The Godfather Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

The Godfather Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has once again released Director Francis Ford Coppola's legendary masterpiece 'The Godfather' to the Blu-ray format, this time celebrating the film's 50th anniversary. This new Blu-ray has been remastered and is released concurrently alongside the UHD (which, at time of writing, is only available in a trilogy boxed set). This disc is available individually or as part of a three-film Blu-ray boxed set which also includes a remastered 'The Godfather, Part II' and the 2020 Blu-ray release of The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone.'

The Godfather Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Certainly, Paramount's remastered 1080p Blu-ray cannot match the might and majesty of the 2160p/Doby Vision UHD release of the film, but this presentation is certainly no slouch. While it is obviously the inferior of the two, it is still a very strong image and betters the long-ago released, and remastered, Blu-ray from 2008. This new picture boasts refined textures and superior clarity and grain management. The image is breathtakingly filmic. The grain is elegantly presented, balanced for the most part with only modest spikes in density here and there, inherent to the film stock rather than a fault of the Blu-ray transfer process. The grain is in support of beautifully managed textures that reveal the fine appointments around the Corleone home, for instance, and in other locations throughout film where wood panels, brick facades, and other environmental components delight for muscular definition and tactile intricacy. Likewise, the picture thrives in its ability to present complex skin textures with commanding ease and efficiency. Granted, again, these lag behind the UHD but are presented at the 1080p resolution with seemingly the most complexity available to the picture at this resolution. Fine lines and wrinkles, pores, hairs, and other elements are wonderfully rendered, bringing each character to life with extravagant ease. Clothing definition is wonderful, too, capturing the high visible yield of the period textures with satisfying depth and clarity.

The color presentation is dynamic as well. Certainly, the film's lower light and warm appearance plays very well here. The picture is not as darkly brooding and warmly intense as it is on the UHD, but the picture certainly captures the depth of Gordon Willis' photography and lighting with brilliant stability and authenticity. Shadow details is wonderful, and blacks are stable and accurate; the Blu-ray is well capable of allowing the film's tonal aesthetics to shine and delight within the full context of the intended presentation parameters. Likewise, whites are crisp and brilliant, yielding no push to creaminess, grayness, or flatness. Additional tones beyond warm woods and whites and blacks are solid, too. Things like blood, natural greens, floral bouquets, and other critical and supportive content hold stable and pure. Further considering the lack of print splotches and wear, not to mention encode flaws, this picture is about as perfect as the format can deliver.

The Godfather Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For this Blu-ray release, and identically to the UHD release, Paramount has included both the legacy Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack (please click here for a full review) and a newly remastered two channel mono track. This new track is presented in the Dolby Digital 2.0 configuration. It lacks the sense of fullness that the 5.1 track offers, but it is well balanced and suitably clear. Music is nicely detailed with positive front side spread. Most of the action pushes to a center imaged area. Gunfire is decently robust. Dialogue is presented with fine natural clarity and, again, within a center imaged location.

The Godfather Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Most of the extras are found on bonus discs (please click here for a breakdown of what's included). As it ships alone, it includes a digital copy code and an individual slipcover. As it ships with the boxed set, a digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Introduction (1080p, 2:54): Coppola reflects on the film's age, legacy, collaboration with Mario Puzzo, the cast, the crew who made the film what it is today, and talks up the new version of The Godfather, Part III.
• Audio Commentary: Director Francis Ford Coppola.

The Godfather Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In short, Paramount has released The Godfather to the Blu-ray format with a masterwork 1080p Blu-ray presentation. The picture is stunning, and while no new multichannel track is included, the remastered mono track, albeit in lossy Dolby Digital, is a treat. A new Coppola introduction is included, and plenty of new and returning bonuses can be found on the support disc which is exclusive to the above-linked boxed set. This release, individually or as part of the larger boxed set, earns my highest recommendation.