I have always been a Tom Hanks fan since the movie Big which came out in the 1980's. I am 51 years young and this movie I can relate to in many ways first-hand.
When the movie first came out (1994), Ellen (my Wife) and myself saw the movie with my brother Kevin and Ginnie (Kevin's wife at the time). I think we saw Forrest Gump at a movie theater in Clifton, New Jersey. Clifton is the city that I grew up in. Even though she is now a supporter of the Republican Party, I remember Ginnie liking the movie just as much as I liked it.
The movie is a great history lesson for the time period from the late 1940's to the early 1980's. If you know what historical events the movie is referring to in each scene (as I do), then you could probably easily get an A+ in a History class about that time period. It is funny for me to call it History since I would refer to it as Current History. However, I assume that Current History would be about national and world-wide events in the last 10 years.
I will not bore you with a history lesson in this monologue. Needless to say, the movie is hilarious but it also tackles the stupidity of racism, dealing with having to fight in a war, losing a good friend when fighting a war, the stupidity of bullying, the stupidity of discrimination against people with disabilities, the stupidity of drug addiction, how to be a great parent, how to be a great friend, how to be a great lover, and how a person who acquires a disability deals with it through his life (Forrest's commanding officer)........It also tells you all the different ways how to make shrimp. My apologies to anyone who is a Vegetarian like myself… Well, at least most of the time I am a Vegetarian.
The movie also shows the natural beauty of the United States of America from sea to shining sea. Someday, it would be very cool to walk across one state. I doubt that I could walk across the entire United States. I definitely cannot jog or run anymore.
Yes, it is a corny movie but.......it is a brilliant movie and it should be shown in every single history and social studies class around the world. It should also be shown in every single college and university throughout the world. Lastly, it should be part of any new worker orientation for any job in the world.
The best phrase from the movie is the most well-known phrase from the movie: "Stupid is as Stupid does."
Cheers for now!
PS: Sally Field was brilliant as Forrest's Mom. I have always been a Sally Field fan since "The Flying Nun" (see Wikipedia for the rest of the story). Robin Wright was brilliant as Forrest's Friend/Girlfriend/Wife.
Post by Jerry Boyle
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