It's a Wonderful Life

So I'm in a film class where we watch movies and have to review them all the time so now I know the proper way to do a review!! But I might have to add a little more ~spice~ bc these are originally written so that my teacher can read them, i.e. significantly less personalit-ay. Here's It's a Wonderful Life:

George Bailey is a kind man who has been helping people since he was a child; he saved his younger brother when he was drowning in a frozen pond and stopped a drug store owner from delivering poison. Through persistent financial troubles with the family bank, George helped keep the institution afloat, until some money goes missing. Distressed by this, George lashes out on his wife and kids and contemplates suicide. That is, until an angel named Clarence is sent from the heavens to show George what life would be like without him. George soon learns that you can get through anything as long as you have friends. Clarence is George’s guardian angel brought down from Heaven to save his life. Clarence is kind and resourceful. He is also still an amateur angel, as he has not yet received his wings. He is a little clueless as to how life on Earth is, as seen when he talks aloud about being an angel and wonders why Nick is so perplexed. Clarence was personally my favorite character because he was able to succeed and exuded a positive energy throughout the film. Mary Hatch is a girl who makes brief appearances in George Bailey’s life as a young adult. She is enamored by George since the minute they might and later on, George reciprocated and they get married and have kids. She is a conscientious mother, which we witness when George gets upset and helps the kids handle the situation. She is a fun character and the perfect wing-woman for George. The screenplay of It’s a Wonderful Life was very effective, as it impacted me and many others throughout the years. I think the reasoning behind George Bailey’s stress could have been something more interesting than bank problems, but I suppose it was relevant for the time. Some of the references date the film a bit but the message and the character’s relationships are timeless. The setting, Bedford Falls, was a wonderful addition and played an important part of the story. I thought it was really neat how much effort the set designers put into making each individual building. It really had a homey feeling but was also very unique as a town. The central bank of the story was cozy and just the right size for the whole town to fit. Their house was a nice touch because it also seemed to be a metaphor for how a bad thing can turn out to be something great in the long-run. The best scene in It’s a Wonderful Life is definitely the end scene where George finally realizes how blessed he really is and the snow is falling and he goes around town and spreads his glee around. When he and the town rejoice at he and Mary’s house and even the bank people start giving him money was so exciting and worth the wait of George’s strife throughout the movie. I thought this was a very important film. George and Mary’s relationship was heartwarming and real, unlike some other movie relationships. George’s relationship with everyone around town was a pleasure to experience. I thought the scene where George first experiences life without himself was a bit overdone; his confusion was a bit annoying. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed the ending and thought it was a great lesson. I would give this film 4/4 stars.