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Post by Pulpmariachi on Mar 21, 2005 23:53:07 GMT -5
My vote goes for GoodFellas because, I feel, it is the best one in that series, my favorite Scorsese movie, and my number one movie of all time (followed by The Incredibes, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, Pulp Fiction, and The Royal Tenenbaums).
I mean, it doesn't glamourize the gangster life like the other two. It's shows just how dirty and back-stabbing it can be. Everyone is screwed over and you leave it going, "That was cool, but to hell with being a gangster."
Plus, it's just a great story with wonderful acting, totally believable situations (unlike Scarface, a movie I absolutely loathe) and great characters.
I also think you could compare these movies to the music that builds them up.
The Godfather is an opera. Big and grand and over-the-top. It's and epic with epic characters. And since operas are exceptionally long, it comes as no surprise that this is the longest of the three.
Scarface is a rap movie. The main guy is basically decked in jewels, trying to get all the expensive stuff he can while being with tons of women and killing anyone he feels like. And like tons of rap songs (a genre I hate) it just keeps going on and on.
GoodFellas is a rock movie It's simple, dirty, loud, and short (with most rock songs being 2--5 minutes, there are exceptions yes, like "Sister Ray" or "Ina gadda davida" or whatever it's called) (and it being short, well, it's the shortest of these three). The characters don't buy manisons or super fast tricked out cars. It's very simple.
So, what do the rest of you think?
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Mar 22, 2005 19:19:04 GMT -5
Three of my favorite movies...but had to go w/ Godfather. I think it's the first mob movie I ever watched & I just love the vastness & epic-ness (is that a word? ;D ) of it. I have to disagree w/ the statement you made about it glamourizing the mob lifestyle, I mean it may have glamourized it a little more than the other movies, but when it was over you had no doubt that these guys were bad news & wouldn't (& didn't) hesitate to kill friends & family members alike. I sure wouldn't have wanted to piss any of them off!  |
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Post by Bartwald on Mar 23, 2005 6:46:27 GMT -5
I have to disagree w/ the statement you made about it glamourizing the mob lifestyle... Yup, agree with Livingdeadgirl! And actually I wouldn't say Scarface - my favourite here - glamourizes this lifestyle, either; I think it shows how empty and pointless your life gets when you get to the top there: the scene with Pacino in a bathtub is the best example. He has it all and he's so damn pissed with life. The other two films I like a lot, too, of course, but Scarface is, y'know - De Palma.  |
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Post by spacer on Mar 23, 2005 10:35:33 GMT -5
My vote goes to the rock movie that is Good Fellas. I agree with what you said about it. Yes it was the most authentic of all these flicks. But Godfather is a masterpiece too even though the theme is much more sad and disturbing. I enjoyed Goodfellas a bit more so such is my vote which is tight anyway. |
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Post by Phoenix on Mar 23, 2005 11:25:48 GMT -5
Godfather for me too because it's perfection.
Love Goodfellas though.
Scarface is a bit more rough for me to watch. A little TOO over the top.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Mar 23, 2005 22:16:19 GMT -5
Godfather for me too because it's perfection. Love Goodfellas though. Scarface is a bit more rough for me to watch. A little TOO over the top. Phoenix, you took the words right out of my mouth. Though both GODFATHER & GOODFELLAS are both a 10/10 for me, I'm gonna give it to GODFATHER for being there first. Pulpmariachi, while I thought your comparison of each film to a different genre of music was perfect and spot on, I don't agree that any of these movies "glamourize" the gangster lifestyle. The way Tony Montana ends up at the end of SCARFACE or Sonny Corleone, not to mention many others, in THE GODFATHER, doesn't make me wanna pursue that lifestyle. Sure, it looks like fun for a little while, but realistically? Fuhggeddaboutit! |
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Post by Termination on Mar 24, 2005 11:55:42 GMT -5
All 3 are excellent imo, but if you asked me which of these three films I'd watch again, I would watch Scarface before the others.  |
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Post by Pulpmariachi on Mar 24, 2005 19:10:56 GMT -5
Well, I meant The Godfather was glamorized because the characters are treated as gods. And if you've ever read anything mythological or anything, you know gods are always trying to screw each other over.
Scarface is the tale of a wannabe god, so I think he's still glamorized because he gets all this stuff, and yes, is hollow, but still is a success. Until he messes with those Colombians. Tsk tsk. I still hate this movie and don't see any reason why it's so popular. And how can one guy do SO MUCH coke?
GoodFellas isn't glamorized, I think, because Ray Liotta knows he can't be anything bigger than he is (because he's half-Irish), so he just kinda witnessed that.
Anyways, I meant that Godfather's characters and Scarface's characters to an extent, are treated as gods.
Oh, by the way, GLAMOURIZED wasn't the word I was thinking of. I meant GLORIFIED. So replace that word with all the other ones. Yeah, realized that was the right word in the middle of church. Glorified, not glamourized.
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Post by ZapRowsdower on Mar 24, 2005 19:56:16 GMT -5
God, this is a tough choice. It really depends on my mood at the time. I'd always choose the Godfather over Goodfellas (even though Goodfellas was great too), but the choice between the Godfather and Scarface was really tough. I went with Scarface, but it might be the Godfather next week.
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Post by Bartwald on Mar 25, 2005 14:13:09 GMT -5
Great choices, Term and Smitty! |
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Post by Gabriel on Mar 26, 2005 15:02:43 GMT -5
I went with Scarface too. Really tough choice but for me, out of the three, the one I would watch whenever it was on etc is Scarface.
Incidentally my favourite 'mob' movie is actually Donnie Brasco.
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Post by Bartwald on Mar 26, 2005 15:16:11 GMT -5
Thanks neptunes - you always come back here right in time when we need you! As for Donnie Brasco - a great, underrated and a very sad film. And one of Johnny Depp's best roles there! |
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Mar 28, 2005 20:40:44 GMT -5
Donnie Brasco-another one of my faves. Pacino goes from head of the family in GF...to busting open parking meters in DB...ironic.
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Post by Quorthon on Mar 30, 2005 9:29:36 GMT -5
I can't vote here, I've only seen Scarface. *sniff*
...But I loved it.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Mar 30, 2005 12:08:03 GMT -5
Definitely see the other two before voting. You mean the Movie Police haven't smashed down your doors and dragged you by the hair screaming for not having seen GOODFELLAS & THE GODFATHER??? Hmm... I'll have to make that call. I can't believe that SCARFACE is winning this poll. It's easily the worst of the bunch. Good movie, but better than the other two?? Sorry, SCARFACE fans. |
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