The Greatest Movie Franchises of All Time - Midwest Division Round 1

[oldman]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I'd probably go so far as to suggest that most of them in the contest (Godfather included) aren't even really franchises - it's just a trilogy, one of which wasn't even that good.

I'm going to disagree a bit with you on Godfather III. When Part I is considered either the #1 or #2 greatest movie of all time (depends on which reputable poll you look at) and Part II is in the top 20 (again, reputable polls), that's a tough follow up. I'd say Part III had to be made to complete the arc. It just didn't have the texture of the other 2.

[Nzoner]

Originally Posted by oldman

I'm going to disagree a bit with you on Godfather III. When Part I is considered either the #1 or #2 greatest movie of all time (depends on which reputable poll you look at) and Part II is in the top 20 (again, reputable polls), that's a tough follow up. I'd say Part III had to be made to complete the arc. It just didn't have the texture of the other 2.

I agree with this and personally I enjoyed Part III for what it was.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Nzoner

I agree with this and personally I enjoyed Part III for what it was.

Part III was solid but unspectacular. If you can avoid comparing it to I and II, it's okay.

2 major casting decisions just did not work. Everyone knows the first one and it's one of the most infamous in movie history - Sofia Coppola is just god-awful in this movie.

But George Hamilton effectively replacing Robert Duvall doesn't get nearly enough scorn. Hamilton is just some kind of vanilla cross between William Devane and Treat Williams. He just brings absolutely nothing to that roll and dammit you can't just write out Tom Hagen. No, a 30 second cameo by his nephew the priest, St. Exposition, didn't do us any good.

The frustrating part was that it was, unsurprisingly, about money. Duvall wanted to get paid nearer to the lead. And Coppoloa balked even though he gave James Caan as much money to appear in a brief end-scene in Godfather II as he had paid him for his massive role in Godfather I because he wanted the scene and needed Caan to play Sonny or it wouldn't work.

They found the money for Caan - they should've found the money for Duvall.