Learned to appreciate

Rating: 9/10 (15 October 2005)

I guess that the fact that part III is less appreciated lies in the fact that is more theatrical and political, hence more difficult that part I & II. The first time I saw it when it came out. I thought it was a nice movie but nowhere near its predecessors.
Since then I watched again about 4 times. And every time I appreciate it more for two reasons: 1. It's more theatrical and metaphoric (like the 'indirect' or as some call it unnecessary scenes of the puppet plays foreboding the events ahead in the movie). The opera finale is great because it mixes the the roots of the family (Sicily) with the big world of politics.
I think this is the biggest difference from the other two movies. Seeing the trilogy evolve it changes from a magnificent Maffia_Family epic where we 'learn' about the mores, rites and language of this world to a the development of the don who didn't want to be a don who grows cynical of his incapability (despite his power and intelligence) to control his surroundings, finally to a great finale where he finds out that nothing has really changed and he has not reached his goal and in the end lost everything he fought for (the/his family). He has learned that the 'legit' world is as corrupt (if not more) as the world he wants to get out of. This brings me to my 2nd point.
2. Politics After having seen a documentary about 'God's banker' and the Vatican I understood and appreciated the second layer in the movie much better. Especially when having in mind the last conversation Michael and Don Corleone had in part I about that he never wanted to be a puppet of the 'big shots', I realized that now Michael having reached the goal of being a 'big shot' on a global scale it is for him empty and the family is all he did it for, but there is no family left to fight for.
I agree with the people who say that the cast isn't as brilliant as in the other two (Hyman Roth being one of my favorites), this being the fact that I rate this movie slightly lower that part I and II. But still it is a must see movie.
Most gripping scene is off course Michael's cry on the stairs. Dead and empty eyes when he realizes that the last person he cared for is gone.
Enjoy and see it more often ;-) to appreciate it.