SPOILER

I LAUGHED so hard when Michael's daughter took one in the chest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not really -- but after all that's transpired in the trilogy, it's not easy to feel sorry for the Corleones.

I really like III, the only big drawback is the lack of Duvall - it would have been SO amazing to build the film around his death, just as the first featured Sonny's murder, the second had Fredo wacked by Michael, and to have Tom - the non-blood brother but the noblest of them all - die and leave Michael truly alone, would have been profound, but the studio rejected Duvall's salary. Idiot cheapskates - this is the final instalment of The Godfather - it's gonna kill at the box office - pay the man!

The film would have been better received if the studio had let Coppola use his preferred title - 'The Death of Michael Corleone', he imagined it as more of an epilogue than a part III. I think it's a fantastic film, and any weaker moments are worth it for that final shot of old Michael, tiny and alone, tumbling out of an outdoor chair, a single orange rolling out from his hand as he dies.

On that note, are oranges 'souls' in these films?

@glomps and nibbles said:

I pay the same amount of respect to The Godfather III and The Godfather II just like i pay to Brando's Godfather. Godfather III has a nice story line and Michael's enemies are really powerful and are a threat to the Pope too.

Spoilers below. Just before the credits roll, the shot of old Michael sitting on a chair and reflecting on his life really hurts and gets me every time. An old and lonely Michael thinking about all the people he knew are no longer there to accompany him, his father, his brothers, his loyal men, his wife, his sister and his beloved children.

I know....a very fitting end to his story. You couldn't help but feel sorry for him. I expected there to be a Godfather IV with Vincent as the focus but after 25 years I guess that's not going to happen.

@Angel8080 said:

I'm actually a fan Godfather III. This one got a lot of criticism but I thought it was perfect. The only thing that would have made it better was if Robert Duvall was in it. Yeah, Sofia Coppola's acting was a little stilted...but still not too bad. The ending made the trilogy complete. It was painful and poignant. My favorite will always be the first Godfather but I rank III and II equally.

You probably also liked Rocky V if you liked Godfather III

It was a good idea, but had a lot of mistakes ... shoot Joyey Zaza then shout "ZAZAAA!!!" & why did everyone die at the end?

I liked it. I think it gets a lot of flack because expectations were so high, being a follow up to a couple of classic films.

@emnel said:

It was a good idea, but had a lot of mistakes ... shoot Joyey Zaza then shout "ZAZAAA!!!" & why did everyone die at the end?

I love that scene. Something about the name Zaazaa and the way he says it.

I love the way Connie became all gansta! Also, the Vatican financier guy -- I love the way he is seen falling down the stairwell in his full religious regalia!

I loved it when we get to see Enzo the baker -- a call back to the first Godfather.

You probably also liked Rocky V if you liked Godfather III

Actually I was surprised how non-bad Rocky V was. I bought the Rocky box set in preparation for Creed, and was surprised how my preferences differed from popular opinion on this series. V was directed by the director of the original, and was a return to a more intimate drama, like the original, with a good performance from the young Sage Stallone (R.I.P). I found it more engaging than the fun-but-hollow Rocky IV which was a breezy music video by comparison.

Rocky V and Godfather III are both underated films.

@glomps and nibbles said:

The Godfather III is definitely underrated. The meeting room hit is an awesome scene which reminded of the highway hit in Brando's Godfather.

Yeah the hit is a nice action sequence and the mystery leading up to Eli Wallach's involvement is great, as is Connie's sick gangsta move of poisoning him.

Thinking about it, the film could have focused more on her transition to being Lady MacBeth. Once the studio spoiled everything by not paying Duvall enough to return, they should have looked to the other Corleone sibling and concentrated on Micheal's relationship to Connie.

She jumped from being the mousey victim of the first two films to a confident and ruthless Corleone general. It would have been great to see this trajectory, and maybe even have her surpass Michael in villainy. Much is made of Michael's loneliness, but he has a sister who he could confide in, and not enough is made of this rich dramatic vein.

@Drooch said:

I really like III, the only big drawback is the lack of Duvall - it would have been SO amazing to build the film around his death, just as the first featured Sonny's murder, the second had Fredo wacked by Michael, and to have Tom - the non-blood brother but the noblest of them all - die and leave Michael truly alone, would have been profound, but the studio rejected Duvall's salary. Idiot cheapskates - this is the final instalment of The Godfather - it's gonna kill at the box office - pay the man!

The film would have been better received if the studio had let Coppola use his preferred title - 'The Death of Michael Corleone', he imagined it as more of an epilogue than a part III. I think it's a fantastic film, and any weaker moments are worth it for that final shot of old Michael, tiny and alone, tumbling out of an outdoor chair, a single orange rolling out from his hand as he dies.

On that note, are oranges 'souls' in these films?

OMG! I never noticed the orange rolling when Michael dies. I thought you were kidding, so I had to watch that scene and by gummy there it was! It's sort of a long shot so you do have to look carefully but the orange is there.

OMG! I never noticed the orange rolling when Michael dies. I thought you were kidding, so I had to watch that scene and by gummy there it was! It's sort of a long shot so you do have to look carefully but the orange is there.

Yep. I'm not entirely sure of their significance but they pop up around death scenes. Vito Corleone obviously drops his freshly-purchased oranges when he gets shot (but survives) and I believe he's messing around with an orange peel in his mouth when he has a fatal heart attack.

I seem to recall a bowl of oranges on a table around which all the heavy gangster families are sat in Godfather II, and believe they all perish at Michael's hand at some point.

I'm sure there are more, but it really helps close the story in Godfather III to have Michael roll an orange on his death. That brief moment makes the flawed third film worthwhile. They really should have kept Coppola's original title - 'The Death of Michael Corleone'.

@Drooch said:

OMG! I never noticed the orange rolling when Michael dies. I thought you were kidding, so I had to watch that scene and by gummy there it was! It's sort of a long shot so you do have to look carefully but the orange is there.

Yep. I'm not entirely sure of their significance but they pop up around death scenes. Vito Corleone obviously drops his freshly-purchased oranges when he gets shot (but survives) and I believe he's messing around with an orange peel in his mouth when he has a fatal heart attack.

I seem to recall a bowl of oranges on a table around which all the heavy gangster families are sat in Godfather II, and believe they all perish at Michael's hand at some point.

I'm sure there are more, but it really helps close the story in Godfather III to have Michael roll an orange on his death. That brief moment makes the flawed third film worthwhile. They really should have kept Coppola's original title - 'The Death of Michael Corleone'.

Another orange scene -- Michael is eating an orange in Godfather II when he gives some sort of death order. It was either about Fredo or Roth, I think.

Sorry if I am out of sync with this reply - I haven't quite figured out this database's workings yet !! Anyway - I too would have liked to have seen a "Godfather IV" with Andy Garcia as the new Don. He is a good actor and I think he would have made a great job of it - Note to FFC - it's not too late you know!!!