Shop Around the Corner, The

Rating: 5 

Not as good as You've Got Mail, in my opinion, but since it's the inspiration behind it, it's great.  It's still very impressive to see Jimmy Stewart's character change and realize the person he really fell in love with and get over his unfounded prejudices.

Stewart really had to humble himself and put aside the things he saw in Margaret Sullivan that seemed to bug him.  In marriage, I think it is important to realize what drew you into the person initially; like they say, "keep your eyes wide open during courtship [to make sure you don't overlook anything important] and half shut after marriage [being forgiving of the other persons faults]."  I think that's the message I found that moved me the most. 

Mr. Matuchek's lack of communication with his employees displayed another poignant lesson.  It is important to be open and honest in all situation before jumping to any conclusions.  You must strive to assume the best in people and try to understand as much of a situation as you can.  I imagine it could be very difficult in a situation like he found himself with in the movie, losing his trust in his wife.

Back to the love story, so many times people get misled by their emotions and fail to see (or choose not to see) the shortcomings of their sweetheart.  Sometimes more than just shortcomings are overlooked for the sense of belonging or being loved.  It's important to view the counterpart of the relationship in an everyday setting, how they react in different situations and with different types of people.  James Stewart is able to do that with Margaret Sullivan and he's willing to accept her as she is, knowing that she is capable of loving him.  And of course everything works out in the end, a bit abrupt though if I might add.  Meg Ryan's falling in love with Tom Hanks because of his genuine kindness was better displayed in You've Got Mail.  I'll have to see In the Good Ol' Summertime again to comment on that version.

Rear Window

Luke

Rating: 4

This movie should never have been remade (though I haven't seen the Christopher Reeves version). We watched Disturbia a while back and it is a movie that will forever spend a night in the box. Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece doesn't have to create a gory film or a terrifying background for the killer, the suspense around the murder is enough. When you start displaying the evil (serial killings, gore, etc.), it becomes either too frightening or too cheesy to enjoy.

On that note I really enjoyed this original version. It all takes place in an apartment living room and is never slow or dull. This type of movie isn't made to inspire, but primarily to entertain, and I believe it achieved it's purposes.

Jeff is a nosy, crippled man with nothing better to do than to involve himself, uninvited, in the lives of his neighbors. He ends up neglecting his own real-life relationships for his imaginary ones he forges through a telephoto lens. It is very unrealistic in the fact that he is able to understand each neighbor's situation by simply observing them and never interacting with them. This may be the purpose of the film to display the risks of being a busy body and the importance of focusing on strengthening real life relationships.

Lisa did end up relinquishing her efforts to dissuade Jeff from pursuing his new hobby of prying and immersed herself in it, though she denounced it at first. This was a selfless act that showed her devotion to him and her willingness to bring their relationship closer proving she really was interested in marriage (which was a qualm Jeff had in the movie with regards to whether or not she was ready or not for marriage).