By Chris Cosci

Just about everyone has a favorite holiday movie. It may be one of the many adaptations of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" or possibly the nostalgic comedy "A Christmas Story." However, one of the most cherished holidays films is the classic, "It's a Wonderful Life." This movie tells the story of George Bailey, an ordinary man who learns the true value of his life when he is visited by a guardian angel.

"It's a Wonderful Life" is loved by millions and celebrated as one of the greatest holiday films of all time. Now I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I've never seen it.

Surprised? Shocked? Mortified? These are the usual reactions I get from people who treasure this film and know how much I enjoy movies. Actually, even if they don't know how much I enjoy movies, they're still appalled. I don't have a particular reason for not seeing the film. It's not that I'm boycotting it or have an irrational aversion to Jimmy Stewart films. The simple fact is that I've never sat down and actually watched the film.

For many people, this is hard to fathom. When I was growing up, before NBC bought the rights to the movie and kept a Stalin-esque stranglehold on it by airing it only on Thanksgiving, you could hardly flip through the channels in December without finding it on some station. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there were probably a good hundred opportunities to watch this movie.

Nonetheless, I always found something else to watch, or I would just decide not to watch it at that particular time. Now, "It's a Wonderful Life" is part of a long list of classic movies that I've never seen. Care to know what else is on this scandalous list? "The Godfather." "Gone with the Wind." "Ben-Hur." If you weren't bewildered by my not having seen "It's a Wonderful Life," I'm sure you're reeling in your seat now.

Whenever I mention having not seen one of these films, I'm almost always treated to the same general response. It usually starts with a loud, exaggerated gasp, as if I'd just made the declaration that I was the one who shot JFK. After making sure they heard me correctly, people will launch into a tirade, using such phrases as "everybody's seen that film," "greatest film of all time," and "what rock have you been hiding under?" Without fail, the diatribe will end with the simple demand: "you must see that movie."

For some of the classic films, I'm happy to agree. However, there are some people who use the same reaction for just about any film they've seen and I haven't. "Are you serious? You've never seen 'Sixteen Candles'?" "Oh man, you have to see 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.'" "How have you not seen 'Ishtar'?"

Look, I understand how not seeing "Citizen Kane" can affect my reputation as a movie buff. (That's right -- I haven't seen that movie yet, either.) Still, I'm sure I'll be able to hold my own in a movie conversation without having seen "Dude, Where's My Car?" Also, in my defense, I have seen plenty of classic films, including "Casablanca," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Singing in the Rain," "All About Eve," and "The Maltese Falcon." As time goes on, I will certainly see many others.

What I'm trying to say is that missing out on "It's a Wonderful Life" may not be the travesty some people make it out to be. I don't think I should be treated as if I'd just committed the crime of the century. If I have to boil my point down to four words, I guess I would say, Give me a break. If I only had three words to make my point, I'd say, Get over it. And if I only had two words... let's just say it wouldn't be very polite.