Wednesday, December 17, 2008

It's a Wonderful...Movie



I admit it, I’m a sucker for “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s the first movie I set up to tape as soon as the holiday season arrives, and the only one I’ll watch more than once. I do indulge in “Rudolph” and “Frosty” (the original Animatronic versions), but they’re not on my have-to-see list like the original Frank Capra version of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

I’m not sure why that movie is on my must-see list. There are plenty of other movies I love, plenty of others that scream Christmas, but this one…

It just seems to grab me in a way none of the others do. Maybe it’s Zuzu’s petals. Maybe it’s the way the whole town comes together at the end, and how it just grabs my heart. Maybe it’s the simple love story between George and Mary, the kind of elemental romance that every romance in the world must be based upon.

Or maybe it’s the lessons in the movie. The basic good versus evil, home is where your heart is, and finding gratitude and happiness in what you have and where you are, rather than always looking for the greener grass elsewhere. Not to mention the message about coming together to support the ones you love. One of my all-time favorite scenes is the one when Officer Bert and cab driver Ernie create a honeymoon “retreat” in the abandoned house (which looks an awful lot like the first house my husband and I bought, LOL), and do their best to bring poor, hard-working George a night to remember with his beautiful bride—after the bridal couple had to abandon their original honeymoon plans. Those are true friends, and that town is the kind we all wish we could live in, isn’t it?

So this Christmas season, I’ll be cozying up with a glass of wine, a thick blanket and my daughter (who also loves this movie) to watch George and Mary fall in love all over again, and to see Bedford Falls come together for one of their own. Once again, we’ll count our blessings, and our gratitude for the special people in our lives.

After all, isn’t that what Christmas is all about, after all?

Tell me, what’s your favorite, can’t miss holiday movie?

Shirley

4 comments:

  1. Besides It's A Wonderful Life, I really enjoy all of the remakes of the Scrooge movie. I am really still a sucker for the animitronic movies though. Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, etc. I look forward to watching those. The ABC Family Channel and the Hallmark channel run holiday movies all month and we watch just about all of those too. Hmmm...I guess maybe I am just a sucker for Christmas movies period! :)

    Thanks for sharing your tradition with the It's A Wonderful Life movie. What great memories for you and your daughter!

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  2. Anonymous8:14 PM

    I have to watch Rudolph. That is my all time favorite. It's my childhood memory movie.

    But It's a Wonderful Life is definitely a feel good holiday movie.

    Happy Holidays Shirley!

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  3. A Christmas Carol. There's something about Ebenezer and being redeemed that I have to watch every year.

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  4. Thank you! And happy Holidays to all of you, too!!

    Shirley

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