The GodfatherIandIIare consistently ranked by critics’ lists among the best movies of all time.The Godfather IIIis not. That said, Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo’s worst film adaptation of the latter’s novels were, and still are, pretty respectable works of art.
It’s no surprise then that Paramount Pictures is doing their best to bring the Corleone family back, first with the announcement of a ten partminiseries that examinesThe Godfather’sproduction; and now, by resurrectingThe Godfather IIIjust the way their creators wanted it to be back in 1990.
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TitledThe Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, this “new” version of the film is looking to do things right first by keeping the intended title Puzo and Coppola had lined up for it,The Death of Michael Corleone. In Coppola’s own words “the picture has been given new life”, which is something that will please most fans left with a bittersweet taste left fromThe Godfather III.
The re-edited, remastered director’s cut version ofThe Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleonewill premiere in select theaters on December 4, coming out on Blu-Ray and Digital on December 8, though it’s unclear if this meansthe movie will make its way to streamingon CBS All Access, now or in 2021 when the service is rebranded as Paramount+.
Their creators made clear back in the dayThe Godfatherwas meant to be a two-part series, withThe Death of Michael Corleoneserving as an epilogue of sorts for the main story, so if Coppola’s premise of a new beginning and ending are to be believed, this could perhaps provide more proper closure for the saga. As for Puzo’s take on it, unfortunately the writer passed away in 1999 before plans for a potential fourthGodfatherfilm could be made.
In the middle of 2020’s severe movie drought, it’svery refreshing for a re-imagined versionofThe Godfatherto suddenly pop up, especially one supported by its original director. It’s like a wise man once said: truly an offer you can’t refuse.
The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleonewill release in select theaters and Blu-Ray on December 4 and 8, respectively.
