Forrest Gump - Semester 2

Justin Noddle Period 6

Summary: Forest Gump is a 1994 American comedy-drama film based on a novel but directed by Robert Zemeckis. This film is 141 minutes long and is a Paramount Pictures film. This film earned over $677 million worldwide during its theatrical run. In this film Forest Gump sits at a bus stop and tells each person that sits down the story of his life. He enlists in the army and becomes a hero. He is also in love with a girl named Jenny and they end up getting married.

Question #1: How is Zemeckis able to use inanimate objects to symbolize something much more to the film?

There are many objects and the film that mean much more than perceived by the eye. The bench is the film is a place where Forrest can finally sit and relax and tell his tale after it has all happened. Forrest says in the film “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” This is another symbol because the box of chocolates represents life. Forrest’s Brace that “helps” him walk prohibits him from being a normal boy. One day he runs away and the brace breaks off. He is not just free from his brace but he has also broken free from the way he used to be. He is not as ashamed of himself and his life changes drastically form that day on. A gun in this movie symbolizes violence and  death but the army is also the place where he made his friends and became famous.

Question #2: How has the movie been changed from the novel to adapt to a screenplay format?

Both of these stories center around the character Forest Gump. However, the film mainly focuses on the first eleven chapters of the book. Many scenes are added into the movie that do not occur in the book. These are to really show the viewer what is going on through actions when sometimes it is harder to say through words on a page. Forrest’s main personality is also slightly altered for the film. Gump is portrayed as more autistic in the film than the novel. This is done with the purpose for the author to really feel a strong connection and sort of sympathy for the main character. These changes for the movie were successful as reflected in all of the awards it has won. Zemeckis made Gump not care about very much except for Bubba, his mother, and of course Jenny.