Amazon Prime Edit of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Review

If you’ve ever read my blogs in December (and you totally should because my credit card bill looks like I bought the whole family Christmas presents from Juan Soto), you’ve probably noticed my love for the classic holiday film, It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s not just a holiday movie, it’s one of the best films ever made, in my opinion. Even legendary film critics Siskel & Ebert had it on their list of top movies for a film festival they dreamed of hosting.

I remember visiting Seneca Falls, which claims to be the real-life inspiration for Bedford Falls, the town in the movie. I even stopped by the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum and couldn’t help but recite every famous line from the film. And I even picked up a cool souvenir from the bar owned by the one guy who actually had a better life in the alternate reality where George Bailey was never born.

But now, let’s talk about Amazon Prime’s version of this beloved classic. The original movie has a powerful message about the impact one person can have on the world. But the edit that’s currently available on Prime Video totally misses the mark. It skips over important scenes that show George Bailey’s journey to realizing the value of his own life and the impact he’s had on others.

Amazon Prime claims the full version of the film is still on their platform, but this trimmed-down version feels like a real disservice to such a timeless and cherished movie. It’s like cutting out the heart of a story and leaving only the surface details. As much as we all love a good shortcut, some things are worth the time and attention they deserve.

Let’s hope streaming services remember to treat our favorite movies with the respect they deserve, and keep their hands off our beloved classics. Because after all, these films belong to the world, not just to a corporate entity.