Amazon Studios Ripped for Censoring Scenes in “It’s a Wonderful Life” Christmas Classic

December 26, 2024 — bunkerville

Most of us know the story of “It’s a wonderful life.” Amazon decided to cut a major point of the story and one has to be fast on their feet to catch why the film makes little sense now. So if you watched the movie as I did and you were left with “what happened”  you are not alone. Amazon decided to do a number on it.  The suicide scene? “It’s too dark” they claim and there may be some copyright issues, but then again Amazon says they have both editions available. Go figure that one.

Breitbart picks up the story:

We all know the story from the 1946 Frank Capra classic. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), a beloved citizen of Bedford Falls, is struck by a financial disaster just ahead of Christmas when his dunder-headed uncle Billy loses the Bailey Brothers Building and Loan’s bank deposit, threatening to bankrupt the company. With his world falling apart around him, and as the evil rival, Henry Potter (Lionel Barrymore) plots to destroy his business, George wishes he had never been born and contemplates throwing himself off a bridge in suicide. But then he meets an angel named Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers), who shows George what the world would have been like if there never was a George Bailey. The revelation helps Bailey to understand that his temporary financial troubles are not the end of the world and he is surrounded by enough love and admiration to help him overcome adversity.

…

In the “Pottersville scene” of the film, George tells Clarence the angel that he is worth more to his family and friends dead than he is alive. Clarence then tells George that he must earn his wings and proceeds to show George what the world would have been like if George Bailey never existed.

The scenes that Clarence reveals to him showing the world without him leads George to the realization this his life has been important to the ones he loves and that epiphany causes him to run back into his home town filled with love and the Christmas spirit.

But not when Amazon Prime got involved. Fans of the film are aghast that the streaming service cut out a key part of that plot above, the Daily Mail reported.

In the Amazon Prime “abridged” version of this classic film, the scene goes from Clarence telling George his has to earn his wings to George running through the streets of Bedford Falls in delirious happiness, resolved to renew his zest for life, all without showing viewers why he made that key turn around from crestfallen and suicidal to joy and happiness.

Image

Just wow indeed.

Here is the trailer for the film:

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE | Official Trailer | Paramount Movies

There are questions concerning some copyright but as Breitbart remarks in their story:

Amazon Prime has since noted that it does have the full movie on its service, in both a colorized and black and white version. But the abridged version apparently exists as an option for viewers for two reasons. One because the suicide scene is “too dark” and secondly there has been a copyright dispute over that segment of the movie because it is supposedly based on a short story that was never recognized by the film’s original producers.

Update: Scene removed

Posted in media, Uncategorized. Tags: , , , , , , , . 20 Comments »

15,000 Media and Entertainment Jobs were Lost Last Year

December 23, 2024 — bunkerville

People are fed up with fake news and movies about the worst of us. A Gallup poll shows that only 31 percent of people believe the news saying they had a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence the media will report the news “fully, accurately and fairly.” With alternative news sources such as “X” and YouTube as well as podcasts,  people are no longer stuck with limited options.

Breitbart picks up the story:

The year keeps getting better, with the news that 15,000 people (who hate us) lost their media and entertainment jobs in 2024.

This comes after 21,417 people (who hate us) lost their media and entertainment jobs in 2023.

“The numbers, courtesy of Chicago-based firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., which tracks the employment market, are sobering,” reports the far-left Wrap. “While the 14,909 jobs that were lost by mid-December this year offered an improvement on the 21,417 jobs that were cut in 2023, it would be unwise to consider this year a ‘comeback’ by any stretch.”

Get a load of this…

“Combined, the number of jobs lost between 2023-24 more than quadrupled the amount lost between 2021-22.

The numbers are staggering…

  • Vice Media shut down Vice.com, which killed several hundred jobs
  • CNNLOL laid off 100 and more are coming (tee hee)
  • ABC News let 75 go
  • Scripps axed 200
  • Amazon Studios whacked a hundred
  • The Disney Grooming Syndicate laid off hundreds
  • Warner Bros. cut 1,0000

…and on and on it goes.

The Wrap lays out all the reasons for this jobs massacre — disruption from streaming and AI, the slow death of cable TV, the normal consolidation and restructuring…

Keep reading

The Wrap goes on to say: Compounding matters for mainstream outlets is the rise in alternative sources they can go to for information – whether that’s TikTok, Joe Rogan’s podcast or YouTubers who talk politics. Others are turning to popular Substacks, like ex-New York Times writer Bari Weiss’ The Free Press, which has 136,000 subscribers paying $8 per month; the outlet is reportedly valued at $100 million. 

More at The Wrap

Add of course “Bunkerville.”

Here we have some of these savants go on a “walkout” over layoffs. Even better, letting their bosses know they don’t care for the idea they are so rich, missing the point that only the very rich can afford to keep these losing operations in business. They are working in a business that is losing millions of dollars and apparently it doesn’t register with them.

US media job cuts: Journalists stage walkouts against billionaire-owned outlets 

Good news from the swamp.

Posted in media. Tags: , , , , , , , . 17 Comments »

Something Wonderful: ‘A Porcelain Unicorn’

December 23, 2021 — bunkerville

It is such a beautiful piece. Just a remarkable, remarkable piece of film. One of the hardest things to do as a filmmaker is to tell a story such as this, in such a condensed amount of time. Three minutes of story telling perfection.

Grand prize winner of the Philips Parallel Lines ‘Tell It Your Way’ international competition.

Hat tip: American Digest

As we remain waiting…..

Mary Did You Know – Taryn Harbridge

Wishing you a wonderful day

Posted in Religion. Tags: , . 9 Comments »

Sunday Respite: The Sopranos Opening Theme – “Woke up this morning”

October 3, 2021 — bunkerville

The Many Saints of Newark (marketed with the subtitle A Sopranos Story) is a 2021 American crime drama film that debut October 1 and is making a buzz. What better than the original theme from the original Sopranos for a Sunday Respite. The so-called prequel is playing In Theaters & Streaming Exclusively On HBO Max. Streaming in the US only for a limited time. The video below best watched in full screen.

The Sopranos Opening Theme – “Woke up this morning” directed by Alan Taylor and written by David Chase and Lawrence Konner.

A prequel to Chase’s HBO crime drama series The Sopranos, it takes place during the 1960s and 1970s in Newark, New Jersey. The film follows a violent gang war from the perspectives of mobster Dickie Moltisanti and his teenage nephew, Tony Soprano, in the midst of the city’s 1967 riots. It stars Alessandro Nivola as Dickie and Michael Gandolfini as Tony, the character originated by his father in the series, with Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Michela De Rossi, John Magaro, Ray Liotta, and Vera Farmiga in supporting roles.

I sure did enjoy the original program and wow how the time has flown by. Tony Soprano was perfect for the part.

The pilot was ordered in 1997, and the show premiered on HBO on January 10, 1999. The series ran for six seasons totaling 86 episodes until June 10, 2007. Broadcast syndication followed in the U.S. and internationally.

Wishing you a wonderful day.

Posted in Fun. Tags: , , . 2 Comments »

Netflix- their secret codes – find thousands of hidden movies

May 28, 2021 — bunkerville

Netflix’s secret codes to their genres and sub genres to thousands of hidden movies that you otherwise will be unlikely to find. You will need a regular Netflix membership. It’s Friday, a holiday weekend and time to crank up the old T.V and take a look at streaming some great films.

For the updated list for 2024 – just search for Netflix Codes for 2024 Enter:

Netflix Secret Codes in April 2024 (Hidden Movies & Shows)

 

To explore these collections — ordering off the secret menu, if you will — all you need to do is fire up your web browser, type in “netflix.com/browse/genre/” and then add your ID code of choice to the end of the URL.

 

In 2017 B-ville posted links to Netflix’s secret algorithms. By going to the link below and removing the XXXX and inserting the digits of your favorites genres, sub-genres out pops a list that you can’t come up with otherwise. It has been some years since the post. I checked out a number of codes and appears to be still working for the most part.

Interested in a good war movie and want to see your options? Log in and click on Military Action & Adventure (2125)

Netflix’s incredibly niche, personalised subgenres have long captivated movie nerds, from “Steamy Crime Movies from the 1970s” to “Period Pieces About Royalty Based on Real Life”.

The genres, based on a complicated algorithm that uses reams of data about users’ viewing habits to recommend exactly what a particular user is into, number in the tens of thousands.

How it works

If you’re logged into Netflix, enter http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/XXXX  but

“XXXX” is a series of digits – 1089 is “Mind-bending Movies”, for example.

Movies directed by Otto Preminger. 3000: Dramas Starring Sylvester Stallone. 5000. Critically-Acclaimed Crime Movies from the 1940s. 20000. Mother-Son Movies from the 1970s. There were a lot of blanks in the data, but the entries extended into the 90,000s.

Not all numbers will result in a subgenre, and given Netflix’s ever-changing algorithms, they might move around every now and then, while there may be regional differences meaning that some codes don’t work.

NetFlix streaming by alternate genres (main list) – I will make it easy! Click below:

There’s an even more comprehensive list here…

If you have a few bucks to spare you can also rent an Amazon flick. One of my favorite war themed films is “Taking Chance.”

During a White House press briefing on Thursday, General Kelly — whose son was killed in action in 2010 — spoke about his personal connection with the 2009 film. Taking Chance tells the story of volunteer military escort Lt. Col. Michael Strobl accompanying the body of Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps back to his hometown.

“A very, very good movie is Taking Chance. Chance Phelps was killed under my command right next to me. It’s worth seeing that if you’ve never seen it,” he said. “That’s the process.”

Inspired by the true story of the United States Marine who volunteered to escort the remains of a nineteen year old soldier who was killed in Iraq to his small hometown in remote Wyoming, “Taking Chance” stars Kevin Bacon in the feature directorial debut of Oscar-nominated producer Ross Katz. Lance Corporal Chance Phelps (USMC) was just nineteen years old when he was killed during active duty. Now, as Lance Corporal Phelps is prepared for his final journey back home, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl (USMC) (Bacon) makes it his personal mission to ensure that his fallen brother is laid to rest with the proper respect. As the journey begins, Lieutenant Colonel Strobl gains a greater appreciation of the sacrifices made in war than ever before. The film was selected for showing at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and premiered on HBO on February 21, 2009.

The trailer:

Watch Taking Chance | Prime Video – Amazon.com

Have a wonderful weekend.

Posted in Fun. Tags: , , , . 22 Comments »

Oscars new requirements for ‘Best Picture’ – includes cognitive disability, deaf

September 9, 2020 — bunkerville

 

This should insure mediocrity in the film industry. “People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing” counts for inclusion in the requirements to be in the “Best Picture” category. Apparently Walmart comes to the film industry.

I am a big movie fan. I love my big screen TV with Netflix and Prime subscriptions especially now being hunkered down. Fortunately, I love the oldies. Our one theatre closed months ago forever thanks to the government. Let’s see how this works out for the theaters still waiting in the wings for the next blockbuster and mercy shown by our fearless government leaders.

The diversity and inclusion initiative has been a heavy focus for the Oscars the past few years, shown by the expansive membership initiative. Today, as part of the Academy Aperture 2025 initiative, AMPAS announced new representation and inclusion standards in order to be eligible in the best picture category.

For the 94th and 95th Oscars ceremonies, scheduled for 2022 and 2023, a film will submit a confidential Academy Inclusion Standards form to be considered for best picture. Beginning in 2024, for the 96th Oscars, a film submitting for best picture will need to meet the inclusion thresholds by meeting two of the four standards.

 

 

At least two of the following creative leadership positions and department heads — Casting Director, Cinematographer, Composer, Costume Designer, Director, Editor, Hairstylist, Makeup Artist, Producer, Production Designer, Set Decorator, Sound, VFX Supervisor, Writer — are from the following underrepresented groups:

• Women
• Racial or ethnic group
• LGBTQ+
• People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing

At least one of those positions must belong to the following underrepresented racial or ethnic group:

• Asian
• Hispanic/Latinx
• Black/African American
• Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
• Middle Eastern/North African
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
• Other underrepresented race or ethnicity

B2. Other key roles

At least six other crew/team and technical positions (excluding Production Assistants) are from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. These positions include but are not limited to First AD, Gaffer, Script Supervisor, etc.

B3. Overall crew composition

At least 30% of the film’s crew is from the following underrepresented groups:

• Women
• Racial or ethnic group
• LGBTQ+
• People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing

More at Variety

 

Posted in Deep State. Tags: , , , . 33 Comments »

Netflix- their secret codes- now you can find thousands of hidden movies

April 29, 2017 — bunkerville

For any Netflix junkie, here is the list for you. I found this over at The Telegraph UK. The list may not be as specific as to the U.S. Book mark the page and don’t worry about codes. Not the complete list but a good start. When Netflix first came out it was easy to find the top whatever films. Now it is once more easy to find them. Something a bit different for a Saturday. Other articles of interest:

Netflix Everywhere Comparisons

Netflix’s incredibly niche, personalised subgenres have long captivated movie nerds, from “Steamy Crime Movies from the 1970s” to “Period Pieces About Royalty Based on Real Life”.

The genres, based on a complicated algorithm that uses reams of data about users’ viewing habits to recommend exactly what a particular user is into, number in the tens of thousands.

How it works

If you’re logged into Netflix, enter http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/XXXX  but

“XXXX” is a series of digits – 1089 is “Mind-bending Movies”, for example; while 354 is “Movies Starring Matthew McConaughey” – currently a genre of one film.

Not all numbers will result in a subgenre, and given Netflix’s ever-changing algorithms, they might move around every now and then, while there may be regional differences meaning that some codes don’t work.

Codes for the main genres are available Here

Here are links to a list of even more.

NetFlix streaming by alternate genres (main list)

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: , , , . 8 Comments »