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I always thought it was a stupid movie from when I first saw it in the theater. Stupid and incredibly maudlin. I have no idea why it was so beloved and the Oscars, aside from the technical ones, baffled me.
I mean Tom Hanks is a good actor, but at best you can say he played a ludicrous character in a ludicrous movie as best he could. I wouldn't give him an Emmy for Bosom Buddies either.
Also, my wife read the book and apparently it, and Forrest, are very different. She said Forrest is kind of an asshole in the book.
The book is incredible and I heartily recommend everyone read it just for how batshit insane it is. Here's a taste:
Book Spoilers
In the book, the speech during the March on Washington doesn't happen. Instead, Forrest joins the march and is egged into throwing his Medal of Honor away in protest. It hits a senator and he's arrested. He is offered a deal to join NASA to avoid jail time. He is sent into space with a monkey and female astronaut. The monkey pees on the controls and they land in the rainforest. They're captured by natives. When rescue comes the woman decides to stay, and it's implied it's because she's screwing the natives.
He has a stint as a Professional Wrestler and The Creature from Black Lagoon.
Also, Bubba doesn't die.
It's total insanity. Full of blue humor and raunchy sex. Is it good? Not particularly. Is it interesting? Absolutely.
Again, strongly recommend everyone read it. It truly is a trip.
Are you for real? Sounds like an acid trip
I'm super for real, and now that you mention it, wouldn't be surprised if I found out the book was written while on drugs.
That is just insane. Now I want to read it
Wow. She didn't tell me any of that.
I think nostalgia carried the movie.
I watched the movie for the first time in my life last year on a plane. I actually loved it. A bit too long but otherwise good. Just different preferences I guess.
Nostalgia for what?
shrimp and aids
The best country songs are the nostalgic ones about shrimping and aids.
A fellow Ween fan! 🥂
Lmao my guy
Also this whole thread
If one were alive during the things that Forrest Gump experiences during the movie. Then seeing those things in a movie with Tom Hanks could cause feelings of nostalgia.
Forrest Gump is for Boomers what Ready Player One was for Gen X. And I'm sure they'll be something for Millennials soon. Just Nostalgia for the sake of Nostalgia barely laced together with a plot.
I guess it just means I'm not a big nostalgia for nostalgia's sake guy because I'm Gen X and I didn't like Ready Player One either. The book was marginal and the movie was awful. I'm not sure why I even watched the movie after reading the book. I guess mostly because of The Shining part, which, meh.
Oh yeah, I forgot they did the Shining in the movie, because In the book it was WarGames, which fit better thematically.
losing your legs or your best friend in nam
Framing all the terrible events of a boomer's life in a sweet way. Yeah, I can see it.
The real story was showing that part of American history: the culture, events, people, etc. Forrest and Jenny were just plot devices to tie it all together.