The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone

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Adam M I just watched THE GODFATHER CODA: THE DEATH OF MICHAEL CORLEONE, and am profoundly disappointed. Mind you, I’m one of the few who truly loved GODFATHER III when it was released on Xmas 1990. It’s hard to describe just how anticipated the film was back then, and how widely debated it was among critics and fans at the time. The film had some glowing reviews, as well as absolutely damning. But even the film’s champions agreed that it was easily the least of the trilogy. Then again, what other films within the last 30 years could possibly match the status of either GODFATHER I or II? If pressed, I might suggest SCHINDLER’S LIST or CHILDREN OF MEN…but even those incredible films can’t quite compare to the social impact or iconic status Coppola's first two mob epics had. They captivated America. In the 30 years since GODFATHER III’s release, time has not been kind to the film, as its reputation seems to have diminished exponentially with each passing year. My feelings are that he film has some glaring flaws, but on the whole, I found it to be emotionally powerful, and felt it was a generally worthy ending to the series. It doesn’t match the greatness of its predecessors, but it had moments of greatness – and brilliance. Think of it as a shiny gold Cadillac, but with a few unsightly scratches. And now we have “CODA” -- a new cut that apparently satisfied Coppola’s post-partum creative tinkerings. Some scenes have been shifted around, while others trimmed or omitted altogether. These might help to move things along at a somewhat faster pace, and arguably give more focus. In one or two instances, the minor trimmings make sense…but all too often the new cuts are awkwardly done. And in one case, devastatingly so. (More on that later.) Let me come out and say it: “CODA” does not improve “III”, nor does it offer anything new. Those who understandably took issue with Sofia Coppola’s acting won’t find any alternate takes or redubbed lines that improve her performance. Nor have the film’s most awkward and clumsily written scenes been modified. Coppola’s edits have, instead, merely reworked a lot of the things that were already there. At best, the changes are understandable. At worst, they destroy the movie. And so come my greatest caveat: the re-edit of the film’s ending. (SPOLIERS) That Michael Corleone’s final moment of death has been excised is not so much a problem, though it’s followed by a rather convoluted title card that is completely unnecessary. The unforgivable sin here is the garish cut made to the beautiful montage leading up to the reveal of Michael as an old man. After Mary’s death in the original “III”, we see flashbacks – of Michael dancing with Mary, then with his first wife Apollonia, and then with his second wife Kay – all beautifully intercut to the music beats of the INTERMEZZO. Whereas in “CODA”, both the montage and music are trimmed, leaving us with a sloppy, abrupt edit that robs the entire ending of its emotional power. No doubt a number of people will watch “CODA”, but it will not convert any of the original film’s (many) detractors. If anything, “CODA” should be viewed as a mere curiosity, or academic supplement, to “III”. At best, I hope it rekindles interest in the film’s previous extended cut, and have people realize that it was, warts and all, a pretty damn good film to start with. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/13/25 Full Review Henry Louis R Two of the biggest problems with Part III are 1) the scenes are literally out of order, making the plot unnecessarily convoluted & 2) the screenplay is just not up to the standard set in the first two films. Coda fixes the first problem but cannot fix the latter. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/16/25 Full Review Garrett B A well made conclusion to the Godfather Trilogy. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/16/25 Full Review Richard V While not the best in the series. It’s It’s still worth watching and it stands alone as a great movie all by itself. Some of the casting calls a questionable but it’s still delivers the conclusion to the story that we love in the end. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/04/25 Full Review Erwin Q Part 3 is an outstanding film that grows in popularity for three reasons. 1) It has the best ending of all three Godfather films. 2) Part 3 is the best modern interpretation of Shakespeare's King Lear. And 3) The clever use of allegory and metaphor in Part 3 elevates the artistic merit of the story by showing that the Coppola's became the family that Vito Corleone always wanted. Only the best artists know how to use allegory as well as Coppola in Part 3. Coppola uses an opera that his father conducted, Cavalleria Rusticana, with his uncle Anton seen conducting in Part 3, to show that Michael has failed to live up the the standard of rustic chivalry set by Vito. The incestous relationship in Part 3 is a reference to the Oedipal complex of King Lear where Lear's daughters are married to men very much like their father. Mary was attracted to Vincent because he represented the side of Michael that she was fascinated with, but not allowed to know. That relationship is also a reference to Coppola's grandparents, who were also first cousins, but married out of compassion because the face of Coppolas Grandmother was disfigured. Coppolas Grandfather, realizing that no men would marry her and that she might grow old alone, offered to marry her so that she could have children, knowing the biological risks. The moral judgment to marry out of compassion became a blessing. The Coppola descendants were not only healthy, but also hyper talented. Coppola cast Sofia to represent both the Coppolas and the Corleones with specific instructions to not act, but be herself and preserve the realism of the dialogue based upon conversations within the Coppola family. This highlights that the Coppolas are not criminal predators, like the Corleones. The Coppolas are a family of artists who make positive contributions to society. Mary dies in Part 3 from the sins of the Corleones while Sofia continues to thrive in real life by the virtues of the Coppolas. This can also be said of Nicholas Cage and all of the Coppola children. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/17/25 Full Review Frank H The underrated, albeit superfluous third and final entry. A film that Coppola himself didn't want to make, but was pressured under contract by the studios after a string of box office flops by him. Even so, while it isn't as good as the first two, it's still and excellent film, and this newly edited and renamed 'Coda' version is probably the best way to see this final entry, although that it disputed. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/06/25 Full Review Read all reviews

The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone

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