Atoning for my movie-watching sins

My not being able to get into the Godfather has caused a fair amount of comment critical of my movie taste, and fair enough, I know it has quite a few passionate fans. It will stay that way I'm sure unless Coppola decides to make some ill-conceived prequels like the maker of a certain other 1970s-originated trilogy.

I think my problem is that I've not sat down and properly given the thing my full attention. I figure that it's problematic that I've never seen it from the beginning and have therefore been unable to figure out who everyone is. I mean, I know who the actors are, but unless, say, Robert Duvall's character is named "Robert Duvall" and is supposed to be a Hollywood actor, or he's reprising a role he had in another movie, I don't know who he is supposed to be. That said, at this stage I should stop offering excuses, I will attempt to watch the whole film from start to finish on DVD (assuming Blockbuster has it in stock). The other problem I think for me is that it's always on TV and once something breaks for commercials, frankly I'm gone. My viewing habits are like this: A bit of Godfather, a bit of Gordon Ramsay yelling at someone, Robot Chicken, The Simpsons (if it's a good one), some checking BBC World Service, seeing what "real" situation the directors have set up for Gene Simmons this week, some... wait, was I watching some kind of 1970s mafia film?

Perhaps it would be better if I had been old enough to see it, or alive, when it came out in theatres. I suppose I could have rented it before, but when you go to the video store, who recommends renting The Godfather anyway? I mean, what kind of idiot hasn't seen The Godfather in its entirety anyway? I know enough to fake it at parties, "oh yeah, Godfather, greatest movie, toll booth, horse head, offer that cannot be refused, Brando, Coppola, star-studded cast, day of my daughter's wedding, lots of man-kisses." Everyone can fake it, but, you know, I'd prefer not to. Of course taste is so subjective, it is possible that I watch the thing and not enjoy it too. What happens then, should I watch for the mob with pitchforks and torches? Will IMDb no longer load on my computer? Will I feel guilty that my favourite movie made by any Coppola right now is Sofia's Lost in Translation? (It's in my top-three overall as well, don't hate, I had a Scarlett Johansson phase.)

Will Ezra Levant Stand Up for Young People Fucking?

Small and large "C" conservative types have been crowing about how they are the true champions of free speech because Ezra Levant was asked some questions or something. Now we find out that the Conservative government is trying to play state censor with the film tax credit. As the Globe & Mail story points it, professional embarrassment to religion, Charles McVety is taking credit for this stupid new move. Movies like Martin Gero's Young People Fucking would probably get a harder look from the new McVety censorship panel.

So where are you conservative champions of free speech? Stand up and be counted!