Analysis: Forrest Gump - Movie Review Example

?Movie Analysis: Forrest Gump (1994) QUESTIONS TO ANSWER FOR FILM REPORTS What is the film about and does it have a theme? If so, where do we first sense that theme developing? What methods are employed to emphasize this theme? The movie Forrest Gump (1994) is about Forrest Gump’s journey towards discovering his own destiny. Along the way, he meets few people that will help him and inspire him to continue his journey. He is considered as a person with an intelligence quotient that is below average; however, in the course of the movie, he survives many obstacles and challenges. As the movie progresses, he encounters different people who will aid in uncovering the core theme of the movie that running is an act of courage and strength. The movie explains that the act of running away from something or someone cannot be totally attributed to cowardice. Often times, running, as depicted in the film, is a person’s ability to move towards the future and to his or her dreams and destiny. The theme was first seen when forest, with braces on his legs, was able to run away from the bullies. The theme was emphasized with the help of Gump’s leg braces that broke apart as he ran fast away from the bullies. 2) What were the choices made by the main characters and what were the consequences of those choices? Forrest Gump’s choice to sit beside Jenny on the first day of school is considered as the start of the whole story. After which, when Gump listened to Jenny when she told him to run away from the bullies was the first decision Gump made that allowed the core theme of the story to unfold. Also, the time Gump befriended and believed on Jenny became his soul aspiration to learn his destiny. As Gump decided to go to the war in Vietnam, he also made a decision to save his fellow soldiers. This decision brought him to fame, but Lieutenant Dan hated him for saving his life. As the story unfolds, Gump and Lieutenant Dan became good friends and successfully established their shrimp business. Meanwhile, Jenny slowly ruined her life as she started to get on drugs and dated different men. Nonetheless, she decided to go home to Gump, and this had brought joy to Gump. However, Jenny left him again, which caused Gump to run across the country for three years. When Jenny heard of him, she decided to write him a letter, and the two got back together and married, along with their son Gump. 3) What three or four sequences are most important in the film? Why? The first important scene in the movie was when Forrest Gump sat beside Jenny on the school bus on their first day to school. This scene is the outset of the story of the life of Gump. It is also considered as an important event because, after this event, Jenny will play the most important inspiration to the life of Forrest Gump. The second vital scene was when Gump decides to join the war in Vietnam where he becomes friends with Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue from whom he learns the shrimping business. This was also the time when he meets Lieutenant Dan and become business partners, and also whom he considers as his best friend. The third essential scene in the movie is the time Jenny comes home to Gump, and this will be the time when Jenny becomes impregnated by Gump, but she leaves him. Lastly, the most crucial part of the movie was when Jenny acknowledges that Gump is the father of his son and the two of them got married. 4) Did the ?lm surprise you with anything unusual in its story, style, technique, or implications? The thing that struck me the most was the tolerance of Forrest Gump in waiting for Jenny to come home to him. He never looked at or wanted any other woman aside from Jenny, which is very much unusual in a typical movie. Also, the manner the story unfolds which is presented in a first person was a unique style and added more drama to the movie. It allows the movie to be more dramatic and realistic as Gump tells his story to other people while waiting for the bus. Also, along the narration of Gump, it is inevitable to acknowledge the presence of many prominent people incorporated in the story. It does not only flash back to the life of Gump, but it also provides hints of the lives of Elvis Presley, John Lennon, President John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. Also, the slow progress and surfacing of the characters is commendable; the slow process did not give a dull moment in the movie. Though the transition in the story was done through narration, it did not give a dull moment as the movie went to progress. 5) Were any particular ?lm techniques used in key scenes? How did the film techniques and music enhance the setting and themes of the ?lm? Provide speci?c details and explanations. One of the film techniques used in the movie was when Lieutenant Dan’s legs were amputated. It employed three techniques. The first is digitally removing the legs of the actor and allowing him to wear blue socks. Mirrors were arranged in every angle of the scene, and holes were made in the different scenes (Ebert 102). Digital effects were also added when Gump was placed interacting with the dead famous musicians and presidents. He was digitally added in documentaries that were taped in the past, and this connection between reality and the film was significantly maneuvered by the director (Kindem & Musburger 246). Furthermore, a flashback was employed in the film in order to create a more dramatic manner of storytelling which literally brought out the story and its beauty. 6) Who directed the film? Does the director have a particularly distinct style? Would you recognize his work in other ?lms? What does the director's style reveal about him? Robert Zemeckis, the director of Forrest Gump, was born in 1952 and studied at the University Of Southern California School Of Cinema. In the course of his career as a director, he had always been a fan of animation and special effects. His first film, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, was also a combination of real actors and animation. This is his staple in directing; he always incorporated animation and visual effects in his movie and make look realistically put together. He was considered as one of the best technical directors. Many may consider his films as more on the technical side, but when Forrest Gump came out, the phase for Zemeckis had changed. His incorporation of special effects in the movie was noticeable and at the same time commendable. He uses his technical skills in order to unveil the drama of the movie, which showcases his ability to see the goodness of other people. Works Cited Ebert, Roger. Question for the Movie Answer Man. Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 1997. Print. Kindem, Gorham, & Robert B. Musburger. Introduction to Media Production: The Path to Digital Media Production. Oxford, UK: Linacre House, 2005. Print. Forrest Gump. Dir. Robert Zemeckis. Perf. Tom Hanks, Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field. Paramount Pictures. 1994. Film. Read More