I first saw this movie more than 13 years ago. I enjoyed it a lot even at that time. Then I saw it again on Canadian TV 3 months ago.
Then I realized I had failed the first time around (maybe I was too dumb, immature, distracted or whatever then) to fully appreciate what our lovable simpleton-savant of a protagonist was telling us as he walked us through the milestones of America's soul in the 70s.
Maybe I was more ready for Forrest Gump this time around, partly because of what I was going through over the past 6 months. Yet, I also realize the message I got from this movie may not necessarily be the very one you'll hear when you watch it for yourself.
How does this movie, set in the context of US's Vietnam-era upheaval and viewed through Forrest's folksy eyes, possibly have to say to us Asians living in a culture and era that's poles away from all that?
Lots, if we care to strip away the external and instead watch for its underlying themes. But as I said earlier, the message you 'hear' will really depend on what's going on inside yourselves too. So, to cut a potentially long movie review short, just go see this movie for yourselves... again, if you must.
Just a few clues though: watch out for stuff on Destiny, Being Yourself, Being Childlike (NOT childish!), Providence and Hope.
I read the novel years ago and watched the movie later. " My mama always tell me life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you are going to get .... highly recommended.
