Comments on: Holiday Movies and Specials, Again http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3572 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Wed, 13 May 2026 13:23:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3572&cpage=1#comment-19617 girldetective Thu, 30 Dec 2010 21:44:10 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3572#comment-19617 Thanks for that insightful reading of the end, and I think you're right that what makes it work is that it is more complex than a feel-good movie. We are aware of what he's given up, but also of what he's gotten for his compromises which weren't the things he thought he wanted, but have become them in the end. It does still nag a bit that what he gets in the end is so white-bread, white-man traditional--family, home, small town, etc. that his reward doesn't feel that complicated, even if his having come to accept it is. Thanks for that insightful reading of the end, and I think you’re right that what makes it work is that it is more complex than a feel-good movie. We are aware of what he’s given up, but also of what he’s gotten for his compromises which weren’t the things he thought he wanted, but have become them in the end. It does still nag a bit that what he gets in the end is so white-bread, white-man traditional–family, home, small town, etc. that his reward doesn’t feel that complicated, even if his having come to accept it is.

]]> By: Janise http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3572&cpage=1#comment-19616 Janise Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:44:24 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3572#comment-19616 About "It's a Wonderful Life": I LOVE this movie; it is one of my all time favorites because it is more than just a "feel good" movie. It addresses our feelings of insigificance and failure in the world when we don't meet our own expectations and when life doesn't turn out the way we wanted it to. I think that the dark aspects are what make the whole movie work. If George had not experienced so much disappointment and pain throughout his life, his recognition that he still wanted to live would be less significant. Even with everything appearing to go wrong, his life is worth living, and it turns out that he wasn't as big a failure as he thought; he just wasn't using the right measure for success. True, Potter still "won" in the sense that no one found out he took the money, but between the money collected by Mary and the loan Sam authorized, the $8000 is going to be replaced, and I doubt anyone is going to ask for a reimbursement. The money collection is also a neat corollary to the time that George gave his OWN money out to people when the bank was closed. This time, they are giving him the money from their pockets when HE needs it. For me, the depressing or dark elements to the story only serve to highlight the larger truth that George learns at the end, that life is worth living and that we all have more influence on the world than we suspect. About “It’s a Wonderful Life”:
I LOVE this movie; it is one of my all time favorites because it is more than just a “feel good” movie. It addresses our feelings of insigificance and failure in the world when we don’t meet our own expectations and when life doesn’t turn out the way we wanted it to.

I think that the dark aspects are what make the whole movie work. If George had not experienced so much disappointment and pain throughout his life, his recognition that he still wanted to live would be less significant. Even with everything appearing to go wrong, his life is worth living, and it turns out that he wasn’t as big a failure as he thought; he just wasn’t using the right measure for success. True, Potter still “won” in the sense that no one found out he took the money, but between the money collected by Mary and the loan Sam authorized, the $8000 is going to be replaced, and I doubt anyone is going to ask for a reimbursement. The money collection is also a neat corollary to the time that George gave his OWN money out to people when the bank was closed. This time, they are giving him the money from their pockets when HE needs it.
For me, the depressing or dark elements to the story only serve to highlight the larger truth that George learns at the end, that life is worth living and that we all have more influence on the world than we suspect.

]]> By: Amy http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3572&cpage=1#comment-19589 Amy Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:24:25 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3572#comment-19589 Love love love A Christmas Story. For some reason, even though I've watched it dozens of times, it makes me laugh until I almost cry. Love love love A Christmas Story. For some reason, even though I’ve watched it dozens of times, it makes me laugh until I almost cry.

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