A real problem is that Catholics at some level aren't willing to accept that the film industry is poisonous to their souls.
Yes, that sums it up for me.
I sometimes excuse myself if the film is historical, or historical fiction as I believe these films were.
There is a difference between the Godfather films and other modern films in terms of how morality is treated. I haven't watched any of them in a few years, but as I recall the ramifications of immorality are pretty obvious in the Godfather movies-- in other words, it isn't glorified.
Immorality in any medium (books, movies, etc.) is fine as long as it isn't glorified. Every story needs a villain. Without a villain there is no story as there is no conflict. What's problematic is when the immorality is glorified. If the immorality is made to look as something detrimental (as I believe it is in the Godfather) then it 'works.'
I sympathize very much with the first monologue, and I understand that many of the people involved probably would have liked to have left the gang at some point, but unfortunately they find it about as easy as leaving the masons. But the films glorify the family, and by extension, an entire people, to the point of idol worship. Granted, they behave badly, but I still think they're glorified (as much as an anti-hero could be said to be glorified).
A few months ago I read of a movement of business-people in Palermo that have organized an anti-mafia strategy of declaring their refusal to pay the demanded protection money. They have signs they post in their windows to announce this, and they find it helps business. It seemed that the local dons agreed to avoid retaliation against them. I don't know what the latest news is on that.