Talk: Michael Corleone/@comment-196.15.154.227-20150226073927

Michael was a man of honor. But I agree that he should have spared the life of his brother, Fredo, and should not have killed his brother in law, Carlo. Michael should have rather kept Fredo close to him and isolated Carlo, but kept his relationship with Connie. I think Connie would have eventually matured and left Carlo, or the latter would have died on his own (either from being killed or subtance abuse). Vito was indeed wiser, but Michael was more intelligent (business wise). Vito knew the value of having a secure and happy Family, Michael was rather more obsessed with power. I think Michael had good Family upbringing, that's why he valued it less, while his father, Vito, was smuggled out of Sicily and left to fend for himself in the US from an early age. But I respect Michael for being brave and smart enough to lead his family during his early 30s. He was doubted even by his own men, but he made bold but calculated dicisions, and was eventually accpeted, feared and resected - at times I feel even more than his father. Kay was suddenly incompatible with Michael as he grew more powerful, and couldn't turn a blind eye like Michael's mother did to Vito's criminal operations. This was Michael's downfall because he lost his family - his core strength. But as I said, Vito valued family, and Michael valued power. So he paid the ultimate cost. He died alone.