The Godfather

Anyone who's seen this movie knows that it's plot-heavy. If you haven't seen it, know that I'm about to spoil the crap out of the first half or so.

The Godfather revolves around the life of the Corleone crime family. The movie begins with Don Vito Corleone, the title character, on the day of his daughter's wedding. Like all fathers, he spends the day talking with friends, dancing with the bride, and negotiating the hit on a couple jerks. After all, what's a wedding without some violence? When the nuptial festivities end, the Don returns to the important aspect of his job. First on his list is getting his Godson, the famous singer Johnny Fontaine, a part in a movie. To this end, he sends his adopted son/lawyer, Tom Hagen, to talk with the director. The director remains adamant and Tom gently retorts with a bed full of horse head.

Back home, Don Corleone meets with Sollozzo. Sollozzo is asking the Corleone family to add "narcotics" to it's list of "business practices." The Don politely refuses, so "The Turk" replies with classic mobster etiquette: he has the Don gunned down. The Godfather lives, in part because of luck and in part because you just can't kill Marlon Brando with anything less than a machete. His eldest son, Sonny, is thrust into leadership of the family and demands Sollozzo's death. Meanwhile, the idiot Sollozzo, continues to try to finish the job on Vito. Finally, Vito's youngest son decides to be important to the story and kill Sollozzo and his police captain bodyguard. He then flees the law by leaving the film entirely to star in an informercial for Italy and shotguns.

If you decide to watch the Godfather in one sitting, make sure that seat is comfy. This movie is longer than Apocalypse Now and far more redundant. Every half hour or so features a murder of an established character, yet this is done with such routine that it makes the affair of killing rather mundane. This movie earns a three out of five. Watch it for it's renown if you must, but know that it isn't as fast pace as you think. Warning: don't get attached to any of the characters. They will invariably turn evil or die. Or both.