Glamorizing Scum and Vermon

Rating: Null/10 (5 December 2003)

For certain,my review will be regarded with great disdain.Before I viewed the movie,I read the book by Mario Puzo.The similarities are right on target.Coppolla accurately conveyed the book to cinema in an engrossing style,however,I honestly believe that these bigger than Life characters were more suited for a documentary.The movie itself in a technical sense is excellent,but It's stature is overstated in the archives of movie history.The Mafia,never referenced,oh really,do we really have to struggle with this enigma,in light of the fact that Michael goes to Sicily,to hide from u.s.authorities,and the mob,He kind of got a surprise there.I find the adoration of the Don,Brando to be sickening and offensive.He is displayed as an arbritator of honesty and intergrity,a model to admire? Did this group forget the concept about when in Rome.A unique culture can effectively be blended into any society,providing they play by the rules of their host country.It is amazing to me,that such a small island nation,could have such a dominating influence or admiration in our western culture.Moreover,these thugs have done absolutely nothing in aid of their native home of Sicily,such a charming snake pit that has still not joined the 19th century.We now see a myriad of Mafias all over the world.If this is to be put in proper context,it is troubling to me,that we adorn and admire such cultures.I find the tributes to be troubling,not just in the movie making sense,but in it's implications to family values,and morality.I'm certain that the commercial revenues from this movie,could have assisted areas of the world that do not enjoy the privileges of our generation. On the movie again,I found the soundtrack beautiful,however,certainly a contradiction to the henous overtones and behaviour of the plot line and characters.There is even some morbid undertones that express love and loyalty.The only emotion I detected here was greed,violence,self-gratification,hideous marriages.The most contempt is explored in this group's demands for respect,that is an oxymoron.The mindset of this movie has caught up with today's corporate mentality of greed and power.Did this movie require more sequels,so that we could start reading a book from the last page and work our way to the beginning,Like "Memento".Your user ratings are engulfed with shallow praise for barbaric cultures.After this movie was released,every clown italian or not,was emulating the behaviour of these thugs,as if to pontificate their significance in the real world.There are a ton of movies past and present,that are more significant and artistic.I see no artistry in corruption,I only see an endorsement of bizzare behavious fabricated on a shallow premise.Whatever happened to love and sensibility?Are we compelled to view the ugliness and darker sides of our nature,and,if so,there is indeed no hope for future generations.I guess I will have to check under my hood every morning now,well that kind of say's it all!!