Godfather Part 3 (1990) --- "All The Power In The Earth Can't Change Destiny."

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     It is 1979 and it has been about 22 years since the events of The Godfather Part II (1974) After legitimizing his business dealings in the U.S. and Italy, the New York crime business has been handed over to Joey Zasa (Joe Mantegna) and all dealings are now legal and non-criminal. At the same time, his daughter Mary (Sofia Coppola) runs his charity and has just handed over $100 million to the Catholic Church. Now aging Mafia Don, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) seeks to atone for his sins and intends to buy a large stake at the International Immobiliari, a Vatican-run property company. While attempting to link the Corleone's finances with the Vatican, Michael’s nephew Vincent Mancini (Andy Garcia), the illegitimate son of Sonny Corleone (James Caan), comes under his wing and starts a feud with Joey Zasa that has far-reaching and deadly consequences that will change the Corleone family forever. Can deal with both the schemes of a gangster seeking to upset the existing Mafia order and a young protege's love affair with his daughter? Or will he be forced to watch as the decades of hard work to legitimize his empire crumble underneath him and destroy his family?

Godfather Part 2 (1974) --- “All The Power On The Earth Can’t Change Destiny.”

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The story continues to follow the Corleone crime family by doing a side by side comparison between two iconic characters, Don Vito and his son Michael. In the 1920s, the early life and career of a young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) is shown as he goes from being just another boy in Sicily to one of the most respected mafia dons in New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) is attempting to expand his family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood, and Cuba, while at the same time trying to keep his failing marriage and his relationship with his siblings intact. How does a nobody become the most revered person in New York’s underground world? Can Michael save his family and his empire from collapse? Or will his paranoia get the best of him?

     Francis Ford Coppola (director and co-writer) and Mario Puzo (co-writer and author of the novel) return to continue the saga with The Godfather Part II (1974). The Godfather (1972) is a 3-hour long American masterpiece that told a detailed, complex, and a sometimes confusing story about family, loyalty, revenge, and the passage of time and featured a large ensemble cast of characters. No one was expecting it to be a box-office hit that could not be beaten until Jaws came out 3 years later, nor that it would win 25 awards, including 3 Academy Awards and 5 Golden Globes. Subsequently, it would be these achievements that would give Coppola free reign on the sequel film.

     At first, the Part II’s narrative seems to mirror its predecessor by being over 3 -hours long and beginning with a big family celebration where the Don makes his men sweat as they wait to meet the boss. However, Part II differs from its predecessor by not being another classic Hollywood tale but rather being one of corruption, greed, and villainy and yet also managing to be one of the saddest films ever made. It is both optimistic and pessimistic in equal measures as it focuses on two leads facing different circumstances. We see a son lose his soul in one time period while his father gains his in another time period. By the end of the film, the audience comes to the conclusion that Michael was always destined to be alone and carve his own path while forever dreaming about what could have been if things had happened differently. All in all, director Coppola has seamlessly extended the story of the original film which has ultimately made the original better than we first thought. 

     The cast performances are incredible once again. Al Pacino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) is once again commanding and delivers one of his best performances as Michael but this time we get to see a new level to the character. Michael has been the Don from some years now and we get to see just how great of a toll it is for one to bare; heavy is the head that wears the crown. Now I am not a huge fan of Robert DeNiro (The Family) but here he is quite convincing as a young Vito Corleone, especially considering the iconic nature of Marlon Brando’s performance in 1972 film. He symbolizes his performance by opting to show hardly any reactions on his face. The rest of the cast performances did an incredible job with their respective performances. 

     Overall, The Godfather Part II (1974) is a cinematic masterpiece that surpasses the original. The story is complex, dramatic, violent, and romantic about family, loyalty, revenge, and the passing of time. At the same time, this is also one of the saddest films I have seen as it manages to be both optimistic and pessimistic. The cast performances were incredible, especially from Al Pacino, who has grown tremendously since the first film, and Robert DeNiro, who is quite convincing as a young Vito Corleone. All in all, as an incredibly successful sequel, it's one of the first of its kind and is the reason why today’s filmmakers try so hard to make a successful sequel. So if you have not seen The Godfather Part II (1974) then I highly recommend that you do because you won’t regret it. 

Final Vote ---  of 10 stars

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Godfather Part 1 (1972) --- “An Offer You Can’t Refuse.”

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     In the 1940s"Don" Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), is the head of the New York Mafia family and has since “moved away” from the days of violence in favor of a life of peace and prosperity without all the bloodshed. The family’s business is very much like it’s head, kind and benevolent to those who give respect but ruthlessly violent to those who stand against the good of the family. When an attempt is made on Vito’s life, it is left up to his sons, Sonny (James Caan) and Michael (Al Pacino), and his adoptive son Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) to take control of his dynasty and fight to keep Vito alive. As the Don’s fading old world values clash with the explosive ways of the next generation, the survival of the family demands a high price to be paid, specifically from Michael. Can Michael and his brothers do what needs to be done for the sake of the family? Or will they be responsible for destroying their family’s legacy?

     Directed by Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather Part 2) and co-written by Mario Puzo (The Godfather Part 2 & 3), The Godfather (1972) is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made and it is without a doubt a cinematic masterpiece. The film is based on the bestselling fictional novel by Mario Puzo and since it follows the book almost exactly, detail-by-detail, the film is nearly three hours in length. And yet even at such a length, the film never fails to keep audiences captivated from beginning to end. 

     The world in which this film takes place is incredible. Rather than using the same cliche and overused elements of detectives trying to uncover and take down the Mafia, the film instead makes the Mafia the main focus. As a result, audiences are given the opportunity to connect with the characters and gain an understanding behind their motivations, while the rest of the world and the law simply lie in the background as small and insignificant moments of angst. The bulk of the drama and conflict happens primarily between the different Mafia families but The Godfather doesn’t try to glorify the Mafia. Sure there are moments when the film paints a picture of having a pretty cool lifestyle but their actions are never justified as being right. In fact, while we know the characters were simply trying to ensure the survival of their family the film takes great care in showcasing the consequences of their actions. All in all, the story is a tragic one about loyalty, power, revenge, internal strife, and betrayal and every component is held together beautifully. 

     Now the cast performances are a major highlight of the film and take a lot of inspiration from real-life Mafia members. Marlon Brando’s (Apocalypse Now) iconic performance as Don Vito Corleone was inspired by Gambino crime boss Sam "Boom Boom" Giancana. Al Martino’s (The Godfather Part III) unforgettable performance as Johnny Fontaine was inspired by Frank Sinatra. Now I believe that is was Al Pacino’s (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) performance as Michael Corleone that stole the show with the incredible evolution of his character. He evolves from being the rebellious youngest son who doesn’t want anything to do with the “family business” to being the guy who is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his family and get revenge against those who seek to harm them. The rest of the cast such as Robert Duvall (Secondhand Lions, Widows), James Caan (Rollerball), Diane Keaton (Book Club, Poms), and Al Lettieri (The Getaway) also gave great and unforgettable performances. Audiences will fall in love with these characters from the very beginning, we’ll root for their success and cry at their failures. 

     Overall, The Godfather (1972) is a cinematic masterpiece that doesn’t try to glorify the harsh, underground world of the Mafia but it does an incredible job bringing it to light. It broke box office records that couldn’t be beaten until Jaws came out in 1975, earned its fair share of Academy Awards including “Best Picture of the Year,” and inspired two successful sequels that bring the story full circle. The cast performances were iconic and unforgettable, and the cinematography was incredible and unlike anything, I have seen before. All in all, it is no wonder why this film is a top contender on any “100 Must Watch Films” list. If you have not seen this film, then I urge you to do so as soon as you can as you won’t be disappointed if you do.

Final Vote --- 9.5 of 10 stars

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The Lion King (2019) --- “Be Prepared. The King Has Returned.”

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     Young lion cub prince, Simba (JD McCrary) idolizes his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones) but not everyone in the kingdom loves the king or Simba. Mufasa’s brother and heir to the throne before Simba’s arrival, Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor) has plans of his own. The pride-lands are soon ravaged by betrayal, tragedy, and drama, resulting in Simba’s exile. With the help of two curious and carefree new friends, Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), can Simba learn to forgive himself and gain the courage to take back what is rightfully his? 

The Lion King (1994) --- “The Greatest Adventure Of All Is Finding Our Place In the Circle Of Life.”

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    After being anointed as the next king by the baboon shaman Rafiki (Robert Guillaume), young lion prince Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is every bit as eager to his take his father Mufasa’s (James Earl Jones) place as king. However, this makes Simba’s evil uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons) jealous and thus prompting him to kill Mufasa and framing it on Simba, who miraculously survives the attack. Simba flees from his past and along the way meets Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumba (Ernie Sabella), who teaches him to live the rest of his life by the philosophy “Hakuna Matata” which literally means “No Worries.” Years later, Simba’s (Matthew Broderick) past comes back to haunt him and the young prince is left with a big decision. Will he face his past and become the king he was born to be? Or will he remain an outcast and forsake his father’s legacy?

Stuber (2019) --- “Prepare For The Rideshare Of Your Life”

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     When a mild-mannered Uber driver named Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) picks up a new passenger named Victor (Dave Bautista), he is hoping that this ride will get him the five-stars he so desperately needs. But when Victor turns out to be a grizzled detective hot on the trail of a brutal and sadistic drug lord named Tedjo (Iko Uwais), Stu finds himself thrown into a distressing ordeal where he desperately tries to hold onto his wits, his life, and his five-star rating. Will Vic catch his suspect and keep his family safe in the process? Will Stu get his five-star rating and the girl of his dreams? Or better yet, will they survive the night?

Crawl (2019) --- “If The Storm Doesn’t Get You Then They Will….Watch Your Back!”

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     A Category 5 Hurricane bearing down on her Florida hometown but Haley (Kaya Scodelario) ignores the evacuation orders in order to search for her missing and unresponsive father, Dave (Barry Pepper). When she returns to her childhood home and finds her father gravely injured in the crawl space under the house, things go from bad to worst when they learn that they're not alone. Trapped by rapidly rising flood waters and a group of giant Alligators, Haley and Dave must fight for every second of survival and hope that they will be rescued in time. Can they escape these apex predators before the storm reaches its peak or are they merly prey to be hunted?

A Dog's Journey (2019) --- “Most Friendships Last A Lifetime But Some Transcend Lifetimes.”

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     Bailey (Josh Gad) now lives happily with his original owner Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and his wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger) as a St. Bernard. He spends most of his days bonding with their baby granddaughter C.J. (Emma Volk) until one day her mother Gloria (Betty Gilpin) takes C.J. away from the family and Bailey. When Bailey’s time as a St. Bernard comes to an end, he promises Ethan that when he comes back, he’ll protect C.J. and bring her home one day. Now Bailey goes on a new journey through multiple lifetimes to fulfill his vow to Ethan, find and protect C.J. (Kathryn Prescott) at all costs. Follow Bailey as he forms an unbreakable bond with everyone he meets and goes on a journey that will lead him and the people he loves to places they never imagined. 

A Dog's Purpose (2017) --- "Every Dog Has A Purpose And Sometimes They Stay With Us Forever."

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    Directed by Lasse Hallstrom (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Chacolate), and written by W. Bruce Cameron, Cathryn Michon, Audrey Wells, Maya Forbes, and Wallace Woldarsky, A Dog’s Purpose (2017) combines reincarnation and coming-of-age drama with heartfelt human and canine interactions. Based on the novel by W. Bruce Cameron, the film follows a dog (Josh Gad) who narrates his entire life from puppyhood to maturity to death and then rebirth into a new dog, which happens four times over the course of 50 years and after several reincarnations the dog’s purpose becomes clear.

    For dog lovers, the drama is a gripping and emotional story that also has its fair share of witty and innocent humor that could easily be associated with a dog’s thoughts. There is enough heart to leave you in tears and enough humor to help you dry them. Although there are some moments that little kids might not fully understand, this is a film that the whole family will love. The film concludes on an emotionally satisfying note and leaves enough open room for its sequel A Dog’s Journey (2019), which came out earlier this year.

    The cast performances and voice acting were spot on. Bryce Gheisar (Wonder, The 15:17 to Paris) and K.J. Apa (The Hate U Give, Riverdale) were great as a young and teenage Ethan, while Dennis Quaid (I Can Only Imagine, A Dog’s Journey) delivers an impressive performance as an adult Ethan who has lived a life full of regrets since the death of his first dog, Bailey. Josh Gad (Frozen 2, A Dog’s Journey) was the perfect choice to do the voice acting for Bailey, he provided a sense of wonder and innocence that is needed to portray dogs. The rest of the cast - Peggy Lipton (The Postman, Twin Peaks all TV series), Britt Robertson (For The People,  The Space Between Us, Ask Me Anything), and many more - did a great job with their respective performances.

    Overall, A Dog’s Purpose (2017) is a fun family film filled with drama, tear-jerking moments, and heartfelt humor. The cast performances and voice acting were great, especially from Josh Gad and Dennis Quaid, and the film concludes on an emotionally satisfying note that leaves enough room for its sequel A Dog’s Journey (2019). All in all, I highly recommend this film as one that the whole family will love but be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster unlike any you have experienced before.

Final Vote --- 8 of 10 stars

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