Take them as three individual films and the first is excellent, the second is better and the third is good if somewhat forgotten.
As a trilogy, The Godfather, is in my humble opinion, the best trilogy ever. Parts I and II were filmed in a time when special
effects were more or less non-existant in 1972 and 1974 respectively. It's better than "Star Wars", also filmed in an age without
digital effects, better than "The Lord of the Rings", which in itself is excellent, and infinitely better than "The Matrix".
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the movie relies on it's magnificent cast and story, and what a story.
Based on the novel "The Godfather" by Mario Puzo, it tells the story of Mafia boss Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
and his family, Sonny (James Caan)- the hotheaded heir to the family business, Fredo (John Cazale) - the quiet son,
Michael (Al Pacino) - the youngest son who was an officer in the army during WWII, and only daughter Connie (Talia Shire), and
also adopted son and family lawyer Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall). The main cast was finalised by Diane Keaton, who played Michael's
girlfriend and later, his wife. Robert DeNiro joined the cast as the young Vito Corleone in part II.
Part I focuses on the entry of Michael Corleone into the family business after an assination attempt on his father, the
transition of power from Vito to Michael and the ruthless dispatch of his enemies. Part II shows the rise of Vito Corleone from
the immigrant slums to the head of a feared and respected Mafia family. It also shows Michael's growing influence and hunger for
power during the fall of Cuba. In Part III, Michael is trying to become a legitimat businessman, and also the search for his
successor.
Part I won the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium and Marlon Brando
picked up the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role, although he didn't attend the ceremony.
Part II won six Oscars. Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Robert DeNiro and also
Best Writing: Screenplay Adapted From Other Material, Best Music: Original Dramatic Score and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
The movie became the first sequel to win the best picture award. Al Pacino was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role,
while Talia Shire was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
While Part III didn't win any Oscars, it recieved seven nominations.
Of the main cast, only Brando had been an established Hollywood actor for years, but Caan, Pacino, Shire, Duvall, Cazale and
Keaton had not really hit the big time. Pacino, Shire, Duvall, DeNiro and Keaton all went on to become Oscar winners, Caan and
Shire were both nominated for Oscars. Cazale, having been in "The Godfather" Parts I and II, "The Conversation" with Gene Hackman,
"Dog Day Afternoon" with Al Pacino, and "The Deer Hunter" with Robert DeNiro, died of bone cancer in 1978.