Quote Originally Posted by Scum-Triumphant View Post
I re-watched 3 last night and I have the flaws in it are too much to overlook. It suffers because it isn't in the same league as 1/2, Sofia Coppolla is terrible in it and should never have been cast (Nepotism at it's finest), Tom Hagen is gone and he was such a great character and the helicopter scene should never have been anywhere near a Godfather film.

But fundamentally I have real trouble believing that Michael would feel such guilt. He was a very calculated, intelligent Don that knew exactly what he was doing.

The Aesthetics you mention are stunning but 3 has more flaws than positives so I will just stick to watching 1/2 from now on.
Fair enough Scum. I think you have nudged an inch closer to my view of 3. Accept your criticism of Sophia etc.

I disagree with your assessment about Michael not feeling guilt. I must admit though this is a result of having read Puzo's novels and seen the films, so I think I might be seeing more complexity in Michael's character than the film alone demonstrates

Michael's Catholicism and his typically Sicilian love of "family" would not in my opinion, have not touched Michael in some way. Admittedly his ruthlessness and self preservation will always win out but I don't think it happened without a struggle.


By the way scum, if you are interested in the modern day Mafia, please read Robert Savianno's Gomorrah. An undercover account of The Naples mafia today. There was also a pretty decent film of this book too. It rips the stylised glamour from the Mafia and we see it as it really is.

A more academic account of the history of the Mafia is Antony Shugaar's "History of the Mafia. Not a book you can race through or read without a dictionary but it gives some valuable background about the Mafia. It began as a very noble cause protecting the poor against landowners before it became corrupted. I recommended this to one friend who loved it, the another one hated it and found it unreadable. Might be worth googling a few excerpts before you take the plunge on this.

May I also recommend Don Winslow's ' cartel" trilogy.

1. The power of the dog

2. The Cartel

3. The Border.

This is a story fictionalised account of the Mexican drug cartels. Winslow, spent 6 years in Mexico researching these books and it is based on true events. Very good indeed.


Great thread by the way.