Almost 30 year later, and still the best film ever made

Rating: 10/10 (2 December 2000)

I'm a member of Generation X and was born the year THE GODFATHER was released. I didn't see it until about 5 years ago and was mesmerised at the ability of film to translate a tale with such a respect for the characters it is portraying.
I believe Francis Ford Coppolla adapted the screenplay along with the author of the original Godfather. His young, fresh and hungry talent is the reason we have this film today.
Every element of the film adds to tell the tale of family and loyalty, memorable characters with settings, wardrobe and cultural experiences that I will enjoy forever. The rich sadness of "The Godfather" theme (composed by Coppolla's father) alone brings tears to my eyes. The Godfather is the result of a truly gifted filmmaker.
In "the Godfather" the infallible image of "Don Corleone" combined with the performance of a lifetime is horribly disrupted with the multiple attempts on his life. We see his humanity in the once believed unstoppable Santino Corleone when his own fall takes place. The growth of character of Michael Corleone is like none other I've ever seen, this innocent school boy, turned in to this cold-blooded killing machine, in the name of "business."

Only in film can we, the audience, sympathise with such heartless killers and admire the strength of Sonny, the honourability of the Godfather, and the resurgence of the new Godfather.
Who knew a bunch of Italians and non-Italians could come together a portray such a glorious image of an Italian family?
And thank God, Francis Ford Copolla stuck to his instincts and prevented Danny Thomas from playing Marlon Brando's part, Burt Reynolds from playing Sonny and Robert Redford(there are blond haired blue eyed italians) from playing Michael. There's a nobility in the final cast, including his own sister, who plays Connie. It's a film about loyalty, and family, "Do you spend time with your family? Good, because a man who doesn't spend time with his family, can never be a real man."
And for the length? A film is to transport you into another world, one that you may or may not be familiar with. For those of us who suffer from short attention fans, you should not see this film. Films today are about packing as many violent, sexually explicit images, and colourful special effects,as possible in order to entertain the Attention Deficit Generation. Thank goodness the Godfather was created before this time and thank god there is a segment of society that is able to enjoy the quality of this film.
I give this film a 10 out of 10, an honor that no film I have ever seen, besides, The Shawshank Redemption, has ever been bestowed by myself.