Insightful messages from Forrest Gump...

I never really saw Forrest Gump as being about Forrest and how being simple could be better than being smart. Go figure. I always saw it as a movie about an era, a testimony to the times that Forrest lived through. But now I see what you mean by what Forrest represents.

Now that I think about it, I also always saw a lot of hope in the movie. It's a testiment to overcoming bad things in life. Forrest never let the bad weigh him down, ever, and he inspired Jenny and Lt. Dan to overcome their setbacks as well. Because seeing "crippled" and "abused" as reasons to give up on life never even remotely crossed Forrest's mind. Why would it? Look at what he overcame and did. He never gave up, probably because he didn't care about looking silly or stupid or whatever, like so many of us do. You want to go shrimping? Go shrimping.

Maybe I should make that my motto for a while.

You want to go shrimping? Go Shrimping.

Hi travelingtheworld,

I have seen Forrest Gump a few times now and each time I see it it gives me a different message every time different feelings. I think its just how it gets you in that moment what kind of mood you are in.
A few people I knew at School had this problem something similar as Polio was striking a lot then and kids can be very cruel. I knew one girl who had to wear those Calipers all her life plus her Father ill treated her at home too.
It´s a very emotional film and really well done and one of my favourites too. Who would´nt like to have had a Mom like Forrest had? Just because he had a disability in his legs but not so in intelligence. I knew someone who was badly injured in an accident and he talks like that too but he is also very clever it´s that he suffered head injuries through no fault of his own.
But people in this country can be very cruel also.
In all I loved all their performances I see something new in this Film every time maybe its because I only get to see it every twelve months or so and that way it seems changed somehow.

I once had to watch forest gump for a history class in highschool. We had to write a whole report on the movie for class. Needless to say, we all really liked this assignment! I haven't seen this movie in years though, so I can't think of any specific examples, though. It is a great movie to sum up the sixties, seventies and eighties, though. Especially if you are looking for a laugh!

travelingtheworld,

Like you I too have many perceptions gathered from this thought provoking movie. However, on the harsh aspect of this materialistic society, I cannot help but add a few of my observations.

I feel that the character Forrest Gump, is indeed lucky to have friends who were moved by his simplicity and sincerity. Yet, throughout the show, we are reminded of the world's perception of simplicity and sincerity - Stupidity. I just could not help but pause for a moment to really look further into the movie and ask just how many people in this lifetime of ours will be able to be like the characters portrayed - Jenny, Lt. Dan, or even like those who sit by the bench with Forrest to listen to the accounts of his life? Do you think our society today will still be moved and evolve from our true simplicity and sincerity? What if Jenny and Lt. Dan had become exploitative? Wouldn't Forrest Gump be getting himself into a world of trouble?

Forrest Gump fortunately did move the people around him and they evolve to become good. Yet, in real life do we really think that the world is so simple and plain? I don't know about you, but I have seen characters like Forrest taking a load real beatings. Lady luck and timing was really working for Forrest but in real life how lucky can one really get?

Have a nice weekend.

I had to watch Forest Gump for a psychology class I took at national college. It was very interesting to look at it in a different way. we had to answer questions and had to really look at forest gump and see behind the man in the movie. We questoning whether or not he was smart. There was several different kind of intellects and there were some saying that forrest was smart because he was always asking questions. Who, what, when, where, and why. It was just very interesting to see it.

A simpleton. That's the first thing that comes to mind. He comes across as a dense person-a slow learner. He is out of step with reality but he is the embodiment of pure goodness of a person unpolluted by society's false values. Forrest fails to find love,bought Apple shares that ballooned in value and met the top people in government and society. I feel he is a sad person and only his mother could understand him.........

It's an awesome movie which although focuses on life of one guy it indirectly show all the events that ve taken place in the 60s in America like racism, Vietnam war, etc. Plus the storyline is very good, very touchy, and not to forget brilliant performance by Tom Hanks brought the best out in the movie

Hi. I had the same insights to when watching the film. It was about a specific person but it had a universal voice to it, making you look life at a deeper perspective. this is one reason why forrest gump is one of my favorite films of all time.

I just love watching Forrest Gump, it really has a lot of message. I've always believe that whatever disabilty we have in life be it physcial, intellectual or whatever it is can always be turn into something great if we just show a positive mindset all the time and have a faith in ourselves. That's what Forrest is teaching us all, that despite his intellectual ability he proved to us all that there's no limit to what we can achieve as long we continue to have faith in ourselves and always have a positive attitide all the time even in the face of an unfavorable situation. It doesn't really matter what people has to say because at the end of the day we are the only one's who are accountable to whatever happens to us. So why not make the most out of what we have and make ourselves great in the process.

In my mind,Forrest Gump is not just a simple movie,it's a history,a history of US,even the modern times of the world,it show us so many aspect of our daily life during the old days,we can learn so many good things from that,thank Forrest,it's the best western movie i have ever seen.