I know I know, Christmas is technically over right? Well, sure December the 25th has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the fond memory of the holidays can’t still be celebrated. As far as I’m concerned, Christmas continues until New Year’s Day! So, I’ll be talking about movies this week that could fit into either category. Beginning with my all-time favorite holiday movie ever created…

I was actually sick on Christmas Day & that’s my favorite time to watch It’s a Wonderful Life, but in my medicine-induced coma I managed to get through only about 75% of it. But as some of you know I’m sure, this movie is about a man named George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) and how a happy little angel (second class angel, mind you) named Clarence showed him what a wonderful life he actually had despite the fact that times were tough. The movie isn’t totally about the actual Christmas holiday, but that’s where the story ends, on Christmas Eve amidst a miracle that saves George’s life. It’s a classic feel-good movie and a major tearjerker.

My own personal tradition is to watch this every year on Christmas morning, but obviously I had to skew my plans a bit. Not only that, but this year for the first time ever, I watched the film in color. Wow! Have any of you guys ever got a hold of the colorized version of It’s a Wonderful Life? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about black and white film, but it’s amazing some of the things you didn’t notice before until you see it in full color! The scenes in the house on Sycamore and in Potter’s office are exquisite! Potter’s desk is also interesting! If you look really closely while George is talking to Potter about coming to work for him, there’s a metal skull sitting by the lighter that is used to light George’s cigar. Never noticed that before but it definitely adds to Potter’s evil character. I highly recommend watching this in color at least once just to see if you spot anything that you were unable to spot in the b&w version.

Finally, the main thing I love about this movie is the way it makes me fall in love with Jimmy Stewart’s character, George and Mary’s character played by Donna Reed. They’re the most perfect couple. Mary is also probably the most understanding wife of all time! She skips out on her own honeymoon to help George & the Building and Loan, she fixes up the old house on Sycamore BY HAND, and takes care of all of the kids while George stresses away at work. Mary is the mother/wife of the year and even when George loses sight of all he has in his life, she doesn’t lose her faith in him. This is the kind of love and hope that I wish all of mankind had for each other. It’s even further exemplified when the whole town comes together to help George after all of those selfless years of him taking care of everyone else in Bedford Falls.

Hotdog!

It’s a Wonderful Life is a movie that is not only amazing to watch during the holiday season, but it’s also inspiring and fills us with hope that helps us to overcome our own problems and appreciate what we have in our lives because it can be taken away in the blink of an eye. Because this movie displays such pure visions of love and faith and because it’s so full of Christmas spirit…

… I’ll give it an A+