|
|
|
|
|
|
Reviews
Release lists
Top lists
Search
By genre
(3126)
(1961)
(548)
(234)
(284)
(2109)
(1512)
(643)
(4010)
(827)
(1263)
(21)
(367)
(1113)
(1099)
(257)
(763)
(178)
(218)
(1331)
(1358)
(74)
(295)
(686)
(3086)
(476)
(142)
By studio
About
|
|
|
It's a Wonderful Life Blu-ray
Paramount Pictures | 1946 | 131 mins | Not rated | Nov 03, 2009
|
|
Video
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Audio
English: Dolby Digital Mono
French: Dolby Digital Mono
Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono
English: Dolby Digital Mono French: Dolby Digital Mono Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono (less)
Subtitles
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish (less)
Discs
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
|
Price
List price: $29.99  Amazon: $21.49 (Save 28%)
Third party: $21.49 (Save 28%)
Usually ships in 24 hours
User rating
|
Movie
|
|
5.0 |
|
Video
|
|
4.8 |
|
Audio
|
|
3.3 |
|
Extras
|
|
3.5 |
|
Overall
|
|
4.6
|
Based on 8 user ratings
Playback
Region free
|
byacullo
-
Nov 09, 2009
|
 
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 4.5
|
Audio: 3.5
|
Extras: 2.5
|
Overall: 4.5
|
Excellent transfer
I have the two previous DVD versions (Republic and 60th Anniversary) of It's a Wonderful Life. I was amazed by the quality of the video presentation of the blu-ray. It is hard to imagine that a film this old can look so good! There is no evidence of scratches or dirt. The film looks wonderful.
The visual presentation is pristine -- with one exception. During the last 9 minutes of the film (i.e., the last three chapters), there is a fluctuating, optical vertical line at the very far right edge of the image. It is intermittent. Interestingly, it is evident on both the black-and-white and colorized versions.
When inspecting the older two versions of the film, the optical vertical line at the far right edge is not present. Interestingly, I noticed that the two older versions of the film are slightly cropped on the far right edge (in particular, the Republic version). The blu-ray version presents more of the image on the far right side. I am not sure whether this anomaly is related to the processing of the blu-ray version. I suspect, however, that this artifact is present on the original negative; it simply is cut off on the earlier two versions. It is somewhat surprising that Paramount did not address this issue (given the overall outstanding video presentation of the film). Perhaps it was felt it was better to present more of the original image, even with the visual anomaly.
Does this irregularity impair the overall visual presentation of the film? Absolutely not. The blu-ray version of this film looks incredible. |
|
jk1138
-
Nov 14, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 3
|
Extras: 3
|
Overall: 5
|
Every time a bell rings an angel gets it's wings...
… and every time this movies is released on a new format, this movie lover gets his copy.
I have had IAWL now on VHS, LD, DVD and now on BD (heck as a kid my parents had the film of this that we would watch every Christmas). Each successive version has been better than the last and the BD is no exception to this rule. I found myself watching the background to see all the things I had never noticed before. When I got the LD I noticed on Mr. Potters desk the apple that had been there in every other copy I had was in fact a skull. I did not notice anything too different with the DVD, but now with the BD I can see all the detail of the skull. Just one small thing that someone like me who loves this movie will appreciate. So suffice to say, the PQ was AWESOME for this 63 year old movie!
The audio was a bit disappointing, my DVD copy seemed to be just as good if not better. I really had to turn up the volume on the BD to hear it well, but over all still very good.
The extras are nothing new for me, as I had seen all of them before, but I would have liked them to add the extras from the LD. Either way I still love the movie.
Overall, IMO this movie cannot be topped and in terms of it being on BD it cannot be beat. A Must have!
Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Blu-ray.com! |
|
RedClayDawg
-
Dec 21, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 3
|
Extras: 3.5
|
Overall: 5
|
George Bailey Lives Again
The history of this movie serves as a metaphor for the great American success story. It was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director. It did not win any. In fact, the winner of eight Academy Awards for films released in 1946 was "The Best Years of Our Lives"- including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director. Interestingly enough, "The Best Years of Our Lives" is not yet available on Blu-ray.
It's a Wonderful Life more or less vanished into relative obscurity until its copyright was not renewed in 1974 due to a clerical error. With the film in the public domain, television stations, including Atlanta's superstation WTBS, began showing the film. From that point on the movie took on a new life. The film that had languished in obscurity for 30 years quickly became one of America's all-time favorites. With a cast including Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Thomas Mitchell, it bacame a 20th-Century version of "A Christmas Carol" complete with a look at the past, present, and in some sense the future. Americans LOVE this movie. Even director Frank Capra was amazed, and extremely pleased, with how the film took on a life of its own in the 1970s and 1980s.
With Republic reinforcing its copyright claims to the film in 1993, the movie was released in quality VHS (as opposed to the sub-standard VHS versions that has popped-up while the film was in public domain). The movie continued to gain in popularity. The American Film Institute recognized it as the 11th best movie of all-time in its 1998 "100 Movies... 100 Years" listing.
The movie was released in even higher quality on DVD in 2001. And with the 2009 release of the film on Blu-ray Disc, George Bailey got his wish to "live again."
The PQ is tremendous. The video is crisp, clean, and clear. Intricate details are clearly seen- probably more clearly than were seen when the film was originally viewed in 1946. Georgie Baliey DOES come to life again!
The audio is ok- exactly what you would expect from a monaural soundtrack recorded in 1946. You have to remember the modern transistor which would transform audio in decades to come was not even invented until 1947. With that in mind, the Blu-ray Disc does a marvelous job of reproducing the soundtrack. Again, I am sure it is clearer and cleaner than it was when the film premiered on December 20, 1946.
Although I have never been a fan of the colorized version, the Blu-ray Disc set includes this as well.
As the movie draws to a climax, George Bailey leans on the bridge railing and prays, "I want to live again." Thanks to the 1080/24p transfer of the film to Blu-ray Disc, George's prayer is answered. |
|
steevknt
-
Nov 11, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 3
|
Extras: 5
|
Overall: 5
|
Great Classic Movie!
The Blu-Ray version of this classic movie from 1946 brings the movie back to life! Just to see all the details of the buildings, the actors faces and the color makes this a great movie to pick up for the holiday season. The only draw back (minor) of this classic re-issue is the mono audio but that shouldn't discourage anyone from buying this fabulous movie. |
|
Biff
-
Nov 04, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 3
|
Extras: 3
|
Overall: 4
|
I like this movie
I like very much this romantic movie and now it's exactly that i always wanted to see in that classic. Paramount made a really great job. No apparent default and the picture is now so sharper. The track sound, well, it is just mono, like a 1946 movie but it's ok for me. |
|
halljosh80
-
Dec 02, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 5
|
Extras: 5
|
Overall: 5
|
Best Holiday Movie
This movie has been my favorite holiday movie, but until now, I have only seen the B&W version on standard definition. I just bought the Blu-ray disc with the colorized version and was blown away. The color was flawless and the sound was great. So much better. Much clearer. The extras were fun to watch, too.
I loved it and was so glad I bought it!!! |
|
grundy
-
Feb 05, 2010
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 3
|
Extras: 4.5
|
Overall: 5
|
lossy AQ
but whatever!
I gave it high marks for the including the color Blu; a nice option if it gets someone to watch that has never seen it before (like under 18 years old)-though I disagree with colorizing b/w movies
I HAD to buy this the day before my son was born on Xmas Eve, my wife insisted we watch it at home on Blu our last night at home pregnant-and then we watched it again in the hosptial on NBC 
my son shall never watch the colorized version-I refuse! |
|
kdo
-
15 hours ago
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 4
|
Audio: 3
|
Extras: 1.5
|
Overall: 3.5
|
One of the Best Films In History!
I feel this is one of the most inspiring and heartfelt movies ever made, and its presentation on this Blu-ray is not likely to be improved upon. The extras department however, leaves a lot to be desired, especially for a film of this caliber. |
|
Post a review
Please login to post a review.
|
|
Top 10 Bargains
|
|
1.
|
The Wizard of Oz (3-Disc Emerald Edition)
$16.99, Save 66%
|
|
2.
|
Up
$17.99, Save 61%
|
|
3.
|
The Men Who Stare at Goats
$16.99, Save 58%
|
|
4.
|
Star Trek
$19.49, Save 51%
|
|
5.
|
Inglourious Basterds (Special Edition)
$19.99, Save 50%
|
|
6.
|
Planet Terror
$9.99, Save 67%
|
|
7.
|
Planet Earth
$49.99, Save 50%
|
|
8.
|
Iron Man (Ultimate Edition)
$19.49, Save 51%
|
|
9.
|
The Dark Knight
$17.99, Save 50%
|
|
10.
|
Serenity
$11.99, Save 56%
|
» See more bargains
|
|
