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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think "the godfather" isn't all that

54 replies

eedon · 06/10/2015 15:34

Rainy day today, so a bit of sofa chill time.

Watched the first half an hour of it, and just didn't really get into it so switched off. This is maybe the third time I've done it. It always seems to top most peoples best films ever list, but I just don't see it.

Its it massively over rated tripe?

OP posts:
TheWitTank · 06/10/2015 15:37

I think it's good. Horses for courses and all that -if you don't like it doesn't mean it's rubbish, likewise for me liking it!

Mumberjack · 06/10/2015 15:42

I read the book beforehand otherwise I would have been lost, plus it gave a better picture of the politics and allegiances and made the characters matter more.

Original poster
eedon · 06/10/2015 15:42

So just good? Not the best thing ever?

I've watched the sopranoes, I thought that was good and quite funny at times, but that's often called the best tv show ever made. I thought the soundtrack was often the best thing in the sopranos. It seemed very complicated, would have to watch it several times to know exactly what is happening. It was no breaking bad IMO.

I must be missing something with these types of shows

OP posts:
Original poster
eedon · 06/10/2015 15:43

X post jack, maybe its too complicated for little old me. Certainly the sopranoes was

OP posts:
Bambambini · 06/10/2015 15:46

I think it is. It's very atmospheric and character driven. And Al Pacino was absolutely beautiful!

PeopleLieActionsDont · 06/10/2015 15:50

The Sopranos was awesome. I really didn't want to like Tony but couldn't help it. Felt so sad for Carmella - all her chances at happiness were scuppered because of who she was married to. Couldn't get into Breaking Bad though. I think Godfather is very 'of its time' .

Have you seen the wire? Loved that too.

EponasWildDaughter · 06/10/2015 15:55

Watch it with subtitles OP. It's brilliant.

Me and DH rewound it and had to (use subtitles) in the end as we couldn't follow the plot otherwise. We got confused with all the Italian character and family names Blush

imnotalpharius · 06/10/2015 15:57

Not seen it. I have read the book though, several times, although not my usual sort of thing I really like it.

Original poster
eedon · 06/10/2015 16:44

Did you like the sopranos just seeing it all once?

Ive watched the first "the wire" and felt very indifferent to it Blush

Thanks I'll try it with sub's next timeSmile

OP posts:
ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 06/10/2015 16:48

YABU!!!!

Purely out of curiosity OP, what do you consider to be a good mafia/gangster movie?

Original poster
eedon · 06/10/2015 16:51

Erm the departed, city of gods, pulp fiction, layer cake. Enjoyed all of those.

OP posts:
batshitlady · 06/10/2015 17:01

You clearly have no taste OP, as those other films you mentioned (apart from Pulp F) are at best average.

The Godfather is, if not the greatest, then certainly 1 of the greatest motion pictures ever. Do you just like being controversial perhaps?

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 06/10/2015 17:04

Yes to The Departed!!!!!

squoosh · 06/10/2015 17:05

It would appear that dramas about organised crime just aren't your thing!

ComposHatComesBack · 06/10/2015 17:17

You just need to persist to the point at which Marlon Brando is shot. All the drama unfolds from that point.

EponasWildDaughter · 06/10/2015 17:22

It's really sad when he's shot :(

BlueBlueBelles · 06/10/2015 17:22

The book is brilliant in my opinion.

The film is meh.

So yanbu

Melfish · 06/10/2015 17:22

Godfather 2 is better, also has young De Niro and Pacino (swoon)

ThenLaterWhenItGotDark · 06/10/2015 17:24

GF 2 is the best, but 1 is certainly on the brilliant classic list.
I couldn't put the book down.

squoosh · 06/10/2015 17:25

GF3 is like a bad TV movie.

EponasWildDaughter · 06/10/2015 17:28

Agreed, no3 is shite nowhere near as good as the others.

Lagoonablue · 06/10/2015 17:32

You wouldn't have the sopranos without the GF. Or many other films tbf. It was a trail blazer inasmuch as it was epic story telling, sympathies lying with serious criminals, long complex story, fantastic actions, great set pieces such as the wedding.......some ace actors at their peak. The design of the film is amazing.

It was made a looooong time ago but when it was made was a different time. The period detail and the cinematography were ahead of the time to some extent.

Imho it still is a great film but seen in the context of its release date it is even more awesome.

I love it.

Original poster
eedon · 06/10/2015 17:40

Well all those movies are gangster, is that not the same as organised crime?

I got the feeling the sopranos was better than I thought it was but needed more time invested in it. See it more as a comedy really. But half the time I had no idea who the person killed was, especially in the last few seasons. If I ever had lots or spare time at home, I'd watch it again but its a big investment. I need a spider map of all the families.

Sounds like I should borrow the book at the library, that gets the most praise here.

OP posts:
ComposHatComesBack · 06/10/2015 17:47

I'd disagree and say it is one of the few cases where the film is better than the book.

It isn't a film about gangsters ... it is about family, duty, responsibility, fate, morality played out on an epic scale.

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 06/10/2015 18:45

When it came out it was new and different. It has been copied and expanded on many times since so it probably doesn't have the same impact now.