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It always ends up on the "Best of" lists when it comes to movies, including my own, so why is this tale - this bloody, violent tale that basically breaks down a good guy into the Baddest of the Bad so universally appealing?

Because Michael Corleone is utterly relatable.

Bear with me.

When we meet Michael (Al Pacino), he's a war hero, a good son, who happened to be born into the wrong family. A Mafioso family, headed by the chilling, yet compelling Vito Corleone, portrayed in the performance of a lifetime by the incomparable Marlon Brando.

We understood on a very basic level that Michael held himself apart from the family business because of his desire to do what is right.

But then events occurred that resulted in motivations we all could understand. If our father, our families were attacked, we also might be motivated into doing things we necessarily didn't want to do.

From the time Vito was attacked, to Sonny's brutal and violent death, and finally his wife's brutal murder in front of his eyes - we saw a good man pushed further and further against the wall.

When he pushed back, against those people who did this horrible things, we *understood*.

And I credit that entirely to Vito Corleone.

As I just finished watching the movie, again, I saw that Vito was indeed the "good" guy. He was a family man. Truly nothing was more important to him. That's a good trait. An admirable trait.

So when Michael is forced to fight back, out of that same love for family, we already have been trained that good men sometimes do bad things in the name of that which we all prize.

The heart of this story, therefore, is universal.

It takes real life and exaggerates it, takes it right to the very brink of believability. And that's what good stories do. When it transcends generations - that's what makes it great.

I think that the Mass/Massacre scene is probably the most chilling and effective juxtaposed scenes I've ever seen in my life. Al Pacino's portrayal as Michael Corleone was bone chilling and effective as he renounced Satan while beyond those church doors he orchestrated massive - and unrepentant - carnage.

I still have goosebumps.

The only thing I find flawed about the movie is the actress who plays Connie and her blatant overacting. Coupled with the fact that her character - to me - was very nearly totally unsympathetic made her the weakest link in an otherwise powerful chain that stands up even thirty years later.

Easily five stars.

Learn more about this author, Ginger Voight.
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