The Godfather Trilogy: 4K UHD Review
Arriving on 4K UHD for the very first time this week is Francis Ford Coppola’s celebrated The Godfather Trilogy. To be fair, only the first two films are masterpieces, with the third being considered by many (myself included) a tragically disappointing closure to the series. Still, 2020’s re-edit of The Godfather Part III, retitled The Godfather Coda, did help make the film a bit better. You can see my review of that film here (https://thefilmjunkies.com/the-godfather-coda-the-death-of-michael-corleone-blu-ray-review/).
The Godfather films stand-out as a very unique franchise. Most people wouldn’t call the series a franchise as it may sound like one is diminishing the quality of the films and referring to them as more of a product than art. However, when a film wind’s up having multiple sequels and an eventual video game, as well as other types of products, I consider it a franchise. When people think of trilogies or franchises, especially through the 70’s and 80’s, they would normally be science fiction, horror or even comedy. The Godfather was a series more about family than anything else and definitely family drama.
While I am not going to go on and review each film, as that has been done to death, I will say The Godfather Part II remains my favorite installment. This year, the original film celebrates its’ 50th anniversary and Paramount has given us a beautiful 4K release. The studio has put out numerous sets of the trilogy, with the 2017 Limited Edition Omerta Collection being my personal favorite of the Blu-rays, there is just no topping the new 4K disks, which of course include the improved upon Coda. The original theatrical cut, as well as the 1991 director’s cut of The Godfather Part III are also included.
After taking in nearly 10 hours of The Godfather Trilogy, I have to say that this is one of the most incredible 4K restorations I have seen. It is wildly evident that a lot of time and effort went into making all three films look absolutely perfect. Each film is presented in Dolby Vision and they have never looked better. The many locations in which the three films utilize are where the restoration is most notable. From the streets of New York, to Cuba and the Vatican City. Each please looks incredible. Same goes for close-ups on the actors. We can see every last detail in their skin.
As for the audio. The Godfather Part I & II come with Dolby True HD 5.1 which is my personal preference, but we also get a restored Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track which may be preferred by others. Although there is no Dolby Atmos here, the 5.1 audio is strong enough, especially when it comes to the the iconic music played throughout the series. The Godfather Coda aka Part III comes just with the Dolby True HD 5.1 and you won’t hear any complaints out of me about that. The Godfather is beloved by most cinephiles which makes this set an absolute must-own.
NEW BONUS CONTENT:
- Introduction to The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola
- Full Circle: Preserving The Godfather—Paramount Pictures archivists detail the incredible restoration process with archival footage showing the evolution of the film through various home entertainment incarnations as picture and audio technologies make quantum leaps over the decades.
- Capturing the Corleones: Through the Lens of Photographer Steve Schapiro— In this reflective and frank discussion, special photographer Steve Schapiro shares his unique perspective and cherished memories as a witness to the making of this seminal film. Commentary on curated archival images makes for a fascinating, never-before-seen addition to the production’s history.
- The Godfather: Home Movies— An assortment of 8mm home movie footage shot in 1971 offers a candid glimpse into the production of The Godfather. Shot on location at the Norton family estate on Staten Island’s Emerson Hill, this is the first time it’s been made available to the public.
- Restoration Comparisons— Before and after highlights showcase extensive picture quality improvements to The Godfather.
LEGACY BONUS CONTENT:
- The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn’t
- Godfather World
- Emulsional Rescue—Revealing The Godfather
- …when the shooting stopped
- The Godfather on the Red Carpet
- Four Short Films on The Godfather
- The Family Tree
- Crime Organization Chart
- Connie and Carlo’s Wedding Album
- 2008 Credits
- Behind the Scenes
- Carmine Coppola
- Additional Scenes
- Galleries
- Trailers
- Acclaim & Response
- Additional Material
- The Filmmakers
By: Marc Ferman
