DVD : The Godfather Trilogy : Remastered Collection - Limited Edition Steelbook Metal Packaging (Exclusive To Amazon.co.uk) [1971]

Rating: - Does exactly what it says on the tin
I've owned the previous 5-Disc Set of the Godfather (2001 Release), and I can safely say that the Coppola Restoration is well worth getting, especially at this price, and even better in this limited steelbook package.

I've compared the pictures of the two sets on a Plasma, and there is a huge difference between the two, the print on this new dvd set is far better than the other, a huge differnce in the brightness of the picture, enables the viewer to see clearly and slightly more of the picture.

In addition, Part 2 is in one Disc as opposed to two, which is great, as now we don't need to change the DVD mid-way through. Instead, they've devoted the extra 5th Disc on New Bonus Features which talk about the restoration, along with the original special features, from the previous set, being on Disc 4.

This is surely a great buy at this price at the minute; even if you have the previous set - this one is still worth getting!
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Godfather I & II - No 6 - All Time List 2008, 13 May 2008
By L. Ecclestone (St Albans) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
There is not a lot to be said about this film that hasn't been already said.
The Godfather has the word classic written all over, it is many a peoples lists of top five movies of all time; IMBD has it at no 1 of all time - that in itself is some accolade. When you watch it, and it stands up to repeated viewings, you can understand why it is rated so highly.
The actual story is first rate, Coppola and Puzo have done a fine job in adapting the book, the acting and cast is superb, the score adds to the atmospheric mood of the film and without being a film student of any type -the direction is fantastic.

There are many a famous scene in this movie - the infamous horse scene being just one - and without giving a synopsis of the movie and ruining plot before viewing all I'd say as an initial statement is - find three hours to sit down and watch this movie. You will not regret it and you will not get bored - instead you'll want to move directly onto Godfather Part II.
Al Pacino gives an amazing performance as Michael Corleone as the Military brother who initially wants nothing to do with his family and what they stand for, and of course the much heralded performance by Marlon Brando as Don Corleone.
It might be at a slower pace than a more modern mafia film, but its better for that, you can get to know the characters, you get a better sense of what is to come instead of spending your whole time trying to work out what the hell is going on and who the guy just popped up on screen actual is. The violence is more than graphic and portrays the strengths and flaws perfectly - espeically of Sonny and later Michael.

Ignore cretins who publically state they only watched the film for 20 minutes and then rate it one star, by 20 minutes of the film you aren't even properly introduced to the family - it's called an introduction - for which the next 150 minutes are better with the added insight to the family.
The Godfather has justified its reputation, it's truly magnificent.

Part II can be seen as both a continuation and a prequel - De Niro (who won an Oscar for the part) plays Don Corleone some 40 years previous - he shares no screen time with the continuation story and the parts are cut throughout the film. Without ruining plot lines / stories both are interesting enough - De Niro's concerning the arrival of Corleone in American and the struggles he goes through initially etc. Pacino's screen time magnifies the changes in Michael from the start of Part I, as he, now Don of the family, seeks to expand the Corleone Empire into areas he would not have dreamt about during the first movie.
It would be incomprehensible to watch Part II without seeing The Godfather first so please do these films in order.
Everything you got in the first film you get again, Part II is certainly on par with the first film and again is essential viewing, epic, violent and wonderful.

Part III is written off as the bad part by many, and yes it is nowhere near the standard of the first two films - but if you ask me it's still a good film and well worth seeing. Don't expect a classic but it's a good mafia movie.

The films do look a little dated now, but do not let that deter you - this is compelling, scintillating viewing and a must see for any film lover.
Apparently these are new versions for 2008 - I imagine just digitally remastered and without too many extra features that only someone with better ears/eyes then myself would notice the difference from the release a few years ago, but issues aside, this trilogy is magnificent. A must buy.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it while you can!, 5 Jun 2008
By Magneto (London, UK) - See all my reviews
The movies speak for themselves; Part I & II are classics, and the much maligned part III is still good in it's own right but obviously not in the same league as the first two. However get this limited "steelbook" edition while you can as it's very cool. I wondered how they were going to get all 5 discs into a slimline case but they managed it! Discs 1-3 are the movies. It's worth noting that Part II is now all on 1 disc (and it's all on one side, it isn't a "flipper"), whereas previously the film was spread across 2 discs. Disc 4 is all of the extras from the last boxset, and disc 5 is the all-new supplementary material. I already owned the previous boxset so wasn't sure if it was worth "double-dipping" for this release. However if you factor in the restored prints, new extras, Part 2 on being on 1 disc, the cool steelbook design, and a very reasonable price I'd say it's worth getting.

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Rating: - Nice new restorations, but why no chronological edit?
I love that these landmark movies got a squeaky clean restoration, added special features, and that Godfather II is on one disc instead of two. As a Godfather fan, of course I've ordered this new set, BUT I can't wait for a definitive chronological edit to hit DVD someday (soon?).

Previous chronlogical edits include: (1) "Godfather 1902-1959: The Complete Epic" which is a VHS-only 402 min. chronological edit of Parts I & II not available on DVD or laserdisc. Doesn't include Part III (171 min.) which would take it to 573 min. total; (2) "Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980" which is a Laserdisc chronological 583 min. edit of Parts I, II, & III (std 171 min. for Part III); and (3) "Godfather Saga" (aka Mario Puzo's The Godfather Saga: The Complete Novel for Television) which is a chronological 605 min. edit of Parts I, II, & III with added footage (434 min. for Parts I & II plus std 171 min. for Part III) done for TV broadcast only. This version was never issued commercially in any format. Some lucky people like me were able to record it off TV.

ALL of these chronological versions are slightly different and all contain at least some footage not contained on the other versions! Come on Francis, give the fans a super complete chronologiocal edit sooner rather than later!

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Rating: - It Simply Does Not Get Better Than This.
I won't bore anyone by rehashing any of the scenes in the films. I'll simply state these things: the quality of the picture is superlative. I'm old enough to have seen these all as first-release films, and they not only look 100%, they SOUND 110% better than the originals. For collectors, this set is outrageously under-priced. The quality of the restoration is simply so good, it renders me speechless - as it seems Coppola is as well on viewing the final work.

I have the 5 disc Blade Runner restoration set. This film, however, is so deeply ingrained in the Western World's movie-going psyche, that the restoration is something which will inure itself to modern-day mythology, and the psyche concerning Italian Americans/Gangsters. It a few words, it's fiercely beautiful.

Note that Godfather 1 is in Digital Surround sound now - for the first time. It looks and sounds perfect. This is definitely a work of love for those who did it, and a supreme pleasure for me, who bought it. The technology involved promises for a revolution in the restoration of damaged classics.

Any fan of these films MUST have this set.

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Rating: - Excellent Buy, Well Worth It!
I've owned the previous 5-Disc Set of the Godfather (2001 Release), and I can safely say that the Coppola Restoration is well worth getting, especially at this price, and even better in this limited steelbook package.

I've compared the pictures of the two sets on a Plasma, and there is a huge difference between the two, the print on this new dvd set is far better than the other, a huge differnce in the brightness of the picture, enables the viewer to see clearly and slightly more of the picture.

In addition, Part 2 is in one Disc as opposed to two, which is great, as now we don't need to change the DVD mid-way through. Instead, they've devoted the extra 5th Disc on New Bonus Features which talk about the restoration, along with the original special features, from the previous set, being on Disc 4.

This is surely a great buy at this price at the minute; even if you have the previous set - this one is still worth getting!

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Rating: - 1 & 2 Still Classics. 3 Is A Stinker.
The multiple assassination scenes at the end of The Godfather, intercut with Michael Corleone at his niece's christening, are still as powerful now as they were twenty five years ago. It's scenes like this that make the first movie one of the best American films ever produced. Great dialogue, rich cinematography, assured direction and excellent performances all contribute to a very satisfying experience. Brando, Pacino, Caan, Duvall and a host of other character actors seem to have a complete understanding of their roles. It's certainly not a perfect film- there are times when the time span of the movie can irritate the viewer. For instance, when Michael returns to America and meets Kay. She asks him how long he's been back and he replies "a year". I can imagine an audience thinking "a YEAR?! I didn't know he was back at all!" I realise that it's difficult to structure a film that spans many years, but it still treats the audience with some contempt. This happens more and more in the last hour, but is this clumsy pacing/editing or just unavoidable? I'm not sure. Furthermore, some scenes don't quite work- Michael visiting his father at the hospital for example. There's something flat and stilted about it. But overall it's a piece of cinema that can be watched many times and there are so many outstanding moments, it would be petty to criticise too much.
Part 2 also has some moments of brilliance and is a hugely ambitious tale. The parts of the film which detail Vito Corleone's early life are breathtaking in terms of cinematography and direction. I don't personally think the rest of the movie ever matches those scenes, partly because some of the storylines aren't very interestingly written. A business venture in Cuba between Michael and weasily businessman Hyman Roth is potentially fascinating, but somehow just doesn't seem to work as well as it should. Maybe Pacino underplays his part too much this time and there's some poor acting from Diane Keaton, particularly in the scene where she tells him she's leaving. She really is so bloody annoying in that scene! Don't get me wrong though, I do like Part 2.
As for Part 3, there's no point in any niceties: it's horses**t from beginning to end. An absolutely pathetic attempt to duplicate the magic of the first two and failing on every level. The story is coma-inducingly dull, Coppola's direction is terrible and Pacino's performance borders on ridiculous. Some people have blamed the film's failure on the misguided casting of Sofia Coppola in the role of Michael's daughter, but that's clearly a cop out. The film is crap anyway.
Overall- one great film, one pretty good film and one stinking turkey.