Wow, why do I like The Godfather. I think the question should be "Why shouldn't I like The Godfather. I'm sure someone could compile a much shorter list as to why someone shouldn't like The Godfather than one of all the many reasons someone should. But, seeing as the question is why do I like it, I'll answer.

1) Acting (Brando, Pacino, Duvall, Caan, Cazale, Keaton, I'm sorry folks, but it doesn't get any better than that.)

2) The story (Sure, it's a romanticized depiction of Mafia life, but really, it's not so much about the mafia as it is about family, the importance of maintaining a good relationship with your family, and the value of friendship.)

3) The direction (It's amazing that with such a small budget, Francis Ford Coppola made the single greatest film of all time (IMO). Gordon Willis' lighting is fantastic, and set the standard of what lighting should be like in a film. Paramount took a big chance on a relatively unknown director, and an actor who was known for his off-screen shenanigans, and on an actor who they wanted fired the minute they saw his screen test (Pacino). Thank God it payed off).

I could go on for hours, but I'll try and make this brief. The Godfather is the epitome of modern film making. It set such a high standard, that few (if any) films have reached it. After 33 years, it's still an incredibly interesting topic for discussion, and it's also a film that spawned the greatest Godfather website on the Internet (actually endorsed by Mario Puzo), and the greatest discussion board on all things Godfather. In short, I like The Godfather because it's a great film, and has brought me to this message board and has introduced me to such wonderful people. It's weird, how a movie with such a dark backdrop, involving murder, drugs, rackets, etc, can bring so many people together. Who'd a thunk it?