Admittedly, I'm comparing tonight's viewing of the re-edited Coda with a 30 year old memory of the original III, but wow. I so strongly disliked the original, and very much admire this new edit. My aesthetics have matured in 30 years, so I can't say if it's me or the new edit, but whatever, I found this film thrilling. Sophia seemed somehow more acceptable as an ingenue, the ending less over-the-top operatic., the story more cohesive. Mostly, it feels less like Coppola replaying his greatest hits and more like a brilliant re-imaging of scenes he did brilliantly before - the wedding, the end montage. Subtract a star because the film still wasn't necessary, and another for a few awkward moments and some bad voice dubs, but overall, a very satisfying and close to brilliant film.
Review of The Godfather Part III
