Forrest Gump  阿甘正传

Hero: Tom Hanks

Ever find the grind(something that is hard work, boring, and tiring because it takes a lot of your time and energy) of life getting you down? Is the day-to-day struggle threatening to drag（pull someone against will） you under? If so, there is a movie out there that can replenish（to make something full again） your energy and refresh your outlook. Passionate and magical, Forrest Gump is a tonic（something making you feel good） for the weary（very tired） of spirit. For those who feel that being set adrift（feeling alone and that your life has no clear purpose） in a season of action movies is like wandering into a desert, the oasis（a place in a desert where there is water and plants and trees grow） lies ahead.

Back when Tom Hanks' movie career was relatively new, the actor made a film called Big, which told the story of a young boy forced to grow up fast as a result of an ill-advised wish made at a carnival（a lively festival）. In some ways, Forrest Gump represents a return to the themes of that earlier movie. In this case, the main character remains a child in heart and spirit, even as his body grows to maturity（full growth or completed development）. Hanks is called upon yet again to play the innocent.

Forrest Gump, named after a civil war hero, grows up in Greenbow, Alabama, where his mother runs a boarding house. Although Forrest is a little "slow" (his IQ is 75, 5 below the state's definition of "normal"), his mental impairment（the fact that a part of your body is unable to do something fully） doesn't seem to bother him, his mother, or his best (and only) friend, Jenny Curran (played as an adult by Robin Wright). In fact, the naivete（not having much experience of how complicated life is, so that you trust people too much and believe that good things will always happen） that comes through a limited understanding of the world around him gives Forrest a uniquely positive perspective of life.

During the next thirty years, Forrest becomes a star football player, a war hero, a successful businessman, and something of a pop icon. Through it all, however, there is one defining element in his life: his love for Jenny. She is never far from his thoughts, no matter what he's doing or where he is.

A trio of assets lift Forrest Gump above the average "lifestory" drama: its optimism, freshness, and emotional honesty. Though the movie does not seek to reduce every member of the audience to tears, it has moments whose power comes from their simplicity. Equally as important is laughter, and Forrest Gump has moments of humor strewn（scatter） throughout（around）.

During the 60s and 70s, no topic more inflamed the turbulent（Violently disturbed or agitated） national consciousness than that of Vietnam and those who were sent overseas to fight. Forrest, as might be expected, has a singular viewpoint on his time spent there: "We took long walks and were always looking for this guy named Charlie." In this observation can be found the essence（substance） of the title character's nature.

Forrest Gump has several messages, some of which are less obvious than others. The most frequently recurring（happen again） theme is an admonition（a warning about someone's behavior） not to give up on life. Why surrender（give up） when you don't know what lies ahead? By contrasting Forrest's life with the lives of those around him, and by showing how the passage of time brings solace(comfort) to even the most embittered(angry and unhappy about things that have happened to you in the past

) hearts, the movie underlines this point.

Ultimately(finally), however, any gripes about Forrest Gump are minor. This is a marvelous motion picture -- a mint julep on a hot summer's afternoon.

Recommendation:  We all encountered kinds of suffering and unhappiness as long as we live in this complicated world. Are you tired? Are you depressed? Don’t surrender, give a chance to Forrest Gump. Let it be your life guide. Life’s hard. Move on!