KoolEaze said:

Thanks a lot. But...now I´m even more confused.

So...what´s the BEST version that gives me the MOST and longest and unedited Godfather?

The epic with it´s 7 hours sounds like the ultimate, unedited, longest version. WITHOUT deleted scenes.

The saga has edited scenes....so it´s shorter than the epic.

I better get the epic then.

missfee said:

I saw it on HBO when it aired earlier this year. Here's the breakdown:

The Godfather Epic (HBO, 2016): Uncut full versions of The Godfather I & II shown in chronological order (Vito's childhood and rise in the underworld from Godfather II; the Corleone men as adults assisting the older Vito from Godfather I; Michael Corleone's reign of power as head of the family post Vito's death from Godfather II) WITHOUT deleted scenes.

The Godfather Saga (TV version/miniseries from 1977): Cut/edited versions of The Godfather I & II shown in chronological order, WITH deleted scenes.

So I'm not too sure what the point was of this newly 7 hour version on HBO. The only great thing was that it wasn't a cut version with commercials. The only thing that would have made it truly EPIC is to have included the deleted scenes. Now if you can get me that, slap it on DVD and mail to me. I'll pay. The only other collection that includes the special edition with ALL of the deleted scenes (not incorporated into the actual movie though) from both Godfather I & II is the three movie collection that was in stores around 2000 or 2001 I believe which is when I purchased it. Some stores may still sell it right now, but I don't see it often.

[Edited 6/2/16 5:20am]

At this point, the HBO version would, however, it would be better for you to try and get the 3-movie collection that includes the deleted scenes in its special features section.

[Edited 6/2/16 9:22am]

KoolEaze said:

missfee said:

Well Andy Garcia (Vincenzo) was excellent just as Al Pacino, no question, however, I think it was overkill. It's intriguing though because its interesting seeing an element of Sonny incorporated into the storyline, years after his brutal murder. Garcia did an excellent job of channeling this as being Sonny's illegitmate son and perhaps surrogate son to Michael. It's a shame they couldn't get it together for Robert Duvall to be included. Having Hagen missing played a huge role in making part III a weaker version of the series. Also, they focused entirely too much on the incestuous relationship between Michael's daughter, Mary and Vincenzo. Sophia Coppola may have come to be an excellent director, but she sucks miserably as an actress. When Wynona Ryder (who was originally suppoed to be play the role of Mary) dropped out of the movie, they should have downplayed the role. And Michael's son as an opera singer? It would had been way more interesting to me if he could've been Vincenzo's #2 or at the very least, consigliere to Vincenzo.

Sure, part III is the weaker movie of the whole series, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't have its gems. I really liked that we got to see an older, wiser and perhaps more human version of Michael Corleone. His character in III was sharply different than in I & II where he seemed like a stoic, cold, yet fiercely strategic and cunning businessman/criminal leader. In III, he was much more emotional and vulnerable than we'd ever seen and we even see him using profane language for the first time too. In the first two, it seemed that he was much too patient, calm and collected to have to "go that far" but in III he seemed a bit impatient, extremely regretful and dare I say, a little desperate (to hold on to his power). Shame that he died alone. I always hate that part.

Co-sign..co-sign.....co-sign on basically everything you wrote!

And yes, Robert Duvall should have been in there. They didn´t even give any explanation as to why he was missing, right? At least not that I recall.

I love the part about Michael dying alone in front of that villa in Sicily, where he had married Apollonia.

It´s a sad ending, and very profound.

I often think of that scene.

I forgot to make this comment. The Godfather is my most favorite movie of all time. That being said, Michael Corleone's character is fascinating. Despite the obvious qualities (ruthless, unsympathetic, calculating), the evolution of his character never ceases to amaze me. Here we have this war veteran, a rebel against his family of sorts, only wanting to do the "right thing", standing for what he believes in no matter the cost, no matter who disagrees, only to have to fight against all of that and become the very thing he was trying to avoid. It was interesting that because of his rebellousness, his family severely underestimated him...yet he didn't care, that is until the failed hit on his father. Suddenly, everything he believed in shattered, at the end of the day, YOU WEREN'T GOING TO MESS WITH HIS FAMILY, PERIOD. So now he's suddenly a part of this world that he never wanted anything to do with. In his mind, if that is what he had to do, to protect his family, he might as well do it to the best of his ability.....and that he did. Michael was a great combination of all his brothers and father combined: Sonny's boldness, Tom's patience, Fredo's mingling skills (hey he wasn't great at most of anything but he did seem to know the who's who of everybody, lol) and Vito's strategic intelligence all gave Michael the ability to conduct his business like a chess match. He was a beast. You didn't see him womanizing, gambling, using drugs, or even drinking much. Michael's main sin was greed for power and maintaining it at any cost. Given this, he was also unrealistic, believing that he could somehow transform his criminal business fronts into legitimate operations.

One consistent quality shown in all three Godfather movies is Michael's ever constant internal struggle of fear of losing something. Losing his family, losing his power and later losing self-respect. Remember what Hagen asked him in part II..."I mean you've won, do you have to wipe everyone out?" Michael's response "not everyone Tom, just my enemies". Even when Michael clearly has the power, he still didn't realize it. In his mind, until there were no threats, he couldn't rest and wasn't going to. In I & II, Michael never questioned any of his decisions, however, it wasn't until III that he seemed to unravel with his past decisions. I saw it as him finally realizing that he's human but also the epiphany that he could never wash the dirt away from his organization and make it look innocent. How can you uncorrupt something when there's some form of corruptness all around? Ultimately in the end, by believing that he was protecting his family, he betrayed his family. Michael was so focused on making moves that could solidify the future that he foolishly could not see what was directly in front of him.

Didn't mean to get so deep, but I really love this movie. It's so much more than just a mafia crime family trying to keep it's power.

[Edited 6/2/16 10:31am]

Today had me reminiscing about, what to me, is the most realistic death scene in a movie I've ever seen--when Marlon Brando, as the Godfather, dies from a heart attack. He is retired, playing a tag game in the garden with his grandson. And when he dies, no one else is there but this little boy who doesn't understand and thinks he is still playing a game. The last film shot is gold--Brando slumped down on the ground and the little boy laughing and running around as if nothing is wrong. Metaphor for life. I still haven't seen a movie that encapsulates a statement that strong--all without words. As KCOOL used to say--A MASTERPIECE.

Great post !

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missfee said:

KoolEaze said:

Co-sign..co-sign.....co-sign on basically everything you wrote!

And yes, Robert Duvall should have been in there. They didn´t even give any explanation as to why he was missing, right? At least not that I recall.

I love the part about Michael dying alone in front of that villa in Sicily, where he had married Apollonia.

It´s a sad ending, and very profound.

I often think of that scene.

I forgot to make this comment. The Godfather is my most favorite movie of all time. That being said, Michael Corleone's character is fascinating. Despite the obvious qualities (ruthless, unsympathetic, calculating), the evolution of his character never ceases to amaze me. Here we have this war veteran, a rebel against his family of sorts, only wanting to do the "right thing", standing for what he believes in no matter the cost, no matter who disagrees, only to have to fight against all of that and become the very thing he was trying to avoid. It was interesting that because of his rebellousness, his family severely underestimated him...yet he didn't care, that is until the failed hit on his father. Suddenly, everything he believed in shattered, at the end of the day, YOU WEREN'T GOING TO MESS WITH HIS FAMILY, PERIOD. So now he's suddenly a part of this world that he never wanted anything to do with. In his mind, if that is what he had to do, to protect his family, he might as well do it to the best of his ability.....and that he did. Michael was a great combination of all his brothers and father combined: Sonny's boldness, Tom's patience, Fredo's mingling skills (hey he wasn't great at most of anything but he did seem to know the who's who of everybody, lol) and Vito's strategic intelligence all gave Michael the ability to conduct his business like a chess match. He was a beast. You didn't see him womanizing, gambling, using drugs, or even drinking much. Michael's main sin was greed for power and maintaining it at any cost. Given this, he was also unrealistic, believing that he could somehow transform his criminal business fronts into legitimate operations.

One consistent quality shown in all three Godfather movies is Michael's ever constant internal struggle of fear of losing something. Losing his family, losing his power and later losing self-respect. Remember what Hagen asked him in part II..."I mean you've won, do you have to wipe everyone out?" Michael's response "not everyone Tom, just my enemies". Even when Michael clearly has the power, he still didn't realize it. In his mind, until there were no threats, he couldn't rest and wasn't going to. In I & II, Michael never questioned any of his decisions, however, it wasn't until III that he seemed to unravel with his past decisions. I saw it as him finally realizing that he's human but also the epiphany that he could never wash the dirt away from his organization and make it look innocent. How can you uncorrupt something when there's some form of corruptness all around? Ultimately in the end, by believing that he was protecting his family, he betrayed his family. Michael was so focused on making moves that could solidify the future that he foolishly could not see what was directly in front of him.

Didn't mean to get so deep, but I really love this movie. It's so much more than just a mafia crime family trying to keep it's power.

[Edited 6/2/16 10:31am]

purplethunder3121 said:

Today had me reminiscing about, what to me, is the most realistic death scene in a movie I've ever seen--when Marlon Brando, as the Godfather, dies from a heart attack. He is retired, playing a tag game in the garden with his grandson. And when he dies, no one else is there but this little boy who doesn't understand and thinks he is still playing a game. The last film shot is gold--Brando slumped down on the ground and the little boy laughing and running around as if nothing is wrong. Metaphor for life. I still haven't seen a movie that encapsulates a statement that strong--all without words. As KCOOL used to say--A MASTERPIECE.

I read that was all improvised on the spot. From the oranges until that last frame, pretty amazing.

.

I remember the chronilogical order version because it was on on vhs and I rented it from Blockbuster. .

Didn't know there was a television mini series but I'll pass, just please don't fuck with these movies. .

.

Most recently bought all 3 digital "THE COPPOLA RESTORATION" and damn did they do an amazing job. I mean I'm seeing things in the background I never had before, just details that were not visable. In watching how they did it, basically 4k scanned every frame from 3 of the best surviving negatives and photoshopped every frame keeping the look but openingi it up in the midtones. It's one of my favorite movies too....y'think?!

Slave2daGroove said:

purplethunder3121 said:

Today had me reminiscing about, what to me, is the most realistic death scene in a movie I've ever seen--when Marlon Brando, as the Godfather, dies from a heart attack. He is retired, playing a tag game in the garden with his grandson. And when he dies, no one else is there but this little boy who doesn't understand and thinks he is still playing a game. The last film shot is gold--Brando slumped down on the ground and the little boy laughing and running around as if nothing is wrong. Metaphor for life. I still haven't seen a movie that encapsulates a statement that strong--all without words. As KCOOL used to say--A MASTERPIECE.

I read that was all improvised on the spot. From the oranges until that last frame, pretty amazing.

.

I remember the chronilogical order version because it was on on vhs and I rented it from Blockbuster. .

Didn't know there was a television mini series but I'll pass, just please don't fuck with these movies. .

.

Most recently bought all 3 digital "THE COPPOLA RESTORATION" and damn did they do an amazing job. I mean I'm seeing things in the background I never had before, just details that were not visable. In watching how they did it, basically 4k scanned every frame from 3 of the best surviving negatives and photoshopped every frame keeping the look but openingi it up in the midtones. It's one of my favorite movies too....y'think?!

The chronological order version IS the television mini-series.