The Sicilian

This is a very entertaining and underrated work. Turi Giuliano is a great anti-hero and Puzo works his familiar magic here.

As a bonus, you also get cameo appearances from Michael and Don Vito Corleone - they aren't part of the main storyline, but Puzo found a masterful way to work them into the book nevertheless.

It was worthwhile reading the book... but I didn't like the ending...

I did like the part when Michael and Vito had conflicting ideas regarding their idea of being a "hero" - stand up for your morals and die VS. not doing anything and live.

I'm reading it right now-I haven't gotten far, been busy with school and the "what-nots" but so far so good.

this is a very good book, some like it better than the Godfather but please don't forget to watch the movie.

GoodFella

Call me clueless, but a movie? Wait I think I saw that in Gamestop for 4.99 on DVD (plus my 10% discount) Since you are recomending I suppose it is worth the watch after the book...

Pls dont buy it! just watch it if you know someone who have the dvd or VHS. ) its not a decent movie i just wanted you guys to see it wait for you comments. . .

GoodFella

Micheal and Vito have a part in the Siclian (the novel). But do they also appear in the movie? Or do they talk about them?

The novel is a spin-off of The Godfather (set during Michael's exile in Sicily), however all references to the Corleones are omitted from the film.

Be sure to watch the uncut version. From what I read many reviewers stated it was more powerful, and the uncut one didn't make any sense(Ala Once Upon A Time In America)

How accurate is the movie in regards to the novel? Has it fallen victim to Americanization?

An un-cut version?

I saw the film (presumably the cut version) and it was awful, and I was really disappointed by it.

The book is really great, I enjoyed it a lot, possibly as much as 'The Godfather'.

I liked to figure out about sicily and where vito and the Corleones came from. I love how they kill that one andolini, and how they put in his pocket "ALL DIE WHO BETRAY GUILIANO" or something like that.

Michael Cimino, the director (The Deer Hunter) is infamous for making long movies that were re-cut to shorten the running time.

If you are going to pick up the movie, make sure you get the unedited version. I have never seen either, but you always want to go with the version the director intended and not the studio.

About the book - I enjoyed it, but it suffered from reading most at one time, and then going back and finishing it a few months later. I did the same with Fools Die.

Again, Puzo isn't the best writer in the world but has a way with words to make the story come to life. The ending was pretty cliche, but it was a good read. A must for GF fans, since the book is sprinkled with references.

I've just finished the book, I loved it, especially the way Michael and his father were included.
I didn't like the ending too much though, I really wanted Turi to make it to America.
I also thought that it would have been better if Hector had planted the note 'so die all who betray Guilliano' in Aspanu's pocket on his own, without being asked to do so by Don Croce, I didn't like the way that Croce was invlolved in that part, after all it was all down to him that Turi was dead.
A very good book - I feel I should now see the film, though I think I will regret it!!!

has any1 here seen the uncut version?

I am currently reading this great work. I fell in love with The Sicilian from chapter 1. I have never seen the film. I was wondering if the film lived up to the book, or if there was anything you feel should not have been left out. or was there anything that you did not like about the film?

Yes, the film was awful. Really bad. Deviated from the story of the book far too much.

Though we're hearing that there is an uncut version, which is supposed to be better. Any news on that yet, anyone seen it?

I can't imagine an uncut longer version could be any better.

True, I'm clutching at straws.

Turi, have you read King of the Mountain?

Yeah I bought King of the Mountain about roughly 2 years ago so I can't quite remember it too well. I even recommended it to you then. http://www.thegodfathertrilogy.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=000394

It's probably the best unbiased read on Giuliano.

Thanks Turi, I remembered that someone had recommended it to me, I can't believe it's been two years since I've been meaning to read it, I better get on it!

I'm still desperate for someone to remake it, although after having seen The Illiad I've lost a lot of faith in hollywood making books into films. If the studio had got their way over GF, it may have been a lot different, we were fortunate to have a strong director, and the writer working on the film.

I know you said you struggle to read fiction nowadays, but I recommend 'The Count of Monte Cristo' to you.

I watched The Sicilian today. I actually liked it.

I didn't see anything too wrong with it. Its not a GREAT film, but its not bad. The acting if fine, the plot is rather simple, it all made sense to me.

I honestly don't see whats so bad about it, its the DVD version, so I can only assume its uncut, as its at least a 3 hour film.

But, I notice alot of you are saying its bad without seeing it, so I dunno.

I watched it earlier this morning.. and I'm assuming that it was the cut version.. it was just about 2 hours long.

I found it to be an alright film.. decent actors played the parts but it really didn't seem to explain anything or have any flow to the story. Reading the book, I felt the buildup of Turi's ascent to power, but the film seemed like a jumbled series of events that just didn't work.

Maybe the uncut version is a bit more tidy, but I would consider this as a one or two-star movie.

The film is all right but doesn't do the book justice. I particularly hated the bit near the when the prison guard says "Him he'll never change". When in the book he goes into a long speech about how when people get put into prison they start to look after themselves. Definitely worth a remake, I would have Eric Cantona and Paulo Di Canio as the bandits.

Ha! I doubt many on here wuld know who Eric Cantona or Paolo Di Canio are, but now you mention it - Cantona would be superb as one of the bandits!

I could imagine them both as the bandits! Good call, I never would have thought of it myself.