All Boxed Out

Last night I was faced with a difficult choice: do I buy The Godfather Trilogy Box Set, or Back To The Future Trilogy Box Set, or both?



The Godfather and The Godfather II both won best picture in their respective years; furthermore, the former has edged out Citizen Kane as “the greatest movie of all time.” Part III, while universally vilified by critics, occupies a special place in my heart. It was the very first Godfather movie I saw in its entirety and, Sophia Coppola aside, the movie blew me away, especially the last 45 minutes. (Little did I know that Francis Ford Coppola employed the same cutting-back-and-forth technique in the first movie.)

Back To The Future and Back To The Future II are a terrific example of how to create a sequel—make it much, much more than its predecessor. Part II was loopier, more fun, more hectic—it revisits the first movie and then builds on it. That’s why for me Part III is a redundant movie. Only an obsessive-compulsive completist would insist on including Part III in his collection; if I had a choice I’d just get I and II. But that’s a box set; should I fall for this marketing ploy?

Or do I just get both box sets and spare myself the decision-making? (Both would amount to several thousand pesos, not exactly spare change.)

In the end the Corleones won over the McFlys. Maybe I’ll get Marty and company next payday.