Why is "The Godfather" considered such a perfect film?

[gorfias]

But I've found one problem with it: It's BORING!

"You're insane Goldmember!!!"

EDIT: I was given a question: what movies, when you are flicking through the TV channels, are you compelled to stop at and watch. This is one. It is a beautifully made, beautiful to look at rich, luxurious film. Watching something like that for a film lover is never boring.

That written, it is not "perfect". No film is because appreciation of film is subjective. Pauline Kael has written that "Citizen Kane is too dark". Too dark for who!?!?!

So, not perfect, but certainly great, gripping, and a must watch I think for any reasonable movie fan.

 

[LandoCristo]

I haven't actually watched "The Godfather", although I've been meaning to for awhile, but I think that the reason a director would make a slower movie would be to allow the audience to think about the movie while it's happening. Movies that are constantly moving don't let the audience realize how stupid they are until afterward, but slow movies have to make sense while you're actually watching them.

I'm not saying one is better than the other, just that you make one movie for one reason, and other movies for others.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

Definitely the first one. Definitely. 2nd one's fun and it's nice to look at, but the 1st one just gives you that sort of "holy shit..." feeling in a way the prequel films NEVER really manage.

You are forgiven for all of your earlier transgressions against Coppola.

The Godfather is just one of those films where, if you do get sucked in, you notice things like the oranges and you feel yourself interacting with the film rather than watching it. If you don't get that suppressed fear from the cops surrounding the most important marriage of a crimelord though, it's just gonna seem like a dull wedding.

I might actually try re-watching it. I'll admit I didn't give the film my full attention. Maybe if I try watching it as opposed to trying to get the person I was watching it with to do something more...involving...than watching a film, I'll get more out of it.

This thread has also reminded me that I need to watch 'Goodfellas' again.

EDIT: And about the Star Wars clips, I actually remember the first time I saw the opening of Episode 4. I was really young and my aunt had the films on VHS (wow for some reason that makes me feel old...I'm only 19, i shouldn't get that feeling) and as I saw the Star Destroyer coming over I actually remember feeling absolutely awe-struck by the thing.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I might actually try re-watching it. I'll admit I didn't give the film my full attention. Maybe if I try watching it as opposed to trying to get the person I was watching it with to do something more...involving...than watching a film, I'll get more out of it.

To analogise, imagine that it's Friday Night at the Mana Bar. Yahtzee steps up on stage to tell everyone he's got hold of Portal 2 and he's going to do a special review right here and now.

He clicks the icon, the Valve symbol appears...and then Episode 3 comes onto screen.

And Yahtzee seems shocked.

Now, to the viewing public, this is just some guy in a hat that's made a cock-up - but to the world's game-media, this is volcanic.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

Definitely the first one. Definitely. 2nd one's fun and it's nice to look at, but the 1st one just gives you that sort of "holy shit..." feeling in a way the prequel films NEVER really manage.

You are forgiven for all of your earlier transgressions against Coppola.

The Godfather is just one of those films where, if you do get sucked in, you notice things like the oranges and you feel yourself interacting with the film rather than watching it. If you don't get that suppressed fear from the cops surrounding the most important marriage of a crimelord though, it's just gonna seem like a dull wedding.

I might actually try re-watching it. I'll admit I didn't give the film my full attention. Maybe if I try watching it as opposed to trying to get the person I was watching it with to do something more...involving...than watching a film, I'll get more out of it.

This thread has also reminded me that I need to watch 'Goodfellas' again.

OP, I've got to say I'm with you concerning The Godfather. I appreciate its "artistry" but find it rather boring. Similarly, I can appreciate a piece by Mozart or Beethoven and it's complexity or use of melody but still not want to sit through an entire overture. I love how many people assumed you must be some ignorant ADD riddled troll just because your opinion differed. I too love Seven Samurai for its character development and amazing cinematography, yet I find it far more compelling than a bunch of mobsters. Different strokes, I suppose.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

I might actually try re-watching it. I'll admit I didn't give the film my full attention. Maybe if I try watching it as opposed to trying to get the person I was watching it with to do something more...involving...than watching a film, I'll get more out of it.

To analogise, imagine that it's Friday Night at the Mana Bar. Yahtzee steps up on stage to tell everyone he's got hold of Portal 2 and he's going to do a special review right here and now.

He clicks the icon, the Valve symbol appears...and then Episode 3 comes onto screen.

And Yahtzee seems shocked.

Now, to the viewing public, this is just some guy in a hat that's made a cock-up - but to the world's game-media, this is volcanic.

I think I get what you're saying...to people who really care about films, the Godfather is a masterpiece (late note: I was never debating that point with my criticism of it), but to more casual movie fans who can't appreciate stuff like the cinematography and things like that, it can be seen as a slow-to-unfold film.

[sub]Is that what you were getting at?[/sub] [sub][sub]Don't hit me if it wasn't...[/sub][/sub]

 

[Project_Xii]

I'm tempted to ask "How old are you?"

If you say anything under the age of 20-25, I'm pretty sure most people will consider this /thread. People's tastes in medias tend to change and mature along with their age and experience (sometimes). I didn't like a lot of old movies either, but I've grown to appreciate the work that went into them, and now some of them are my top favourites of all time (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly anyone?)

It just happens that way. If you don't like Godfather now, watch some more movies and come back to it in a few years and see if your opinion has changed.

But in all honesty, no one expects girls to like guy movies, so we're not going to be bothered if you still don't like it

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

[sub]Is that what you were getting at?[/sub] [sub][sub]Don't hit me if it wasn't...[/sub][/sub]

Bingo It's like the difference between a poem and a limerick. Limerick has you giggling when the last word of the line is "Venus", a poem keeps you entralled throughout the whole reading.

 

[ChupathingyX]

I thought Jaws was a really good movie that constantly kept me entertained.

Bingo! Slow paced movies aren't your thing, the Godfather is supposed to be fantastic because of the characters not the shoot-outs.
[sub]Don't watch Moon then >.>[/sub]

Uhhh sorry but could you pease explain your post to me. I didn't quite get it, did I say something bad about The Godfather? I also never said that I didn't like slow-paced movies. I also never said anything about shoot-outs.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

[sub]Is that what you were getting at?[/sub] [sub][sub]Don't hit me if it wasn't...[/sub][/sub]

Bingo It's like the difference between a poem and a limerick. Limerick has you giggling when the last word of the line is "Venus", a poem keeps you entralled throughout the whole reading.

You had to mention poetry didn't you? The one thing I hate above all else in the universe... except perhaps boxing...

 

[floppylobster]

Firstly, Scarface is pretty shit. Secondly The Godfather is not as great as it is made out to be (although The Godfather II is pretty good). Thirdly, and you kind of make this point yourself -

First off, let me just construct my little flame-proof shield around myself here...there we go, nice and safe.

The Godfather has a pretty tight flame-proof shield around itself. Sure it might be boring but the acting is good, the script is good, things do happen, and it never over-stretches itself or tries too hard to put across a message or reach out to humanity. It just presents some fairly cold, calculating characters who plot and scheme and kill each other.

It's difficult to attack because, by not trying too hard to send a message, the film has no real weak points to attack. You can call the happy ending of The Shawkshank Redemption soppy, you can say the shark in Jaws looks fake, you can say Star Wars is for nerds, you can say the dialogue in Pulp Fiction is trying too hard to be cool and annoyingly self-aware, but it's really hard to criticise The Godfather except to say you personally didn't like it.

Try to fault as a piece of film and there's very little to attack. It didn't really go out of it's way to do anything to influence or pander to its audience so it's the movie that the cool kids like. No one can call you weak for liking the Godfather. It has no weaknesses. It just has no real strengths either (apart from being stone cold cool). By not showing weakness the film appears very strong. It's just very hard to connect emotionally with it on any level. But that lack of emotion is exactly what is so appealing about it to so many people.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

[sub]Is that what you were getting at?[/sub] [sub][sub]Don't hit me if it wasn't...[/sub][/sub]

Bingo It's like the difference between a poem and a limerick. Limerick has you giggling when the last word of the line is "Venus", a poem keeps you entralled throughout the whole reading.

You had to mention poetry didn't you? The one thing I hate above all else in the universe... except perhaps boxing...

The sausage is a cunning bird
With feathers long and wavy
It makes its nest in a frying pan
And swims around in gravy.

He was so old his bones seemed to swim in his skin.
And when I took his hand to feel his pulse
I felt myself drawn in. It was as faint
as the steps of a child
padding across the floor in slippers,
and yet he was smiling.
I could almost hear a river
running beneath his breath.
The water clear and cold and deep.
He was ready and willing to wade on in.


Poetry has a beauty all it's own. But it's usually all the cack stuff that gets thrust on you. Again, take the time to enjoy the pieces you find that speak to you.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

[sub]Is that what you were getting at?[/sub] [sub][sub]Don't hit me if it wasn't...[/sub][/sub]

Bingo It's like the difference between a poem and a limerick. Limerick has you giggling when the last word of the line is "Venus", a poem keeps you entralled throughout the whole reading.

You had to mention poetry didn't you? The one thing I hate above all else in the universe... except perhaps boxing...

The sausage is a cunning bird
With feathers long and wavy
It makes its nest in a frying pan
And swims around in gravy.

He was so old his bones seemed to swim in his skin.
And when I took his hand to feel his pulse
I felt myself drawn in. It was as faint
as the steps of a child
padding across the floor in slippers,
and yet he was smiling.
I could almost hear a river
running beneath his breath.
The water clear and cold and deep.
He was ready and willing to wade on in.


Poetry has a beauty all it's own. But it's usually all the cack stuff that gets thrust on you. Again, take the time to enjoy the pieces you find that speak to you.

Yeah I don't see any appeal in any poetry that I've ever read. Ever.

It actually weirds people out. I'm apparently a 'nega-ponce' for it. I love the old, "classic" novels (like Wuthering Heights and Dracula... and other stuff like that) and adore classical music and, to a lesser extent, opera. But I hate poetry, wine and all that other poncy, posh stuff with a passion. Then I throw into the mix my love of idiotic things like insane CGI-based action films, and rock music, and video games, and it spins people out. It's fun to confuse them. Easy too.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Yeah I don't see any appeal in any poetry that I've ever read. Ever.

I do get that, I used to loathe poetry because I'd had the War Poems thrust down my throat. But then I found some better stuff and loved it. Perhaps it's the same with you and The Godfather, certainly sounds that way with Jaws.

 

[tkioz]

Horse Head... 'nuff said.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

Yeah I don't see any appeal in any poetry that I've ever read. Ever.

I do get that, I used to loathe poetry because I'd had the War Poems thrust down my throat. But then I found some better stuff and loved it. Perhaps it's the same with you and The Godfather, certainly sounds that way with Jaws.

I see your point. The only real poetry I've been exposed to has been what I had to read for my GCSE's an A-levels. It was all just...bland. The only ones that stood out were some of Shakespeare's sonnets (I do love Shakespeare...)

I used to be like it with classical music and opera too. I'd only heard small samples of stuff before, so I could never really get into it. Then I started to really branch out and discovered both all the generic pieces that EVERYONE knows (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Beethoven's 5th and 9th symphonies, Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise, and stuff like that) along with other stuff that just...somehow spoke to me. Same with opera, but lesser. I'm still not massively into that; I couldn't hope to identify any particular opera by what I'm hearing OR tell you what's going on in them, but to listen to there is some breathtaking stuff. I still remember what sparked me off on opera-style music:


Fuckin beautiful...

I can only remember ONE poem that really evoked any response in me. The old World War poem "For the Fallen". That always makes me want to cry...

 

[octafish]

My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a president or senator.
Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don't have men killed.
Oh. Who's being naive, Kay?

Godfather II is even better, Hyman Roth's "This is the business we're in" speech and the final shot of Fredo on the lake, fantastic cinema.

 

[Brendan Main]

Godfather II is even better, Hyman Roth's "This is the business we're in" speech and the final shot of Fredo on the lake, fantastic cinema.

"There was this kid I grew up with. He was younger than me. Sorta looked up to me, you know. We did our first work together, worked our way out of the street. Things were good, we made the most of it. During Prohibition, we ran molasses into Canada. Made a fortune, your father, too. As much as anyone, I loved him and trusted him. Later on he had an idea to build a city out of a desert stop-over for GI's on the way to the West Coast. That kid's name was Moe Greene, and the city he invented was Las Vegas.

This was a great man, a man of vision and guts. And there isn't even a plaque, or a signpost or a statue of him in that town! Someone put a bullet through his eye. No one knows who gave the order. When I heard it, I wasn't angry. I knew Moe, I knew he was head-strong, talking loud, saying stupid things. So when he turned up dead, I let it go. And I said to myself, this is the business we've chosen.

I didn't ask who gave the order, because it had nothing to do with business!"

 

[Nouw]

I thought Jaws was a really good movie that constantly kept me entertained.

Bingo! Slow paced movies aren't your thing, the Godfather is supposed to be fantastic because of the characters not the shoot-outs.
[sub]Don't watch Moon then >.>[/sub]

Uhhh sorry but could you pease explain your post to me. I didn't quite get it, did I say something bad about The Godfather? I also never said that I didn't like slow-paced movies. I also never said anything about shoot-outs.

My bad, even I thought that post was a bit screwed up.

You see I try to stir away from using OT (on topic) because it kinda ruins the flow of my posts. After reading it again I can see how you could have been confused, the other parts were directed towards the OP (in a rather bad way).
[sub]Thanks for your kind attitude, nice to see not a "what the fuck are you on?" reply.[/sub]

 

[Verlander]

If you find it boring, that's your opinion. I think most people find it to be a masterpiece as it's an extremely well written piece of work.