The classic of all gangster movies, it defined the genre and still leads the way for other classics like goodfellas to follow in its footsteps.

I have always been a fan of the Godfather trilogy and, despite other's reviews, I really like the third part as it really pulls the story together. I feel the first two parts glorify the mafia, however the third puts into perspective of every person: If you are so driven to succeed in one area of your life, the other areas will suffer. In Micheal's case, his family life, in Vito's case, his children.
I highly recommend this box-set, which is well assembled and the extra disc gives some useful background if you have not seen the movies or become confused over the timeline and characters. 5 stars well deserved.

There is not a lot to be said about this film that hasn't been already said.
The Godfather has the word classic written all over, it is many a peoples lists of top five movies of all time; IMBD has it at no 1 of all time - that in itself is some accolade. When you watch it, and it stands up to repeated viewings, you can understand why it is rated so highly.
The actual story is first rate, Coppola and Puzo have done a fine job in adapting the book, the acting and cast is superb, the score adds to the atmospheric mood of the film and without being a film student of any type -the direction is fantastic.

There are many a famous scene in this movie - the infamous horse scene being just one - and without giving a synopsis of the movie and ruining plot before viewing all I'd say as an initial statement is - find three hours to sit down and watch this movie. You will not regret it and you will not get bored - instead you'll want to move directly onto Godfather Part II.
Al Pacino gives an amazing performance as Michael Corleone as the Military brother who initially wants nothing to do with his family and what they stand for, and of course the much heralded performance by Marlon Brando as Don Corleone.
It might be at a slower pace than a more modern mafia film, but its better for that, you can to know the characters, and have a bigger sense of what is to come instead of spending your whole time trying to work out what's going on and who the hell the guy who's just come in the screen actual is and the violence is more than graphic enough and touches the heights that it is meant to.

Ignore cretins who publically state they only watched the film for 20 minutes and then rate it one star, by 20 minutes of the film you aren't even properly introduced to the family - it's called an introduction - for which the next 150 minutes are better with the added insight to the family.
The Godfather has justified its reputation, it's truly magnificent.

Part II can be seen as both a continuation and a prequel - De Niro (who won an Oscar for the part) plays Don Corleone some 40 years previous - he shares no screen time with the continuation story and the parts are cut throughout the film. Without ruining plot lines / stories both are interesting enough - De Niro's concerning the arrival of Corleone in American and the struggles he goes through initially etc. Pacino's screen time magnifies the changes in Michael from the start of Part I, as he, now Don of the family, seeks to expand the Corleone Empire into areas he would not have dreamt about during the first movie.
It would be incomprehensible to watch Part II without seeing The Godfather first so please do these films in order.
Everything you got in the first film you get again, Part II is certainly on par with the first film and again is essential viewing, epic, violent and wonderful.

Part III is written off as the bad part by many, and yes it is nowhere near the standard of the first two films - but if you ask me it's still a good film and well worth seeing. Don't expect a classic but it's a good mafia movie.

The films do look a little dated now, but do not let that deter you - this is compelling, scintillating viewing and a must see for any film lover.
Apparently there are new versions coming out in the summer of 2008 - I imagine just digitally remastered and without too many extra features but this trilogy is in itself magnificent.

Those of you who had the vhs version of the box set had the version for US television that was re-edited into the chronological order of the story (e.g. Godfather II had Robert DeNiro as the young Vito - this part of the story was put ahead of the first Godfather on the VHS copy - so was at the start of the first tape, meaning many took that to be Godfather I). The other difference is that the VHS version included a number of scenes deleted from the theatrical versions - Michael placing a car bomb on the guy who sold him out thus leading to Apollonia (his first wife) being killed is not in the versions on the DVD. The DVD versions are complete and are more satisfying thematically being presented as Coppola intended. It is frustrating to see poor reviews not on the basis of the films, but on the basis of not knowing what was in the films in the first place.

DO NOT BUY THE GODFATHER ON DVD BECASE ON DISC ONE YOU DO NOT GET ALL OF THE FILM. I GOT THE GODFARTHER TRILOGY VIDEO BOX SET AND I CAN ASURE YOU THE FIRST FILM IS NOT THE SAME AS THE VIDEO. ON THE FIRST DVD THERES A LOT CUT OUT SO IF I WAS YOU AND WANT THE FULL FILM I GET THE VIDEO SET IT COMES WITH 6 VIDEOS AND A BOOKLET AND IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE DVD