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PART A: Movie express: Forrest Gump
Ever find the grind of life getting you down? Is the day-to-day struggle threatening to drag you under? If so, there is a movie out there that can replenish your energy and refresh your outlook. Passionate and magical, Forrest Gump is a tonic for the weary of spirit. For those who feel that being set adrift in a season of action movies is like wandering into a desert, the oasis lies ahead.
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 mental impairment doesn't seem to bother him, his mother, or his best (and only) friend, Jenny Curran. In fact, the naiveté 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 "life story" 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 throughout.
During the 60s and 70s, no topic more inflamed the turbulent 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 of the title character's nature.
Forrest Gump has several messages, some of which are less obvious than others. The most frequently recurring theme is an admonition not to give up on life. Why surrender 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 to even the most embittered hearts, the movie underlines this point.
Ultimately, however, any gripes about Forrest Gump are minor. This is a marvelous motion picture -- a mint julep on a hot summer's afternoon.
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.
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