Rating: 
Summary: Part III can be refused, but I and II make this set a deal..
Review: "The Godfather" trilogy is an extremely powerful set of movies, and despite the fact that most people, like myself, consider Part 3 decidedly inferior to Parts 1 and 2, I wholeheartedly endorse the entire set because of consistent picture quailty...not to mention the fact that Parts 1 and 2 are surely worth calling "classic" in anyone's book. If Director Francis Ford Coppola's cinematic techniques were tried and true (consider the Michael-and-Kay love story, with its lush music, nostalgic, post-World War II Manhattan and Kay's New England town under the spreading elms), contemporary audience were a bit stunned by the violence inherent in Mario Puzo's novel when rendered in celluoid. However, that tonic "clicked" with the post-Vietnam war audience's mood of resignation, betrayal and defeat. Godfather I shows the routine way in which the Corleone gangsters betray cynical and even patholgical cold-heartedness toward "enemies" while remaining cuddly and lovable within the context of the Corleone family. Marlon Brando revived his career as family patriarch Don Corleone, magnificently portraying the Don's the struggle to reconcile the "family business"--as extortion, bootlegging, murder, double-crossing, and bribery, with an equal and opposite desire to appear "respectable." Godfather I won the Oscar for Best Picture (1972) and Brando picked up the Best Actor award. Godfather II (1974) is even more cynical. In a role beautifully rendered by Al Pacino, son Michael Corleone never wanted to get involved in The Family's criminal activities, and part of both Godfathers I and II center around Michael's ironic struggle to become "legitimate" while extending the family's reach to new areas. These movies have stellar casts: great actors who maintain sympathy for the main characters while they do the most gruesome things. (The cast in Godfather I features Marlon Brando as Don Corleone; other principal actors like Al Pacino, Diane Keaton and Robert Duvall appear in Godfathers II and III as well.) When I first saw Godfather II in a theater, the audience drew an inrush hiss of air at Kay's ironic and naive comment to Michael: "People don't just have President's assassinated." But of course, this was 1960 and the Hyman Roth character (played by Lee Strasberg) was not far from the real-life Meyer Lansky--who was killed by mob fiat. Undoubtedly JFK's 1963 assassination added volatile fuel to the ironies of time that powered that powerful movie. Like its contemporary "Chinatown," Godfather II was saying things that many people were thinking, but not quite feeling free enough to say out loud. Of course, Godfather II is really two movies in one: the story of Vito Corleone between the time he lands in America (1901) and reaches star quality as a mobster/financial respect (1926)--that story alernates with the sequences set in 1958-59 described above. As in Godfather 1, always in the background (and occasionally erupting into humor: "Gentlemen, we are not communists!") is the duality of the American mobster as thug and as ruthless businessman. Of course, this duality of "family" is a running motif in HBO's "Sopranos" series, which owes a heavy debt to the Godfather movies in more than just trivia references. In playing up its moral ambiguity, Godfather II implicitly asks us viewers: is there that much difference between mobsters and some "solid citizens"? The number of corrupt businessmen and sleazy politicians who appear in Godfather II confirm Michael Corleone's remark to a hostile Senator, "We're all part of the same hypocrisy." "Michael, we're bigger than U.S. Steel" remarks the elderly Jewish criminal Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg) as the Corleone family considers making an "investment" in business-friendly, pre-Castro Cuba.
Godfathers I and II deal with so many themes and do so brilliantly: the rise of organized crime in America, life within a Mafia "family," the tenuous relationship between father and son, the adaptation (and growth) of organized crime in post-World War II America, and Michael's ironic struggle to get OUT of organized crime but finds it isn't as easy as he thought. Most people would agree that Godfathers I and II are great films. Godfather III is more problematic. Set in 1979, the Corleone Family's skulduggery extends globally, even to the Vatican. Some problems: Sofia Coppola (director's daughter) gave a not-too-convincing turn as Michael's grown-up daughter. The film "quotes" from the earlier films too much--beginning with a family festa, a bloodbath in the middle, the final bloodbath at the end, and ironic juxtaposition with religion. It's merely a good movie, not a great one. For heaven's sake, don't see Godfather III first. There are just too many in-jokes from the earlier editions. But I definitely recommend the boxed collection, which contains enough outtakes to satisfy most cinemaphiles. Print quality of the DVD's is quite good (but not perfect). My best guess is that they came from Paramount's archives.
Rating: 
Summary: We waited ... and got stiffed.
Review: Luckily I won't have to consider buying this long awaited DVD disappointment. A friend of mine picked it up the day of release and she had a viewing party. There is no need here to address the greatness of the The Godfather and The Godfather II, they are superb, wonderful, amazing films. However... this package we had to wait so long for is awful. Here's my first problem with it (and it's THE major problem)- The films were NOT restored for this release. The source prints used for the first two movies were damaged. Numerous wear spots and flecking, graininess in many scenes. Artifacts are readily apparent and often distract. What a blunder, what sheer laziness and bottom line gluttony. I can understand the greed-head thinking on Paramounts part, they didn't have to spend any extra money on restoration to satisfy film buffs, DVD collectors and assorted video geeks as they would have normally for a DVD release of a film classic (i.e. Warner's brilliant Citizen Kane release). This is one of the most popular films of all time and the public at large will buy, buy, buy. Unfortunately, they are right. The other major problem I have? Being forced to pay for the awful, mind numbing bad Godfather III to get the first two films. Unconscionable. I have a prediction. In about 12 to 18 months from now you will hear about Paramount bringing to market SuperDelux - Extra Special Editions of the Godfather films, touting FULL RESTORATION and each film will be sold separately at a retail price of about $30-$35 or there abouts.
Rating: 
Summary: Coppola's revenge
Review: Francis Ford Coppola's "Godfather" films continue to be treated with the respect due the dons of American gangster movies, with Paramount going all out on a state-of-the-art five-disc set that marks the trilogy's debut on DVD. Whatever ambivalence the studio has exhibited over the years toward Coppola's three films has clearly faded. The box set is beautifully presented, with care and class evident at every turn. The creative decisions reportedly were made almost exclusively by Coppola and his Zoetrope Prods. Coppola's love -- and obsession -- are evident throughout. "The Godfather DVD Collection" clocks in at a massive 745 minutes. Coppola provides new director's commentary on all three films, adding to the already significant body of knowledge and lore attached to them. His comments are focused and instructive, with pauses that let the films' content amplify his points. Coppola's commentary strips away a good bit of the first film's mystique. Shot on a tight budget, the production was "pretty flimsy," he says. Doubles are used extensively to speed shooting. Extras blunder their way into shots. A key actor can't handle his lines while facing the great Brando. Even the great wedding scene was rushed and fudged. Slight of hand is everywhere. It was all "very sloppy," Coppola admits. The set's extra features run from the sublime -- Marlon Brando's screen test; an alternative opening to "Godfather III" -- to the absurd -- Coppola actually spends screen time detailing the quality of the grommets that bind his shooting notes together. Cinematographer Gordon Willis' yellows and tannic browns of "The Godfather" are rendered beautifully, while the coal-mine blacks of "Godfather II" provide a dramatic contrast to its subdued flesh tones. Both films have minor speckling throughout, due to age and the limitations of 1970s film stock. The more contemporary "Godfather III" (1990) is pristine, however. All three films offer a bit more picture information than previous video releases, including the ambitious laser set of 1997. Detail is greatly enhanced despite the heavy shadows and high contrast. Taken as a whole, these sure-handed transfers deliver a highly artistic presentation.
Rating:
Summary: Fredo, I know it was you. You broke my heart.
Review: I love this set. The movies have never looked or sounded so good. Pacino is the best.
Rating: 
Summary: They made me an offer, and I refused!
Review: Talk about the DVD DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR! Like many, I've been waiting for this release but I couldn't believe the shabby quality associated with it. Paramount blew it!
Many would like to have seen the release of the Godfather Saga/Epic, but that didn't happen so this 5 disk set had to do.
And it was horrible.
Godfather 1 and 2 are excellent movies. Godfather 3 was a huge disappointment.
Having said that, I still purchased this 5 disk set, hoping to view them in all the technical splendor Paramount had to offer.
Apparently, they had none and released this poor quality offering for the money only, not for any artistic reasons.
The video transfer is horrible but the audio was very good. But, I want to watch AND hear a good movie.
I returned this 5 disk set today and will not buy any subsequent release until I've read as many reviews as possible.
Francis made Godfather 3 for the money and it appears Paramount released this disappointment for the same reason.
Rating:
Summary: An offer even I couldn't refuse
Review: Damn... I'm still stunned from the preformances. I don't need to say any more than mamamia get this Blockbuster of a movie, or more appropiatly should I say the milestone of cinematic history forever
Rating:
Summary: a classic
Review: what can i say!?
i love the godfather!
Rating:
Summary: Ripoff
Review: It is ridiculous that we are expected to pay ... for two good films, one laughable attempt and a disc of "bonus" materials that you watch once for the novelty then put away forever. Give me Godfather One and/or Two, but don't expect me to pay good money for the distressingly awful Godfather Three. My recommendation? Rent it for now and wait for a fair price for the two films you really want to see.
Rating:
Summary: Paramount lays ANOTHER egg!
Review: Why did Coppola abuse his Zoetrope studio to release this? What we have (for $75.00) is a non-restored poorly packaged mess that reeks of "rush job".No THX,no picture restoration.Insult to injury is forcing the digestion of "Part 3" when no one wants to see Sophia Coppola perform as bad as a second rate high school actress.Paramount is the worst major producer of re-issued DVD's.The Godfather Collection is unfortunatley no exception.Buy this used.Something tells me many will be available,including my copy.
Rating: 
Summary: "It wasn't what I wanted"
Review: While it's a good thing that the three movies have been released in DVD format. I expected much more. In the early '80 NBC ran the GF1 and GF2 in cronological order with all of the out takes. The movie started with young Vito in Sicily and ended with Micheal making a deal with the Sicilian mob over the heroin business started by Solozzo and Barzini. This was what I was expecxting with this DVD, all of the out takes incorporated into the movie. I felt that this offering was simply Francis Ford Copolla rasing money to keep his wine vinyard. He took the three movies, put them in DVD format, dug up some old interviews, a family tree with descriptions of some of the members, slapped it together in a package with a large price tag. Some of the desciptions had major mistakes. Like they say Michael Killed Solozzo and the police captian in a "Brooklyn" resturant. Sorry that should have been a Bronx resturant. I wish they would have released the NBC movie instead. I think the name of that movie was "Mario Puzzo's the Godfather a novel for TV", and for us dye hard fans of these great movies that would have fit the bill. What they released made me feel as though I was taken advantage of. Just when I thought I had enough they pull me back in".
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