As each flashback scene fades from Vito to Michael, they show and reinforce how far Michael has degenerated and how he is losing his soul, as was so well explained earlier in this thread. The replies in this thread have been excellent!

I love the flashback scenes, the detail and activity in them. They seem to be full of life, even the dark killing scenes are followed by a scene of Vito and his family, and when they fade to Michael it is dark and moody and we see how he is losing his family.

I wish it was possible to make a whole film based on the flashback scenes.