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It happened....
Dec. 9th, 2005 12:03 pmMention It’s a Wonderful Life and you can bank on the fact that half onf the room will start making puking noises. Unlike the previous movie, most people not only have seen this movie, but have a strong opinion about it. Though I have no stats to throw in here, like the remaining movie on my list, it ranks among the most widely lampooned movies around.
This version is my favorite, but I must confess I’d really like someone to make a better one. As much as I like James Stewart, he really overplays the angst. It may have been Capra’s direction in this case, though, as well as the style of acting at the time. I do, however enjoy it as a period piece, and return to it every year.
What the modern versions of this movie don’t do is include the Depression era part of the story, which I think is essential to the telling. There are some nice scenes, like the one where Reed is stuck in a bush without her robe after the dance, and the serenade scene in the broken down house.
This is ultimate “what if” story. What If I hadn’t been born? Who hasn’t asked that question in a moment of depression and despair? Here we get to find out how much one man’s life touches so many others.
I was troubled this week by rather the opposite query – what if not. It seems that there are still idiots out there who persist in believing that the most documented case of genocide in history did not occur. Let’s face it, folks. The Nazis were nothing if not good record keepers, and they were proud of their accomplishment. But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad openly said the holocaust didn’t happen at a news conference in Mecca. Protest all you want to. Condemn Israel for what they are doing now. But don’t deny what we all know is true. That makes you look like a fool.
This version is my favorite, but I must confess I’d really like someone to make a better one. As much as I like James Stewart, he really overplays the angst. It may have been Capra’s direction in this case, though, as well as the style of acting at the time. I do, however enjoy it as a period piece, and return to it every year.
What the modern versions of this movie don’t do is include the Depression era part of the story, which I think is essential to the telling. There are some nice scenes, like the one where Reed is stuck in a bush without her robe after the dance, and the serenade scene in the broken down house.
This is ultimate “what if” story. What If I hadn’t been born? Who hasn’t asked that question in a moment of depression and despair? Here we get to find out how much one man’s life touches so many others.
I was troubled this week by rather the opposite query – what if not. It seems that there are still idiots out there who persist in believing that the most documented case of genocide in history did not occur. Let’s face it, folks. The Nazis were nothing if not good record keepers, and they were proud of their accomplishment. But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad openly said the holocaust didn’t happen at a news conference in Mecca. Protest all you want to. Condemn Israel for what they are doing now. But don’t deny what we all know is true. That makes you look like a fool.
