According to Tom Hanks he said, "Sometimes when people go to Vietnam, they go home to their mommas without any legs. Sometimes they don't go home at all. That's a bad thing. That's all I have to say about that."
It is bad and a sad thing that life of aware beings, and with so much potential to keep evolving WILLINGLY are their own force of elimination. Its stupid, thats the stupidity in humanity, GODLIKE potential yet using it as a rug for rotting old memories, sitting in a wet dark corner. HEAVEN ON EARTH, and we keep crying for our own ignorance. Not able to see and be grateful for it. ( Heaven on earth ) A WAR IN A JUNGLE 🐲🐊🐮🦕🐷🐗🐮🦓🐊🐈🐈⬛🐃🕊️🐥🦜🦦🦜🐋🐠🦑🦀🐡🕊️🐚🐜🐚🐙🦞🦪🪱🦂🐜🐚🕸️🍇🍓🍠🥕🍇🍉🍍🍒🍑🍓🍐🍈🍐🍐🫐🥥 makes no sense WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT. And who let "them" accomplish it. Shame
@@Gaia369 we tried stop what is now still an issue vietnam still arests people over freedom of speech their one the least free countries in the world because north vietnam won, its a tyranical country that banned any form of freedom of speech has no free elections no acountability they hravily restrict freedom of assembly and more acording to freedom house a civil rights organisation they rank them 20/100 on freedom
This movie is an excellent portrayal at how trauma can mentally affect someone for life. Jenny’s story is the story of so many people who were abused as children. I appreciate that this movie didn’t shy away from that
Agreed. And it's sadly very telling how many people hate on her and make her trauma all about Forrest, rather than her. Many real life versions of Jenny get nothing but hate as well.
It really was. I lived my life like her and had that same "running away" behavior until I was 33 or so. I couldn't explain it to people, so definitely couldn't understand it myself. I was never trying to hurt anyone... I was running so I wouldn't get hurt. If that makes sense. Abuse fvks you up.
That's all fine and well...but she only likes Forrest when she knows she has AIDS, knows he is a shrimp millionaire, war hero, Olympic champion..."I ignored you all your life, but now that I will be dead in 3 months, here's a kid that I kept secret from you for 5 years." Jenny is trash
@@whitenoisereacts I mean yeah their all caps was a bit much but I agree with them? You see one person saying an abuse survivor character is trash and another saying 'that's really shitty and harmful mindset' and you say they're both the same? maybe it's just because I am a survivor too but I've had people call me selfish and other such things and jenny's story rings very real to many of us, and just because the character is fake doesn't make the words or sentiment aimed at her fake either. very real people look at her and see trash, the same way they would look at a real victim and see trash. these views are real and have real effects. not sure why you guys decided to weigh in on these comments in particular but I have to be honest and say it leaves a bit of a bad taste. Of course I don't really expect you to understand what I'm trying to convey or even read this, so I guess peace out?
It's hard for some people to understand Jenny... she was abused by her father, never saw worth in herself, chose abusive partners, hated herself, tried to hide her pain with drugs, running, self destruction, never allowing herself to be truly appreciated or loved by anyone, especially Forrest who she thought was too pure and too good for her. She didn't mean to hurt Forrest, she literally couldn't accept his love. I feel sympathy for her, not contempt.
J H I feel the same way. I honestly don't know why more people can't be more understanding towards Jenny. They should know that if you've been sexually abused that that does so much damage!
Yeah, due to the abuse she suffered from childhood Jenny only pursued abusive relationships and felt Forrest was too good for her. So her solution to everything was the exact same thing she always told Forrest to do: run from problems. Except for her, it meant something much more complex that was in detriment to her life and relationships. For Forrest it just meant that he had to run from physical danger or run for fun to clear his head.
Also when you look for a partner, you want someone that can connect with you and understand you. The fact that he wasn't able to comprehend her trauma pull them apart. Furthermore he's very child-like in many aspects, she probably felt like she was abusing him and therefore coming back to her self hate, so they couldn't become a couple even if they loved each other.
You guys are among the few people who actually got Jenny, She was so damaged she was The one who didn't know what love was, she believed that she wasn't good enough for him,she really didn't know what love was until she had something to love People are always saying why didn't she tell him about his son, people forget that Forrest was away running for those year's,he wasn't in one place and it wasn't until he came home and got her letter Great reaction
I think most guys don’t evaluate behavior based on emotional damage. For one, when guys do cruel things no one ever says - he might have had emotional scars as a child. He’s just viewed as a bad guy.
She wrote him that letter when she saw him on tv, which was probably a year into his run. When he told her he got her letter she said I wondered about that. I guess she thought he got it years ago and didn’t come to see her.
Fun fact: Accent of grown-up Forrest is a real accent of a kid actor. He was from deep Mississippi. Director wanted that kid will lose his accent but Tom Hanks convinced the director that his accent is perfect and he will learn his accent.
Yeah alittle unclear. You wrote "is a real accent of a kid actor" that makes it seem like its a random kid actor somewhere in the world, if you had wrote "it was the real accent of the kid that played young forrest in the movie"
You nailed it. Jenny didn’t think she was good enough for Forrest and she was “damaged goods”. She admired Forrest’s purity and goodness. She of course always loved him though. Her character is tragic and sad. 😞
The biggest battles one will ever face is with themselves. Ex:Jenny and Lt. Dan. Forrest was protected from those internal battles. His "disability" protected him from himself. He did what he was told and did it to the best of his ability.
I would like to say that in real life it doesn’t generally work that way, my little sister has a loooot of trauma and it’s not gone because she’s disabled
@@art2736 she's mentally disabled like a 4 year old. I just don't like using mentally disabled. But yes I probably should have here for claritys sake. It's just..not nice...not treated right..and in my head I want to give it and others to give it the same respect as other disabilities, so I just say disabled, because that's all she is. A 21 year old that loves trains and helicopters and singing and loose change and is disabled. It deserves the same treatment as physical and visible disabilities. (Which isn't even that great to begin with). And I've got disabilities, and they are mental but very different from my sisters but still deserving of respect, like PTSD and ARFID and ASD and GAD. Sorry. Goodness me. In any case, that's why I do that. And even for my own self. Because sometimes I think I'm weak or faking or a jerk or stupid or lesser or weird or not good enough, because that's the way things are viewed around mental disabilities, but when I say just disabilities im able to give myself more room to breathe. Because yeah. Sorry..
26:54 Lt. Dan: "If you're ever a shrimp boat captain, that's the day I'm an astronaut." And he was, in Apollo 13 😀 With Tom Hanks. And they both were also in The Green Mile.
@@Keyboardje Dan said: "The day that you are a shrimp boat captain, I will come and be your first mate. If you're ever a shrimp boat captain, that's the day I'm an astronaut."
The phrase that always sticks with you in this movie is "Run Forest!". It's so impactful that Jenny taught him that. Because running here basically means running away - what she does throughout the whole movie - whereas Forest frees himself through running.
I don't think I've ever watched this movie without it making me cry. I dunno if it's the messages in the story, Tom Hank's performance, or just everything together, but it just connects with me. So glad to see you guys watch it.
One thing I don't think people acknowledge enough about Jenny- outside of the abuse she faced as a child and how that affected her for life- is that she must have felt incredible guilt and conflict knowing Forrest was incredibly childlike and intellectually slow. Is he even able to give "consent"? Can she accept love and a relationship from a child-like adult without feeling that she's abusing him, the way her father did to her when she was a child?
Forrest Gump is so good that it's honestly hard to believe that a group of actors, directors, and producers crafted it and put it together. It's so well-known and well-loved that it just feels like something that dropped out of the sky, something that grew out of the American landscape completely organically.
You guys are my favorite reaction channel. Forrest Gump is that movie which gives me hope and happiness. I have seen many heated debates where people are hating on Jenny, but she had a terrible childhood and troubled life which she never recovered from.She always thought Forrest was too good for her and she was damaged goods. Jenny did love Forrest. Lt. Dan and Bubba are iconic characters.
The Lt. Dan Band was created by Gary Sinise after this movie. Since then he has done nothing but raise awareness for Veterans. This movie changed his life, and countless others.
Yup! I remember seeing him in a lot of commercials and charities for veterans. If I'm not mistaken they also gave him the honorary title of Lieutenant.
I love how Forest treated Lt. Dan. To so many People Dan became a cripple, a good for nothing nobody. But to Forest, he is just Lt. Dan and Will always be Lt. Dan 😂❤️
I'm so glad you guys eventually caught on to the fact that Jenny wasn't this evil person and didn't just hate on her like I see a lot of reactors do. many people seem to forget that she was abused as a child and although she totally had free will to make some of the choices she made as an adult, mental health and therapy were not really a thing back then so she basically had no real outlet for her trauma. Jenny didn't know how to love properly because the one adult who was supposed to show her what love is violated her trust and ruined it for her from an early age. so when she tells Forrest that he doesn't know what love is, she is projecting. *she* doesn't know what love is. how could she? notice how throughout the movie, she gravitates toward all the men who are the worst for her, rather than Forrest who treats her so well. she thinks she deserves to be treated like garbage because to her, that is love. she doesn't think she deserves to be treated with respect and thinks Forrest is too good for her, which is why she tells him that he doesn't want to marry her. anyway, I loved your reaction! you guys always have such insightful commentary. and btw, fun fact: the feather was cgi until it touched Tom Hanks' shoe and then it was merged with the real feather. cool, huh?
Don't worry, most people don't like Jenny on the first watch. Totally understandable. One thing to note though, we don't get to see them together through most of their public school days and it's clear Jenny stuck by his side throughout that time. And was his only friend. And was probably the only reason he survived school.
She also sexually assaulted him and infected him and their child with AIDS, yes Jenny was a victim, but she then chose to victimize others as well, I don’t have much sympathy for her.
@@MrWillsonx yes she did, Zemekis just wasn’t allowed to put the words “AIDS” in his movie, so he just had her describe it as (an unknown virus that was killing her)
@@MrWillsonx the movie is so different from the books (Forest is an out right mean spirited bastard in them) that it’s pointless to even mention them, she may have had hepatitis in the books, but in the movie she died of AIDS
imagine being a teenage girl from the south named jenny when this movie came out 😒 nothing but calls of “jenn-aayyy” everywhere i went for years on end.
The movie shows us that our lives are like a feather floating in the wind, and wherever we end up, that is our destiny. You can make whatever choices you want to control it, but your destiny is undetermined. As much as you can try to control it, there are things outside of your control that play a factor in it. Like for example, Lt. Dan really believed he was destined to die in Vietnam and tried all he could but Forrest ended up changing that. "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get".
I went to Bubba Gump restaurant in Texas. They have the STUPID QUOTE on a t-shirt. I have it! My favorite shirt. And the actress who plays Jenny is the same who played the Queen from Wonder Woman. And the actor who plays Lt Dan is a supporter of military soldiers,created charities, foundations, etc. He's known so much that the either military or the soldiers had gave an honorary title of Lt. Pretty cool of the guy.
If you watch this again in 10 years, it will feel deeper. 20 years, even deeper. I've found that as I've gotten older, this film becomes more and more heartbreaking.
Hey wrorchestra1, I have had a very similar experience as you with this movie! Tom Hanks is absolutely brilliant! Forrest Gump had SUCH a pure heart, and he showed the upmost loyalty to those closest to him. I think that is something we can all admire and try to apply in our own lives. Overall, I just find this movie to be very inspirational, and I quote it all the time too! Also, my brother has Autism, which helps me connect with this movie even more (I know Forrest did not have Autism, but him and my brother can relate a bit in that they are both disabled). I actually posted a video on my channel back in February that is almost like a tribute video to Forrest Gump (though I called it a Mashup). You see, there's a band named Family Of The Year, and they used their hit song "Hero" for Richard Linklater's 2014 movie called Boyhood. For my video, I used "Hero" as background music while showing various scenes from Forrest Gump. Aside from matching song lyrics with movie scenes, my intention with the video was to try and create something unique. If you have a few minutes sometime and are interested, here is a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/Or-sIiNANYg/w-d-xo.html If you don't check it out, no worries at all! I won't be offended! But thank you so much in advance if you do see it! Have a great day, and stay safe!
Director Robert Zemeckis has stated publicly and definitively FORREST GUMP is about grieving. When I first heard him say that I disagreed but over time I have come to agree with him.
Jenny was a tragic character really, I mean she was sexually abused by her dad and then she went looking for love in all the wrong places never saw her true worth. Tried numbing your pain by drugs, and that didn't make her any happier. It sucks that it's not until around the end of her life that she finally was able to accept Forest's love.
You should watch “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” It stars Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio and they did a phenomenal job and the story and acting is so good!
Cool fact about Elvis is that he’s actually voiced by Kurt Russell in the Hound Dog scene which marks the second time he has played the king of Rock with the first being the movie Elvis (1979) directed by John Carpenter who is best known for Halloween (1978), Escape from New York (1981) also starting Russell and The Thing (1982), Kurt actually had a small role in one of Elvis’ movies back in the mid 60s playing a kid who kicked Presley in the shin so he can get a date with a nurse
My parents (from Birmingham) loved that part of the movie. Bear Bryant is a legend in that state and always wore that hat. People wear it at games to this day. Roll Tide!!!
The feather really represents the theme. We are sometimes floating around free just like it does. But then at times, destiny changes our path. Just Like Forrest picking up the feather changed its path.
Ohhhhhh. I always thought that feather was supposed to represent Jenny. Cause as a child she wished and prayed to turn into a bird and fly far far away from her horrible life and be free. And after her death that was supposed to represent her being free and being at peace finally. She stayed long enough to watch over her husband and son and now that she knows they're going to be okay she can go.
"Man Jenny does not deserve him". That was how SHE thought. She did not want him anywhere near her self-destruction. Never ever did she use him. She was true blue even in her darkest days.❤
I think something to factor in about Jenny - is everyone wants an equal. Everyone especially those who have been through a lot of trauma, wants someone who can draw out our pain, & filter thru it, & help us heal. Jenny had a lot of stored trauma & rage that she could not heal by herself, & she just didn't know what to do with. She did not feel she could unload all of that on someone like Forest, & that he would be equal to the task of being able to respond strategically, & equal to her pain. Being simple minded, he could not counsel her & heal her that way. But his unconditional love, & especially giving her his medal of honor, though it took years, did help heal her. It just took longer I think. It catalyzed her to seek healing where she could find it, so in the end she felt ready to confront him, & start a relationship. The birth of they're son too, had to have catalyzed healing & change. So everyone saying she was traumatized & didn't feel worthy of him, I think is true, but I think it only covers one aspect...
There was a guy in Canada called Terrance Stanley Fox who had cancer and ran across the whole country from east to west to raise awareness and money for research during the timeframe this film was set in. He actually had one leg amputated due to the primary location of the cancer and ran on a prosthetic leg. It was thought to be in remission but he sadly ended up succumbing to cancer in the end. People mocked him initially but in the end he became a national hero. ESPN made a documentary about it called "Into the Wind" and it is highly inspirational - I know it is not a mainstream movie but if you are looking for content, watching something like this could differentiate your channel. I have no evidence to suggest that part of the plot was based upon this man's life but the similarities are definitely there and I would think that story was the basis for that stage in his life when Forrest went running.
i know a lot of people get mad at Jenny, especially because Forrest didnt' find out he had a child until the kid was like 3 or 4- that always bugged me too until I finally clicked in one time watching it that he was running for over 3 years after Jenny left his house, so she would've had no way to get hold of him to tell him (no cell phones back then lol). maybe that was obvious to others but it took me way too long to put that together!
"I think she doesn't values herself enough to be with him" That made me choke on my tears a bit because almost everyone who reacts to this movie always bashes Jenny or at least doesn't understand her. As a victim of childhood abuse/neglect and rape I strongly relate to Jenny: experiences like these, especially during childhood can scar and traumatize you for life and I had a hard time coming to terms with everything and find a bit of peace. It's a mammoth task and often takes years to recover from!! So, yeah. Jenny was deeply hurt.
When Lieutenant Dan comes to the wedding, he says his legs are made out of what they use on the space shuttle. He had said earlier, “If you’re ever a shrimp boat captain, that’s the day I’m an astronaut.” His fiancé is also of Asian heritage (I THINK Vietnamese but I’m too sheltered to be sure). That’s just further evidence that he left his anger and hatred behind him and is basically a new man.
for reference, according to the script this is what Forrest actually had to say about the war in Vietnam: "Sometimes when people go to Vietnam, they go home to their mommas without any legs. Sometimes they don’t go home at all. That’s a bad thing. That’s all I have to say about that.”
SOmething fun I noticed a while back- when they meet Lt. Dan, he makes some sort of comment about being an astronaut- and then at the end he says his legs are made of what space shuttles are made of.
I think that this movie explored the idea of "destiny" well. Both Forrest and Jenny were dealt a tough hand in their childhood, beyond their control. Where "destiny" diverges into a more self-determined destiny is in the choices they made. Forrest did whatever he felt was right, and whatever was needed to just keep going. Lt. Dan and Jenny idealized a destiny that could save them from their problems rather than confronting what was directly in front of them. They lost sight of themselves and their opportunities at happiness. Both of them struggled with self-worth/their mental health, and spiraled in a self-induced isolation. Forrest did the opposite of that. His literalism helped ground both in reality, while his perspective allowed them to see it with more appreciation of the simple things. --- I know Jenny gets a lot of flack for the way she handled situations. We want to see characters do well, otherwise we don't root for them. At the same time, it feels more true to her history with abuse and lack of mental health supports at the time. She was caught between wanting to chase her dreams (finding a family who loved her, fame, a career) and being told she didn't have the worth to deserve them. Her father, friends, relationships; all reinforced the same thought- the people who are usually your support system. They all used her then tossed her to the side, so that's the way she treated herself. Every chance at happiness she self-sabatoged. She's not who people root for, but Forrest did. He gave her the chance to just be the person he saw, not the one who felt worthless. I don't think the she fully reconciled with herself, but her relationship with Forrest gave her a peaceful and hopeful end. Without eachother, neither would have the life they ended with. Forrest and Jenny gave each other the focus and strength they needed to carry on. Just keep being kind to yourself and others. What may be a split-second decision for you, can make all the difference for someone else. Thanks for the commentary! 😄
As a survivor of child abuse, Jenny loved Forrest more than she loved anyone else or herself. The evidence is that she would not use him. She could have. And had he not meant more to her than her own self, she would have. She needed him but refused to destroy him along with herself. In her mind, that’s love.
I felt the feather was a metaphor for how sometimes a force greater than ourselves can just come and sweep us away and take us places we never dreamed. Air, like water, travels the path of least resistance. Forrest pretty much never resisted what came his way, unless it was immoral of course. Which is why he lead a life of such wondrous, serendipitous events.
Gary Sinise (Lt Dan) is a great guy. Playing Lt Dan touched him so much he started the Gary Senise Foundation where he raises money for wounded soldiers and first responders. And every year for Christmas he books an entire jet liner to take the children of fallen soldiers to Disney for Christmas. He also travels around to the military hospitals around the world visiting wounded soldiers. Here's a great video of him getting surprised by a thank you video from all his friends and the people he's helped. It's very touching. th-cam.com/video/K7nCYnFsBqs/w-d-xo.html
I realy like that you speak your mind! Feels like that their are to many reactors out there, who suddendly like everything. Instead of saying, that they don't like something. I really apreciate your honesty.
I now reccomend "Of Mice and Men", starring Gary Sinise (aka Lt. Dan). It's just as thought-provoking as Forrest Gump, and the acting is real good as well. That and "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood " starring Tom Hanks.
I always come back to the implications of s*xual abuse from Jenny's father. Of course it caused her to push Forrest away because "love" had always hurt her. Even when she went to bed with him, it felt more like she felt like she had to and she ran because she didn't want to see Forrest that way. But the phrasing he used to describe her abuse, it seems like he was parroting what other adults said. Which means that other adults turned a blind eye to the abuse for a long time. And that breaks my heart. Thank you for not shitting on Jenny too much. So many reviewers seem to forget that she's coping with some really serious trauma.
Love this movie. Thanks for exposing yourself to this classic. Getting this movie to screen took many years and experienced numerous setbacks. Suggest you learn about it. An amazing story...
Hey TomKat Gaming, I'm with you on that! I think a unique thing that Robert Zemeckis did with this movie was he created a GREAT balance of many different genres (Drama, Comedy, Romance, "Coming-Of-Age", War Film, etc....). And the performances are VERY strong too (Gary Sinise as Lt. Dan is a personal favorite of mine)! Overall, I just find Forrest Gump to be very inspirational. Also, my brother has Autism, which helps me connect with this movie even more (I know Forrest did not have Autism, but him and my brother can relate a bit in that they are both disabled). I actually posted a video on my channel back in February that is almost like a tribute video to Forrest Gump (though I called it a Mashup). You see, there's a band named Family Of The Year, and they used their hit song "Hero" for Richard Linklater's 2014 movie called Boyhood. For my video, I used "Hero" as background music while showing various scenes from Forrest Gump. Aside from matching song lyrics with movie scenes, my intention with the video was to try and create something unique. If you have a few minutes sometime and are interested, here is a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/Or-sIiNANYg/w-d-xo.html If you don't check it out, no worries at all! I won't be offended! But thank you so much in advance if you do see it! Have a great day, and stay safe!
Hey Shevawn0925, I agree with you 100 percent! Whenever I watch Forrest Gump, my experience with this movie is that it is SO engaging and well-acted that it feels like it is a quick watch even though the movie is almost 2 1/2 hours long. And despite it being a fictional story, I still find it to be Inspirational, and it has moments that I think everyone can relate to on an emotional level. Personally, I often connect with this movie because my brother actually has Autism (I know Forrest himself didn't have Autism, but him and my brother can relate a bit in that they are both disabled). I actually posted a video on my channel back in February that is almost like a tribute video to Forrest Gump (though I called it a Mashup). You see, there's a band named Family Of The Year, and they used their hit song "Hero" for Richard Linklater's 2014 movie called Boyhood. For my video, I used "Hero" as background music while showing various scenes from Forrest Gump. Aside from matching song lyrics with movie scenes, my intention with the video was to try and create something unique. If you have a few minutes sometime and are interested, here is a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/Or-sIiNANYg/w-d-xo.html If you don't check it out, no worries at all! I won't be offended! But thank you so much in advance if you do see it! Have a great day, and stay safe!
@@shevawn1973 Wow, thank you so much for replying back to me so quickly! I really appreciate that! If you do happen to see the video, thank you so much in advance for taking time out of your day to do so! Have a great day, Shevawn0925 :)
Forrest to me was American Zen. Always mindful of the moment, moving within the currents that he found himself at the moment, he was led to the points that others pine over and dream about. And it was an instructional tale... these points of fame, and greatness, and accomplishment, are all just moments in a lifetime. They don't define the person. They aren't necessary... they will happen or not, but your life can be great. And above it all, more than money, more than knowledge, more than prestige, more than fame... it all comes down to love.
Point of perspective... When Jenny told Forrest "You don't know what love is" it was because what Jenny knew as love was pain. Forrest knew what love really was, it was Jenny that couldn't recognize it.
I love this movie!! Forrest was like a feather flowing through life, but at the same time I think he was destined to do every single thing that he did but wouldn't have done if it weren't for his attitute of never wondering the "why" of stuff. After watching this film one starts thinking of how easy some life situations would be if u stop thinking so hard and just go with the flow. Existential crisis alert jajajajaj
I think one of my biggest takeaways from this film is how much it can make a difference what kind of childhood you have. Forrest got dealt a rough hand, but he had a strong, loving and supportive mother who did her best to give him the world. He grew up extending that same kindness to others, in his own simple way. And as a result he was successful and then literally changed the course of others lives just by being part of theirs. The historical stuff of course was a joke, but you look at someone like Lt Dan... Forrest changed the course of his life and Lt Dan would up much happier than he ever imagined he could be - in spite of his challenges after the war. In contrast, you look at Jenny's childhood... she had it rough, she had no support, she was abused... and in spite of her actually having ambitions, she could never really escape her trauma. It created a pattern of self abuse that she carried with her well into adulthood.... it wasn't until she had little Forrest that she finally was able to break free and get her life in focus. To me, the contrast in their upbringings was highlighted in this film and showed how much someone can be damaged or fulfilled based on their childhood experience that sets you up for the rest of life.
I will say, I've worked in a shellfish restaurant for over a year, I get free shrimp whenever I want, and Im still not tired of it. And, I still only get it boiled, not fried or grilled or with anything, I just like shrimp. If you're in a business with options, you could eat for life.
According to Tom Hanks he said, "Sometimes when people go to Vietnam, they go home to their mommas without any legs. Sometimes they don't go home at all. That's a bad thing. That's all I have to say about that."
It's nice y'all reacted to this one. It's one of Tom Hank's best movies. He like Russel Crowe won back to back Oscars. A bit of info- Most of the movie was filmed here in Savannah (GA.) and over in SC. The war scenes were done in SC. I think around Beaufort (pron.- BeU-fert). I was supposed to get to be an Extra one day here but then their shooting sced. got changed and I sigh wasn't needed. I really would've loved to have gotten to meet both TH and SF while they were shooting around Savannah. The whole bench scene was done downtown in one of the squares but the bench wasn't one that actually belonged to that square. It was done by the film company then removed after. Shame really.😔 The opening shot of the feather floating over the city, is downtown Savannah and the Savannah River. The bridge over it takes you into SC.
I used to get really annoyed by this movie and just how undeserving of Forrests love I thought Jenny was. But now that I’m older I think it just highlights how caring and unconditionally loving Forrest is. It makes me love Forrest as a character more despite my annoyance with Jenny, he’s just so kind, sometimes to a fault, but it’s hard not to love a character like that. Also, as someone already pointed out and as you guys said in the video I agree that Jenny doesn’t feel that she is deserving of his love and that they contrast so well as characters. I love what you guys said about Forrest being good for Jenny and not the other way around. I think she even knew that in the film, that’s why she said “you don’t want to marry me” and ran out on him, she just didn’t think she deserved to be loved and part of that probably comes from her trauma. I agree, I think Forrests love kind of healed her in a way, especially with the birth of their son. He kind of healed Lieutenant Dan as well just through being unconditionally loving and doing what he believed was right. Great commentary! This is a very thought provoking film. Also, also lol, I think the movie kind of sets itself up for the viewer to view Jenny as underserving by being from Forrests perspective, he doesn’t understand why she is the way she is and won’t accept his love as you guys stated, so it makes sense for the viewer to become so emotionally attached to someone like Forrest that you want to protect him and in that way maybe don’t understand Jenny’s character and dislike her for hurting him until you really think about things from her perspective. Idk I just think that it’s a fair assessment to say she’s undeserving of his love at first since the film IMO kind of sets you up to dislike her at times and calls for more inspection into characters like Jenny and Lt. Dan 🤷🏻♀️🤗
This film is a great example of how to do a good story with a flat arc for the protagonist. Forrest doesn't have an arc, there is no lie he needs to learn is false. The other charectors like Jenny and Lieutenant Dan have the arcs because of Forrest.
Hey Erica, I completely agree with you. And yes, Tom Hanks is certainly one of the best actors of all time. Very talented! I think in the Mid-Late 1990s was really Hank's peak, with films like Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Green Mile (and even his vocal performance in Toy Story). As far as Forrest Gump goes, I just find this movie to be very inspirational overall, and I quote it more than most movies I have ever seen! Also, my brother has Autism, which helps me connect with the movie even more (I know Forrest did not have Autism, but him and my brother can relate a bit in that they are both disabled). I actually posted a video on my channel earlier this year that is almost like a tribute video to Forrest Gump (though I called it a Mashup). You see, there's a band named Family Of The Year, and they used their hit song "Hero" for Richard Linklater's 2014 movie called Boyhood. For my video, I used "Hero" as background music while showing various scenes from Forrest Gump. Aside from matching song lyrics with movie scenes, my intention with the video was to try and create something unique. If you have a few minutes sometime and are interested, here is a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/Or-sIiNANYg/w-d-xo.html If you don't check it out, no worries at all! I won't be offended! But thank you so much in advance if you do see it! Have a great day, and stay safe!
Growing up I hated Jenny as a character, thought she was selfish and a bad person. Now that I've grown up, I realize she's just flawed, like an actual person. (P.S. Bubba Gump Shrimp is amazing, and I even got a Bubba Gump baseball cap from there)
Dan sticking up for Forrest from the two girls at New Years will always be one of my favourite scenes in any movie ever. Dan thought he hated Forrest for denying him his "destiny", but he really always knew Forrest was just doing his job as a soldier. Dan knew Forrest wasn't as smart or intelligent as most but he also knew that Forrest was a damn good soldier and twice or even three times the man most men are.
I have autism, and I'm a school teacher. Granted, mine isn't the same as Forest's, but then, one of my students is more awkward and less verbal than Forest. We make it work. His grades are actually better than some of the other students'. In some areas he's the best in the class. As for interacting with his classmates, I think it's really good for him and for them to not be only with people who are similar. We're all different, and the sooner kids learn to deal with that, to be nice anyway, and to see the good in our variety, the better the world will be when they're the adults running it. Kids shouldn't have to go to separate schools just because they're different. To suggest that kids who "have some autism" (your words) would be better off in a "special school" is a bit hurtful, and shows how little you know about people with autism. In extreme cases, that might be a good choice, but for quite a lot of us, you'd be robbing both us and the neurotypical people you want to keep us away from. We have a lot to offer the world, and we can't do it if we're relegated to "special schools" and other segregated environments. I realize I paused to write this at almost the beginning of the movie, and there's a good chance you think differently about this by the end of it. I hope so. Maybe you could also reach out and get to know some autistic people, because we're not what you seem to think we are, at least at the point I've reached in this video.
Me and my family went to the actual restaurant once and both my brother and dad won the questionare thing the waitress will ask you (basically they ask trivia questions about the movie and if you get one right they keep asking) and the waitress eventually ran out of questions. It was because both of them had literally just spent the past month watching that movie on repeat because it was one of the only DVDs they had.
much of the Thesis of the movie comes from Lieutenant Dan's idea of "Destiny" and Forrest's mama's idea that "You make your own destiny by doing the best with what you're given."
Actually the abuse that Jenny lived when she was a child happens to millions of children, and this is definetelly something that marks their lives forever. Unfortunately it is very common to see people who were abused going on erratic paths or selfdestruction and I think is great how the moves rases the matter.
An absolute classic! Saw this in theaters before I could really understand everything (probably 12-13). This movie never fails to make me cry and it's a different part every time. Tom Hanks is the GOAT
Hey KalandKara Zor-El, I totally agree with you! Tom Hanks is certainly one of the best actors of all time. Very talented! I think in the Mid-Late 1990s was really Hank's peak, with films like Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Green Mile (and even his vocal performance in Toy Story). As far as Forrest Gump goes, I just find this movie to be very inspirational overall, and I quote it more than most movies I have ever seen! Also, my brother has Autism, which helps me connect with the movie even more (I know Forrest did not have Autism, but him and my brother can relate a bit in that they are both disabled). I actually posted a video on my channel back in February that is almost like a tribute video to Forrest Gump (though I called it a Mashup). You see, there's a band named Family Of The Year, and they used their hit song "Hero" for Richard Linklater's 2014 movie called Boyhood. For my video, I used "Hero" as background music while showing various scenes from Forrest Gump. Aside from matching song lyrics with movie scenes, my intention with the video was to try and create something unique. If you have a few minutes sometime and are interested, here is a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/Or-sIiNANYg/w-d-xo.html If you don't check it out, no worries at all! I won't be offended! But thank you so much in advance if you do see it! Have a great day, and stay safe!
19:35 my stepdad was in his fourth year in Vietnam as an army veteran in the 101st airborne, WHILE MY MOM WAS IN 3rd GRADE ! We giggle about it, now that I am almost 40 and my baby brother is also almost 40, but it’s what we giggle about around the table from time to time. Still happily married, they are!
Is he smart, he's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, and "I miss you, Jenny" always kill me. Oh and "I was destined to be your mama." You getting emotional, fella on my right, got me, too. I've seen this movie roughly 257 times. The first time being with my parents and brother in the movie theater. I love watching reactions and seeing you being emotional was really lovely.
8:09 I have seen so many reactions to this movie, especially people from other countries, and you ACTUALLY noticed when forest explained Jenny ‘s dad was a loving man he was always touching and loving her…… I just want to say I appreciate that you recognized the simple insinuation. I was one of those little girls, but luckily it wasn’t any of my dad’s Just, thank you for that acknowledgment in your faces
3 years, 2 months, 14 days and 16 hours. That actually sounds like a reasonably healthy amount of time to give yourself before getting into a serious relationship after a serious heartbreak.
Fun fact the boy who played young Forest actually talked like that at the time we’ll Robert Zemeckis told Hanks to talk to the boy and try and get him to talk differently, Hanks then said that he would just copy the way he talked and that is how he got the accent for Forest Gump
This movie presents a profound question at its' core : Do we each have a pre-written destiny, or are we all like floating feathers at the mercy of whatever prevailing currents of air come along ? I believe Forrest concluded that it's probably a little bit of both.
People don’t seem to get how screwed up Jenny really was because of what her father did to her, she probably thought she would hurt Forrest more if she stuck around and Forrest didn’t truly understand what she went through with her father.
I lose it when Forrest buries Jenny under the tree- the place she felt safe as a child. It's like she can finally rest.
Not to mention the bird that we t by that scene, like indication to the prayer she made as a child "dear God help me be a bird so I can fly away..."
And that song free bird 😥
According to Tom Hanks he said, "Sometimes when people go to Vietnam, they go home to their mommas without any legs. Sometimes they don't go home at all. That's a bad thing. That's all I have to say about that."
It is bad and a sad thing that life of aware beings, and with so much potential to keep evolving WILLINGLY are their own force of elimination. Its stupid, thats the stupidity in humanity, GODLIKE potential yet using it as a rug for rotting old memories, sitting in a wet dark corner.
HEAVEN ON EARTH, and we keep crying for our own ignorance.
Not able to see and be grateful for it. ( Heaven on earth )
A WAR IN A JUNGLE 🐲🐊🐮🦕🐷🐗🐮🦓🐊🐈🐈⬛🐃🕊️🐥🦜🦦🦜🐋🐠🦑🦀🐡🕊️🐚🐜🐚🐙🦞🦪🪱🦂🐜🐚🕸️🍇🍓🍠🥕🍇🍉🍍🍒🍑🍓🍐🍈🍐🍐🫐🥥
makes no sense
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT.
And who let "them" accomplish it.
Shame
@@Gaia369 we tried stop what is now still an issue
vietnam still arests people over freedom of speech
their one the least free countries in the world because north vietnam won, its a tyranical country that banned any form of freedom of speech has no free elections no acountability
they hravily restrict freedom of assembly
and more
acording to freedom house a civil rights organisation they rank them 20/100 on freedom
This movie is an excellent portrayal at how trauma can mentally affect someone for life. Jenny’s story is the story of so many people who were abused as children. I appreciate that this movie didn’t shy away from that
Agreed. And it's sadly very telling how many people hate on her and make her trauma all about Forrest, rather than her. Many real life versions of Jenny get nothing but hate as well.
It really was. I lived my life like her and had that same "running away" behavior until I was 33 or so. I couldn't explain it to people, so definitely couldn't understand it myself. I was never trying to hurt anyone... I was running so I wouldn't get hurt. If that makes sense. Abuse fvks you up.
That's all fine and well...but she only likes Forrest when she knows she has AIDS, knows he is a shrimp millionaire, war hero, Olympic champion..."I ignored you all your life, but now that I will be dead in 3 months, here's a kid that I kept secret from you for 5 years." Jenny is trash
@@whitenoisereacts I mean yeah their all caps was a bit much but I agree with them? You see one person saying an abuse survivor character is trash and another saying 'that's really shitty and harmful mindset' and you say they're both the same? maybe it's just because I am a survivor too but I've had people call me selfish and other such things and jenny's story rings very real to many of us, and just because the character is fake doesn't make the words or sentiment aimed at her fake either. very real people look at her and see trash, the same way they would look at a real victim and see trash. these views are real and have real effects. not sure why you guys decided to weigh in on these comments in particular but I have to be honest and say it leaves a bit of a bad taste. Of course I don't really expect you to understand what I'm trying to convey or even read this, so I guess peace out?
And forrest story is the story of the giga simp
The "is he smart?" scene always breaks me. 😭
same
SAME 😭
Mm
@Ed P. Absolutely! You can feel his fear and concern, never fails to get the waterworks going no matter how many times I've seen it
True. Just reading your comment was enough to break me. 😭
It's hard for some people to understand Jenny... she was abused by her father, never saw worth in herself, chose abusive partners, hated herself, tried to hide her pain with drugs, running, self destruction, never allowing herself to be truly appreciated or loved by anyone, especially Forrest who she thought was too pure and too good for her. She didn't mean to hurt Forrest, she literally couldn't accept his love. I feel sympathy for her, not contempt.
J H I feel the same way. I honestly don't know why more people can't be more understanding towards Jenny. They should know that if you've been sexually abused that that does so much damage!
Yeah, due to the abuse she suffered from childhood Jenny only pursued abusive relationships and felt Forrest was too good for her. So her solution to everything was the exact same thing she always told Forrest to do: run from problems. Except for her, it meant something much more complex that was in detriment to her life and relationships. For Forrest it just meant that he had to run from physical danger or run for fun to clear his head.
Also when you look for a partner, you want someone that can connect with you and understand you. The fact that he wasn't able to comprehend her trauma pull them apart. Furthermore he's very child-like in many aspects, she probably felt like she was abusing him and therefore coming back to her self hate, so they couldn't become a couple even if they loved each other.
@@danielapineda9439 They are proof that sometimes love is not enough for two people to stay together
@@danielapineda9439 Good points, totally agree.
You guys are among the few people who actually got Jenny, She was so damaged she was The one who didn't know what love was, she believed that she wasn't good enough for him,she really didn't know what love was until she had something to love
People are always saying why didn't she tell him about his son, people forget that Forrest was away running for those year's,he wasn't in one place and it wasn't until he came home and got her letter
Great reaction
I think most guys don’t evaluate behavior based on emotional damage. For one, when guys do cruel things no one ever says - he might have had emotional scars as a child. He’s just viewed as a bad guy.
She wrote him that letter when she saw him on tv, which was probably a year into his run. When he told her he got her letter she said I wondered about that. I guess she thought he got it years ago and didn’t come to see her.
Forrest succeeds not because he is a smart man, but because he is a good and honest man.
No, because he's persistent and consistent.
Fun fact: Accent of grown-up Forrest is a real accent of a kid actor. He was from deep Mississippi. Director wanted that kid will lose his accent but Tom Hanks convinced the director that his accent is perfect and he will learn his accent.
And actually it's the kid who played young Forrest.
@@shercahn Like I wrote.
@@zuzauramek9850 - you didn't make it clear that you were talking about young Forest.
@@zuzauramek9850 He's right you were not clear and in fact you accidently implied it was a different kid actor.
Yeah alittle unclear. You wrote "is a real accent of a kid actor" that makes it seem like its a random kid actor somewhere in the world, if you had wrote "it was the real accent of the kid that played young forrest in the movie"
You nailed it. Jenny didn’t think she was good enough for Forrest and she was “damaged goods”. She admired Forrest’s purity and goodness. She of course always loved him though. Her character is tragic and sad. 😞
The biggest battles one will ever face is with themselves. Ex:Jenny and Lt. Dan. Forrest was protected from those internal battles. His "disability" protected him from himself. He did what he was told and did it to the best of his ability.
Insanely good insight!
I would like to say that in real life it doesn’t generally work that way, my little sister has a loooot of trauma and it’s not gone because she’s disabled
@@Alex-rw9nn There are no absolutes but in general it's valid
@@Alex-rw9nn guess it would depend on the disability
@@art2736 she's mentally disabled like a 4 year old. I just don't like using mentally disabled. But yes I probably should have here for claritys sake. It's just..not nice...not treated right..and in my head I want to give it and others to give it the same respect as other disabilities, so I just say disabled, because that's all she is. A 21 year old that loves trains and helicopters and singing and loose change and is disabled. It deserves the same treatment as physical and visible disabilities. (Which isn't even that great to begin with). And I've got disabilities, and they are mental but very different from my sisters but still deserving of respect, like PTSD and ARFID and ASD and GAD. Sorry. Goodness me. In any case, that's why I do that. And even for my own self. Because sometimes I think I'm weak or faking or a jerk or stupid or lesser or weird or not good enough, because that's the way things are viewed around mental disabilities, but when I say just disabilities im able to give myself more room to breathe. Because yeah. Sorry..
26:54 Lt. Dan: "If you're ever a shrimp boat captain, that's the day I'm an astronaut." And he was, in Apollo 13 😀 With Tom Hanks. And they both were also in The Green Mile.
He said he was going to be his *first mate*, not an astronaut.
@@Keyboardje Dan said: "The day that you are a shrimp boat captain, I will come and be your first mate. If you're ever a shrimp boat captain, that's the day I'm an astronaut."
I think the reference to his prosthetic legs being made out of the same metal used on space ships was another callback to Apollo 13.
Beautiful film and thank you for not trashing Jenny. I hate when reactors do that.
Same, I'm always ready with an entire essay
@@fabulousroy I go right to the comments to find out how they react to Jenny to see if I'm skipping or watching. Lol
Yeah, I can’t believe people would call out shitty friends for being shitty.
Same. Some people just don’t understand what trauma can do to people.
The phrase that always sticks with you in this movie is "Run Forest!". It's so impactful that Jenny taught him that. Because running here basically means running away - what she does throughout the whole movie - whereas Forest frees himself through running.
I don't think I've ever watched this movie without it making me cry. I dunno if it's the messages in the story, Tom Hank's performance, or just everything together, but it just connects with me. So glad to see you guys watch it.
Jenny was pregnant and had her son when he was out running so she couldn't tell him.
This movie is amazing. One of my favorites.
That makes sense he was literally running all over country. There was no way she could track him down.
@@lukedee6308 also he was running for 3 years, there weren't even cell phones at the time to contact.
@@Tooba-K123 And he was running through landscaps without even a landline close by. And he didn't know how to reach HER either.
One thing I don't think people acknowledge enough about Jenny- outside of the abuse she faced as a child and how that affected her for life- is that she must have felt incredible guilt and conflict knowing Forrest was incredibly childlike and intellectually slow. Is he even able to give "consent"?
Can she accept love and a relationship from a child-like adult without feeling that she's abusing him, the way her father did to her when she was a child?
yes well put i agree
Thank you... Finally someone gets it.
Wow! Thank you
Thank you!!!! Someone gets it!
which also gives a view on the unconscious infantilization of disabled people.
Forrest Gump is so good that it's honestly hard to believe that a group of actors, directors, and producers crafted it and put it together. It's so well-known and well-loved that it just feels like something that dropped out of the sky, something that grew out of the American landscape completely organically.
You guys are my favorite reaction channel. Forrest Gump is that movie which gives me hope and happiness. I have seen many heated debates where people are hating on Jenny, but she had a terrible childhood and troubled life which she never recovered from.She always thought Forrest was too good for her and she was damaged goods. Jenny did love Forrest.
Lt. Dan and Bubba are iconic characters.
The Lt. Dan Band was created by Gary Sinise after this movie. Since then he has done nothing but raise awareness for Veterans. This movie changed his life, and countless others.
Yup! I remember seeing him in a lot of commercials and charities for veterans. If I'm not mistaken they also gave him the honorary title of Lieutenant.
If y'all haven't seen it please add "Castaway" to your list of movies to watch. Another great Tom Hanks movie.
Oh yes!! I also vote for this ☝️
Almost the same beard ;-)
Agreed.
I love how Forest treated Lt. Dan. To so many People Dan became a cripple, a good for nothing nobody. But to Forest, he is just Lt. Dan and Will always be Lt. Dan 😂❤️
The kid who plays his son, is the kid in “The Sixth Sense” also in an underrated, but wonderful movie called “Second Hand Lions.”
That "how to be a man" speech hits every time
He also played in "Pay it Forward" which is a really sad movie.
He’s also been the voice of Sora throughout the Kingdom Hearts series and recently cameoed in a few episodes of Season 1 of “The Boys”
Second Hand Lions is a fantastic movie!! So are the others mentioned here.
I love second hand lions it’s so good! but no one ever seems to talk about it
I'm so glad you guys eventually caught on to the fact that Jenny wasn't this evil person and didn't just hate on her like I see a lot of reactors do. many people seem to forget that she was abused as a child and although she totally had free will to make some of the choices she made as an adult, mental health and therapy were not really a thing back then so she basically had no real outlet for her trauma. Jenny didn't know how to love properly because the one adult who was supposed to show her what love is violated her trust and ruined it for her from an early age. so when she tells Forrest that he doesn't know what love is, she is projecting. *she* doesn't know what love is. how could she? notice how throughout the movie, she gravitates toward all the men who are the worst for her, rather than Forrest who treats her so well. she thinks she deserves to be treated like garbage because to her, that is love. she doesn't think she deserves to be treated with respect and thinks Forrest is too good for her, which is why she tells him that he doesn't want to marry her. anyway, I loved your reaction! you guys always have such insightful commentary. and btw, fun fact: the feather was cgi until it touched Tom Hanks' shoe and then it was merged with the real feather. cool, huh?
Don't worry, most people don't like Jenny on the first watch. Totally understandable. One thing to note though, we don't get to see them together through most of their public school days and it's clear Jenny stuck by his side throughout that time. And was his only friend. And was probably the only reason he survived school.
She also sexually assaulted him and infected him and their child with AIDS, yes Jenny was a victim, but she then chose to victimize others as well, I don’t have much sympathy for her.
@@matthewterlaga3022 Jenny didnt have Aids
@@MrWillsonx yes she did, Zemekis just wasn’t allowed to put the words “AIDS” in his movie, so he just had her describe it as (an unknown virus that was killing her)
@@matthewterlaga3022 read Winston Grooms prequel to Forrest Gump - "Gump and co. " It was Hepatitis C, atleast in the novels
Edit: sequel*
@@MrWillsonx the movie is so different from the books (Forest is an out right mean spirited bastard in them) that it’s pointless to even mention them, she may have had hepatitis in the books, but in the movie she died of AIDS
imagine being a teenage girl from the south named jenny when this movie came out 😒 nothing but calls of “jenn-aayyy” everywhere i went for years on end.
The movie shows us that our lives are like a feather floating in the wind, and wherever we end up, that is our destiny. You can make whatever choices you want to control it, but your destiny is undetermined. As much as you can try to control it, there are things outside of your control that play a factor in it. Like for example, Lt. Dan really believed he was destined to die in Vietnam and tried all he could but Forrest ended up changing that. "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get".
That's one view.
I went to Bubba Gump restaurant in Texas. They have the STUPID QUOTE on a t-shirt. I have it! My favorite shirt. And the actress who plays Jenny is the same who played the Queen from Wonder Woman. And the actor who plays Lt Dan is a supporter of military soldiers,created charities, foundations, etc. He's known so much that the either military or the soldiers had gave an honorary title of Lt. Pretty cool of the guy.
She's also in House of Cards.
@@joaosantos5503 Not to mention the fact that she's The Princess Bride!
She is not the queen, she's the warrior aunt.
Connie Wilson was queen hippolyta, who also played lucilla in the gladiator.
Jenny played general antiope
Robin Wright-Penn (did she drop the Penn?)
If you watch this again in 10 years, it will feel deeper. 20 years, even deeper. I've found that as I've gotten older, this film becomes more and more heartbreaking.
Hey wrorchestra1, I have had a very similar experience as you with this movie! Tom Hanks is absolutely brilliant! Forrest Gump had SUCH a pure heart, and he showed the upmost loyalty to those closest to him. I think that is something we can all admire and try to apply in our own lives. Overall, I just find this movie to be very inspirational, and I quote it all the time too! Also, my brother has Autism, which helps me connect with this movie even more (I know Forrest did not have Autism, but him and my brother can relate a bit in that they are both disabled).
I actually posted a video on my channel back in February that is almost like a tribute video to Forrest Gump (though I called it a Mashup). You see, there's a band named Family Of The Year, and they used their hit song "Hero" for Richard Linklater's 2014 movie called Boyhood. For my video, I used "Hero" as background music while showing various scenes from Forrest Gump. Aside from matching song lyrics with movie scenes, my intention with the video was to try and create something unique.
If you have a few minutes sometime and are interested, here is a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/Or-sIiNANYg/w-d-xo.html
If you don't check it out, no worries at all! I won't be offended! But thank you so much in advance if you do see it! Have a great day, and stay safe!
Director Robert Zemeckis has stated publicly and definitively FORREST GUMP is about grieving. When I first heard him say that I disagreed but over time I have come to agree with him.
“That’s cool that he actually stood up for him though”
Classic…
Lmao!!!
This movie shows, you don’t have to be smart, you have to be who you are, and you have to just be nice and kind.
James choking back the tears there. Couldn't tell if Ninetailbrush was just as emotional at that part but I think he was hiding his tears.
Jenny was a tragic character really, I mean she was sexually abused by her dad and then she went looking for love in all the wrong places never saw her true worth. Tried numbing your pain by drugs, and that didn't make her any happier. It sucks that it's not until around the end of her life that she finally was able to accept Forest's love.
You should watch “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” It stars Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio and they did a phenomenal job and the story and acting is so good!
Cool fact about Elvis is that he’s actually voiced by Kurt Russell in the Hound Dog scene which marks the second time he has played the king of Rock with the first being the movie Elvis (1979) directed by John Carpenter who is best known for Halloween (1978), Escape from New York (1981) also starting Russell and The Thing (1982), Kurt actually had a small role in one of Elvis’ movies back in the mid 60s playing a kid who kicked Presley in the shin so he can get a date with a nurse
No one ever gets, or at least mentions, the Bear Bryant reference when Forrest's playing college ball. Bryant is a sports legend!
The only reactor I've seen get that reference right away is Ashleigh Burton
@@Courdorygirl Ahhhhh, true, I forgot about Ashleigh! Makes sense she'd get it, being a southerner.
My parents (from Birmingham) loved that part of the movie. Bear Bryant is a legend in that state and always wore that hat. People wear it at games to this day. Roll Tide!!!
The feather really represents the theme. We are sometimes floating around free just like it does. But then at times, destiny changes our path. Just Like Forrest picking up the feather changed its path.
Ohhhhhh. I always thought that feather was supposed to represent Jenny. Cause as a child she wished and prayed to turn into a bird and fly far far away from her horrible life and be free. And after her death that was supposed to represent her being free and being at peace finally. She stayed long enough to watch over her husband and son and now that she knows they're going to be okay she can go.
"Man Jenny does not deserve him". That was how SHE thought. She did not want him anywhere near her self-destruction. Never ever did she use him. She was true blue even in her darkest days.❤
I think something to factor in about Jenny - is everyone wants an equal. Everyone especially those who have been through a lot of trauma, wants someone who can draw out our pain, & filter thru it, & help us heal. Jenny had a lot of stored trauma & rage that she could not heal by herself, & she just didn't know what to do with. She did not feel she could unload all of that on someone like Forest, & that he would be equal to the task of being able to respond strategically, & equal to her pain. Being simple minded, he could not counsel her & heal her that way. But his unconditional love, & especially giving her his medal of honor, though it took years, did help heal her. It just took longer I think. It catalyzed her to seek healing where she could find it, so in the end she felt ready to confront him, & start a relationship. The birth of they're son too, had to have catalyzed healing & change. So everyone saying she was traumatized & didn't feel worthy of him, I think is true, but I think it only covers one aspect...
There was a guy in Canada called Terrance Stanley Fox who had cancer and ran across the whole country from east to west to raise awareness and money for research during the timeframe this film was set in. He actually had one leg amputated due to the primary location of the cancer and ran on a prosthetic leg. It was thought to be in remission but he sadly ended up succumbing to cancer in the end. People mocked him initially but in the end he became a national hero. ESPN made a documentary about it called "Into the Wind" and it is highly inspirational - I know it is not a mainstream movie but if you are looking for content, watching something like this could differentiate your channel. I have no evidence to suggest that part of the plot was based upon this man's life but the similarities are definitely there and I would think that story was the basis for that stage in his life when Forrest went running.
i know a lot of people get mad at Jenny, especially because Forrest didnt' find out he had a child until the kid was like 3 or 4- that always bugged me too until I finally clicked in one time watching it that he was running for over 3 years after Jenny left his house, so she would've had no way to get hold of him to tell him (no cell phones back then lol). maybe that was obvious to others but it took me way too long to put that together!
I love that Jenny is Princess Buttercup from Princess Bride!
"I think she doesn't values herself enough to be with him"
That made me choke on my tears a bit because almost everyone who reacts to this movie always bashes Jenny or at least doesn't understand her.
As a victim of childhood abuse/neglect and rape I strongly relate to Jenny: experiences like these, especially during childhood can scar and traumatize you for life and I had a hard time coming to terms with everything and find a bit of peace.
It's a mammoth task and often takes years to recover from!!
So, yeah.
Jenny was deeply hurt.
*Absolute Classic*
My personal favorite Tom Hanks movie
When Lieutenant Dan comes to the wedding, he says his legs are made out of what they use on the space shuttle. He had said earlier, “If you’re ever a shrimp boat captain, that’s the day I’m an astronaut.” His fiancé is also of Asian heritage (I THINK Vietnamese but I’m too sheltered to be sure). That’s just further evidence that he left his anger and hatred behind him and is basically a new man.
for reference, according to the script this is what Forrest actually had to say about the war in Vietnam: "Sometimes when people go to Vietnam, they go home to their mommas without any legs. Sometimes they don’t go home at all. That’s a bad thing. That’s all I have to say about that.”
This is my favorite movie of alll time!!
Glad we could watch it dude
SOmething fun I noticed a while back- when they meet Lt. Dan, he makes some sort of comment about being an astronaut- and then at the end he says his legs are made of what space shuttles are made of.
When he said “is her smart or is he…?” (Like me) he knew he wasn’t the full shilling and feared that for his son 😭
I'm so freaking excited about this one. Thanks guys. This really is a classic.
I think that this movie explored the idea of "destiny" well. Both Forrest and Jenny were dealt a tough hand in their childhood, beyond their control. Where "destiny" diverges into a more self-determined destiny is in the choices they made. Forrest did whatever he felt was right, and whatever was needed to just keep going. Lt. Dan and Jenny idealized a destiny that could save them from their problems rather than confronting what was directly in front of them. They lost sight of themselves and their opportunities at happiness. Both of them struggled with self-worth/their mental health, and spiraled in a self-induced isolation. Forrest did the opposite of that.
His literalism helped ground both in reality, while his perspective allowed them to see it with more appreciation of the simple things.
---
I know Jenny gets a lot of flack for the way she handled situations. We want to see characters do well, otherwise we don't root for them.
At the same time, it feels more true to her history with abuse and lack of mental health supports at the time.
She was caught between wanting to chase her dreams (finding a family who loved her, fame, a career) and being told she didn't have the worth to deserve them. Her father, friends, relationships; all reinforced the same thought- the people who are usually your support system. They all used her then tossed her to the side, so that's the way she treated herself. Every chance at happiness she self-sabatoged.
She's not who people root for, but Forrest did. He gave her the chance to just be the person he saw, not the one who felt worthless.
I don't think the she fully reconciled with herself, but her relationship with Forrest gave her a peaceful and hopeful end.
Without eachother, neither would have the life they ended with. Forrest and Jenny gave each other the focus and strength they needed to carry on.
Just keep being kind to yourself and others. What may be a split-second decision for you, can make all the difference for someone else.
Thanks for the commentary! 😄
As a survivor of child abuse, Jenny loved Forrest more than she loved anyone else or herself. The evidence is that she would not use him. She could have. And had he not meant more to her than her own self, she would have. She needed him but refused to destroy him along with herself. In her mind, that’s love.
I felt the feather was a metaphor for how sometimes a force greater than ourselves can just come and sweep us away and take us places we never dreamed. Air, like water, travels the path of least resistance. Forrest pretty much never resisted what came his way, unless it was immoral of course. Which is why he lead a life of such wondrous, serendipitous events.
Gary Sinise (Lt Dan) is a great guy. Playing Lt Dan touched him so much he started the Gary Senise Foundation where he raises money for wounded soldiers and first responders. And every year for Christmas he books an entire jet liner to take the children of fallen soldiers to Disney for Christmas. He also travels around to the military hospitals around the world visiting wounded soldiers. Here's a great video of him getting surprised by a thank you video from all his friends and the people he's helped. It's very touching.
th-cam.com/video/K7nCYnFsBqs/w-d-xo.html
I realy like that you speak your mind!
Feels like that their are to many reactors out there, who suddendly like everything. Instead of saying, that they don't like something. I really apreciate your honesty.
I now reccomend "Of Mice and Men", starring Gary Sinise (aka Lt. Dan). It's just as thought-provoking as Forrest Gump, and the acting is real good as well.
That and "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood " starring Tom Hanks.
I always come back to the implications of s*xual abuse from Jenny's father. Of course it caused her to push Forrest away because "love" had always hurt her. Even when she went to bed with him, it felt more like she felt like she had to and she ran because she didn't want to see Forrest that way. But the phrasing he used to describe her abuse, it seems like he was parroting what other adults said. Which means that other adults turned a blind eye to the abuse for a long time. And that breaks my heart.
Thank you for not shitting on Jenny too much. So many reviewers seem to forget that she's coping with some really serious trauma.
Love this movie. Thanks for exposing yourself to this classic. Getting this movie to screen took many years and experienced numerous setbacks. Suggest you learn about it. An amazing story...
"That's how long it takes me to run a mile." I cackled.
Such a beloved film! I remember seeing it for the first time and going through ever single emotion. Timeless classic IMO and glad you watched it!
Hey TomKat Gaming, I'm with you on that! I think a unique thing that Robert Zemeckis did with this movie was he created a GREAT balance of many different genres (Drama, Comedy, Romance, "Coming-Of-Age", War Film, etc....). And the performances are VERY strong too (Gary Sinise as Lt. Dan is a personal favorite of mine)! Overall, I just find Forrest Gump to be very inspirational. Also, my brother has Autism, which helps me connect with this movie even more (I know Forrest did not have Autism, but him and my brother can relate a bit in that they are both disabled).
I actually posted a video on my channel back in February that is almost like a tribute video to Forrest Gump (though I called it a Mashup). You see, there's a band named Family Of The Year, and they used their hit song "Hero" for Richard Linklater's 2014 movie called Boyhood. For my video, I used "Hero" as background music while showing various scenes from Forrest Gump. Aside from matching song lyrics with movie scenes, my intention with the video was to try and create something unique.
If you have a few minutes sometime and are interested, here is a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/Or-sIiNANYg/w-d-xo.html
If you don't check it out, no worries at all! I won't be offended! But thank you so much in advance if you do see it! Have a great day, and stay safe!
One of the most beautiful movies that was EVER made. I always feel better after watching it...always.
Hey Shevawn0925, I agree with you 100 percent! Whenever I watch Forrest Gump, my experience with this movie is that it is SO engaging and well-acted that it feels like it is a quick watch even though the movie is almost 2 1/2 hours long. And despite it being a fictional story, I still find it to be Inspirational, and it has moments that I think everyone can relate to on an emotional level. Personally, I often connect with this movie because my brother actually has Autism (I know Forrest himself didn't have Autism, but him and my brother can relate a bit in that they are both disabled).
I actually posted a video on my channel back in February that is almost like a tribute video to Forrest Gump (though I called it a Mashup). You see, there's a band named Family Of The Year, and they used their hit song "Hero" for Richard Linklater's 2014 movie called Boyhood. For my video, I used "Hero" as background music while showing various scenes from Forrest Gump. Aside from matching song lyrics with movie scenes, my intention with the video was to try and create something unique.
If you have a few minutes sometime and are interested, here is a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/Or-sIiNANYg/w-d-xo.html
If you don't check it out, no worries at all! I won't be offended! But thank you so much in advance if you do see it! Have a great day, and stay safe!
@@ollie511 Thanx for your great Comment! I'll check the Video out soon. 😊
@@shevawn1973 Wow, thank you so much for replying back to me so quickly! I really appreciate that! If you do happen to see the video, thank you so much in advance for taking time out of your day to do so! Have a great day, Shevawn0925 :)
Forrest to me was American Zen. Always mindful of the moment, moving within the currents that he found himself at the moment, he was led to the points that others pine over and dream about. And it was an instructional tale... these points of fame, and greatness, and accomplishment, are all just moments in a lifetime. They don't define the person. They aren't necessary... they will happen or not, but your life can be great. And above it all, more than money, more than knowledge, more than prestige, more than fame... it all comes down to love.
Point of perspective... When Jenny told Forrest "You don't know what love is" it was because what Jenny knew as love was pain. Forrest knew what love really was, it was Jenny that couldn't recognize it.
I love this movie!! Forrest was like a feather flowing through life, but at the same time I think he was destined to do every single thing that he did but wouldn't have done if it weren't for his attitute of never wondering the "why" of stuff. After watching this film one starts thinking of how easy some life situations would be if u stop thinking so hard and just go with the flow. Existential crisis alert jajajajaj
From Elvis to AIDS, Forrest Gump is the story of a generation and the touchstone moments that bind us together.
I think one of my biggest takeaways from this film is how much it can make a difference what kind of childhood you have. Forrest got dealt a rough hand, but he had a strong, loving and supportive mother who did her best to give him the world. He grew up extending that same kindness to others, in his own simple way. And as a result he was successful and then literally changed the course of others lives just by being part of theirs. The historical stuff of course was a joke, but you look at someone like Lt Dan... Forrest changed the course of his life and Lt Dan would up much happier than he ever imagined he could be - in spite of his challenges after the war. In contrast, you look at Jenny's childhood... she had it rough, she had no support, she was abused... and in spite of her actually having ambitions, she could never really escape her trauma. It created a pattern of self abuse that she carried with her well into adulthood.... it wasn't until she had little Forrest that she finally was able to break free and get her life in focus. To me, the contrast in their upbringings was highlighted in this film and showed how much someone can be damaged or fulfilled based on their childhood experience that sets you up for the rest of life.
I will say, I've worked in a shellfish restaurant for over a year, I get free shrimp whenever I want, and Im still not tired of it. And, I still only get it boiled, not fried or grilled or with anything, I just like shrimp. If you're in a business with options, you could eat for life.
Forrest running out of his braces is one of my favourite cinematic moments
According to Tom Hanks he said, "Sometimes when people go to Vietnam, they go home to their mommas without any legs. Sometimes they don't go home at all. That's a bad thing. That's all I have to say about that."
That's very touching.
It's nice y'all reacted to this one. It's one of Tom Hank's best movies. He like Russel Crowe won back to back Oscars. A bit of info- Most of the movie was filmed here in Savannah (GA.) and over in SC. The war scenes were done in SC. I think around Beaufort (pron.- BeU-fert). I was supposed to get to be an Extra one day here but then their shooting sced. got changed and I sigh wasn't needed. I really would've loved to have gotten to meet both TH and SF while they were shooting around Savannah. The whole bench scene was done downtown in one of the squares but the bench wasn't one that actually belonged to that square. It was done by the film company then removed after. Shame really.😔 The opening shot of the feather floating over the city, is downtown Savannah and the Savannah River. The bridge over it takes you into SC.
I used to get really annoyed by this movie and just how undeserving of Forrests love I thought Jenny was. But now that I’m older I think it just highlights how caring and unconditionally loving Forrest is. It makes me love Forrest as a character more despite my annoyance with Jenny, he’s just so kind, sometimes to a fault, but it’s hard not to love a character like that.
Also, as someone already pointed out and as you guys said in the video I agree that Jenny doesn’t feel that she is deserving of his love and that they contrast so well as characters. I love what you guys said about Forrest being good for Jenny and not the other way around. I think she even knew that in the film, that’s why she said “you don’t want to marry me” and ran out on him, she just didn’t think she deserved to be loved and part of that probably comes from her trauma. I agree, I think Forrests love kind of healed her in a way, especially with the birth of their son. He kind of healed Lieutenant Dan as well just through being unconditionally loving and doing what he believed was right. Great commentary! This is a very thought provoking film.
Also, also lol, I think the movie kind of sets itself up for the viewer to view Jenny as underserving by being from Forrests perspective, he doesn’t understand why she is the way she is and won’t accept his love as you guys stated, so it makes sense for the viewer to become so emotionally attached to someone like Forrest that you want to protect him and in that way maybe don’t understand Jenny’s character and dislike her for hurting him until you really think about things from her perspective. Idk I just think that it’s a fair assessment to say she’s undeserving of his love at first since the film IMO kind of sets you up to dislike her at times and calls for more inspection into characters like Jenny and Lt. Dan 🤷🏻♀️🤗
This film is a great example of how to do a good story with a flat arc for the protagonist. Forrest doesn't have an arc, there is no lie he needs to learn is false. The other charectors like Jenny and Lieutenant Dan have the arcs because of Forrest.
You can never go wrong with Forrest Gump! One of the best movies ever made!
Tom Hanks is an absolute gem and gorgeous human being 🤍
Hey Erica, I completely agree with you. And yes, Tom Hanks is certainly one of the best actors of all time. Very talented! I think in the Mid-Late 1990s was really Hank's peak, with films like Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Green Mile (and even his vocal performance in Toy Story). As far as Forrest Gump goes, I just find this movie to be very inspirational overall, and I quote it more than most movies I have ever seen! Also, my brother has Autism, which helps me connect with the movie even more (I know Forrest did not have Autism, but him and my brother can relate a bit in that they are both disabled).
I actually posted a video on my channel earlier this year that is almost like a tribute video to Forrest Gump (though I called it a Mashup). You see, there's a band named Family Of The Year, and they used their hit song "Hero" for Richard Linklater's 2014 movie called Boyhood. For my video, I used "Hero" as background music while showing various scenes from Forrest Gump. Aside from matching song lyrics with movie scenes, my intention with the video was to try and create something unique.
If you have a few minutes sometime and are interested, here is a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/Or-sIiNANYg/w-d-xo.html
If you don't check it out, no worries at all! I won't be offended! But thank you so much in advance if you do see it! Have a great day, and stay safe!
Growing up I hated Jenny as a character, thought she was selfish and a bad person. Now that I've grown up, I realize she's just flawed, like an actual person.
(P.S. Bubba Gump Shrimp is amazing, and I even got a Bubba Gump baseball cap from there)
Dan sticking up for Forrest from the two girls at New Years will always be one of my favourite scenes in any movie ever.
Dan thought he hated Forrest for denying him his "destiny", but he really always knew Forrest was just doing his job as a soldier. Dan knew Forrest wasn't as smart or intelligent as most but he also knew that Forrest was a damn good soldier and twice or even three times the man most men are.
I have autism, and I'm a school teacher. Granted, mine isn't the same as Forest's, but then, one of my students is more awkward and less verbal than Forest. We make it work. His grades are actually better than some of the other students'. In some areas he's the best in the class. As for interacting with his classmates, I think it's really good for him and for them to not be only with people who are similar. We're all different, and the sooner kids learn to deal with that, to be nice anyway, and to see the good in our variety, the better the world will be when they're the adults running it. Kids shouldn't have to go to separate schools just because they're different. To suggest that kids who "have some autism" (your words) would be better off in a "special school" is a bit hurtful, and shows how little you know about people with autism. In extreme cases, that might be a good choice, but for quite a lot of us, you'd be robbing both us and the neurotypical people you want to keep us away from. We have a lot to offer the world, and we can't do it if we're relegated to "special schools" and other segregated environments. I realize I paused to write this at almost the beginning of the movie, and there's a good chance you think differently about this by the end of it. I hope so. Maybe you could also reach out and get to know some autistic people, because we're not what you seem to think we are, at least at the point I've reached in this video.
This movie was largely filmed in Savannah Georgia.
I will literally never get tired of this movie
YAAAAY! Freakin' FINALLY! As usual, this reaction was gold, and I'm glad y'all didn't write off Jenny as purely villainous.
Me and my family went to the actual restaurant once and both my brother and dad won the questionare thing the waitress will ask you (basically they ask trivia questions about the movie and if you get one right they keep asking) and the waitress eventually ran out of questions. It was because both of them had literally just spent the past month watching that movie on repeat because it was one of the only DVDs they had.
much of the Thesis of the movie comes from Lieutenant Dan's idea of "Destiny" and Forrest's mama's idea that "You make your own destiny by doing the best with what you're given."
Actually the abuse that Jenny lived when she was a child happens to millions of children, and this is definetelly something that marks their lives forever. Unfortunately it is very common to see people who were abused going on erratic paths or selfdestruction and I think is great how the moves rases the matter.
Everyone miss the fact that in the midst of being attacked, Bubba told Forest to run. Bubba was worried about Forest. That’s a friend.
you guys should watch perks of being a wallflower
An absolute classic!
Saw this in theaters before I could really understand everything (probably 12-13). This movie never fails to make me cry and it's a different part every time. Tom Hanks is the GOAT
Hey KalandKara Zor-El, I totally agree with you! Tom Hanks is certainly one of the best actors of all time. Very talented! I think in the Mid-Late 1990s was really Hank's peak, with films like Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Green Mile (and even his vocal performance in Toy Story). As far as Forrest Gump goes, I just find this movie to be very inspirational overall, and I quote it more than most movies I have ever seen! Also, my brother has Autism, which helps me connect with the movie even more (I know Forrest did not have Autism, but him and my brother can relate a bit in that they are both disabled).
I actually posted a video on my channel back in February that is almost like a tribute video to Forrest Gump (though I called it a Mashup). You see, there's a band named Family Of The Year, and they used their hit song "Hero" for Richard Linklater's 2014 movie called Boyhood. For my video, I used "Hero" as background music while showing various scenes from Forrest Gump. Aside from matching song lyrics with movie scenes, my intention with the video was to try and create something unique.
If you have a few minutes sometime and are interested, here is a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/Or-sIiNANYg/w-d-xo.html
If you don't check it out, no worries at all! I won't be offended! But thank you so much in advance if you do see it! Have a great day, and stay safe!
19:35 my stepdad was in his fourth year in Vietnam as an army veteran in the 101st airborne,
WHILE MY MOM WAS IN 3rd GRADE !
We giggle about it, now that I am almost 40 and my baby brother is also almost 40, but it’s what we giggle about around the table from time to time.
Still happily married, they are!
Is he smart, he's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, and "I miss you, Jenny" always kill me. Oh and "I was destined to be your mama." You getting emotional, fella on my right, got me, too. I've seen this movie roughly 257 times. The first time being with my parents and brother in the movie theater. I love watching reactions and seeing you being emotional was really lovely.
8:09 I have seen so many reactions to this movie, especially people from other countries, and you ACTUALLY noticed when forest explained Jenny ‘s dad was a loving man he was always touching and loving her……
I just want to say I appreciate that you recognized the simple insinuation.
I was one of those little girls, but luckily it wasn’t any of my dad’s
Just, thank you for that acknowledgment in your faces
3 years, 2 months, 14 days and 16 hours.
That actually sounds like a reasonably healthy amount of time to give yourself before getting into a serious relationship after a serious heartbreak.
Literally every time I watch this movie I just sob. At all the same parts. All the damn time.
28:53 the thing is, Jenny knows she doesn't deserve him.
This is one of my favorite movies! I’m glad to see you two chose to react to it 🤗
You most know this is one of the greatest movies of all time… truthfully
When people say they haven't watched this, you're surprised. But then realize that it's so popular, that you feel everyone would have seen it.
I think Jenny didn't tell him because he was all over the country and she couldn't find him LOL
Fun fact the boy who played young Forest actually talked like that at the time we’ll Robert Zemeckis told Hanks to talk to the boy and try and get him to talk differently, Hanks then said that he would just copy the way he talked and that is how he got the accent for Forest Gump
Even tho the line “no but I been on a real big boat” didn’t make the reaction, I still laughed to myself 😂😂
Jenny and Forrest hugging in the pool is really cool. The warrior and the hippie.
This movie presents a profound question at its' core : Do we each have a pre-written destiny, or are we all like floating feathers at the mercy of whatever prevailing currents of air come along ? I believe Forrest concluded that it's probably a little bit of both.
People don’t seem to get how screwed up Jenny really was because of what her father did to her, she probably thought she would hurt Forrest more if she stuck around and Forrest didn’t truly understand what she went through with her father.
I thought that the feather being placed in the book, even being noticed by the right person, was significant.