Getting back to The Godfather, one of my greatest cinematic regrets was watching 1 and 2 for the first time as part of a chronological edit (something I believe they did for a TV airing in the 70s). I rented the laserdisc(!) to watch on one of the video cubicles while at college. So not only am I watching these masterpieces on a small TV with headphones, I am doing so in a format Coppola even said doesn't work as well compared to watching them consecutively. Years later I was able to watch them properly (at least pt 1 and then 2), and they have been favorites of mine ever since. Nicholas Meyer was talking about one of the Trek films he did, and how he missed a few details, how even if they are small, but can make a difference. And he referenced The Godfather as a film where all the details are right.
My fondest memory of that viewing was when some tough looking dudes starting walking through the viewing area, checking out what everyone was watching, listing off some film names they see, and one of them saying "damn, everyone's watching some good shit in here tonight!" right at the point Sonny gets killed. So I am of course riveted, and now distracted. And then one guy sits down next to me for the next scene, and gently says "Now watch how the camera slowly follows Vito in to the room where Tom is..." He saw my face and said "Wait, have you not seen this before?" I said I hadn't and he apologized for interrupting me and said he'd leave me alone to enjoy the experience. Anytime I watch that scene now, I remember that.
I really loved calm Al Pacino, he was perfect in demeanor for an up-and-coming Don. I think it's why I dislike part 3 so much, he became Scent of a Woman Pacino and that was distracting than all the other stuff.
I am happy to be the Official dtf.org Godfather 3 defender. Michael isn't full-on Scent of a Woman Pacino here, but I will concede your point. What's Michael's most intimidating scene in GF1? When he stands outside the hospital and acts like he is going for his gun when that car pulls up? When he shouts "ENOUGH!" to Kay at the end, the outburst shocks us, because for the previous 2.5 hours, he hasn't once raised his voice.