Customer Reviews

The Godfather Trilogy

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I would not like to repeat what another reviewer said there: this is no original soundtrack. It is a very professional - and very uninspired - job by Prague Philarmonic who might have followed the music sheet but they lost the magic.

Yes, the tunes are memorable and, right from the first movements, they evoke the ghosts of complex cinematic imagery that are so deeply ingrained in the mind of anyone who loves this film. But the magic is gone. You know it's not THE soundtrack, and you've heard the real thing so many times.

The truth is that if you had Pavarotti to sing classic songs of The Rolling Stones, you would be disappointed with the result - despite the fact that Luciano has a much better voice than Mick Jagger.

Those artists who recorded the original soundtrack 30 years ago in Hollywood - and who remembers their names today? - were probably not as accomplished as the Prague Philarmonic. But they created the real thing, and therefore this cover disc will forever be no more than nice background music. That's all I use it for.

I am a die-hard Godfather afficianado and I was terribly disappointed in this CD. When I purchased it, I didn't realize it was not a recording of the original soundtrack from the movie. Instead, it is a reproduction of the songs by The City of Prague Philharmonic. The performance is technically accurate, but does not at *all* convey the emotion of the movie's moments. It's as if the musicians studied the score, but never saw the movie. In track after track, the rhythms are not quite right, the mood is not set, etc, which is jarring for someone who knows the movies well. If you just want to hear some pleasing music, buy this CD. If you intend to buy a CD of The Godfather soundtrack in order to re-experience the magic of the Godfather movies themselves, look elsewhere.

As a LOVER of The Godfather trilogy, it was obvious that I would soon pick up this cd, and I am so glad that I did. There's something about this music that resonates in your chest, that makes you feel, makes something inside of you spark up.

It's the perfect music to have on while you're writing or cleaning or just relaxing.

It's definitely in my top 3 cds, and it's one I keep around me at all times.

If you love beautiful, classical music, you need to pick this up.

I bought this after watching the movies for the first time, and listened to it, without noticing any difference. I just went, "what an amazing remastering job", then I saw that they were re-recorded. I never thought there was that big a difference when watching the movies over and over, and I really scrutinize re-recordings generally(like those done for Star Wars).

I bought the regular Godfather 1 cd after this, and I've hardly touched it since I bought it. I think this Godfather Trilogy is far superior in audio quality and performance. I think it has more feeling then the originals.

What is the secret of "The Godfather" saga's longevity and the general public's continuing approbation? Is it the unfolding testimony of a single family - a dynasty riven and driven by violent domination - underpinned by common bonds of basic fraternal descency - the basic elements inherent in the very personal tales recounted by "The Godfather" films - but none of this would be possible except for the wonderful scores that have been composed and played on every imaginable instrument in many corners of the world.

Nino Rota's main theme, the now famous "THE GODFATHER WALTZ", which informs much of the score for the film, is liberally adapted from a motif he originally composed for the frivolously frothy 1957 comedy "Fortunella" - but is altogether more sedate, more sombre in "The Godfather" saga's.

This drama, potency, atmosphere and characterisation of "The Godfather" films are easily recalled through this memorable music. Perfection in film making, in screen story-telling is rare yet "The Godfather" films achieved this. Must note, that the scores are so apt, so pertinent, so evocative, so germane that it is impossible to separate it out from the indelible fabric of a film or continuing film saga. Your love for film-music grows when you listen to Nino Rota and Carmine Coppola - who I believe have achieved perfection.

Hats off to - Silva America, The City of Prague Philarmonic, Paul Bateman (conducter) and the Crouch End Festival Chorus (choir master - David Temple). This album fellow "film-score-buffs", is an offer you can't refuse, if you know what I mean!

Total Time: 52:02 on 11 Tracks...Silva America SSD-1121...(2001)

When I first reading the reviews to this Soundtrack collection, I was a bit skeptical, as I read many reviews which mentioned the differences among this collection and the original soundtracks. Being a huge fan of the films and their music, I was a bit nervous about my purchase, but figured how bad could it sound? It's the Godfather!

However, when I got the CD in the mail, I was pleasantly surprised. While I did notice some differences (Tarantella sounds somewhat changed) between the Collection songs and the original analogs, they were not a change for worse. These tracks produced the same, if not greater emotional response than those from the films.

Listening to the whole soundtrack is a great experience from beginning to end for fans of the films and their music, and I absolutely praise the Prague Philharmonic orchestra, Crouch End Festival Chorus, and conductor Paul Bateman for their excellent transition of the original work into this 30th Anniversary collection.

If you like the music from the films, get this disc!

Being a fan of the trilogy (esp. 1 and 2), I hesitated to purchase the CD after reading some comments about the "lack of feelings" from the music that is "not the original one".

On the opposite, I found the music well played and recorded, and fairly capable of communicating strong emotions. The CD differs a bit (besides quality - better with this one) compared to the original soundtrack, but I didn't feel the difference as a problem.
Finally, I prefer this version.

Three great icons of American cinema were joined at the hip by the memory-saturated musical score that accompanied them. The Godfather films were expansive in many ways, but it ought not be forgotten that the music that framed them arguably lingers in our minds at least as long as the story's most compelling visual images.

Notwithstanding criticism of the City of Prague Orchestra's performance on this CD, I find this album a deeply satisfying revisitation of the Godfather phenomenon. The 'Godfather Waltz' and the 'Love Theme'--with their variations on the two themes--define the musical horizon here.

It is music that would not stand without the film, as is true of film music in general with few exceptions. Yet after recently watching the three films over the space of a few weeks, I find this performance of its sounds well worth the patience it requires to hear them again.

Scenes linger. Sounds endure. A great cinematic moment does that sort of thing.

While I do agree with other reviewers that the CD generally lacks the spirit of the movie scores (nothing like "the halls of fear" from the original Godfather), I am ready to forgive it for one particular track: "Marcia Religiosa". It appeared in the second installment of the series during the parade and also in the third one (with lyrics), yet it was largely abridged in the movies. The OST for the respective movies also did not quite pay the justice to this tune and another tribute called "The godfather suite" managed to mangle it completely. CPPO, on the other hand, made this piece sound dramatically and almost awe-inspiring. This alone deserves the five star rating (IMHO, of course).

Some reviewers point about how much original this OST is. Maybe its not. But you can believe it has same sprit with movie.

Many people may be satisfied..