One of the best disappointments ever - only contains minor spoilers

Rating: 7/10 (21 February 2017)

This movie is surprisingly flawed when compared to its predecessors. First off, there's the acting, which was once the staple of what made the series so great. Joe Mantegna gives a sub-par performance, Eli Wallach is just wrong for this movie, and Sofia Coppola is downright awful; had it not been for her performance alone I would have given it a 9/10. And when did the mafia start using helicopters for hits? But these flaws are, for the most part, saved by strong performances as usual from Al Pacino, Talia Shire, and Diane Keaton and an excellent addition of Andy Garcia as Sonny's illegitimate son Vincent. The greatest part of this movie is that it's still The Godfather, and as a result, the character depth, plot complexity, and sociopolitical analysis are all FANTASTIC. While the first movie dealt with a relatively minor war between mafia groups and the second expanded the plot to revolve around the politics of both the US Senate and the Batista regime in Cuba, the third expands the plot even further, now dealing with politics of the Catholic Church. The soul of this movie lies in its examination of Michael Corleone's final efforts to achieve redemption for his past crimes. This movie is arguably the edgiest - it includes a shockingly casual portrayal of incest to go along with all the bloody violence. Many people think that this movie wasn't necessary, that the first two movies told the full story of the Corleone Family, but I disagree. Part II still left much unresolved, and this movie is nearly as necessary of an addition to the story as the Godfather Part II was. And as one final plus, there's an unforgettable scene involving a bitten ear.