Forrest Gump: why is it a fantastic movie

Nowadays filmmakers rely on teen stars, a lot of VFX or sequels to make successful movies, at least in box office. But I think that the reason for a movie to be great is to have a great story. And that’s why I think Forrest Gump is a fantastic movie.

One of the main reasons why I think it’s awesome it’s because it has a simple history. It portraits the life of a “different” man and how he managed to achieve his goals. Who would have thought that Gump would earn the Congress Medal of Honor? We also get to know his love life and the upside downs in his relationship with Jenny, like the times in college when she was with other guys. It helps a lot to the movie the way it’s told: the flashbacks and the “present” time make it dynamic and you never get bored. You can be seeing Forrest sitting on a bench and in a second you are in Vietnam.

The characters in a movie are an essential part of a good story and in Forrest Gump they are not the exception. We meet very different ones and all the paths they follow. Forrest in the army or playing ping-pong, Jenny as a hippie or Lt. Dan in post war. Also we see how they share experiences even though they are very different. Forrest and Bubba were the poles but they built a great friendship. Another thing that is fantastic about the characters is that all of them reach to a catarsis not just Forrest. Jenny quit the sex, drugs and travel world to make a family and Lt. Dan learn how to live outside the army.

Mixing pop-culture events with Forrest Gump life earns thumb up. It makes the audience feel relate with what’s happening in the movie. Many people have a lot of memories about John Lennon and the late 60’s movement. It also gives an opportunity to new generations to know history facts. When Forrest calls to complain about the lights in a building it’s a great reference about Watergate. The uses of very discreet VFX to put Gump in real life footage give the movie a plus. It’s very funny to see him telling to J.F.K that he has to pee.

Forrest Gump has all: a simple story, variety in characters and the link between reality and fantasy and in the end all of that give us a great story and that’s why I think Forrest Gump is a Fantastic movie.