A well-reasoned explanation, thank you. I agree with your assessment. This film was indeed too far of a jump for Michael’s character arc from Part II. If this was Part IV, it might’ve fit better.

From a physical medium perspective, the film didn’t have the same grain and warmth as the other two. I thought that the film’s score was not on the same level either…. it didn’t capture the moods of the scenes as well as the first two.

But having said that, I did enjoy the film, just not in the way I enjoy the first two.