what is the moral/message of the Godfather??

just curious on what you guys think the moral/message is from the Godfather? or even if you guys think there is a moral to the story?

1. Crime doesn't pay.
2. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

1. loyalty is EVERYTHING
2. live by the code... die by the code

Never say NO to drugs

What goes around comes around.

with regards to who DonT???

There are people in this world who consider other people to simply be expendables to be used and manipulated to satisfy their own avarice.

One message is that intelligence is an overrated virtue.

One message I got was to never leave home without my EZ-Pass

Why do gangsters have an ego?

Even those ones who stratch at small time stuff are full of themselves.

They're humans.

Don Ciccio, Don Tomassino, Vito, Santino, Michael, Fredo, Connie, All Michael's Enemies, Vincent, Mary, Kay to name a few.

oh ok... but why Santino, Connie, Vincent, and Mary?

Santino, in case you didn't notice was murdered as the result of his bad temper and despite Hagen's desperate attempt to stop him from leaving the compound.

Connie, after being widowed, whored around the world, lost her children and was reduced to being Michael's caregiver/substitute Don. After that opera she was alone in the world.

Mary despite warnings that her association with Vincent was dangerous was still arguing her point on the opera steps. If she had gone to the car quickly as instructed she would have lived.

Vincent lot the love of his life and shattered Michael by botching security at the opera.

I'd say those are fairly significant consequences.

What are the different downfalls that a gangster/wannabe can have?

Not being the target of assassination plots.

Downfall is not being a target?

um... DT, I kinda see where you're going, but Connie started suffering when she was widowed (which she had NOTHING to do with). And I can see how you can say that Santino being killed was a result and consequence of his hot temper, but when I think of "What goes around, comes around" I think of you doing something to some one and I get the same thing in return.

Oh wow... where to start..?

• Blood's a big expense.
• Don't take any action from fat slobs betting heavy on the Yankees.
• Chinese food is excellent for those REEEEEEEALLY tense situations.
• Narcotics is the coming thing, maybe not now but... 10 years from now!
• Never hire an obnoxiously ambitious, loudmouthed bodyguard.
• They should've stopped Hitler at Munich.
• Don't show off your prized animals to mob lawyers.
• Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.
• Don't lose that famous temper of yours.
• Try the veal, it's the best in the city.
• Women and children can be careless but not men. (perhaps the most ironic line in the movie?)
• For that quick snack, when your consiglieri's MIA, and your father's been shot, ya can't beat a big chunk o' bread sopping up greasy peppers and sausage. YUM!!!