The Godfather is an engaging and compelling story to say the least, but as a movie- so what? Just because something makes for a great story or play doesn't mean it can automatically translate onto the big screen. There has to be some point of making it into a movie, and quite frankly, The Godfather works just as effectively as a book. The characters, the dialogue, the plot twists- yeah, they're all okay, but where are the shots, the angles, the editing techniques, the sound effects that make this into a number one film??? The conventions of film are all used pretty simply according to the Hollywood format- ie, make the camera invisible. There are few scenes anywhere in The Godfather Trilogy that stand out in the history of cinema. If you want an entertaining movie, you will certainly like the Godfather. But you may just as well read the book (unless, like so many today, you haven't the time). But if you want a film that stretches the genre or that will blow you away with an element OTHER than storyline and dialogue, you can do a lot better.