Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
4/4
It's a Wonderful Life
SteelCity99 - wrote on 04/21/2018
A "second class" angel who has waited 200 years for gaining his wings tries to help a desperate, suicidal businessman by showing him what life would have been if he had never existed.
I would really like to begin this review by saying that It's a Wonderful Life is a wonderful classic. Although I'm not a particular fan of Frank Capra, this is definitely his most heartwarming, inspirational and touching film.
The film received 5 Academy Award nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Director and Best Picture. This film not winning any single Academy Award is beyond me. Although The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) was definitely strong competition, it wasn't as great and heartwarming as this film was. In fact, The Big Sleep (1946) was a superior …
Rating of
N/A
Erinnerungen
cinegeek.de - wrote on 04/28/2016
Our Daily Free Stream: Frank Capra - It's A Wonderful Life. Zum Geburtstag des grossen Lionel Barrymore! -Irgendwann einmal zählte Frank Capras It's A Wonderful Life zu den vergessenen Filmen, bis er zu Beginn der 70er wiederentdeckt wurde. Er avancierte zu einem Weihnachtsfilm, zu einem jährlichen Ritual der Familien auf aller Welt. Ich hatte It's A Wonderful Life als Kind geliebt und tu das immer noch - ich denke, weil Capras Werk so ehrlich ist! Es geht aber nicht nur um den Film, es sind die eigenen Erinnerungen, die mit ihm verbunden sind! It's A Wonderful Life war der erklärte Lieblingsfilm seines Regisseurs Frank Capra und seines Hauptdarstellers James Stewart. Dann geschah das Schlimmste: It's A Wonderful Life wurde nachträglich koloriert und entzaubert. Stewart selbst soll …
Rating of
4/4
"It's A Wonderful Life" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 12/23/2011
Small town boy George Bailey dreams of making it big and travelling the world but finds himself trapped by a sense of duty to family and community. In his darkest hour, his mind turns to suicide which leads to the appearance of his guardian angel Clarence who gives him the opportunity to see how the world would be if he had never been born. It's A Wonderful Life is the very definition of the word "classic". James Stewart gives an appropriately wonderful performance as George, someone so selfless and devoted to his fellow man that you can't help but love him. He's not some one-dimensional do-gooder however, and it is sometimes easy to forget about the dark edge to the story; after all George often feels as if he's being held in Bedford Falls against his will. It's still typical Capra, in …
Rating of
4/4
It's a Wonderful Life review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 07/13/2011
It starts out with an angel trying to earn his wings, Clarence Odbody played by Henry Travers. A story of 2 youthful brothers named George Bailey (James Stewart) and Harry Bailey (Todd Karns) was one of the first scenes. You see 2 young girls trying to win George’s heart, eventually the role of Mrs. Bailey would go to Mary Hatch, portrayed by Donna Reed (who was not the Director’s first choice by the way based on “the making” feature). Characters that would later on play a huge role in George’s transformation are the druggist Mr. Gower, Mrs. Bailey, Uncle Billy (cheerful but careless), Mr. Martini (affable bar owner), Violet Bick (seductive blond siren), Ernie Bishop, Bert, Sam Wainwright (a rich businessman who encouraged George to go join him in the plastics business), …
Rating of
3.5/4
You want the moon? Just say the word.............
mdtinney - wrote on 10/13/2009
It's a Wonderful Life has earned its place in film history. A beautifully shot film with grand performances and a script that has its heart and mind in the right place, this film certainly is the best Christmas film. It also ranks as one of the must-sees when studying the classics of film.
James Stewart is at the top of his game as George Bailey, the man who sacrificed his dreams because he was truly a good man and nearly gave up because he couldn't see it. With steady handed direction from Frank Capra and a host of truly fantastic performances by Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell and Henry Travers, this film never weakens from start to finish. It's a Wonderful Life offers a truly important message for all people to take to heart. It is hard to imagine that a film that …
Rating of
4/4
Underrated (Despite Overexposure)
jkownacki - wrote on 07/25/2007
Thanks to its endless loop of reruns nearly every December, an entire generation has been raised to believe that It's a Wonderful Life is either A) a relentless harbinger that Christmas has arrived, or B) the poster child for Ted Turner's aggravating obsession with colorizing perfectly acceptable black and white films.
What might not be as obvious is this: It's a Wonderful Life is an amazingly resilient, possibly timeless film.
The story of a small-town dreamer who never seems able to achieve his heart's desire -- to leave his hometown and "see the world" -- works as well today (if not better) than when it was first released. Since 1946, the world has become a far more cynical place, and the ability of one family (much less one man) to withstand the march of corporate politics is …
