DVD Corner's blog

It’s A Wonderful Life 4K UHD Steelbook Review

“It’s A Wonderful Life” is one of the all-time great films.

When you think about it, it’s rather incredible just how much director/writer Frank Capra and co-writers Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich manage to put into this classic movie that runs a mere 135 minutes. Granted, “It’s A Wonderful Life” is primarily known as a holiday film about an angel named Clarence confronts a distraught George Bailey in order to help him realize just how important and meaningful his life is, but that’s not the whole story. At its heart, this is a deeply human story about community, family, friendship, and kindness that chronicles a man’s life through the best of times and the worst of times. Sure, it ends on a happy note, but the movie captures the human condition in a way most movies don’t. 

Capra’s gem also has some of the best world building I’ve ever seen in cinema. The town of Bedford Falls is so perfectly realized that it looks and feels like a real town. I can’t even begin to tell you just how difficult of a task that is for any film to do in such a short amount of time. I can go on and on about this classic and just how much it resonates (especially the older one gets), but I’ll spare you. I think most anyone who has ever seen the film knows how special it is. There’s a reason it has endured for generations now after all. 

A lot of the credit for the film’s legacy should go to the cast who make the characters (and the town) come to life. Obviously, James Stewart gives one of the best performances of his storied career as George Bailey, but each and every supporting performance here is magical. From Lionel Barrymore as the greedy Mr. Potter and Donna Reed as the loving Mary to Ward Bond as Bert and Gloria Grahame as Violet, the movie is filled with memorable characters.

Note: For those that are wondering, this new 4K steelbook release isn’t too different from the previous 4K release. It’s essentially a repackage with a mini poster and the fancy new steelbook case. If you don’t have the previous 4K release, it is well worth picking this release up instead (especially if you are a steelbook collector).

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.33:1 2160p. How does it look? This is one of the best 4K releases you’ll see. The restoration is flat-out mindblowing as it’s like seeing the film anew.

Audio Track: Dolby TrueHD Mono. How does it sound? Expect a crisp and clear Mono track.
Extras:
* Digital copy
* Blu-ray copy with the colorized version only (why didn’t they add the B&W version too?).
* Mini-poster
* “It’s A Wonderful Wrap Party”- 8 minutes from the “It’s A Wonderful Life” filming wrap party.
* “Restoring A Beloved Classic”- The title of this 13 minute extra says it all.
* “Secrets From The Vault: It’s A Wonderful Life”- A 22 minute extra that explores the film’s history and production.

November 8, 2020 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Christmas Movie, Frank Capra, Holiday Movie, It's A Wonderful Life 4K Steelbook Review, James Stewart