It is on so many people's favorites list, that I was feeling guilty for not having watched it yet. I just watched it, but I am not able to appreciate it as much as many others do. Acting wise Pesci, Deniro and almost everyone else did a great job, but what is the plot/story? It seemed very shallow on plot. It looked like the first hour was a loooong exposition introducing us to the gangster life and various characters and basically it continues like that till the end, with Henry narrating incidents one after another. If at all there was any character growth it was that of Henry. All others were just laughing, whacking people and partying. Maybe I need to watch it again to appreciate more, but my initial reaction is that it is a little over-rated movie.

Wow you have to be the first person on these boards that doesn't like the film,i love the film and my Fav film,watch it again and compare it to the fist time

Fear not.

First time I watched it, I too felt it lacked a plot, and that the whole film was like a long establishing shot.

This is how Scorsese wants it. He wants to provide enough insight for us that he is actually giving us information overload: a verbal, audial and visual barrage on the senses, with Liotta's voice-over acting as a kind of "blink and you miss" introduction to this world. It's far too big a story and life to fit into two hours and twenty minutes with any kind of emotional justification. So instead, it's a fast-flowing, perfectly edited "story" told in a detached, almost third-person manner.

Go back to it, but wait; and stay away from Casino for a while, since that's even worse (but a brilliant film, once again, I feel).

Mick

Dude, how could you ever dare to NOT aprecciate Goodfellas ? I have no words for this movie. The best gangster picture ever made, after the trilogy obviously. I've watched it plenty of times and still don't get bored while watching it again today. Henry hill rules

SVSG
If you don't like it, I'm curious what some of your favorite movies are. I disagree with you about Goodfellas. You should watch it again and I think you'll get more out of it.

dont worry, the first time i watched it i was like 'okay, that was Goodfellas', i watched it over and over tho and every time i watched it again i started to appreciate the movie more. now its one of my fav movies.

but i had the same with Casino, after the first time watchin i thought the movie was alright, but a few views later i thought it was about as good as Goodfellas

You're fat.


Only kidding. This is understandable. I agree with Mick, it's an interesting and fast-pace technique of film-making. Scorsese is brilliant as always. But, it does require somewhat of a second viewing to really get inside the characters heads, and further appriciate the film. So I reccomend going back to it, viewing a second, maybe third time, and going from there.

If you end up enjoying it, then move on to Casino. It is very similar, and a great film at that. (Although Goodfellas beat it to the point, originality-wise, which seemed to gross Goodfellas a larger fanbase a popularity, and fairly so.)

If you are asking about favorite gangster movies, then I haven't watched many. Ofcourse GF1 &2 are my favorites on any list. Though Scarface was entertaining, I did not think it was great either. I am in minority I know Road to Perdition was good, though nowwhere in the league of the trilogy.If you asked about my favorite movies in general, after GF1 and GF2, I like these - (in no particular order) - Apocalypse Now, The Matrix, First Blood part1 and American Beauty

I, too, watched GOODFELLAS for the first time last week. The first time I watched it, I thought it was ok but it couldn't touch THE GODFATHER trilogy, but I watched it again, and again, and a week later I bought the DVD and it's one of my favorite movies. (Though still not better than GFR I and II, But III yes.)

GFR I, II and III? that would be interesting

I said it was not better than GFR I and II. But was better than III.

I liked it fine...mostly due to Joe Pesci's performance. (I remember walking out of the theater after seeing it the first time, and predicting to my friend right there that he'd win an Oscar for that.) Once Pesci's character has 'exited', the movie definitely loses some life, but is still compelling right to the end.

As for making any comparison to either of The Godfather films....the thought never crossed my mind. Why would anyone do such a thing???

I will say though, that Goodfellas 'on its own' is a far better film than 'The Godfather, Part III'. Unlike GFIII, it doesn't need two previous installments pull material from and lean upon. AND unlike GFIII, it doesn't need the lame excuse some give it that 'although not as good as the first two, it's still a great movie in its own right'.

Apple

Don_Andrew, I understood what you said, I was referring to "GFR", a commonly used abbreviation for Godfather Returns in these forums. Most of the people who read it did not like it, which is why I thought it would be funny if we had GFR and its sequels as movies.

If you are asking about favorite gangster movies, then I haven't watched many. Ofcourse GF1 &2 are my favorites on any list. Though Scarface was entertaining, I did not think it was great either. I am in minority I know Road to Perdition was good, though nowwhere in the league of the trilogy.If you asked about my favorite movies in general, after GF1 and GF2, I like these - (in no particular order) - Apocalypse Now, The Matrix, First Blood part1 and American Beauty [/b][/quote]Cool - to each his own. It's the kind of movie that grew on me - I don't remember being blown away the 1st time I saw it, but I liked it more than you.

That's quite a diverse list you have of all-time faves. The only one I haven't seen off your list is Matrix. I need to see First Blood again - it's been years and that's a very underrated Stallone film.

Don_Andrew, I understood what you said, I was referring to "GFR", a commonly used abbreviation for Godfather Returns in these forums. Most of the people who read it did not like it, which is why I thought it would be funny if we had GFR and its sequels as movies. [/b][/quote] It would be interesting. I understand now. I'll just abbreviate for GF now...

I agree, Apple. In my oppinion, they're in totally different leagues. Goodfellas is obviously more realistic, as far as the mafioso parts go, as it is a true story, and classifies itself as more of a "Gangster" film.

The Godfather, although great, is not a Gangster film, to me at least. A film about gangsters perhaps, but not a gangster film; in actuallity, as is with most Puzo stories, gangsterism is more of a subtext device, used to tell the story of Michael Corleone and his family. At least, that is how I have always seen it. It is just much more of a cinematic masterpeice to be an average, full on gangster-film. There are too many sub-plots and stories for it to be classified as a full on mob movie.

The plot is about a young boy wanting to be a "gangster" then once he becomes one he wants to get a women. Then once he wants to get a women he wants respect, then he wants power, then he wants lots of money. What is so good about it is, is how it is based on a true low ranked mobsters life. (he was, he wasn't a high ranked one, just respected)