The most significant theme?

The film covers many, but which one do you think sums the film up most and the one you consider most important? I'd say retribution and vengeance. When you think about it, everything that happens is some kind of act of vengeance.

What do you think?

Mick

Family.

Very thought provoking question Capo. I'll give it a different twist. If you are familiar with the Ten Commandments, Michael Corleone broke everyone - except maybe Honor thy Mother and Father. But he did that at the expense of breaking a few others. It shows you that when you break the law, God's and man's, you don't get away with it. He rationalized all his behavior based on protecting his family and not being ruled by other people. How do I sum it up in a theme? Pride.

Good question, Capo! There are so many, it is hard to say which one is most important...but I say the most important theme carried throughout the trilogy was the reverance of family, and the transition of power, not from old to young, but more from a standpoint of father and son. these movies would not be as great as they are if they did not have the "father & son" element between the Corleone men.

When you see it the first time round, the main theme that strikes you is "Power Corrupts"
The second time, it's vengeance,
Third time, after you understand the story more, it becomes more family/dispute issues and how "money speaks"

He broke that one, too, I'd say. Killing a brother does not honor thy Mother and Father.

I'd semi-agree with you, Capo. The main theme for me is Michael's (and Don C.'s) attempt to protect their world and family, their mis-guided use of force, revenge and vengeance as a tool to protect their family, and by using these tools, the ultimate loss of their family.

I go along with Researcher and "power corrupts." I'd also say that the absolute net is, "Crime doesn't pay." Michael lost everything by the end of the Trilogy.

Everything except for his money .

I think that vengeance is the most important theme in the movie. The entire trilogy is based on vengeance, and shows that one act of revenge leads to another. Michael's obsession with getting revenge on his enemies just leads to more murders, and eventually, to the death of his own daughter in GFIII. He loses what was most important to him, his family, because he took revenge on everyone that ever harmed him.

I agree with all of you. One gets the power in the interest of "the family" and then it leads to "greed" which paves the way for murder and as Mary Cas said, the breaking of almost all the commandments, ending with the 'crime doesn't pay' theme.


TIS

I think there are too many to say which one, but I would say it would be "All for the sake of family".

How about "power corrupts; absolute power corrputs absolutely."

I believe there's also a very strong message that every man has his destiny. Vito was a poor delivery boy, but became the most powerful don in NYC. Michael, who had planned a totally different future for himself, ends up filling his father's shoes.

that's a very interesting twist/theme, SB! initially, i would think that the theme was revenge, or family, but then, "destiny" does play a major part -- orphaned immigrant, Vito; and indifferent (to his father's business and life) Michael.

as the scottish don said," family"