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Will someone please explain to me why The Godfather is considered to be so good?

johnjohn320

johnjohn320

Diamond Member
My gf and I recently really got into The Sopranos (Yeah, we're about a decade late). Got us into a mob kick, and neither of us had ever seen the Godfather, so we decided to give it a shot.

This movie is on everyone's top 10 list. Number 1 in many cases. And for the life of us, we cannot figure out why.

It's not bad. We just didn't think it was great. What are we missing? There didn't seem to be much cleverness to the plot-introduce about 200 characters, and then kill them. The guy won't cut a deal on the hotel? Ok, we shoot him. The sister's husband beats her up, then sets up Sonny to be killed? Ok, we kill him. The crooked cop? Shoot him in a restaurant and flee to Italy. There he meets a new wife, who gets blown up in car. Not that she ever said enough for us to really care who she was, and her entire character was pretty much irrelevant to the rest of the story. Character development? Other than Michael predictably turning from nice guy to mob boss, there didn't seem to be any depth to these guys at all. Maybe it's because of it being one of the "first" mob movies, but to us, it seemed to be more of a mockery of mob movies than one we'd actually want to sent through the 3+ hours of again and again, as so many people do.

It's not just a "dated" quality-many of my favorites pre-date Godfather by a good margin (Malteese Falcon, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, To Kill a Mockingbird, etc). It just...wasn't that interesting. We're going back to the Sopranos, where the characters are interesting and complex, the plot is driven by brow-raising curveballs, and the deaths are actually something you care about from time to time. (We've only finished the first 2 seasons so far, so don't spoil anything beyond that for us).

I know everyone goes on about the acting, the lighting and scenery, etc. But seriously, who cares when the story is this bland? I actually read the heavy-duty synopsis on IMDB to make sure I wasn't missing anything-nope. Seems pretty straight-forward.

So, let us have it, ATOT: What are we missing that everyone else seems to get so wet over with this film?
 
The only reason everyone loves the Godfather is because every rapper has that movie poster hanging in their in-home theatre.
 
The Godfather is considered to be so good because it's a really fucking good movie.

Pretty simple explanation.
 
Frankly I agree. Its highly overrated, but you need to watch all 3 of the movies IMO - not just the first one.

I also think the other movies you listed are highly overrated, as are so many of the "classics" that movie snobs seem to drool over.
 
It's hard to accurately judge it because it's been so hyped up over the years. I don't think it's one of the best films ever made, but how far behind, I'm not sure. I'm personally not a big fan, but I don't dislike it.

The Sopranos is great because it's a comedy. And you can't compare TV to a movie. With the Sopranos you probably have 50 hours to get to know the characters, vs. 2-3 in a movie.
 
I think the thing about 'The Godfather' that makes it so great is that it was one of the first movies ever to present a realistic look into what it is like to be in the mafia. It is an epic movie spanning decades and the cast was incredible for its time.

If you want to check out some other mafia flicks go rent 'Goodfellas', it is one of my all time favorite mafia movies, 'Casino' is another great.
 
slayer202 said:
It's hard to accurately judge it because it's been so hyped up over the years. I don't think it's one of the best films ever made, but how far behind, I'm not sure. I'm personally not a big fan, but I don't dislike it.

The Sopranos is great because it's a comedy. And you can't compare TV to a movie. With the Sopranos you probably have 50 hours to get to know the characters, vs. 2-3 in a movie.
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WTF? 😕
 
JulesMaximus said:
I think the thing about 'The Godfather' that makes it so great is that it was one of the first movies ever to present a realistic look into what it is like to be in the mafia. It is an epic movie spanning decades and the cast was incredible for its time.

If you want to check out some other mafia flicks go rent 'Goodfellas', it is one of my all time favorite mafia movies, 'Casino' is another great.
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Pretty much this.

It set the precedence of mob culture in all subsequen media too. The Don, granting wishes on daughter's wedding day, an inside look into a true mob family- all sons & daughters, the dynamics, power struggle, etc.

Also you'll realize the how Marlon Brando acted so well with the context: Check out any interviews with him in the same year movie was released. He's a full handsome younger man who talks fast, cracks jokes with the talk show host, with a full of spirit. (Think Brad Pitt)

That whole 'grandfatherly' Don Coleone was acted BRILLIANTLY. That droopy mouth look was achieved by putting cottonballs inside his cheeks.
 
1) Cast
2) acting
3) score
4) story (first of its kind to portray the mob underworld)
5) its ability to cover the entire gamut of human emotion, power , lust, revenge, loyalty, trust, respect, betrayal, family ties, tradition, death ....etc etc etc.
 
IceBergSLiM said:
1) Cast
2) acting
3) score
4) story (first of its kind to portray the mob underworld)
5) its ability to cover the entire gamut of human emotion, power , lust, revenge, loyalty, trust, respect, betrayal, family ties, tradition, death ....etc etc etc.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: I found a nice little summary of why this movie is so great using Google search (I did not write this but I agree with the guy who did-my wife is Italian so I can relate):

First of all, I'm Italian. There's many dynamic elements that I can relate to that are sprinkled throughout this film, and no I'm not talking about the mafia. Things like - the festive atmosphere, the Italian wedding, the interaction of family members, a sense of pride, togetherness, and loyalty, the colorful 'characters', the language, the songs, food, et cetera. You get the picture.

The soundtrack was phenomenal. I could listen to it over and over again, and I have on many occasions. Nina Rota nailed the main theme, it's a haunting melody that is one of the most recognizable and captivating songs in our collective conscious. The score is really harmonic with the ebb and flow of the film, it just sweeps you in.

The cinematography was outstanding. Using locations in New York, Sicily, and Los Angeles to the utmost effect. I really found it to complement the film perfectly. Some of the places are easily recognizable to some. Think about some of the churches and architecture, really beautiful imagery.

The ways in which Coppola used dark and light contrasts, the angles, the structure of it all. It plays out like a tragic opera, and that's a big thing that Coppola was lauded for, and I happen to earnestly agree with. Quite effective, in relation to the film. He used his deft eye to the utmost in this film, and it translates to the silver screen.

The cast. This is a big one, in my opinion. Do you know that they almost used Robert Redford or Ryan O'neal as Michael Corleone? Can you effin' imagine how differently this movie would have turned out? Christ! Give Coppola credit, he threatened to quit if they didn't use Al Pacino (a relative unknown at the time). Say what you want about Coppola the past two decades, but the man does have vision and balls the size of Gibraltar. I could go on and on about the cast, but it speaks for itself. Watch it! Marlon Brando gave a performance for the ages, I don't give a shit what anyone says. Streetcar Named Desire aside, this is one of my favorite performances he's done. Pure classic.

Think about it's influence on pop culture. That aspect, like it or hate it, is quite telling about what an indelible mark this film has left on our society, and has quite easily spanned the ages without passing a sweat. It's impressions still reverberate to today, as we speak. Think about some of the classic passages and dialogue of this film, and how ingrained they still are in our everyday discussions.

Think about when this film was made. Do you think a great majority of the public had a bird's eye view into the depths of Cosa Nostra? Coppola raised the bar, and brought something unspoken into the public mainstream. To me, that was quite an adventurous leap. I'm not going to get into the authenticity of how he portrayed the mafia, but I will say that there will be some startling similarities if you know people like that. He captured the dark side just as expertly as the light, in which he used to maximum effect.

Quite simply put, to me this is one of the greatest films of all time. Others will obviously not agree, and that's why we have variety and varying opinions.

At any rate, those are some of the reasons to me.
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I hate when people say something is the best because it was the first to do ______. It doesn't work that way for me. It's has to be the best because it was the best not because it was the first.
 
When it came out, a lot of folks who remembered those days were still alive. They had also related what it was like in those days to their children. Those days weren't that far in the past when the movie came out. Plus there was the release of the book in 1969, which people remembered.

People have no connection to those days any more. They can't relate to it even slightly. They look at the movie and see nothing of significance, and wonder why anyone would like it.

In short, they don't get it.
 
LTC8K6 said:
When it came out, a lot of folks who remembered those days were still alive. They had also related what it was like in those days to their children. Those days weren't that far in the past when the movie came out. Plus there was the release of the book in 1969, which people remembered.

People have no connection to those days any more. They can't relate to it even slightly. They look at the movie and see nothing of significance, and wonder why anyone would like it.

In short, they don't get it.
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:thumbsup: No kidding.

I guess they can't even imagine that this was what life was like for some people. It isn't LOTR people! Stuff like this actually happened!
 
This is like those "Jimi Hendrix is overrated" threads. 🙄

The Godfather 1-2 are beautiful works of art. I pity anyone who is unable to see why they are the best films ever made.

As for people being to young to appreciate the films...I don't really agree with that. You are basically saying that no one coud find anything of significance in Gladiator, The King's Speech, Last of the Mohicans because all of those films take place in a completely different time period.
 
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I have this same problem with Citizen Kane. It may have been the first to use a bunch of techniques but that doesn't make it good in my book, just historically interesting.
 
Pheran said:
I have this same problem with Citizen Kane. It may have been the first to use a bunch of techniques but that doesn't make it good in my book, just historically interesting.
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I had a "meh" reaction to Citizen Kane too. Same with a movie the OP listed as one he likes, "The Maltese Falcon". The acting was overdone and made no sense, and then the massive twist at the ending was a big "It was a fake all along! *cut to black*"
 
IceBergSLiM said:
1) Cast
2) acting
3) score
4) story (first of its kind to portray the mob underworld)
5) its ability to cover the entire gamut of human emotion, power , lust, revenge, loyalty, trust, respect, betrayal, family ties, tradition, death ....etc etc etc.
Click to expand...
I'd also add the lighting effects, camera angles, etc. to that list.
 
The Godfather is awesome because it shows a part of European culture where you invite people to a family function like a wedding when you really hate their guts and will kill them first chance you get

problem with the movie was that it didn't include all parts of the book
 
I never 'got' the movie either. It doesn't help that I read the book before I saw the movie and it's freaking terrible.

It also wasn't an accurate depiction of the mob underworld. The mob supposedly copied more from the movie than the movie copied from the mob.

alent1234 said:
problem with the movie was that it didn't include all parts of the book
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I would call that its saving grace. The book spent way too much time describing Sonny's penis size and how it was a perfect match for some chick's oversized vagina.

Seriously.

Edit: Also
 
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Saint Nick said:
The only reason everyone loves the Godfather is because every rapper has that movie poster hanging in their in-home theatre.
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That's Scarface.

Godfather is a great movie because it has a great story, great dialogue, great cinematography, and great character development.
 
Mr. Lennon said:
This is like those "Jimi Hendrix is overrated" threads. 🙄

The Godfather 1-2 are beautiful works of art. I pity anyone who is unable to see why they are the best films ever made.

As for people being to young to appreciate the films...I don't really agree with that. You are basically saying that no one coud find anything of significance in Gladiator, The King's Speech, Last of the Mohicans because all of those films take place in a completely different time period.
Click to expand...

and here I thought that taste in music and movies was subjective :hmm:
 
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