What always struck me most about The Godather was how the author of the novel, Mario Puzo, admitted to writing it largely out of rank commercial interests, as mob stories were real popular back then, and he was looking for a bestseller idea. Yet to read it, and then watch the movie, which I did years ago, you'd think someone had to have been visited by a divine muse, because it's brilliant, and not at all just pop lit. The only other pop fiction novel I can think of that comes close in terms of intelligence and cultural impact is Jurassic Park.

As someone who's part Italian with relatives who came to America in the 1920s, I related personally to some parts of the story. Not anything mob-related, of course. By the time I finally saw Godfather it'd been ruined by memes and spoiled for the most part. though it's still a great film.

Very good analysis. Especially for mentioning Aliens, which I'll something I'll always clap for.