Godfather Trilogy, The (4K UHD Overview)

• Reviewed by: Invoice Hunt
• Overview Date: Mar 21, 2022
• Format: Blu-ray Disc

• 

Overview

Few movies have had as sturdy or lasting an affect on American well-liked tradition as Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Trilogy. Broadly thought-about to be one of many biggest Hollywood footage of all time—together with Citizen Kane and Casablanca—The Godfather is a masterclass of cinematic restraint. The Godfather Half II has grown in stature to be regarded among the many best sequels ever made. And if the trilogy’s third act, The Godfather Half III—now offered as Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Demise of Michael Corleone—is considered a sort of cinematic Fredo, it stays a worthy conclusion nonetheless, providing occasional flashes of Coppola’s earlier brilliance.

Collectively, the movies inform the epic story of the Corleone household, one among 5 that management organized crime in America within the mid-Nineteen Forties. The Godfather opens with patriarch Vito (Marlon Brando) on the top of his energy, celebrating the marriage of his daughter Connie (Talia Shire) and the return of his youngest son Michael (Al Pacino) dwelling from preventing in World Battle II. Vito’s eldest, Sonny (James Caan), is poised to step into his father’s footwear with the assistance of Vito’s adopted son and consigliere, Tom (Robert Duvall). The idealistic Michael has simply met the lady (Diane Keaton) he plans to marry, and has formidable plans for a legit profession in enterprise or politics. In the meantime, Fredo (John Cazale) can be there, quietly undervalued by all of them. However when Vito denies rival households concerned within the narcotics commerce the safety of his paid-for political connections (as a result of he believes medication are dishonorable), they attempt to assassinate him, and Michael is drawn ever extra deeply right into a life his father had hoped he’d escape.

Watching The Godfather right this moment, fifty years after its theatrical debut, one is struck by the movie’s nearly ruthless effectivity. Regardless of its size, not a second of display screen time is wasted right here. Scenes by no means last more than vital. The movie can be remarkably unflashy; it’s “simply enterprise,” as its characters typically proclaim. Think about this little bit of dialogue after Vito’s enforcers kill one among their very own who betrayed them: “Go away the gun. Take the cannoli.” In some other movie, a second like that may be performed for its humor. Right here, it’s merely matter-of-fact. Spectacular too are the movie’s verisimilitude and authenticity. The Godfather additionally revels in its dramatic subtleties, in order that when the violence does happen it’s all of the extra surprising and brutal.

The Godfather Half II shines for its added dimensions, contrasting the rise to energy of younger Vito (Robert De Niro) within the 1910s with Michael’s personal ascendance as the brand new Corleone patriarch within the Nineteen Fifties, but it too stays elegant and environment friendly. De Niro is pretty much as good in his position as Brando and Pacino are in theirs, making an already terrific ensemble solid that a lot better. Each of those movies are very important to the story of this household and of Michael particularly. By the tip of the primary, Michael has taken up his father’s mantle, however he’s not but misplaced his soul. However by the tip of Half II, he’s crossed a line from which he can by no means return. All that continues to be then is Michael’s downfall, which is why The Godfather Half III suffers by comparability. Whereas the earlier movies really feel vital, Half III is merely inevitable. It’s additionally clumsier and self-indulgent. The shortest entry on this sequence, it one way or the other feels extra bloated. And whereas Pacino stays as compelling as ever, Andy Garcia, Eli Wallach, and Joe Mantegna are all strong, and Sofia Coppola is nowhere close to as unhealthy as some critics have claimed, with out Brando, Caan, Duvall, De Niro, and Cazale, the ensemble solid merely lacks the gravitas it had earlier than. (New solid members Bridget Fonda and George Hamilton additionally really feel a bit misplaced.)

Nonetheless the brand new 158-minute Coda presentation (accomplished by Coppola in late 2020) does Half III a service. For one factor, it opens with Michael negotiating with Archbishop Gilday to save lots of the Vatican financial institution, then strikes on to the celebration celebrating the Pope having granted him The Order of Saint Sebastian, making the latter really feel far more like a direct quid professional quo. Gone is the meandering opening through which Michael writes to his kids in voiceover whereas the digital camera pans over the household’s deserted Tahoe compound. About 5 minutes of extra footage has been trimmed all through the remainder of the movie, largely to enhance the pacing of current scenes, and there’s been slightly little bit of re-ordering as nicely. The movie additionally now not ends with Michael’s precise dying, as a substitute implying that he’s serving a better punishment for his sins, cursed to wither into outdated age with the reminiscence of what he’s carried out and misplaced. Lastly, the title change to Coda extra precisely describes this movie’s significance within the sequence. Half III has by no means felt equal to the earlier installments. It’s, actually, a summation, distinct from all that’s come earlier than—as a lot about advancing age and the passage of time as it’s in regards to the bigger Corleone household drama.

The Godfather: A
The Godfather Half II: A+
Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Demise of Michael Corleone: B-
The Godfather Half III (Each Variations): C+

The Godfather and The Godfather Half II had been each shot on 35 mm photochemical movie utilizing Arriflex 35 IIC and Mitchell BNCR cameras, with Bausch & Lomb Tremendous Baltar spherical lenses (additionally Kowa Cine Prominar lenses for Half II), whereas Half III (Coda) was shot on 35 mm movie in Tremendous 35 format with Panavision Panaflex Gold II cameras and Panavision Primo spherical lenses. All three had been photographed by cinematographer Gordon Willis and had been completed on movie on the 1.85:1 facet ratio. It’s value noting right here that the best way through which Willis lit his scenes and uncovered his adverse was particularly designed to make sure that neither the studio nor a sloppy lab may alter his supposed search for the movies. However their reputation, mixed with the poor studio asset safety practices of the day, meant that the unique adverse endured extreme put on and tear. A couple of many years later, The Godfather particularly was in unhealthy form.

So in 2007, working at Francis Ford Coppola’s request and with enter from Willis, Robert A. Harris carried out an exhaustive restoration of all three movies, working from then state-of-the-art 10-bit 4K scans of the unique digital camera negatives (in addition to best-available parts for sections of OCN that had been misplaced or too badly broken). The results of this effort had been new 4K Digital Intermediates, preservation negatives, and separation masters, in addition to The Coppola Restoration 2008 Blu-ray launch. By 2020 nonetheless, movie scanning and restoration instruments had additional superior to the purpose that Paramount, American Zoetrope, and Warner Bros. Movement Image Imaging started work on a brand new restoration (led by Andrea Kalas and James Mockoski) in honor of the unique movie’s fiftieth anniversary, this time scanning authentic adverse in 16-bit 4K. Whereas it relied closely on the work carried out in 2008, this new effort additionally benefitted from the truth that extra items of adverse had since been positioned within the studio archives. And as part of this course of, the movies have additionally now been graded for prime dynamic vary (the 4K discs embrace each HDR10 and Dolby Imaginative and prescient).

The ensuing visible enchancment is dramatic. In truth, it’s not an exaggeration to say that that is nearly an evening and day improve in comparison with the earlier Blu-rays. For one factor, there’s now a lot better element seen within the picture, whereas texturing element is extra refined. The expanded dynamic vary means there’s extra element obvious within the shadows and highlights too, even in scenes that beforehand appeared crushed or blown out on Blu-ray. Movie grain is gentle to average, organic-looking, and extra evenly managed. The movie’s colour palette can be much more nuanced, whereas remaining devoted to Willis’ supposed look. Whereas the Blu-rays exhibited a powerful orange push, reds and pinks are actually extra correct, which advantages pores and skin tones particularly. There are just a few scenes, notably early within the first movie, through which the adverse nonetheless reveals its age slightly bit, however the enchancment right here is one thing you really want to see to totally respect. All it takes is a pair situations of swapping backwards and forwards between Blu-ray and 4K to be actually impressed by the brand new restoration. It’s a marvel, representing the perfect these movies have regarded since their authentic theatrical launch.

When it comes to audio, all three movies (5 should you rely the 2 earlier variations of Half III) embrace lossless 5.1 Dolby TrueHD encompass mixes. These are, for all sensible functions, the identical tracks discovered on the earlier Coppola Restoration Blu-rays (and naturally Coda was first launched in late 2020 on Blu-ray as nicely). These open up the soundstage just a bit bit with music and environmental cues to create a way of house, but nonetheless stay pretty devoted to the unique mono expertise of the primary two movies. However for purists, Paramount has additionally fortunately included these authentic theatrical mono mixes right here for The Godfather and The Godfather Half II, every absolutely restored in 2.0 Dolby Digital format. The variations are delicate, however you would possibly discover that the mono has barely totally different music cue placement and the like. Regardless of which you select, dialogue is clear and clear. And the 5.1 combine for Half III (Coda) has barely extra aggressive use of the surrounds in dramatic scenes (it’s, in spite of everything, a extra trendy manufacturing), whereas nonetheless sounding of a bit with the encompass mixes for the earlier movies.

The extra audio and subtitles choices on these discs are slightly sophisticated, as they’re not constant throughout all of the movies. Right here’s what you get:

The Godfather – Audio: English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, English Restored 2.0 Mono Dolby Digital, Latin Spanish, French, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital, and French, Italian, and Japanese 2.0 Mono Dolby Digital, Subtitles: English, English for the Listening to Impaired, Danish, Latin Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Norwegian, Brazilian Portuguese, Finnish, and Swedish

The Godfather Half II – Audio: English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, English Restored 2.0 Mono Dolby Digital, Latin Spanish, French, and Japanese 5.1 Dolby Digital, and French and Japanese 2.0 Mono Dolby Digital, Subtitles: English, English for the Listening to Impaired, Danish, Latin Spanish, French, Japanese, Dutch, Norwegian, Brazilian Portuguese, Finnish, and Swedish

Coda – Audio: English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, Czech, German, Spanish, Latin Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian 5.1 Dolby Digital, and Polish 2.0 Dolby Digital, Subtitles: English, English for the Listening to Impaired, Cantonese, Czech, Danish, German, Spanish, Latin Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Romanian, Simplified Chinese language, Slovak, Finnish, Swedish, and Thai

The Godfather Half III – Audio: English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, and German, Spanish, Latin Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Subtitles: English, English for the Listening to Impaired, Cantonese, Danish, German, Spanish, Latin Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Romanian, Simplified Chinese language, Finnish, Swedish, and Thai

Paramount’s new 4K Extremely HD launch of The Godfather Trilogy is a five-disc set. Every of the three movies will get its personal UHD disc (BD-100s all) to make sure most knowledge charges. The earlier variations of Half III are additionally included on a fourth UHD disc, with each the 162-minute Theatrical Lower and 170-minute 1991 Lower (beforehand often known as the Remaining Director’s Lower) obtainable through seamless branching. These earlier variations too are newly restored and remastered. The 4K discs included the next particular options:

• Audio Commentary by Francis Ford Coppola (on The Godfather, The Godfather Half II, and The Godfather Half III – 1991 Lower)
• The Godfather Introduction by Francis Ford Coppola (4K – 2:54)
• Coda Introduction by Francis Ford Coppola (4K – 1:32)

There’s a fifth disc within the set as nicely, an everyday Blu-ray full of bonus options that embrace the next:

• Full Circle: Preserving The Godfather* (HD – 16:21)
• Capturing The Corleones: By way of the Lens of Photographer Steve Schapiro* (HD – 13:21)
• The Godfather: Residence Films* (HD – 9:04)
• The Godfather: Scan Factor Comparisons* (HD – 5:19)
• The Godfather Half II: Scan Factor Comparisons* (HD – 5:24)
• The Masterpiece That Nearly Wasn’t (HD – 29:46)
• Godfather World (HD – 11:19)
• Emulsional Rescue – Revealing The Godfather (HD – 19:05)
• …When the Capturing Stopped (HD – 14:18)
• The Godfather on the Pink Carpet (HD – 4:03)
• 4 Quick Movies on The Godfather (HD – 7:20 in all)

  • GF vs. GF Half II (HD – 2:16)
  • Riffing on the Riffing (HD – 1:39)
  • Cannoli (HD – 1:39)
  • Clemenza (HD – 1:45)

• The Corleone Household Tree (Interactive)
• Crime Group Chart (Interactive)
• Connie and Carlo’s Marriage ceremony Album (Gallery)
• Behind the Scenes:

  • A Look Inside (SD – 73:29)
  • On Location (SD – 6:56)
  • Francis Coppola’s Pocket book (SD – 10:13)
  • Music of the Godfather: Nino Rota (SD – 5:30)
  • Music of the Godfather: Carmine Coppola (SD – 3:17)
  • Coppola & Puzo on Screenwriting (SD – 8:07)
  • Gordon Willis on Cinematography (SD – 3:45)
  • Storyboards – Godfather Half II (Gallery)
  • Storyboards – Godfather Half III (Gallery)
  • The Godfather Behind the Scenes 1971 (SD – 8:56)

• Further Scenes:

  • Scenes (1901-1927) (SD – 9 scenes)
  • Scenes (1945) (SD – 10 scenes)
  • Scenes (1947-1955) (SD – 7 scenes)
  • Scenes (1958-1979) (SD – 8 scenes)

• Galleries:

  • The Godfather Trailer (HD – 3:40)
  • The Godfather Half II Trailer (HD – 4:16)
  • The Godfather Half III Trailer (HD – 4:21)
  • Photograph Gallery
  • Rogues’ Gallery
  • Acclaim & Response (4 SD clips and a textual content web page)

• Further Materials:

  • James Caan Display screen Take a look at (HD – :39)
  • The Sopranos (HD – 1:34)
  • Puzo “For the Cash” (HD – :06)
  • The Godfather Across the World (HD – :47)
  • Cosa Nostra & Coppola (HD – 1:53)

• The Filmmakers:

  • Francis Ford Coppola (Textual content)
  • Mario Puzo (Textual content)
  • Gordon Willis (Textual content)
  • Dean Travoularis (Textual content)
  • Nino Rota (Textual content)
  • Carmine Coppola (Textual content)

• Godfather Chronology (Interactive Timeline)
• 2008 Credit (Textual content)
• DVD Credit (Textual content)

* Newly-created for the 4K launch

A number of of those options are model new, together with vital materials on the 2020 restoration effort, a stunning piece on the work of freelance photographer Steve Schapiro (who handed away in January and who was the set photographer on the primary movie), and uncommon 8 mm dwelling film footage of the manufacturing of The Godfather proven right here for the primary time. The remainder are legacy options carried over of their entirety from not solely the 2008 Blu-ray launch, but additionally the unique 2001 DVD launch as nicely. And it’s not simply the video materials however text-based content material too. We’ve coated a lot of this beforehand right here at The Bits, and followers will have already got seen most of it. Suffice it to say that it’s an enormous assortment of worthy materials on the making of this trilogy. Actually, about the one factor you don’t get listed here are the chronological Godfather Saga and Full Epic variations of the movies which have appeared on dwelling video through the years. (One can all the time hope these will get a remastered launch sooner or later.) Be aware that the bundle additionally features a slip with Digital codes for 4K streaming variations of The Godfather, The Godfather Half II, and Coda.

Usually imitated but by no means equaled, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Trilogy rightly belongs within the library of any critical scholar of cinema. Paramount’s new 4K launch represents these movies nicely certainly, with the perfect video high quality on any dwelling format to this point, together with a wealth of recent and legacy particular options. This may increasingly nicely find yourself being considered the perfect UHD launch of the 12 months. It’s not solely extremely beneficial, it’s to not be missed.

– Invoice Hunt

(You’ll be able to observe Invoice on social media at these hyperlinks: Twitter and Fb)