Hiya everyone, I'm new here (this is my first post ), and I'm not sure if this topic has been done or not, so sorry if it has!

But anyway, how has The Godfather changed you?

For me, it could be something like using GF quotes in every day life, as I often do with my good friend, who also happens to love the trilogy. It's also set a new standard for how good movies can be. Before, I never really looked at them as an artform, but I can't help but believe that The Godfather is nothing short of a masterpiece.

Without sounding like an obsessed fan, or a wannabe gangster , I think it's changed a lot of the ways I think. And I think I've adopted a lot of mannerisms from the characters.

Welcome to the BB, ant! If you're so big a fan as you seem to be, let's hope you stick around. Been too many just popping in and out recently.

And a nice question to start off. (If you're unsure if a topic has been posted before, use the "Search" button at the top.

As for me: I too use the quotes everyday, and confuse my friends, who have attention spans of fishes (not the Luca Brasi kind) hence have never seen the film. I also automatically compare a new gangster film with The Godfather (so more times than not I am disappointed by the standards these days). I also go about things the way Michael and Vito very much did; I keep (or at least try to keep) my enemies closer to me than my friends. I also have a resonable approach to asituations, very much like Vito.

Mick

As a young teen, it was truly a wake up call... I was as naive as Kay in worldly matters.

This goes to show us how an ivy-leagued educated person (like Kay) can be as simple and naive as a peasant girl (like Appolonia) who could recite the days of the week in correct order!

I'd say adopting the characters mannerisms would be a definite issue. I think I've learned to use the lethality of silence that Vito used (and to a certain extent Mike)...

Also, yeah, I quote alote with my mafia sister (not really my sister, but you get the idea) I call her the "Godmother"...

EDIT: The pic is way to big, just click here to see it

Resize the pictures using photo delux or something before posting them will make them far easier to view on my 17" monitor

lol I have paint shop pro, which is a superb program. I just don't feel like fixing it right now.

Fine ....Mr Selfish

well, i went out and got me a gun.

that was years ago. I traded it for a gibson Les Paul.

-I am now hated by my friends and family because all I talk about is the GF series, make references to it, and quote it all the time. I'm seriously starting to feel like a 'Trekie'.

-I am always trying to predict others' moves before they happen, and keep a watchful eye out all the time.

-Rather than just being a hothead (like Sonny), I'm realizing there's alot more power in choosing your battles wisely, and using intellect rather than muscle whenever possible.

Which is as equally lethal! Rock on!

Well I saw both the first 2 godfathers and scarface and they got me started into likin mob movies

I realized that with the proper lighting anyplace can become interesting. +++ And I developed a passion for boathouses!!!

Another thing: it is also a topic with which I get to know people: as a big movie fan, I tend to ask people what their favourite film is. If they like the Godfather, I dive on top of them and make love (pity none of the girls have seen it! ) and if they haven't even heard of it I dive on top of them with a big butcher's knife...

Mick

Well, I first saw the Godfather movies about 10 years ago. At the time, I would say, yes, maybe it changed me. It certainly took ahold of me. I was really obsessed for about a year. I was making lasagna and other Italian food, making my own shirts that said things like "Palermo" on it, studying the Italian language, I got pen pals from Italy, I fell in love with this guy that I thought was Italian (turned out he was German-American instead, but he had the dark coloring), I constantly daydreamed about the movie, wanted to visit New York....... it certainly took hold of me. I'm not sure if it really changed me as a person. But I will say that I still immediately recognize when the Godfather films are quoted in TV shows and the like, when none of my girl friends can.... and when I finally DID visit New York last year, there were times I thought of the movie (especially on that island by the Statue of Liberty - the one that used to process immigrants - I can't remember the name of it right now) anyway.... since I am now a business woman myself, I find myself saying things like "it's not personal, it's strictly business" when I have to do something difficult at work, and other quotes like that. I sometimes listen to opra music..... I also became very interested in Cuba for awhile because part of the film was set there, and Andy Garcia was born there..... I read up on the JFK/Castro problems and how the mafia was involved in Cuba in the 50's.... I read a lot of non-fiction books about the mafia and watched every documentary that I could. I don't do that so much anymore, but in college I sure did.

I can say that I'm a little more calculating and careful than I used to be. I used to approach certain situations without any planing or strategy. Now I try to weigh the options and be a little more business-like in my approach, thanks to The GF.

Ive learnt Sonny's (sometimes) optimistic and satiric(is that a word? ) mannerisms...like,you know how Sonny reacted when Michael revealed his plans to kill Sollozzo and the Captain McCluskey,something like that..

Im also quoting GF lines in real life situations,heh call me obsessed To my friends,who have absolutely no idea what Im on about..they are like,who's Michael Corleone??God isnt Godfather an awful boring movie???
Well those 2Fast 2Furious crowd dont know what they are missing out...

To put it simply, the first movie was the greatest cinematic experience of my life! One that has me seriously contemplating a place in the film industry one way or another...

Good topic!

It influenced me in ways already echoed by some others: I throw out lines with a few friends who know what I'm talking about. I also use it as a barometer for other films. I like to reference Hyman Roth.

The first time I saw a GF film was in 2001. I saw the last 1/2 of GF2 on USA Network. I was intrigued. From then, I saw GF1 in bits & pieces on either Bravo or AMC (they were showing it frequently). Once I saw GF1 in its entirety, I was blown away. It is my favorite movie of all-time, bar none.

I can't really say that it sparked my interest in the mafia because I had been reading about La Cosa Nostra for the last ten years and watching mob-related movies: Casino, Goodfellas, & Donnie Brasco. I read books about Gotti, Gravanno, Big Paul Castellano, Brasco, etc.

But for me, the acting in GF1 is so undeniably great. Brando was already a legend before the film, but GF made stars out of Pacino, DeNiro, & Duvall.

I also have to admit,after watching GF series I started having more romanticized view of mafia organisations:oily slicked back hair,Italian accents,men in suits..

I always try to think like the people around me think.I dont get flustered I keep cool and keep my friends close and my enemies closer (this is a bad moral point with me because it is so two sided but it has to be done)leads to odd issues with other friends.Whats he doing with them he doesnt like them.So you look like a double player.I suppose its the way it is.

In the Godfather novel, when Michael insists that Carlo tell him who approached Carlo about the hit on Sonny, Hagen views it as a severe sign of weakness in Michael. (It was obvious that Carlo set up Sonny, but Michael needed this one last bit of proof before he could act and kill Carlo.)

I made blueberry pancakes for my family (actual family, I am not a mafia boss ) this morning. When the pancakes are obviously done I still usually need to cut the pancakes just a little bit in the middle to make sure that they are cooked all the way through. I just imagine that if Hagen were sitting there he would pass the same judgement on me, that I am a weak man for checking pancakes that are obviously done. Don Vito would never cook pancakes like this.

Does this seem weird to anyone else?

Well it has changed me alot I think. After I had seen it and had become a big fan I started doing most of the same things Angela Marie started doing like wanting to visit New York. But it also didnt really change me as a person. The Godfather however did spark an intrest for Dean Martin and the whole rat pack. I listen to them alot, although I still listen to today's music. I also started to eat alot more Italian food. The thing that is weird though is that whenever I meet or see a guy that looks Italian, I tend to treat him with alot more respect than I would anyone else, not that I dont respect everyone else. I dont know, I guess that is kind of weird.

It also makes me tend to not to get massages or go into revolving doors...

To put it simply, I have never been able to watch a film in the same way. It put a lot of stuff into perspective.

"Never Hate Your Enemy. It Affects Your Judgment." That Quote Has Made me a Young Strong Man.

I wanted to post on the same topic, but found this old thread on searching. I thought that new members may add their views.

I think like many GF characters in some situations. I also share some of the philosophies of vito and michael on family, friends, enemies, personal vs business etc. It has defnitely changed my way of thinking, eventhough my background has nothing in common with the mafia lifestyle of GF characters.

That exacly how i feel,my lifestyle is totally differant,but i think alot differant since i first seen GF..........

The Godfather Trilogy has changed me because now I +truly enjoy fine dining
+yell at people super loud when they dont give me a straight answer
+have learned more things about the movies through this great site
+try to act like Sonny by kicking my sisters bfs ass(no i just felt like it cuz he called her a bitch)
+appriaciate a good investment as well as turning a dollar into 2
+have learned to finesse my way through school and parents
+always keep a straight Michael face
+have bb guns?
+now am a HUGE Pacino fan
+yell at people super loud when they say they havnt seen any of the movies

I would not say the GF saga really changed my life -- it would definitely be too much. Nevertheless, in my own language is sometime said for fun "gli farò un'offerta che non potrà rifiutare" ("I'll make him an offer...."), especially using that peculiar Vito's voice with a sicilian accent (that I can easily imitate, as any other Italian accent)...

Plus, from then on, I'm a HUGE fun of Al Pacino (whom, as my tagline says, I'd like to marry if Beverly doesn't mind )

And, most of all, I've been developping some special affective bonds with the Italian Americans. I hope this big community will do better and better in any social/political/artistic/whatsoever section of the American life. The prouder you Italian Americans get, the prouder we "Italian Italians" get!