeurs italiennes, ses origines traditionnelles et familiales. Tout d'abord sa mise en scène, Parlons-en ! Dès les premières secondes, La mélodie mythique de Nino Rota me donne toujours autant de frissons, Coppola insiste auprès de la Paramount en commençant le montage sur un long plan-séquence, sous une lumière obscure, où l'on découvre Marlon Brando de dos avant que la caméra n'arrive sur son visage accompagné d’un chat, symbole d’une délicatesse perdue face au désarroi d'un père cherchant à tout prix a venger sa fille en demandant que Justice soit faite auprès de Vito Corleone. Cette loyauté, Ce sens du respect, c'est toute la dimension que nous apportera Coppola tout au long du film. Ensuite, les décors, typiquement ancrée dans les années 40, L'ambiance sombre, d'après guerre, Des dialogues toujours aussi intenses à voir et à revoir. Un bonheur absolu pendant presque 3h, il n'y a guère de "bons" truands, la majorité représente des criminels et/ou des corrompus ou pourris jusqu'à la moelle comme Sollozzo dit "Le Turc" le réalisateur arrive à nous attacher aux protagonistes, à les rendre sympathiques. Les liens familiaux et amicaux qui construisent une véritable famille où chacun peut faire confiance à ses amis, ses proches. Il montre la fidélité et la loyauté que peuvent avoir les mafieux entre eux, mais aussi la dangerosité à s'intégrer dans la pègre ou la trahison est de mise notamment par le beau frère Carlo qui provoqua la mort terrible de Santino. Si je dois parler du casting cela me prendrais des heures... Bien évidemment étant un grand fan de Al Pacino, son rôle est marquant. Jeune et dynamique, Ancien héros de la Guerre, effectuant son service militaire et de retour parmi les siens, partageant la vedette avec son ex copine dans la vraie vie Diane Keaton (Kay Adams) sont tout deux brillants. James Caan en homme de la famille et grand frère tonitruant est pour moi débordant de charisme. Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen) en avocat et "Consigliere" de la famille est plus qu'utile pour protéger les intérêts de la famille Corleone. On a tous en tête sa réplique culte face au producteur "Monsieur Corleone est un homme qui tient à apprendre les mauvaises nouvelles tout de suite" La Jeune Talia Shire, L'actrice la plus réservée du cinéma est touchante, sans oublier le regretté John Cazale. Le Parrain provient surtout de l'obstination de Coppola à vouloir imposer son casting, Pacino encore inconnu du grand public, ne rentrait pas dans les plans des producteurs qui voulaient Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, ou Jack Nicholson pour incarner le rôle de Michael Corleone. Coppola insistera pour le garder ! ils trouvaient l'acteur fade et insipide. Ils allaient enfin pouvoir le virer jusqu'à ce qu'ils tombent sur les rushes de la séquence où Michael Corleone assassine froidement ceux qui ont voulu tuer son père. Le jeu intense d'Al Pacino les convainc de le garder. Coppola nous plonge ensuite dans la deuxième partie du film en Sicile aux paysages dignes d'un reportage, et aux origines de la Famille Corleone, Ou peu à peu les membres des autres familles de New York seront abattus en incluant des plans séquences dans l'église lors du Baptême du fils de Michael Corleone... Ce moment est juste magistralement orchestré et mise en scène par Coppola. Jusqu'au final et cette dernière image où le regard de Diane Keaton fait froid dans le dos, Coppola nous montre toute sa maestra et son génie. Chaque plan est parfaitement millimétré et frôle la perfection, son travail sur la lumière (avec l'aide de l'excellent Gordon Willis). Lors de sa sortie en 72, Brando obtient l'Oscar du meilleur acteur qu'il refusa, d'ailleurs, en signe de protestation contre l'attitude adoptée par le cinèma et la télévision, face au peuple indien, Pacino quant à lui obtient bien plus qu'un Oscar, mais sans doute le rôle de sa vie. Un rôle précurseur pour la suite de sa carrière. En conclusion, Le Parrain est définitivement entré dans la légende cinématographique comme étant un authentique et novateur chef d'oeuvre.

How do you make an unquestionably contemporary cinematic masterpiece, even better? You don't mess with the story line or any of the content of the films but you can upgrade and enhance the visual and audio presentations and that appears to be exactly what Francis Ford Coppola has done with this edition of his famed Godfather series.It is not just the fact that it is on Blu-ray that makes it better, we have had that option for years now. It is all about the fact that Francis Ford Coppola went back and reworked the entire series, virtually frame by frame by way of the negatives, to clean up some of the darker and grainier scenes as well as tone down some of the over exposed scenes, like the famous opening wedding scenes of the first film. The sound is also crisper and cleaner but it is mostly about the visual achievements, these films just look like they were shot yesterday and not back in the 70s and early 80s.There is no need to explain plot points, story lines or scenes, we all know what these films are. They are in fact, the standard by which all "gangster" films and TV series are judged today and have been for years and years. They are the pinnacle of the genre.This edition is quite simply, the best visual and audio experience that you can have, while seeing them. While the 2nd film's flash back scenes, illustrating Vito's rise to success are meant to look a little more period in scenery and feel, we now get to see and feel that, without the grainy images. Especially the darker scenes.If you own this on DVD, there is no doubt that you will be blown away by this edition of the films. If you already own the Blu-ray edition, I will tell you this, the improvement is not as drastic as the leap from DVD but it is still very clearly - an upgrade. A noteworthy upgrade.For those of you who are truly serious fans of the series, I am willing to bet my bottom dollar that not one of you would regret spending under $30 on upgrading to this lovingly restored and perfected masterpiece. Whether this work was a studio inniated money grab or not, it doesn't matter, we are the winners in this. The series is once again - the standard. Now, not just for what it is but also for the unbelievable presentation this story.

Cast = 5 of 5 StarsStory = 4 of 5 StarsCravingfactor = 4 of 5 StarsEpicness = 5 of 5 StarsOverall = 4 of 5 Stars

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