Review: The Godfather 4K Deluxe Collector’s Edition is an offer you can’t refuse

The Godfather trilogy 4K Deluxe Collector’s Edition review

Francis Ford Coppola’s epic crime saga has finally made the jump to 4K, just in time for the 50th-anniversary of the original iconic film. The trilogy — including The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, Coppola’s newly edited version of the third film — is now available in a standard 4K UHD box set along with an elaborate Deluxe Collector’s Edition featuring a trio of striking art prints and a photo book.

While the previous Blu-ray releases of The Godfather trilogy are impressive enough on their own merits, the new 4K restorations are the best these films have ever looked on home video. Overseen by Coppola himself, the restorations bring a new level of clarity to what have always been fairly dark films, while enhancing the colour spectrum via HDR in a way that never feels obtrusive. In addition to the painstakingly restored video presentations, the original mono soundtracks for the first two films are also included for audio purists who prefer to hear the films the way they were initially screened decades ago.

These new releases carry over the extensive extras found in the previous Blu-ray releases while also adding in some fascinating new features. The best of these is Full Circle: Preserving The Godfather, an in-depth look at the massive amount of resources that went into creating the new transfers of the films, including analyzing 300 cartons of film and spending 4,000 hours cleaning up film tears and stains to present the purest image possible.

Every film fan should own a copy of this set — the only real decision should be which version to get. If you’re looking to save space (and cash), the standard 4K trilogy box set may be the way to go. If space and pricing are less of an issue, the oversize Collector’s Edition box set is really something to behold. The set includes three frame-ready art prints, and a thick full-color book featuring behind-the-scenes photos, housed in a handsome black box with an embossed cover.

Whichever version you choose, Paramount’s new Godfather trilogy 4K collections are a must-have for any self-respecting film fan. As many times as you may have seen these films over the years, watching these new transfers almost feels like seeing the trilogy for the first time.

Check out the full list of new and archival features below. The Godfather Trilogy 4K set is available now.

THE GODFATHER 4K NEW BONUS CONTENT:

• Introduction to The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola
• Full Circle: Preserving The Godfather—Paramount Pictures archivists detail the incredible restoration process with archival footage showing the evolution of the film through various home entertainment incarnations as picture and audio technologies make quantum leaps over the decades.
• Capturing the Corleones: Through the Lens of Photographer Steve Schapiro— In this reflective and frank discussion, special photographer Steve Schapiro shares his unique perspective and cherished memories as a witness to the making of this seminal film. Commentary on curated archival images makes for a fascinating, never-before-seen addition to the production’s history.
• The Godfather: Home Movies— An assortment of 8mm home movie footage shot in 1971 offers a candid glimpse into the production of The Godfather. Shot on location at the Norton family estate on Staten Island’s Emerson Hill, this is the first time it’s been made available to the public.
• Restoration Comparisons— Before and after highlights showcase extensive picture quality improvements to The Godfather.

THE GODFATHER 4K LEGACY BONUS CONTENT:

• The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn’t
• Godfather World
• Emulsional Rescue—Revealing The Godfather
• …when the shooting stopped
• The Godfather on the Red Carpet
• Four Short Films on The Godfather
• The Godfather vs. The Godfather: Part II
• Cannoli
• Riffing on the Riffing
• Clemenza
• The Family Tree
• Crime Organization Chart
• Connie and Carlo’s Wedding Album
• 2008 Credits
• Behind the Scenes
• A Look Inside
• On Location
• Francis Ford Coppola’s Notebook
• Music of The Godfather
• Nino Rota
• Carmine Coppola
• Coppola & Puzo on Screenwriting
• Gordon Willis on Cinematography
• Storyboards – The Godfather: Part II
• Storyboards – The Godfather: Part III
• The Godfather Behind the Scenes 1971
• Additional Scenes
• Galleries
• Trailers
• Acclaim & Response
• Additional Material
• The Filmmakers
• The Godfather: Part III—newly remastered and restored versions of the original theatrical cut and Coppola’s 1991 cut (note: these are exclusive to the 4K Ultra HD Collections)