It's A Wonderful Life

Platinum Anniversary Edition is not the uncut version of the film. At end of the sequence with Donna Reed in the bushes, Jimmy Stewart tells her that in order to get her robe back, she has to come out and get it. The line is cut in the version they play on television now, which has been driving me crazy for years, so I bought the blu-ray because I expected it to be complete and uncut. It's not, which is very disappointing. I suspect this line was cut because it offended somebody's delicate sensibilities.

This is my favorite film of all time and I was so excited it was being restored in 4K, but unfortunately the entire pallet is just too dark. A side by side comparison was revelatory in seeing the difference. The whole film is hard to watch as even the daytime scenes look too dark.It’s really a shame because the actual restoration is really excellent, but unfortunately it loses any dynamics because everything is just so dark.UPDATE:We ordered the restored version on regular Blu Ray and its just amazing how good the film looks. As the 4K was so dark, the Blu Ray is perfection. So skip the 4K and get the regular Blu Ray of this wonderful movie and you’ll be completely happy.

I was disappointed that this was not being shown at Christmas so I bought my own! I was pleasantly surprised that it includes the black/white version AND a digitally colored version!

WOW both color and b/w, unexpected and AWESOME quality! We debated about watching it colorized, you know...that purist perspective says NO to that. But we watched the new colorization and it was an amazing experience in 4k upscaling to see the fabrics, textures, real colors of the past and every pore on their face. It helps take you back in time!

I expected an excellent transfer and got just that. Fans of IAWL will not be disappointed.But, it's the Colorized version that blew me away... much better than older attempts, and good enough that you occasionally forget you are NOT watching the original film! Wow. I've seen IAWL over 60 times, but the color disc revealed things I've never seen before. Sometimes merely interesting background items (mounted butterflies on the wall at the family home), but other times more significant differences (the changes in Violet's outfits throughout the film). The color version more eloquently displays the difference in attire between the Bailey's and their wealthier friends the Wainwright's, and makes certain scenes entirely more lifelike (color travel posters and glowing fire in the "honeymoon suite").I'm looking forward to watching IAWL again. And, next time, it will be the color version again.

I'm not at all certain what's at play here, for this Blu-ray is from a new 4K transfer of the film. And yet, there is almost no visible grain, and boy should there be, as there are many opticals in the film, including a couple of coarse shot blow-ups - in 35mm prints those are super grainy. Here's there's nothing. It makes everything look flat to my eye. Contrast is fine, but detail is lacking. I once was lucky enough to see the Library of Congress' nitrate 35mm first generation print and it was one of the most stunning things I'd ever seen. This looks nothing like that.The movie, of course, is a masterpiece.

There are certain films, a select handful, where only a few words are needed to explain their brilliance and magical effect they have on viewers. Capra's 'It's a Wonderful Life' starring the ever relatable James Stewart, is one of those films. More than 72 years after its release, this film still, vividly and emotionally, captures my heart each time it is viewed.You've read the synopsis, you've likely heard many people praise it, or you've heard one of the film's famous lines about bells ringing and an angel getting its wings. Now, just simply watch it. I assure you, whether during the holiday season, or any other time of year, this film is just as enchanting as you've heard it described.We are all George Bailey at some point in our lives, and we all, every single one of us, need reminders once in a while to appreciate how figuratively rich we are, even when it appears we have nothing going for us. It is human to forget this, to become bitter, or to lose our way. Even when we feel hopeless and small, especially in the current political climate we are in, it pays to sit back and listen to the "angels" telling us that even when we've let go of our dreams, it does not mean we let go of hope. There is a George Bailey in all of us and if you're honest with yourself, you'll admit that it pays to listen.'It's a Wonderful Life' is a WONDERFUL film, and a favorite of my classic movie loving heart. For another 72 years and beyond, this film will continue to resonate. It's that wonderful.

This is a wonderful film. One which is full of the feel good emotions.James Stewart is perfectly cast as the small town young man who yearnsto leave the insular town of his birth. But helps out his father to make asuccess of the family business. But when Stewarts character experiencesa huge crisis he comes to the point of seriously wanting to take his ownlife. Enter then Clarence a guardian Angel. Clarence takes George ( Stewart ) on a troubling journey. One which makesGeorge realise that he is a massive part of the community. How he has beenso essential to his wife and children and his family. That if George had neverexisted his loved ones lives would have been poor and wrecked, both in anemotional way and practical sense. Usually A Wonderful Life is shown on television over Christmas time. Butdon't wait for the festive season to catch this remarkable film of redemptionand celebrating life.A Wonderful Life Film.ThanksCraig ; )

Firstly I must point out the sumptuous art-deco look of the Steelbook case for this release. Some artwork chosen for other classics can leave a sour taste in comparison to one's love of a film - but this design is absolute perfection.And to the film itself: I won't waste anyone's time by going over the characters and plot of this 1946 festive gem, as it's been done numerous times - and far better than I could. All I will say is that every time I watch It's a Wonderful Life, I never manage to reach the end without being choked with tears to the point I cannot speak.Now to the meat and potatoes of this 4K release - the point of Ultra High Definition is to enhance the colours lost or muddled in Standard Definition - a process begun with the Blu-ray format. As this film is in black & white there are far fewer colours to enhance - though the grain dances happily around the screen as if enjoying it's own Christmas party.When the Blu-ray was released, a colourised edition was included also - and that was when the higher definition could really do the film justice, and it looked great. With the 4K release, only the black & white option is available, and for that alone it appears to be a glaring missed opportunity in showing off the true benefits of the UHD upgrade.Overall, despite the nit-picking, I can't give this film any less than five stars or I'd need punching in the face...

I love this film it is a truly feel good movie with James Stewart giving a great performance.There are two versions of this film on one disc the original black and white version and a colourised version. The colour version is amazing it looks like the film was filmed in colour and not in b/w.I would recommend this disc to anyone.

Whenever I get round to reviewing classics like this I always really struggle, because let's face it, these kinds of films don't need reviewing, everybody knows that these films are classics for a reason. Classics are classics because they ignite something inside of you, something that reignites every time you watch them, whether that ignition is nostalgia, happiness, wonder or sadness it's these strong emotions that make up the metaphorical fire in our heart that will keep us loving these films for all time. By this definition, It's a Wonderful Life is very much a Classic.This film is deeply personal to me, because it was my Mums favourite, when I was younger I had some sort of an immature aversion to anything black and white so I never wanted to watch it with her, until the last Christmas we had together, knowing that this was her favourite film I asked if we could watch it together. We got about half way through before my brother stormed in and we had to turn it off. From what I did watch with her, I thought it was ok, but I didn't quite get it, it just seemed like a film you would watch on any old Sunday afternoon when there wasn't anything else to do.After my Mum died I really wanted to get around to watching it but I still didn't for a few years partly because I think I was still a little bit sad and partly because you develop traditions at Christmas and sometimes they tend to get in the way (Love Actually I'm looking at you!).When I finally got hold of the bluray I was very excited to watch it, and insisted that my wife watch it with me as well because I wanted her to experience what it was that my Mum had experienced and what I was yet to experience, I know she was reluctant at first because she has the same aversion to old films as I used to. But she is the best wife ever, so she obviously still made the effort to sit and watch it with me.I'm not ashamed to say that I started to cry at the last scene of the film, and I am starting to well up a little bit as I type this. The reason being is that I finally knew and I now know why this was my Mums favourite, this film embodied her whole attitude in life.Just like George Bailey she had not had an easy life, she had not been able to pursue her dreams, and she had to sacrifice everything for everybody that needed her. She dealt with it all by not letting it get her down; being the best person she possibly could be, for every one around her. I don't think she ever realised it, but my Mum actually had a Wonderful Life, in the same sense as in the film in that without her selfless sacrifices, a whole lot of people would have been a lot worse off.I'm sure this film lives on in many different people's hearts because they connect with it on various levels, but this film is a classic to me, because it reminds me why my Mum was my hero, why she was my best friend and why I can only hope to aspire to be close to the kind of person that she was.

Although some people see this as a rather melancholy Christmas movie I wouldn’t let that put you off. The movie isn’t set at Christmastime throughout but ends at Christmas with a very heart warming and moving message about kindness and friendship. We bought this edition to see what the colour version would look like after having watched it previously in black and white; the quality of the recoloured version is excellent and although I’m a stickler for watching originals I think the colour does bring the Christmas scenes to life.