Doesn't anyone read books anymore?

Rating: Null/10 (4 March 2004)

Check out a copy of Mario Puzo's "The Godfather" from the library, or just buy the book (because you will want to anyway). Lots of people have commented on things they liked or didn't like in the script, not realizing that they are taken straight from Puzo's masterpiece. As (almost) always, the book is better than the movie. Please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy somewhere, and if you aren't "hooked" by the second or third page I would be amazed.
One advantage of the book is it goes into much richer and more vivid detail than the film does (a lot of material from the book was used in the subsequent Godfather movies as well -- there's no way a single movie could ever capture that much detail). It's a delightful and utterly satisfying tapestry. If it sounds like I'm reviewing the book more than the movie, it's probably because it's a long time since I've seen the film -- but I re-read the book often because it's a work of literary genius and by far the finest work of fiction ever written on this subject. If you're a fan of the film, please grab the book as soon as you can and prepare to be transported. You won't be able to put it down, and your respect and liking for the film can only grow afterward.