Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17495 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-11-13
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5

DVD Description
Despite making many other distinguished films in his long, wandering career, Francis Ford Coppola will always be known as the man who directed The Godfather trilogy, a series that has dominated and defined their creator in a way perhaps no other director can understand. Coppola has never been able to leave them alone, whether returning after 15 years to make a trilogy of the diptych, or re-editing the first two films into chronological order for a separate video release as The Godfather Saga. The films are an Italian-American Shakespearian cycle: they tell a tale of a vicious mobster and his extended personal and professional families (once the stuff of righteous moral comeuppance), and they dared to present themselves with an epic sweep and an unapologetically tragic tone. Murder, it turned out, was a serious business. The first film remains a towering achievement, brilliantly cast and conceived. The entry of Michael Corleone into the family business, the transition of power from his father, the ruthless dispatch of his enemies--all this is told with an assurance that is breathtaking to behold. And it turned out to be merely prologue; two years later The Godfather, Part II balanced Michael's ever-greater acquisition of power and influence during the fall of Cuba with the story of his father's own youthful rise from immigrant slums. The stakes were higher, the story's construction more elaborate and the isolated despair at the end wholly earned. (Has there ever been a cinematic performance greater than Al Pacino's Michael, so smart and ambitious, marching through the years into what he knows is his own doom with eyes open and hungry?) The Godfather, Part III was mostly written off as an attempted cash-in but it is a wholly worthy conclusion, less slow than autumnally patient and almost merciless in the way it brings Michael's past sins crashing down around him even as he tries to redeem himself. --Bruce Reid, Amazon.com

Special Features
Main Language: English Available Audio Tracks: Dolby Digital 5.1 An Inside Look At The Creative Process Taking The Godfather From Book To Screen On Location Production Designer Dean Tavoularis Looks At Some Of The Original Locations For The Godfather Trilogy A 73 Minute Documentary On The Origins Of The Film Including Original Screen Tests And Rehearsals The Godfather Behind The Scenes 1971 Featurette Additional Scenes The Cinematography Of The Godfather The Music Of The Godfather Coppola And Puzo On Screenwriting Storyboards Animatic Storyboards The Corleone Family Tree Character And Cast Biographies Academy Award Acceptance Speeches Photo Galleries With Captions Theatrical Trailers Filmmaker Biographies

Customer Reviews

Superb
Disc 1 The Godfather
Disc 2 & 3 The Godfather Part II
Disc 4 The Godfather Part III
Disc 5 Bonus Materials

For those perhaps too young, and for those who just haven't had the pleasure yet, this is the film box set above all others you should own. The first two films are two of greatest films ever made. Indeed The Godfather is ranked No.1 and The Godfather II is ranked No.3 in the IMDB.com rankings as of today. Bare in mind that these films were made over 30 years ago and that is some achievement.

Part 3 is not a bad film, and by normal film standards is pretty good. However in comparison with the first two its not in the same class, and doesn't merit repeated viewings in the same way as 1 & 2.

The bonus disc contains a lot of interesting stuff:
Behind the Scenes (on location, music, screenwriting, auditions, storyboards, cinematography etc),
Additional Scenes
Family Trees
Trailers
Academy Award speeches!
Biographies.

If that doesn't convince you that you're getting good value for money, then perhaps when I tell you the total running time of all 5 discs is 710mins will (thats almost 12hours). Unlike some boxed sets the box itself is not made of thin card, and is quite sturdy - looks good on the shelf as well.

Think I'll start from the beginning again now...

Well Presented Classic
Considered by many as the greatest trilogy of all time, The Godfather follows the trials and tribulations of the Corleone family over a 30 year period. The first two films are fantastically realised by Francis Ford Coppola and feature several great performances from acting icons Brando, Pacino and De Nero. The trilogy is only let down by the third installment which was tarnished by Coppola's decision to cast his daughter in one of the leading roles. Nevertheless this remains an epic saga that explores all the depths of human emotions and relationships.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday, Friday...
Firstly I think the person below (Mr Younghusband) may have been confused. The first movie concentrates on the son, Michael's (Pacino)eventual corruption, the second focuses on how the father, Vito (Brando/De Niro) came to be so driven and powerful by going back in time, and taking us through his immigration to the US when he was a child and his struggle to rise from poverty.

All of the films are in this collection. Plus a lovely bonus disc - which I have yet to watch but that's not really why I bought the set.