Different than the first 2 but deserves the same respect

Rating: 9/10 (28 February 2008)

The Godfather Part III is, what I think; one of the most underrated movies ever made. It is definitely on my own personal "Top 10 Most Underrated Movies" list. My question is: why? The possible answer: It is too different than the first 2. And this is very true, as different as Part II was from the first, they were still in the same league. This movie is almost in an entirely different league. One reason could be that the first movie was made in 1972, the second in 1974, then this one waited until 1990. But I don't see why that's a problem. We have all of the basic (surviving) cast and crew: Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino starring as Michael Corleone, Talia Shire as Connie, Diane Keaton as Kay, Richard Bright as Al Neri the enforcer. We also have a number or more modern big name actors here, such as " Andy Garcia (Vinnie Mancini), Eli Wallach (Altobello), Joe Mantegna (Joey Zasa), George Hamilton (BJ Harrison), Bridget Fonda (Grace Hamilton), Sophia Coppola (Mary Corleone, and John Savage (Father Andrew Hagen). The setting is back in New York, and also in Sicily (as in the original, we also see Don Tommasino from the first 2 here as an elderly man), and also the Vatican. The storyline here is very different than in the first 2 movies, here the Corleone family is a legitimate family with all the connections they need, and several foundations to their name. Michael is now an elderly man and therefore does not have the physical authority he had in the first 2 movies, but of course Al Neri, his senior enforcer is still with him. I liked this movie a lot. Very well written. The cast was well picked and everyone played their part well. I just hope that people will watch this movie before deciding to outcast it from the first 2. It's very different but still very good, you will like it. Maybe not as much as the first 2 but I guarantee it will be an enjoyable piece. I give this a 9/10, the only reasons it doesn't get a 10 is because of some plot holes left from the second movie that weren't carried to this one, and some things were left unanswered here. Also the ending was a little dry, but wasn't terrible. But fans will enjoy this film, I know I did.