Each year, the holidays become more of a burden for everyone. Running around for gifts that are out of stock, making trips to see family, and watching the checkbook all add up to a time of the year that many people loathe. George Bailey has a more pressing set of holiday problems, one that may cause him to commit suicide, unless someone (or something) can stop him in It's a Wonderful Life, a timeless American classic.
Over 60 years old, It's a Wonderful Life still houses a message just as powerful as it was back during the initial release. It's a simple story with a deep character study about one man whose life has changed countless others. Yes, this can be considered a Christmas movie, but it's so much more than that. Trying to convince yourself of anything less is completely missing the point.
Stewart’s performance is believable and unforgettable. Considering the age of the movie, his acting is amazing, adding a true sense of believability to the proceedings. Comedy is intermittently spread throughout the movie and he handles both this and drama flawlessly.
This is a movie everyone should see. It solidly earns its classic status thanks to a variety of factors, all of which are handled in flawless fashion. Messages are hidden on the surface and deeper, while the entertainment value hasn’t dipped a notch since 1946. This is truly a movie for everybody that will never age. 
Already available in a pristine DVD edition, the film has been double dipped by Paramount and it’s a worthy re-release. The film has undergone another restoration, and this time, it’s flawless. Every speck and scratch has been cleaned and fixed, and the clarity is remarkable. Compression is non-existent.
The restoration has a purpose, and that was for the color version included on a separate disc. Arguments about colorization aside, Wonderful Life shines thanks to this updated process. Scenes come to life brighter than they were before, adding a higher sense of fun to certain sequences such as the dance number. There are still nagging issues with the process (skin tones especially), yet this is a prime example of how it can be done.
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