Year:  1946
Genre:  Classic, Christmas, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Blu Ray 
Country:  United States
Language:  English
Starring:  James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore
Director:  Frank Capra
Run time:  130 minutes
DVD distributor:  Paramount Home Entertainment

     A year or two ago, I reviewed a two-disc special edition of the classic It’s a Wonderful Life.  It came in a box with a little bell, and had some great special features like a making-of documentary hosted by Tom Bosley, and a tribute to Frank Capra narrated by Frank Capra Jr.

     On November 1^st, Paramount Home Entertainment releases a new two-disc special edition box set of the classic It’s A Wonderful Life.  This one comes with a little bell and some great special features like a making-of documentary hosted by Tom Bosley, and a tribute to Frank Capra narrated by Frank Capra Jr. 

     So, what’s the difference?  Well, this one is a Blu-Ray.  And I know what you’re thinking.  You’re thinking…a classic black-and-white movie on Blu-Ray?  What’s the point?  Does black and white look any better in super high definition?  Well, the answer is no. 

     The reason, I think, for the Blu-ray treatment here is the second disc, which features the colorized version of the movie.  That process in the old days of film where they ADDED colour to black and white movies so modern low brow movie watchers (like my sister) would find them more palatable.

     I am not one of those movie watchers.  I find colorizing a classic like It’s A Wonderful Life to be akin to blasphemy, and I won’t be watching it.  And so for me, there is absolutely no difference between the NEW It’s a Wonderful Life box set with a bell and the older one with a bell.  Except that the blu-ray is the only box set on the shelves right now.  And you NEED It’s A Wonderful Life in your collection.