What is the point of Forrest Gump?

[Anonymous]

It was an excuse to take a romp through post-WWII American culture (Elvis, civil rights movement, Vietnam), and the point of the character Jenny was to show a glimpse of counter culture (anti-war protests, drugs, etc).

[Anonymous]

That one fairly ordinary person can impact many events & people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t it obvious? Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. There are so many themes. Look at how many lives Forrest impacted just by being himself.

This.

Plus: roll with the punches.

Forrest rolls with the punches. He doesn’t wallow in self-pity or depression. He doesn’t limit himself based on the expectations of others. He doesn’t let others define him. He rolls with it and carries on.

Jenny tries to run from her past. She tries to self-medicate with sex, drugs, and alcohol. And that doesn’t end well. Forrest doesn’t run from the cards he was dealt; he plays them. And his “small” life actually turns out to be the better one.

The movie is about love—including self-love. He teaches both Jenny and Captain Dan how to accept themselves and love themselves.

[Anonymous]

The point, for me, is that it was so long that it made a good excuse to break curfew many times when I was a teenager.
Me: “We’re going to see Forrest Gump at 9:30.”
My mom: “Again?!”

There’s really no other point. It’s a terrible movie.

[Anonymous]

There are three characters: one who had a shi#y childhood and is scarred for life, one who had shi# handed to him, had a breakdown, and recovered, and one who was clueless through life and fell into fortune. Not sure what the message was, but it was entertaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry. Be happy.

And fall a$$ backwards into vats of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point of Forrest Gump was to inexplicably prevent The Shawshank Redemption from winning any Oscars.

Amen. I love Tom Hanks and I love Forrest Gump. But I cannot possibly fathom how so much of the academy truly thought that Forrest Gump was even in the same class of movie as Shawshank let alone worthy of an Oscar.

Disagree. Pulp Fiction was the best picture that year. It was so innovative.

I like Shawshank, but in the end it’s just another “inspiring” film.

All three of those movies were the same year? It makes me want to cry thinking about a bad movies are now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t it obvious? Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. There are so many themes. Look at how many lives Forrest impacted just by being himself.

This.

Plus: roll with the punches.

Forrest rolls with the punches. He doesn’t wallow in self-pity or depression. He doesn’t limit himself based on the expectations of others. He doesn’t let others define him. He rolls with it and carries on.

Jenny tries to run from her past. She tries to self-medicate with sex, drugs, and alcohol. And that doesn’t end well. Forrest doesn’t run from the cards he was dealt; he plays them. And his “small” life actually turns out to be the better one.

The movie is about love—including self-love. He teaches both Jenny and Captain Dan how to accept themselves and love themselves.

This!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are three characters: one who had a shi#y childhood and is scarred for life, one who had shi# handed to him, had a breakdown, and recovered, and one who was clueless through life and fell into fortune. Not sure what the message was, but it was entertaining.

That’s a very cynical take—especially RE: Forrest.

He wasn’t clueless.

He was loyal and kind. His fierce loyalty and kindness yielded great things.

^^^^^
That’s the point, people.

How old are you people, and do you think you are more cynical than positive?

[Anonymous]

I loved this movie!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That one fairly ordinary person can impact many events & people.

I think it is this plus his unwaivering kindness/goodness and how far common sense gets you.

Remember at boot camp when the drill sergeant asks him why he's there or what he's supposed to do or something. And he responds, whatever you tell me to do drill sergeant. And the drill sergeant says it's the best answer he ever heard and Forest must be a goddamn genius? And he was so good at putting the weapon together, because he could listen to instructions and do exactly what he was told. I think in life we don't talk enough about how whining is not the answer. He was the supposedly stupid person, who was able to focus and show respect and never worried about his own ego.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point of Forrest Gump was to inexplicably prevent The Shawshank Redemption from winning any Oscars.

Amen. I love Tom Hanks and I love Forrest Gump. But I cannot possibly fathom how so much of the academy truly thought that Forrest Gump was even in the same class of movie as Shawshank let alone worthy of an Oscar.

Forrest Gump, even with his disability, succeeded in life, a feel good movie.

Shawshank, while it was a happy ending, it dealt with the realities of prison. Not as feel good as Forrest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point of Forrest Gump was to inexplicably prevent The Shawshank Redemption from winning any Oscars.

Amen. I love Tom Hanks and I love Forrest Gump. But I cannot possibly fathom how so much of the academy truly thought that Forrest Gump was even in the same class of movie as Shawshank let alone worthy of an Oscar.

Disagree. Pulp Fiction was the best picture that year. It was so innovative.

I like Shawshank, but in the end it’s just another “inspiring” film.

All three of those movies were the same year? It makes me want to cry thinking about a bad movies are now.

Yes! Not to mention Quiz Show, Legends of the Fall, Ed Wood, Speed, The Lion King, Eat Drink Man Woman, and Hoop Dreams!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point of Forrest Gump was to inexplicably prevent The Shawshank Redemption from winning any Oscars.

Amen. I love Tom Hanks and I love Forrest Gump. But I cannot possibly fathom how so much of the academy truly thought that Forrest Gump was even in the same class of movie as Shawshank let alone worthy of an Oscar.

Disagree. Pulp Fiction was the best picture that year. It was so innovative.

I like Shawshank, but in the end it’s just another “inspiring” film.

All three of those movies were the same year? It makes me want to cry thinking about a bad movies are now.

Yes! Not to mention Quiz Show, Legends of the Fall, Ed Wood, Speed, The Lion King, Eat Drink Man Woman, and Hoop Dreams!

Legends of the Fall was a terrible movie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point of Forrest Gump was to inexplicably prevent The Shawshank Redemption from winning any Oscars.

Amen. I love Tom Hanks and I love Forrest Gump. But I cannot possibly fathom how so much of the academy truly thought that Forrest Gump was even in the same class of movie as Shawshank let alone worthy of an Oscar.

Disagree. Pulp Fiction was the best picture that year. It was so innovative.

I like Shawshank, but in the end it’s just another “inspiring” film.

All three of those movies were the same year? It makes me want to cry thinking about a bad movies are now.

Yes! Not to mention Quiz Show, Legends of the Fall, Ed Wood, Speed, The Lion King, Eat Drink Man Woman, and Hoop Dreams!

Damn. That was a great era for movies!