#3: Leave the gun. Take the Cannoli. (aka watch all three Godfather movies)

Several folks were shocked that I had never seen the Godfather trilogy when they saw it on the list. Well, I was -8 years old when the first movie came out, so I think that has something to do with it. But given the fact that several people rank the first Godfather as the greatest movie ever made, I thought it would be worth a try. So here’s the review:

This movie is absolutely amazing. I watched it and immediately wanted to watch it again. I couldn’t get enough Brando. I know some of the actors weren’t well known at the time (the studio adamantly refused to cast Pacino, but Coppola threatened to walk away from the project), but what an all-star cast! I can’t imagine what this movie would have become with Ernest Borgnine as Don Corleone, or worse, Robert Redford as Michael (both of whom Paramount wanted to cast).

Best of all, I now have an appreciation for all the famous lines commonly quoted. “Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.” “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” And best of all:

"I don't care how many dago guinea WOP greaseball gumbas come out of the woodwork! [Tom: I'm German-Irish] Well let me tell you something, my Kraut Mick friend! I'm gonna make so much trouble for you, you won't know what hit you!"

The second movie was also good, but I found myself more excited for the scenes with Deniro as a young Vito Andolini than for Pacino’s scenes. And the third movie sort of lost me, granted it was made in 1990, 16 years after Part II debuted. But the Vatican, really Coppola? It was a little too much for me.

This trilogy and its heavy impact on pop culture got me thinking about which movies have done the same for my generation. Another tale involving an Italian American family of bandits (the Fratellis) comes to mind. The Goonies is just pure quality, and always fun to quote in a room full of 25-35 year olds. Example, next time you want your friends’ attention, just shout ‘Hey You Guys’ Sloth-style. Problem solved. Yup, Goonies, best movie of my generation. Well, that or Spaceballs. I mean, there are two sides to every Schwartz.

quattordici down; sedici to go