kill Cliff!
Posted on 12/21/2011 5:13:07 AM PST by suspects
This Christmas marks the 65th anniversary of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” one of the most beloved holiday movies ever made. And one of the very worst.
I know, I know. Admitting you aren’t charmed by the story of George Bailey and Zuzu’s petals is like admitting you spend your spare time kicking puppies, but sorry.
The fact is, “It’s A Wonderful Life” is a movie that only an Occupod could love. The story is sweet, but the message is truly awful.
Consider George Bailey. In your mind, you see him after a lifetime of poverty, grief and bad luck, running through Bedford Falls shouting “Merry Christmas you old Building and Loan,” just happy to have a family he loves.
Well I agree that having a loving family can help us all get through crises. (Remember the stewardess in the disaster-film spoof “Airplane?” “At least I had a husband . . . ”)
But the name of the film is “Wonderful Life,” not, “Well, Things Could Be Worse.” And in George Bailey’s case, things are truly tragic.
Smart, ambitious George gets stuck at the modest Building and Loan back in Hickville when his brother marries into a cushy corporate gig and his father dies. After years of dreaming of going off to college, traveling the world and becoming a top engineer or architect, his life is spent scraping by, and helping others do the same.
Somehow the movie — like the Occupiers of today — tries to turn that into a virtue. Despite his wife and kids, George turns down $20,000 a year so he won’t have to work for that “evil banker,” Mr. Potter.
Occupy Bedford Falls!
Then disaster strikes. His addled Uncle Billy accidentally drops the daily deposit into Potter’s lap and guess who happens to show up that day...
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonherald.com ...
George Bailey was a chump. He gave all these people a break on their mortgages and when he fell into his troubles, these same people were able to come up with fistfulls of dollars. Also, the movie suggests that problems can be solved with wads of cash. And doesn’t the bank examiner want to know what happened to the cash that was lost? Yet I still cry when the decorative wooden all comes part on the stairway.
I’ve met Zuzu. She lives in Olathe KS and sells some of her memorabilia at local consignment stores. I happened to be in one of those stores when she was there and she signed a photo for my daughter. My husband found it in the attic this year and we put it under the tree.
This dude is exhibit “A” on how the worldly think - life is about what you can take rather than what you give.
&&&
You represnted my own thoughs very well. Apparently, this writer has no concept of the noble sacrifices that a good life involves.
Not only that, but George also turns down a primo job when his buddy Sam opens up the Soybean-Plastic plant! There’s Sam driving away in Royce. Your fault, George, for passing it up! He could have had his beautiful wife AND wealth! So, I don’t entirely feel sorry for him. (Still like the movie, though).
I always liked the “Married With Children” parody of this movie, “It’s a Bundyful Life”, with Sam Kinason as Al Bundy’s guardian angel.
Great post, GPM. Summed up the movie perfectly with your 3 messages part. Looks like a bunch of Freepers really get it this morning.
“Now, apparently, Charley Sheen is the gold standard for the commentariate.”
WHAT???
You mean Tiger Blood, hookers and endlass blow up your nose isn’t the true measure of a man??
Have you told Access Hollywood, and TMZ this?
AMEN!!!!!!
Why “It’s A Wonderful Life” Is The WORST Christmas Movie Ever.
Attempting to be “clever” and “counterintuitive,” this author falls flat and is, quite simply, full of unalloyed and utter bullsh*t.
kill Cliff!
Nothing against ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (and the author is a miserable POS), but nothing makes my holiday like seeing 24 hours of ‘A Christmas Story’. This year our oldest son is getting a gift like Ralphie (no, not the pink bunny costume). I can’t wait to see his eyes when he opens it :)
>>He gave all these people a break on their mortgages and when he fell into his troubles, these same people were able to come up with fistfulls of dollars.<<
No, the dude in NY came up with the money he was missing.
A fistfull of dollars is maybe 10.00
My favorite movie is 1984’s George C. Scott “A Christmas Carol”......Love it!!! I also love the Grinch (old one). Those two are my favorite Christmas movies. It’s a wonderful life is ok. I would rank it in the top 5 but not 1 or 2.
Years ago, Saturday Night Live did a skit on the “real ending” of It’s a Wonderful Life. The uncle remembered that Potter took the money, so the mob goes over to his house and kicks the crap out of him while singing Christmas carols. That was a funny skit.
Well I like the movie except the angel is shown as a namby pamby when in reality they are awesome powerful beings. Also in reality the Building and Loan should have turned the corner with its success and been much more profitable. Oh, the plot holes!
I’ve raised criticism of this movie for its “hate the rich and powerful” message too, BUT overall I like the movie very much. I get past my distaste for the central message by remembering that Potter was indeed a jerk in the end, by not giving the deposit money back to the Baileys.
Now..now..now..you, you just can’t SAAY things like that! It’s unAmerican I tell ya! Now I’d say you’re nothing but a...a... scurvy old spider!
Wow Michael, what a twisted POV!
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