Well worth the time

Rating: 10/10 (12 November 2000)

I find it extremely disheartening that people would complain about the length of "The Godfather." Unlike most movies of the three hour duration, I find that when I view "Godfather," not once do I look at my watch or think about how long it is. And that is simply because it is the closest thing to perfection on film that we have yet to see. Never once do I question it when I see this ranked as the #1 film on various lists. Coppola, despite a shaky career of hits and misses, created a structural story so memorable and unmatched that it must have the three hour length to fully develop into a nuanced story, setting the stage for its successors. And I challenge anyone to find a more memorable screen performance than Marlon Brando. So for those of you who don't like three hour movies, you'd better stick to the 90 minute masterpieces like "Cruel Intentions" and "Gone in 60 Seconds." You'll probably understand them better.