Review of The Godfather Part III (1990) by Mike H — 22 Feb 2011

"Francis, if you don't listen to me -- and make this movie -- You'll disappoint me.".

The third installment of cinema's most important saga is more of a diluted alternate reality than a continuation of the story. The character called Michael Corleone bears little resemblance to the one in Parts I and II. Time has the power to change a man, but (1) not that fundamentally, or (2) if it does the change must be shown. The story we are handed here, supposedly about redemption, is more about characters that nobody cares about and comes off more as a family drama concerning rich pissants than it does about the devastation of a crime family from which there is something to learn.

"The only wealth in this world is children" is the only thing of value that can be salvaged from this movie.

There was a reviewer of the Godfather Blu-Ray transfers who applauded the restoration of the first two parts but noted that this was by far the best looking of the series. That man needs to lose his job. The transfer might be cleaner because the film stock is 15-20 years newer, but the transfers of the first two look superb, real film looks wonderfully organic, and the cinematography on the first two are nothing short of totally astounding. Part III looks generic when compared to any typical movie, and looks horrendous when compared to Godfathers I and II.