Intelligence, along with wealth, has always been the standard ruler for a person’s value. However, the winner of 6 Oscars and uncountable other awards, FORREST GUMP, brings us a totally different perspective.
For those who have never watched this movie, it is about the life of a IQ-75 man who experiences many important historical and chaotic events of the United States and later on becomes a “phenomenon” of his country.
The movie starts with Forrest Gump (he’s actually Tom Hanks!!!!! OMG...) sitting at a bus stop and telling the story of his life. His voice sounds boring and like a child, but somehow it stimulates the watchers’ curiosity. It makes us look at the problems and chaos in an innocent and optimistic way, just like him. I even wish I can deal with my mess like him.
In “Forrest Gump”, we can find many things similar to our history textbook. However, in the movie, Forrest “creates” the history.
- Shows Elvis Presley the famous hip-swinging move
- Fights in Vietnam
- Gives an anti-war speech in public
- Meets president Kennedy and president Nixon
- Receives the Honor Medal
- Inspires John Lennon to write the popular song “Imagine”
- Reveals the Watergate Scandal
- Indirectly invents the iconic smiley face
There are 3 people who heavily affect Forrest: his mother, Jenny and Bubba. Their write the story of Forrest Gump.
First, we’ll talk about Forrest’s mom. Although many other kids made fun of Forrest because of his disabled leg and low IQ, she always help and cheers him up.
First, we’ll talk about Forrest’s mom. Although many other kids made fun of Forrest because of his disabled leg and low IQ, she always help and cheers him up.
“Life is a box of chocolate. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
She doesn’t physically appear on screen many times, but her will and ideals do. Mama is Forrest's guide. Every time he makes any important decision, he tries to figure out what Mama would do. And he learn Mama's words by his heart. You can see Forrest saying "My Mama said..." all the time.
I cried when I saw her lying on the bed but still smiling. “Life is a box of chocolate. You never know what you’re gonna get.”, said Mama. She looks so happy and optimistic even when she knows she’s going to die. This very optimism once encourages Forrest to forget his disabled leg and be himself, and this "being-himself" leads Forrest to success.
Forrest is speechless in that scene, but his wet eyes speak everything. He's going to lose not only a great mother, but a good friend, the guiding light, whose thoughts and quotes have been his " life handbook". Maybe he's wondering "Mama, what should I say? What should I do?". Without her, Gump would have been nothing. This part reminds me of my Mom and makes me love her more than ever before.
I cried when I saw her lying on the bed but still smiling. “Life is a box of chocolate. You never know what you’re gonna get.”, said Mama. She looks so happy and optimistic even when she knows she’s going to die. This very optimism once encourages Forrest to forget his disabled leg and be himself, and this "being-himself" leads Forrest to success.
Forrest is speechless in that scene, but his wet eyes speak everything. He's going to lose not only a great mother, but a good friend, the guiding light, whose thoughts and quotes have been his " life handbook". Maybe he's wondering "Mama, what should I say? What should I do?". Without her, Gump would have been nothing. This part reminds me of my Mom and makes me love her more than ever before.
Everybody has at least a friend. So does Forrest. When Forrest joins the army, he meets Bubba, the only person to share him the seat. Bubba is a weird guy with thick lips who talks about shrimp all day (No wonder he makes friend with our weird protagonist). The two men even promised to share the shrimp business. One day, Forrest and Bubba are sent to Vietnam. They were ambushed in a patrol and only Forrest can escape. Finally, Forrest finds Bubba and carries his best friend to the coast. However, Mr.Shrimp is severely injured. He says “I wanna go home” and passes away in Forrest's arm.
I feel like he speaks not only for him but all the young soldiers who wasted their lives in the war. They have dreams and now those dreams are broken. In this case, going home and having a shrimp boat is very plain but impossible. As a Vietnamese, I know how we and Americans love peace and that both side wanted no wars. This scene is the best anti-war scene ever!
I bursted to tears when I saw Bubba’s death and the pain and regret on Forrest’s face. Yes, it's fine if you die because everyone will. But how about the ones who stay after your leaving? They feel painful, miserable, disappointed, empty and so on while you are lying there knowing nothing. This scene is not gooey like Korean dramas or mournful like tragedies. It is just... simple, but so touching and deep.
I feel like he speaks not only for him but all the young soldiers who wasted their lives in the war. They have dreams and now those dreams are broken. In this case, going home and having a shrimp boat is very plain but impossible. As a Vietnamese, I know how we and Americans love peace and that both side wanted no wars. This scene is the best anti-war scene ever!
I bursted to tears when I saw Bubba’s death and the pain and regret on Forrest’s face. Yes, it's fine if you die because everyone will. But how about the ones who stay after your leaving? They feel painful, miserable, disappointed, empty and so on while you are lying there knowing nothing. This scene is not gooey like Korean dramas or mournful like tragedies. It is just... simple, but so touching and deep.
Jenny is Forrest’s first best friend. Thanks to her, Forrest discovers his incredible ability to run. No wonder why Forrest falls in love with Jenny when they grow up. He always protects and supports Jenny. However, she rejects Forrest despite of her gratefulness for what he's done for her. Only when Jenny has any problems does she come back to Forrest. Still, he loves her. They are like Tom and Jerry. Both are good friends, but Tom keeps chasing and Jerry just keep running away. |
When Forrest asks Jenny to marry him and she refuses, he makes this famous quote (one of my favorite ones): “I’m not a smart man. But I know what love is”. This quote is the "crystalline product" of the movie. We know he's not been smart from the beginning and we have seen the incredibles things he has done for the others. But now, Forrest is doing a simple thing for himself: to be with his love. And he proves that we don't need to be a genius to find love. Everyone deserves it.
Even when Jenny becomes his wife, the director doesn’t leave them alone. He lets Jenny die. And Forrest, believing that they are still together, goes to Jenny's gravestone under their tree and talks to her as if she’s alive. “If there’s anything you need, I won’t be far away”. He takes care of their son, who keeps a part of Jenny, with all his heart. We can say that our Big Forrest finally find his happiness, in the Little Forrest.
And I admire this man. Why is his love so strong although his crush keeps running away from him time to time? He is too persistent and loyal, he's an IDEAL MAN! However, I also feel poor for him. In spite of valuable things that he had such as money and fame, Forrest never gives up on Jenny. Is he blind?
Well, I guess the message from their love story is that being a famous millionaire doesn't mean you have enough. We're always hungry of love.
And I admire this man. Why is his love so strong although his crush keeps running away from him time to time? He is too persistent and loyal, he's an IDEAL MAN! However, I also feel poor for him. In spite of valuable things that he had such as money and fame, Forrest never gives up on Jenny. Is he blind?
Well, I guess the message from their love story is that being a famous millionaire doesn't mean you have enough. We're always hungry of love.
Honestly, I’ve watch “Forrest Gump” 4 times and if anyone asks me “Do you want to watch it again?”, I’ll say “Yes”. This is an amiable and deep movie that you can never miss. You'll laugh, then you'll cry, and then you laugh, and cry...