The "is he smart" line destroys me every time. He's so good at not letting the bullying and comments outwardly affect him throughout his life that you could go the whole movie thinking that maybe it really doesn't bother him that much; and then you see how self-conscious he is about it and it just kills me.
It may also be true that Forrest wasn't affected by it *internally* either, but he knew that it was always meant to be hurtful when others called him stupid, even if he didn't get mad about it. But of course, because he knows it can be seen as hurtful, he wanted to make sure his little boy wouldn't be treated the same as him.
It's not even so much the line as Tom Hanks' absolutely perfect delivery of it. The expression in his eyes, the slight tremor in his voice...absolutely masterful.
@@TheMadMurf Because he’s named after a man who’s supposed to remind him that sometimes people do things that just don’t make no sense. And stupid is as stupid does. Momma taught him well.
Watching a reactor who has an actual grasp and understanding of the historical events depicted in the film is such a breath of fresh air. Fantastic reaction!
@@berktv2936 I'm pretty sure she knew who that was because she laughed when Forrest said he was signing autographs for no particular reason. i just think she missed the Imagine reference.
If you notice at the end when he’s playing ping-pong with his son, he misses the ball because he’s looking at his son unlike earlier in his life he never missed the ball because he always kept his eye on it. He couldn’t help but keep his eye on his son.
He had his eye on the ball. Only thing is now his son was the ball. It's beautiful. I didn't notice it at first (when it came out) but ya. It's a great touch!
You are literally the best reactor ever. You thoroughly understand what you're watching and the underlying substance. As opposed to making ridiculous snarks like other reactors. Forrest Gump is such an amazing movie with alot we all could learn from. Love, kindness, perseverance, and acceptance.
Yeah honestly you're the first person that has gotten the astronaut reference and the Free Bird reference from any reaction video I've seen. @@LiteWeightReacting
Also I'm sure you probably got the reference but the feather that was trapped in the book that fell out from the beginning of the movie that flew away at the end is a bird feather
Gary Sinise, who played Lieutenant Dan, has been doing so much to help veterans ever since he did this movie. He has a foundation, the Gary Sinise Foundation, that helps veterans and their families. He was even made an honorary marine by the United States Marine Corps and an honorary Chief Petty Officer by the United States Navy. He is one of few actors I have immense respect for.
God Bless Gary Sinise, his family and his organization! We watched him and The Lt. Dan Band entertain the troops and families. He was taping his show during the weekdays and would entertain the troops on the weekends. He’s a true Patriot and a Godsend. ❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️
This was an absolute delight. You're sadly one of only a few reactors who sympathized with Jenny, and understood that her self-destructiveness and how she was constantly pushing Forrest away was a result of the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, and how it destroyed her sense of self-worth. So many people only see the bad decisions she makes, but don't consider the amount of self-loathing she feels, how she views herself as 'damaged goods' and how she thinks she doesn't deserve love. At the same time I love how emotionally intelligent and wise Forrest is. He may not have a high IQ, but he's great at putting his thoughts and feelings into words, and never strays from his convictions.
@@LiteWeightReacting I actually had to make a video on my film channel (in Spanish, don't worry, no promo here!) defending her. I'm really disappointed in how many haters Jenny has. Especially in this day and age. When she says "you don't wanna be with me", she means it. She doesn't want to curse the pure soul that Forrest is. It's her not thinking she's good enough for him. And it speaks of people's superficiality to assume she thinks the opposite. And then there's the way in which people think Jenny was waiting til she was dying to get in touch with Forrest. Not so. She waited til she realised she was worthy, and, tragically, by then was dying. And you know, at the end, when Forrest tells Jr "I'll be right here", he means it literally. All the money, all the success, doesn't take away from the fact that all Forrest ever wanted was a relationship with the woman he loved. And now the son they share is all he has left.
@@tehdipstick I agree. I am so glad that you got this movie for exactly what it was. Jenny had been damaged to the point of virtually no return and the only one that saved her could be Forest. It is refreshing to be in the presence of people that understand the sheer pain that Jenny had. This was an awesome reaction.
@@LiteWeightReactingit wasn’t always so. In 1994 everyone sympathized with Jenny. It seems the Jenny hating became popular in the last 10 years or so. There was a period about 15 years ago when Titanic also started to get a lot of hate for no reason, but that fad seems to went away. I think it’s just a fad that some people latch onto to be part of the “cool kids” until that fad wears away.
I am so happy that a young lady like yourself is so familiar with the historical events portrayed. Then you tell us you taught history. It gives this old history teacher some hope.
@@Mrfailstandstil Just wait till you're old enough to remember when you were "a young man in your thirties." That's when you'll think of yourself as a baby in your twenties.
5 minutes in and I can tell this is going to be a top tier reaction to this movie. Your empathy and perceptiveness to small things like the principal’s negotiation and Elvis’ influence shows that this is going to be an exhausting experience for you, hopefully in the best way :)
Forrest Gump is based on book of the same name. I didn’t like it (the book) as much. It’s more slapstick, with Forrest getting into ridiculous situations. It seemed more cynical than the movie. The movie follows the same basic plot but gives it more heart.
@@LiteWeightReacting you name dropping Amelia Bedelia made me like your channel more. Also in regards to Lieutenant Dan, he does become an astronaut in Apollo 13, although he doesn't get to go to the moon.
I’m a 28 year old man who’s pretty good at hiding my emotions, but this movie makes me cry every time I watch it. It should be required viewing in school. Not only does it show historical events in a tumultuous time in America, but also shows the dangers of addiction. Shows how working hard and having a little luck can get you out of poverty. It shows that sacrifice for your family is noble no matter the circumstances. It shows you that you don’t have to be the smartest to succeed. It shows you how having friends can help you in your weakest moments. It shows forgiveness is very powerful. I understand that people may see it in a different light, but this movie is very important to me. I lost my momma in 2021 and I never got to say goodbye like Forrest did. I miss her and my dad every day.
@@hercdrc You say we get to ourselves to cry. That the point. Back when I was into watching movies the kids was home, I was married so I’d be getting out of dodge before the eyeballs started leaking ! lol. But yes we all cry and I’ll say this, I don’t hide it much anymore.
The best thing about this reaction is that you have actual knowledge of history and events. So many young people watch this movie and are lost on so many of these people, places and events. It's an indictment of our education system. Also your understanding of Jenny and her psychological issues from what she went through as a child. So many people just look at and see how much they like Forrest and just immediately put blame on her for how she treats him without even trying to understand why.
Hi Don! I can thank my history degree for my history knowledge and yes an an educator I pretty much knew all too well what Jenny was going through at home 😢
yeah, i´m with you on that. many other reactors hated on jenny and didn´t understood her. i think her character is perfectly written and 100% understandable, with all she´s been through
I think the story is, he almost got hit by a taxi cab that wasn't part of the movie while passing over the street, but Hoffman stayed in character, slammed his hand (or both hands) on the hood and yelled "Hey! I'm walking here!" and continued with the scene.
Absolutely. It is a detail that most people miss, but one that I always love. It shows how Lt Dan had made peace with his life and what had happened there.
I have seen dozens of reactions to this movie, and this is the best reaction that I have ever seen. You picked up on every single emotional, historical, and plot nuance of the movie, perfectly
@@LiteWeightReacting but he is right, you got watergate and what i really like, you understood jenny. in many other reactions the people hated on her and said she went only back to him because of the money. it was never about money for jenny. after all thischaracter went through, i completely understand her and think she´s written perfectly.
One thing I realized about this film is that the most important people in Forrest's life are people who are open to him. Jenny and Bubba let him sit with him, and Lt.Dan allowed him into his life. All lives changed because of him. Be curious, not judgemental.
Ted Lasso uses that quote in one of my favorite episodes of that series. He attributes the quote to Walt Whitman. I think that you would love that show. It’s only three seasons.
The way I saw it, the life of Jenny was directly contrasting that of Forrest Gump. Forrest was content with the life as it was presented to him and learned from it, whereas Jenny tried so hard to control her own life and it often led to bad choices when she should have accepted that her destiny is already written and she can't control where she'll end up.
The advice Jenny gave to Forrest to "just run" if he's in danger while in Vietnam hit me so hard this watch. That was her coping mechanism as a child to escape her abusive father and was still her coping mechanism as an adult because it was all she knew as well as in this very scene as she runs from Forrest.
Correct sir! RUNNING is the most obvious metaphor in the movie. Forrest LITERALLY runs and it's how he not only journeys through life, but helps himself as well as others. Overcoming the earliest of obstacles which is braces on his legs. Jenny is running away from life to cope with her problems She has to do a full circle to forgive herself and love herself because she thinks she is not worthy. It explains why she jumps from abusive men that treat her like shit. Only to find that the constant love, Forrest, was there the whole time.
@@thegorn68 The running metaphor also applies to Lt. Dan. He loses his legs and literally can't run anymore. And then he becomes the first character in the movie to come to terms with his demons, when he thanks Forrest for saving his life,
@@charlize1253 Yes. It's also an excellent choice during the wedding scene when they are taking their vows, we see a back shot view and everyone in the audience is sitting except Lt. Dan who is standing in the back. I wonder if that was intentional? Such a great movie that you can catch things even when you've watched it 500 times like I have. LOL!
Running as a coping mechanism hits hard after Jenny leaves Forrest after living with him in the house so Forrest is so broken he just starts running. First at the end of the road and then thru the town and then thru the country. He even says he didnt know why, he just felt like running.
“Sometimes soldiers come home to their mammas from Vietnam without any legs. Sometimes they don’t come home at all. That’s a bad thing. That’s all I have to say about that”- Forrest at the Vietnam rally
I have heard many people claim to know what he said but if it was anything that profound no way it would not have been in the movie. I think they left it up to everyone to imagine what they might have wanted him to say.
@@StanSwan As others have said, without a shadow of doubt and tons of evidence, it did absolutely say that. When you can see someone in a movie speaking but can't hear them, that doesn't mean they aren't saying a specifically scripted line. They don't have them make up unintelligible words.
When Forrest was in that interview with John Lennon, everything Lennon said became the song "Imagine" 🙂 This is one of the most heart warming stories ever
How refreshing to see someone so young that actually is educated about historical & cultural events that happened before they were born, now that's a beautiful attribute. Great reaction! ❤from🇨🇦 ✌
As a 5th grade teacher who teaches Social Studies to all the 5th grade classes at our school (which is US History), seeing a youngster know the historical references in this movie was a breath of fresh air. And it gave me a fraction of hope for the future. I've watched too many reactors watch this movie and miss so many of the themes and messages this movie has because they didn't know basic history. Thank you. Easily one of my favorite reactions ever.
I have watched a lot of reactions to this movie. It was refreshing to see a reaction from someone who understood the historical context, as well as having the emotional empathy to appreciate it. Thanks!
I love how you knew the meaning of all the historical stuff in this movie. I just found this channel about a week ago and I really enjoy watching movies with you. Please don't ever change......lol
One of the best reactions to FG I've seen - you really get all the nuances, AND the history. I shudder at how many reactors can't identify the major historical events 🙄
Abbie Hoffman, a real-life antiwar protester is the character who is wearing the American flag shirt and speaks at the rally in Washington, D.C., in the movie, Forrest Gump (1994). The part is played by Richard D'Alessandro. I really enjoyed your reaction to this. New subscriber here.
That was a beautiful reaction. You're emotionally attuned, earnest, and you sense depth. You don't make comments like "that was a dub, that was a greenscreen, the effects here are iffy" to show off how smart you are while constantly breaking immersion. You just enjoy the movie the way it was meant to be enjoyed - as a complete work of art.
I try my hardest to be authentic! Many times, people believe it is an act but it’s comments like this one that validate why I do what I do. So thank you for sharing this 😊
My favorite movie and your reaction does it justice! Love your reactions and commentary! When I was in college, my mom died with pulmonary fibrosis. Four days before she died, she had a very similar talk to me as Forrest's mom has with him before she dies. Ever since then, that scene gets me! With all the astronaut talk between Lieutenant Dan and Forrest, Gary Sinise and Tom Hanks were astronauts in Apollo 13 later on! That's a good movie you might like also!
TeeZee, first off thank you for the incredibly generous donation! Also, sorry to hear about your mom. I can’t imagine how closely that scene must hit for you. It is also such a coincidence about the whole Apollo 13 thing. Definitely could be a great reaction down the line!
This is one of my favorite reactions. I love your empathy, your heart, and tears for this movie. I don't get tired of watching this gem, in fact, I watched it yesterday lol. Thank you for doing this. I hope you are doing well. Take care.
Your empathy and intelligence shown through during the whole video. You made the reaction very enjoyable, the best I have seen out of all the big channels I have watched. And the editing is the perfect and didn't cut out too much. You have a new subscriber.
I’ve seen a lot of people “react” to Forrest Gump but there hasn’t been anyone who dove so deeply into it as you have. You caught EVERYTHING and appreciated EVERYTHING. This was so wonderful. Thank you for watching and sharing. ❤
I have seen many, many, movie reactions, but I must say, this was the BEST reaction to ANY movie I have EVER seen from ANYONE!!! This was NOT a "LiteWeight" reaction!! Forrest Gump is certainly a laugh/cry/laugh/cry movie that pulls the emotional heart strings from one extreme to the other and back again, and your reactions were wonderfully perfect, right on point and genuine. Wonderful stuff that came from a really tender-hearted lady. This was the first time that I have seen one of your reactions, but it won't be the last. You have my subscription. Best regards!
One interesting thing I’ve only recently discovered about this movie is where Tom Hanks came up with the voice. This is based on a book, so there’s no source on how the character really sounds. He says they filmed the scenes with “little Forrest” first. That actor was from the south and just spoke normally. Tom then did an impression of little Forrest.
That is the most hear warming facts I know about this film. I also know that the young Forest Gump actor Michael Conner Humphreys, joined the United States Army, did a tour in Iraq and came back home, just like Forest Gump.
Yes! Tom Hanks said on a talk show that instead of inventing a voice that a young actor would have to try and copy, Tom just copied Michael’s Mississippi accent. I also saw a special on PBS about Gulf War veterans. Michael Connor Humphreys was in it. While he did act again after his Army service, he has also been active in helping his fellow veterans deal with PTSD. 🫡
It is one of the most beautiful and saddest stories that there is. And the older I get, the more emotional I get every time I revisit it, even though I know it so well. Wonderful reaction. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing all these beautiful moments raw and unvarnished. Jenny couldn’t come back to him until she knew she was healed enough to the point where she felt she was worthy of his love. You are a precious soul and sharing this journey with your perspective was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. I thank you so much for sharing your heart and mind with us. 🌹
THE best reaction I’ve ever seen. You got every historical reference and all of the humor. You knew the music. It is a rare find now days, for a youngster like yourself to have a clue what they saw in this movie. Your parents must have done a wonderful job raising you. Thank you for this.
I agree. In fact the only reference this remarkable young lady seems to have missed was the interaction between John Lennon and Dick Cavett referencing the lyrics to "Imagine". And in fairness, that song was before her time, I'm guessing. Very well done on such a genuine and heartfelt reaction.
30:16 That’s from Midnight Cowboy (1969) said by Dustin Hoffman. Also, fun fact: Dustin improvised that line because as he was crossing the street, a REAL NY Taxi cab almost ran him over. He really was yelling at the Taxi driver lol.
"Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it." -Bubba 🦐
It's funny because I saw this opening weekend and our 1,000-person-plus, pathetic-looking, blood-shot-eyed audience walked out of the theatre, and everyone waiting outside to enter the next showing was like "What in the hell happened in there?!?"
I remember a magazine did a movie investigation, Dan and Forrest invested a 3% stake in Apple that in today's money is worth $90 billion. If this were real that means Forrest and Dan would be the 13th richest people in the world
That wouldn't even include the Bubba Gump Shrimp Corporation. I know it's a fictional company, but the movie played it out like they were the nation's shrimp barons, what with their expose in Fortune magazine and all. Could be worth another several billion in today's money. It looks like Lt Dan was a lot better businessman than he was a soldier.
@@operator0 Believe it or not Bubba Gump shrimp was so popular in the movie that a real place opened called Bubba Gump Shrimp. It's still open today and has places all over the US
@@XXX_Carnage_XXX I am aware of that, but it's not the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company that was portrayed in the film. I'm sure the current company doesn't own a single shrimp boat, for instance.
"I said if you were ever a captain, I'd be your first mate." "You said also said you'd be an astronaut, I don't see you on the Moon" Watch Apollo 13 X3
I always loved how Jenny was depicted. All judgment was up to the audience because we would only see how her actions hurt Forrest, not his judgment of her. One thing that stuck in Forrest mind was that she said he doesn't understand what love is. But clearly Jenny is the one who has a broken understanding of love and for obvious reasons. So I always feel like I have to forgive Jenny for misunderstanding love and accidentally taking it out on Forrest. She never tried to hurt him and it was never hurtful enough to change Forrest's pure heart. So, forgiveness!
Forest is pretty intelligent where it truly matters. Emotionally he's very well adjusted considering the life he's had. I've known too many people like Jenny, so it always kills me to see how her life turns out. Never experiencing real, selfless love messes you up.
Right... jenny loved forrest so much that she kept friendzoning him until she gave him pity sex and then kept his child away from him as long as she could before her free spirit disease crippled her to death. Forrest sure was the luckiest dude ever to have her......
Finally, someone who understands Jenny. So many people hate on her. She isn't doing the things she does to hurt Forrest. She's just trying to cope with her trauma as best she can. As an outsider, we can see that being with Forrest would be the best thing for her; but she wouldn't see it that way. As a survivor, she wouldn't think she was worthy of Forrest's love. She would think that leaving him was the loving thing to do. It always saddens me when people blame her for her actions when she's just doing the best she can.
I also thought that Jenny was self aware enough to know that she was too toxic and would have been a terrible element in Forrest’s life until she eventually straightened out herself. So while her actions of pushing him away were outwardly cruel, it was for the best at the time. Then again, as Forrest may say, maybe both are right… 🫤
He couldn't help loving her and she couldn't help being messed up but she could sure as shit refrain from stealing years of happiness from two people who's only crime was loving her.
Nope, she's selfish. We don't even know if that is Forest's son. It's still fine because at least the child is safe. But in the end, she was only reconsidering the mistakes she made due to the fact that her son would have been a ward of the state after her death. She only came back for convenience. She never loved him. It was all about her till the birth of her son. Lots of people go through trauma, but they don't take it out on others. Still, I don't blame her. She always knew she was no good, and that was why she never stayed. But then she ran out of time and needed to be cared for. She came back for convenience and safety. But like I said, I can't really blame her. Hurt people hurt people.
The "Is he smart, or is he.. *places hand on his own chest*" of course just RIPS your heart out.. One of my other favorite, perfectly delivered lines is when she asks him why he's so good to her.. and he gives her a look, almost slighlty confused as how she could even question why and just says so matter of factly "You're my girl!" Ughh.. my favorite movie of all time!
One of the best reactions I have ever seen to this movie , in that you totally got "Jenny" , many people hate her , but you linked up all those 'bird' references , even the one as Forrest walks away from her grave . It's amazing how many reactors miss that significant part of the movie and hate Jenny .
And that bird occurance after Jenny’s grave was completely coincidental during the filming of that little scene and director knew it had to be the take they would use. Angel must’ve given the project a little wink.
Wow, what a great reaction! You say more with your eyes and facial expressions than others say with words. This movie is quite a journey, isn't it? Like you said, the soundtrack is unbelievable too. "I'm walking here!" is a Dustin Hoffman line from 'Midnight Cowboy', just another of the million references in this movie. I wasn't sure if you caught that Forrest gave John Lennon the lyrics to 'Imagine' when they were on the Dick Cavett Show. Lastly, Lt. Dan did become an astronaut when Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise starred in 'Apollo 13' together the following year lol. This is a masterpiece of a movie, and your understanding, empathy, knowledge, and wit made this a masterpiece of a reaction. I really enjoyed it, thank you!
Forrest Gump hits, because as you get older, you learn that some people you care about, that are going through stuff, as much as you want to fix you, dont need you to fix them, or control them. But to just be there. Whenever they need it. It's scary because, as you do this, you hope they find themselves before it's too late. Forrest like many, should love unconditionally. Not only because they want them for themselves in their life. Masterpiece that I watch like 4 times a year, every year.
"I'm walking here" is originally from "Midnight Cowboy". This movie did a variation on the scene. In fact, the original scene wasn't planned. They were trying to shoot a scene using hidden cameras across the street. Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight made several attempts to time their walking and talking to match up with the street-light changing so they could keep walking. They finally did it and a cab driver tried to sneak through the intersection, bumping Hoffman. Hoffman ad-libbed the line and they just kept going. It turned out to be the best take, so they kept it. Hoffman talked about it on "Inside The Actors Studio" years ago.
@@LiteWeightReacting I was wondering if the kind of cross-hatching tattoo on your right arm is ogham, an ancient script from Ireland? It looks just like that.
Jenny was symbolic of Gomer and Forrest was symbolic of Hosea the prophet in the Bible who was Gomer's husband. Book of Hosea. The feather at the beginning and end symbolizes the Holy Spirit guiding Forrest as he walked through his unknown (life is like a box of chocolates) future by faith.
Everyone will post a bunch of stuff, but my favorite thing was about Lt. Dan finally making peace with God. So much so, that he was engaged to a Vietnamese woman after going through the Vietnam War. Just shows that he doesn't have any animosity for that country or race. Getting the true context to the box of chocolates line is always heartbreaking. One year later and the actor for Lt. Dan (Gary Sinise) was alongside Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 as an astronaut :). I would love to see you possibly react to Japanese Anime movie called A Silent Voice. It deals with some heavy stuff, but it honestly beautiful the way they handle everything.
@@LiteWeightReacting I don't want to give too much away, but this is a very vague description. A grade-school student with a hearing impairment is bullied and transfers to another school. Years later, the former bully is tormented by his behavior and sets out to make amends. You find all this out at the start of the movie, but there are way more themes than just this. If you do end up watching it, I recommend Japanese with subs because the acting is so good. I've watched it now in both English and with subs.
Everyone overlooks the symbolism of Lt. Dan. Forrest and Jenny spend the movie running, both physically and metaphorically, away from their pain (Jenny, and then Forrest after Jenny leaves him). Lt. Dan loses his legs and can't run, then becomes the first character to come to terms with himself, when he thanks Forrest for saving his life.
The YT algorithm dropped your channel into my mix, and this is the first reaction of yours I’ve seen. I don’t want to sound like a total fanboi here, but I am very impressed. I have watched a lot of movie reactions… at least enough to form some quick opinions about the reactors themselves. You rank with the very best I’ve seen. I’ve developed a real appreciation for those who are very sharp, who don’t miss a trick, who understand what’s going on, who get the nuances, and who are well and widely educated enough to get both the historical and cultural references. And who are entertaining without over-powering the movie with their “personality.” 🙄 It’s a shame but those qualities are not at ALL common among reaction videos on YT. But you check all those boxes and then some. This is one of my favorites and I thoroughly enjoyed “sharing” it with you. Thank you. Sub’d. All the best.
Jenny had her own demons and trauma to sort out and overcome. She always loved Forrest, it just took her a long time to realize it. He was literally the only person in her entire life that treated her with love and respect, he was the only constant in her life. I firmly believe that Forrest and his love for her is the reason she climbed down off that ledge that night. He always protected her even when he wasn't there. Also, this movie inspired Gary Sinise(Lt. Dan) to start doing charity work for veterans and troops deployed overseas. He created The Lt. Dan Band to entertain troops and veterans and all proceeds are donated to various veteran and military charities. Another great movie centered around the Vietnam War is "Good Morning Vietnam" starring Robin Williams. I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it.
Saw this in the theater when it came out. Everyone, including me, was laughing and crying, giggling and bawling, and everything in between. A flat out, hardcore emotional rollercoaster of a movie. Watching your reaction made me remember what that felt like. THANK YOU!
The “I’m walking here” line and pounding the hood of the NY taxi came from the 1969 movie Midnight Cowboy where Dustin Hoffman was almost hit by a taxi while filming and he yelled at the driver and kept in character. So this was a hat tip to that older movie.
@@LiteWeightReacting The "I'm walking here" line originated in a movie called Midnight Cowboy when a cab driver drove through the set as they were filming in New York City and almost hit Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voigt as they were crossing the street, Hoffman ad libbed the line and kept in character yelling at the cabbie and it made it into the film (as a matter of fact, the song you hear playing during the scene in Forrest Gump is from the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack as an obvious homage to it). It has been recreated in several films like Forrest Gump and Back to the Future II: th-cam.com/video/jgeEq09pkIU/w-d-xo.html Here's Dustin Hoffman talking about it: th-cam.com/video/O5UFL9qSff0/w-d-xo.html
The director was Robert Zemeckis. He also directed "Castaway" and the "Back to the Future" trilogy, amongst many other great movies. A wonderful talent who won an Oscar along with Tom Hanks for this gem of a movie!
Your empathy and emotional intelligence is beautiful to watch. Thanks for creating the content you do, it is truly appreciated. Thank you for being you! ❤
Wow. You are one of the few reactors who got all of the references and everything else about this movie. Well done. Abbie Hoffman was part of the march on Washington in 1967, but he wasn't at the event at the Mall. Instead he was at the Pentagon threatening to levitate it. He was famously arrested for wearing a US flag shirt later in 1968. "I'm walkin' here!" to the cabbie is from Midnight Cowboy. That was just a sly reference to it.
I love the sympathy you show to Jenny. My childhood sweetheart was killed by her father, as well as her baby sister, her two brothers, and her mother. May 16, 1969. Sleep tight Dana. See you some day soon.
Definitely one of the better reactions to this film. A serious lack of shitting on Jenny for the emotional trauma that gets in the way of her ever accepting love or herself. And I really appreciate that because it’s legitimately rare.
Thanks for sharing this! Her childhood was awful. Forrest, even though he was a bright spot of her childhood, he was apart of it nonetheless. It makes sense she would want to distance herself from him.
I have probably seen this movie a few hundred times in my 30 years of life and I have Never made the connection of free bird playing during the balcony scene. Awesome catch!
Loved how you caught so many of the references. Many people doing reactions to this movie have never heard of Watergate or the assassinations shown in the movie. You caught both the laughter and the tears. Great reaction.
There are certain characters in movies that are just the purest wholesome, like Forrest Gump and Rocky Balboa. Those people that don't know a stranger and just have a different way of looking at life. Also, RIP roomate's bath robe. You can go ahead and keep that one Forrest.
This is my first time seeing a reaction of yours hit my feed. Thanks for this! I really appreciate your emotional intelligence. With so much of the resonance of a reaction being found in the empathic realm, your presence is really exceptional.
51 year old man who is known for taking no shit off people and I am an ox of a man. I was weeping like a baby with you when Forrest is scared his son is going to be like him. It always gets my heart. Subscribed.
55:49 A lot of people blast Jenny for constantly running away- but my take is that she believed Forrest was "pure" and she was not, stemming from her years of abuse and subsequent self-harm. And despite truly loving him, she felt that being with him would tarnish his purity. That is why she kept running from him. It isn't until she knows that she is dying that she reaches out to him. Not because she wants to live the "easy life" as Forrest is a millionaire, but that she knows he is the one man, the *only* man that would be able to take care of their son Little Forrest after she is gone. BTW the "unknown virus" she died of- many think it may have been AIDS because it was the early 1980s and AIDS was still unknown in the medical community. However she died of Hepatitis C (also unidentified at the time) most likely from sharing needles during her drug use.
I watch lots of reactions to this movie. Hers are about as ungenuine as you can get in the way that she has seen this before. She knows it’s coming up.
This is truly an underrated movie. Congratulations for noticing things like the Freebird song, and Lt. Dan’s titanium legs linking him to becoming an astronaut like he promised. I’ve never known anybody to make those connections before.
You didn’t seem to pick up on it and honestly, I didn’t either the first couple of times I saw this movie, but Forrest essentially writes “Imagine” for John Lennon while on the Dick Cavet show. Forrest says in China “there’s no possessions and no religion.” Then Dick says it’s “hard to imagine.” And John says “it’s easy if you try, Dick.” These are all lyrics to the song.
@@LiteWeightReacting you don’t know “Imagine?!” Way to make me feel old! Well, it’s a classic. And probably Lennon’s most famous song and album of his solo career. He was shot in 1981, a year before I was born. So the ripple effects of his death were still present on the news when I was little.
I’ve heard people say he earned his Oscar for the “is he smart?” line - and he does…. But also that scene with the Black Panthers where Jenny’s boyfriend hits her and they zoom in on his face. It’s a good shot bc I feel like it portrays that tunnel vision, but his expression and the look in his eyes was so real
Amazing reaction video. So much empathy. Congratulation to your husband that he found such a beautyful and good hearted ❤ wife! Greetings from germany.
@@Kaiverze We know what she did. Maybe stop and think about why she did those things. Broken people will push people away to protect those people from being broken by them. ❤
@@staytrue5307 the thing is, forrest was not mentally at jennys level and she knew it since the beginning. In spite of knowing that, she still did what she did like the true scum she is. Now let's suppose, if forrest would've been at her mental level, he would've actually seen and understood the type of scum jenny was and would've moved on from her and gotten to live a way more fulfilling life with a real family of his own. But no, jenny always knew she forever had him wrapped around her finger and made sure to always remind him of that and still took advantage of him right until the very end. A truly sickening and unforgivable type of villain.
Wow. Probably the best reaction to this show I've seen. You caught all the key points in the story and was so knowledgeable about past events that you were able to see an appreciate the way they tied them into the plot. Most importantly, I like the fact that you understood Jenny's character and why she was the way she was. Many ignorant people chalk it up to bad life decisions and completely disregard the root. 10/10 reaction! Loved every bit of it and it's been a long, long time since I've cried along with a reactor. Needless to say I was immersed lol. Bless!
This movie is a classic and full of memorable quotes. "Night time in the Army is a lonely time" and "Sometimes I guess there just aren't enough rocks" are two of my favorites.
The "is he smart" line destroys me every time. He's so good at not letting the bullying and comments outwardly affect him throughout his life that you could go the whole movie thinking that maybe it really doesn't bother him that much; and then you see how self-conscious he is about it and it just kills me.
It is so powerful 🥹
It may also be true that Forrest wasn't affected by it *internally* either, but he knew that it was always meant to be hurtful when others called him stupid, even if he didn't get mad about it.
But of course, because he knows it can be seen as hurtful, he wanted to make sure his little boy wouldn't be treated the same as him.
Same, everytime. I've seen it so many and I'm always like not this time.
It's not even so much the line as Tom Hanks' absolutely perfect delivery of it. The expression in his eyes, the slight tremor in his voice...absolutely masterful.
@@TheMadMurf Because he’s named after a man who’s supposed to remind him that sometimes people do things that just don’t make no sense. And stupid is as stupid does. Momma taught him well.
Watching a reactor who has an actual grasp and understanding of the historical events depicted in the film is such a breath of fresh air. Fantastic reaction!
Thank you!!! Makes me happy to read this! I actually taught 9th-10th grade history for about a decade!
But I’m surprised you didn’t appear to know who John Lennon was.
@@berktv2936 I'm pretty sure she knew who that was because she laughed when Forrest said he was signing autographs for no particular reason. i just think she missed the Imagine reference.
And not nonstop chatter...
@@LiteWeightReacting A decade??! You look far too young to have a decade under your belt!! ('scuse me while I grab my cane)
If you notice at the end when he’s playing ping-pong with his son, he misses the ball because he’s looking at his son unlike earlier in his life he never missed the ball because he always kept his eye on it. He couldn’t help but keep his eye on his son.
Omg, thank you! I had never noticed that! Genuinely a beautiful movie!
He had his eye on the ball. Only thing is now his son was the ball. It's beautiful. I didn't notice it at first (when it came out) but ya. It's a great touch!
This is my all-time favorite movie and I've never noticed that before, thank you!
I never noticed that wow!
Cool 👍🏼
You are literally the best reactor ever. You thoroughly understand what you're watching and the underlying substance. As opposed to making ridiculous snarks like other reactors. Forrest Gump is such an amazing movie with alot we all could learn from. Love, kindness, perseverance, and acceptance.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoy my reactions 😊 makes me so happy!!!
Yeah honestly you're the first person that has gotten the astronaut reference and the Free Bird reference from any reaction video I've seen. @@LiteWeightReacting
Also I'm sure you probably got the reference but the feather that was trapped in the book that fell out from the beginning of the movie that flew away at the end is a bird feather
I have to agree -- your knowledge of history is so much better than other reactors. I appreciate you bringing a brain to the movie.
My thoughts exactly
Lt Dan did become an astronaut with Forrest the following year…in Apollo 13. 😆
It’s so funny that happened!
Don't forget Mission to Mars 😂
They actually go “way back” to when they were working for the police dept. in The Green Mile. 😂
@@tfpp1 Sorta, Hanks plays a prison guard, Sinese plays a newspaper reporter who covered the case, whom Hanks questions.
@@bamachine yeah but you knew what I meant, and that’s the important part.
Gary Sinise, who played Lieutenant Dan, has been doing so much to help veterans ever since he did this movie. He has a foundation, the Gary Sinise Foundation, that helps veterans and their families. He was even made an honorary marine by the United States Marine Corps and an honorary Chief Petty Officer by the United States Navy. He is one of few actors I have immense respect for.
Yea and his band Lt. Dan does benefit concerts for the troops
Got to meet Gary Sinise in Kuwait when his band came to perform for us. He's the real deal. A really great guy and we all appreciated him coming out.
Gary Sinise is a genuinely great guy, his work for veterans is truly the best, he definitely shows up and shames the government's lack of effort.
God Bless Gary Sinise, his family and his organization! We watched him and The Lt. Dan Band entertain the troops and families. He was taping his show during the weekdays and would entertain the troops on the weekends. He’s a true Patriot and a Godsend.
❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️
@@kfreedom1444 Amen!
This was an absolute delight. You're sadly one of only a few reactors who sympathized with Jenny, and understood that her self-destructiveness and how she was constantly pushing Forrest away was a result of the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, and how it destroyed her sense of self-worth. So many people only see the bad decisions she makes, but don't consider the amount of self-loathing she feels, how she views herself as 'damaged goods' and how she thinks she doesn't deserve love.
At the same time I love how emotionally intelligent and wise Forrest is. He may not have a high IQ, but he's great at putting his thoughts and feelings into words, and never strays from his convictions.
It’s been really shocking to me that people don’t sympathize with Jenny more 😢
@@LiteWeightReacting I actually had to make a video on my film channel (in Spanish, don't worry, no promo here!) defending her. I'm really disappointed in how many haters Jenny has. Especially in this day and age. When she says "you don't wanna be with me", she means it. She doesn't want to curse the pure soul that Forrest is. It's her not thinking she's good enough for him. And it speaks of people's superficiality to assume she thinks the opposite. And then there's the way in which people think Jenny was waiting til she was dying to get in touch with Forrest. Not so. She waited til she realised she was worthy, and, tragically, by then was dying. And you know, at the end, when Forrest tells Jr "I'll be right here", he means it literally. All the money, all the success, doesn't take away from the fact that all Forrest ever wanted was a relationship with the woman he loved. And now the son they share is all he has left.
@@tehdipstick I agree. I am so glad that you got this movie for exactly what it was. Jenny had been damaged to the point of virtually no return and the only one that saved her could be Forest.
It is refreshing to be in the presence of people that understand the sheer pain that Jenny had.
This was an awesome reaction.
I’m sure there’s more than a few reactors that sympathize. I don’t recall anyone not understanding or maybe I’m not remembering idk
@@LiteWeightReactingit wasn’t always so. In 1994 everyone sympathized with Jenny. It seems the Jenny hating became popular in the last 10 years or so. There was a period about 15 years ago when Titanic also started to get a lot of hate for no reason, but that fad seems to went away. I think it’s just a fad that some people latch onto to be part of the “cool kids” until that fad wears away.
I am so happy that a young lady like yourself is so familiar with the historical events portrayed. Then you tell us you taught history. It gives this old history teacher some hope.
Well from one history teacher to the other… thank you for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊
@@LiteWeightReacting That explaines it XD
come on bro, she's like 35
@@Mrfailstandstil And now what? Missing education is not bound to bein young but to being a stupid F
@@Mrfailstandstil Just wait till you're old enough to remember when you were "a young man in your thirties." That's when you'll think of yourself as a baby in your twenties.
finally someone who doesn't get mad at Jenny but instead has sympathy for her and her hard life
5 minutes in and I can tell this is going to be a top tier reaction to this movie. Your empathy and perceptiveness to small things like the principal’s negotiation and Elvis’ influence shows that this is going to be an exhausting experience for you, hopefully in the best way :)
This makes me so happy! Hope you enjoy the rest!
LiteWeightReacting I was impressed with your knowledge of history.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
- George Santayana
This film balances optimism and sadness so beautifully.
Really well said! I agree!
@@LiteWeightReacting I think you'd also really like The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. It's older but it has kind of the same themes.
Forrest Gump is based on book of the same name. I didn’t like it (the book) as much. It’s more slapstick, with Forrest getting into ridiculous situations. It seemed more cynical than the movie. The movie follows the same basic plot but gives it more heart.
Laughing and crying in the same minute.
@@LiteWeightReacting you name dropping Amelia Bedelia made me like your channel more. Also in regards to Lieutenant Dan, he does become an astronaut in Apollo 13, although he doesn't get to go to the moon.
I’m a 28 year old man who’s pretty good at hiding my emotions, but this movie makes me cry every time I watch it. It should be required viewing in school. Not only does it show historical events in a tumultuous time in America, but also shows the dangers of addiction. Shows how working hard and having a little luck can get you out of poverty. It shows that sacrifice for your family is noble no matter the circumstances. It shows you that you don’t have to be the smartest to succeed. It shows you how having friends can help you in your weakest moments. It shows forgiveness is very powerful.
I understand that people may see it in a different light, but this movie is very important to me. I lost my momma in 2021 and I never got to say goodbye like Forrest did. I miss her and my dad every day.
I’m a 57 year old man and I will not watch this movie with anyone because I’m wiping tears away. Don’t want to lose my man card ! Lol
All men cry my friend, we just do it when we are by our selves. And this movie is one good reason to cry no matter who you are or where you come from.
@@hercdrc
You say we get to ourselves to cry. That the point. Back when I was into watching movies the kids was home, I was married so I’d be getting out of dodge before the eyeballs started leaking ! lol. But yes we all cry and I’ll say this, I don’t hide it much anymore.
@@kennethvaughan8195 I am happy to know that there are still men who are blessed enough to be able to cry openly.
@@hercdrc
I do believe it takes a real man to cry openly
The best thing about this reaction is that you have actual knowledge of history and events. So many young people watch this movie and are lost on so many of these people, places and events. It's an indictment of our education system. Also your understanding of Jenny and her psychological issues from what she went through as a child. So many people just look at and see how much they like Forrest and just immediately put blame on her for how she treats him without even trying to understand why.
Hi Don! I can thank my history degree for my history knowledge and yes an an educator I pretty much knew all too well what Jenny was going through at home 😢
some people are intelligent even tho our educational system sucks. some people are born with rhythm.
yeah, i´m with you on that. many other reactors hated on jenny and didn´t understood her. i think her character is perfectly written and 100% understandable, with all she´s been through
the 'I'm walkin' here!' line is from 1969's 'Midnight Cowboy'. Dustin Hoffman says it and it became an instant classic.
I can see why! It’s iconic!
I think the story is, he almost got hit by a taxi cab that wasn't part of the movie while passing over the street, but Hoffman stayed in character, slammed his hand (or both hands) on the hood and yelled "Hey! I'm walking here!" and continued with the scene.
They also reference it in Back To The Future 2.
Ratso Rizzo
yep. and Jon Voight
I do love that Lieutenant Dan's fiancée is Vietnamese. His own journey of healing is beautiful.
Absolutely. It is a detail that most people miss, but one that I always love. It shows how Lt Dan had made peace with his life and what had happened there.
I have seen dozens of reactions to this movie, and this is the best reaction that I have ever seen. You picked up on every single emotional, historical, and plot nuance of the movie, perfectly
Huge huge praise… THANK YOU!
@@LiteWeightReacting but he is right, you got watergate and what i really like, you understood jenny. in many other reactions the people hated on her and said she went only back to him because of the money. it was never about money for jenny. after all thischaracter went through, i completely understand her and think she´s written perfectly.
So many good movies in the 70-90's. Where have they gone?😢
One thing I realized about this film is that the most important people in Forrest's life are people who are open to him. Jenny and Bubba let him sit with him, and Lt.Dan allowed him into his life. All lives changed because of him.
Be curious, not judgemental.
Wow… well said! Thank you for sharing!
AWESOME. I'll have to remember that one!
Ted Lasso uses that quote in one of my favorite episodes of that series. He attributes the quote to Walt Whitman. I think that you would love that show. It’s only three seasons.
Nice Ted Lasso reference
The way I saw it, the life of Jenny was directly contrasting that of Forrest Gump. Forrest was content with the life as it was presented to him and learned from it, whereas Jenny tried so hard to control her own life and it often led to bad choices when she should have accepted that her destiny is already written and she can't control where she'll end up.
“But… is he smart?”
Best bit of acting you will ever see.
Absolutely phenomenal movie.
The advice Jenny gave to Forrest to "just run" if he's in danger while in Vietnam hit me so hard this watch. That was her coping mechanism as a child to escape her abusive father and was still her coping mechanism as an adult because it was all she knew as well as in this very scene as she runs from Forrest.
You’re so right!!!
Correct sir! RUNNING is the most obvious metaphor in the movie. Forrest LITERALLY runs and it's how he not only journeys through life, but helps himself as well as others. Overcoming the earliest of obstacles which is braces on his legs. Jenny is running away from life to cope with her problems She has to do a full circle to forgive herself and love herself because she thinks she is not worthy. It explains why she jumps from abusive men that treat her like shit. Only to find that the constant love, Forrest, was there the whole time.
@@thegorn68 The running metaphor also applies to Lt. Dan. He loses his legs and literally can't run anymore. And then he becomes the first character in the movie to come to terms with his demons, when he thanks Forrest for saving his life,
@@charlize1253 Yes. It's also an excellent choice during the wedding scene when they are taking their vows, we see a back shot view and everyone in the audience is sitting except Lt. Dan who is standing in the back. I wonder if that was intentional? Such a great movie that you can catch things even when you've watched it 500 times like I have. LOL!
Running as a coping mechanism hits hard after Jenny leaves Forrest after living with him in the house so Forrest is so broken he just starts running. First at the end of the road and then thru the town and then thru the country. He even says he didnt know why, he just felt like running.
“Sometimes soldiers come home to their mammas from Vietnam without any legs. Sometimes they don’t come home at all. That’s a bad thing. That’s all I have to say about that”- Forrest at the Vietnam rally
That’s awesome!!
I have heard many people claim to know what he said but if it was anything that profound no way it would not have been in the movie. I think they left it up to everyone to imagine what they might have wanted him to say.
@@StanSwan Tom Hanks literally said that's what he said.
@@StanSwan As others have said, without a shadow of doubt and tons of evidence, it did absolutely say that. When you can see someone in a movie speaking but can't hear them, that doesn't mean they aren't saying a specifically scripted line. They don't have them make up unintelligible words.
@@scythelord It is a movie not a historical event. You read something on the internet. Glad for you.
When Forrest was in that interview with John Lennon, everything Lennon said became the song "Imagine" 🙂
This is one of the most heart warming stories ever
How refreshing to see someone so young that actually is educated about historical & cultural events that happened before they were born, now that's a beautiful attribute. Great reaction! ❤from🇨🇦 ✌
Greetings from NY! Glad you enjoyed the reaction!!
As a 5th grade teacher who teaches Social Studies to all the 5th grade classes at our school (which is US History), seeing a youngster know the historical references in this movie was a breath of fresh air. And it gave me a fraction of hope for the future.
I've watched too many reactors watch this movie and miss so many of the themes and messages this movie has because they didn't know basic history. Thank you. Easily one of my favorite reactions ever.
She's a former schoolteacher herself, fun fact.
BIG THANK YOU! I taught 9th-10th grade global history for almost a decade before becoming a content creator!
@@LiteWeightReacting You did!? How old are you?
I have watched a lot of reactions to this movie. It was refreshing to see a reaction from someone who understood the historical context, as well as having the emotional empathy to appreciate it. Thanks!
I can tell you’re a former teacher. The minute Forrest says “for some reason Jenny didn’t ever wanna go home.” And you immediately got it.
It’s unfortunate just how true this is!
@@LiteWeightReactingyeah sure you did buddy
I also love how Forrest explains this to the audience so perfectly that you know he doesn't understand what's happening, but we do.
The most perfect reaction we don’t deserve
THANK YOU!!!
I love how you knew the meaning of all the historical stuff in this movie. I just found this channel about a week ago and I really enjoy watching movies with you. Please don't ever change......lol
One of the best reactions to FG I've seen - you really get all the nuances, AND the history. I shudder at how many reactors can't identify the major historical events 🙄
You have no idea how happy this makes me! I appreciate you sharing this 🥹
I love that you knew who "Charlie" was😊
As for Dan saying that he'd be an astronaut, Apollo 13 came out one year after Forrest Gump was released. Both he and Forrest became astronauts.
Need to check that out!
@@LiteWeightReacting It is a pretty good movie!
@@LiteWeightReacting Yeah you should. Its a cracking film. Tom Hanks could do no wrong back then.
Abbie Hoffman, a real-life antiwar protester is the character who is wearing the American flag shirt and speaks at the rally in Washington, D.C., in the movie, Forrest Gump (1994). The part is played by Richard D'Alessandro.
I really enjoyed your reaction to this.
New subscriber here.
That was a beautiful reaction. You're emotionally attuned, earnest, and you sense depth. You don't make comments like "that was a dub, that was a greenscreen, the effects here are iffy" to show off how smart you are while constantly breaking immersion. You just enjoy the movie the way it was meant to be enjoyed - as a complete work of art.
I try my hardest to be authentic! Many times, people believe it is an act but it’s comments like this one that validate why I do what I do. So thank you for sharing this 😊
My favorite movie and your reaction does it justice! Love your reactions and commentary!
When I was in college, my mom died with pulmonary fibrosis. Four days before she died, she had a very similar talk to me as Forrest's mom has with him before she dies. Ever since then, that scene gets me!
With all the astronaut talk between Lieutenant Dan and Forrest, Gary Sinise and Tom Hanks were astronauts in Apollo 13 later on! That's a good movie you might like also!
TeeZee, first off thank you for the incredibly generous donation!
Also, sorry to hear about your mom. I can’t imagine how closely that scene must hit for you.
It is also such a coincidence about the whole Apollo 13 thing. Definitely could be a great reaction down the line!
This is one of my favorite reactions. I love your empathy, your heart, and tears for this movie. I don't get tired of watching this gem, in fact, I watched it yesterday lol. Thank you for doing this. I hope you are doing well. Take care.
Man, with your caring soul. You make my eyes water on parts I usually don't.
🤣 I hope this means you enjoyed the reaction!!
Your empathy and intelligence shown through during the whole video. You made the reaction very enjoyable, the best I have seen out of all the big channels I have watched. And the editing is the perfect and didn't cut out too much. You have a new subscriber.
Thanks for the sub!! So glad you enjoyed this classic with me!
I’ve seen a lot of people “react” to Forrest Gump but there hasn’t been anyone who dove so deeply into it as you have. You caught EVERYTHING and appreciated EVERYTHING. This was so wonderful. Thank you for watching and sharing. ❤
The intertwining of American history and Forrest Gump history is magical.....so well designed!
Couldn’t agree more!!
Your sincere empathy and understanding nature is rare and desperately needed in our lives. I am happy to subscribe.
Thanks for the sub! Glad to have you as part of the community!
I have seen many, many, movie reactions, but I must say, this was the BEST reaction to ANY movie I have EVER seen from ANYONE!!! This was NOT a "LiteWeight" reaction!! Forrest Gump is certainly a laugh/cry/laugh/cry movie that pulls the emotional heart strings from one extreme to the other and back again, and your reactions were wonderfully perfect, right on point and genuine. Wonderful stuff that came from a really tender-hearted lady. This was the first time that I have seen one of your reactions, but it won't be the last. You have my subscription. Best regards!
One interesting thing I’ve only recently discovered about this movie is where Tom Hanks came up with the voice. This is based on a book, so there’s no source on how the character really sounds. He says they filmed the scenes with “little Forrest” first. That actor was from the south and just spoke normally. Tom then did an impression of little Forrest.
Sooooo cool! Thanks for sharing that!
That is the most hear warming facts I know about this film. I also know that the young Forest Gump actor Michael Conner Humphreys, joined the United States Army, did a tour in Iraq and came back home, just like Forest Gump.
Yes! Tom Hanks said on a talk show that instead of inventing a voice that a young actor would have to try and copy, Tom just copied Michael’s Mississippi accent.
I also saw a special on PBS about Gulf War veterans. Michael Connor Humphreys was in it. While he did act again after his Army service, he has also been active in helping his fellow veterans deal with PTSD. 🫡
Beautiful reaction
It is one of the most beautiful and saddest stories that there is. And the older I get, the more emotional I get every time I revisit it, even though I know it so well. Wonderful reaction. Thank you.
Thank you Joe! Really appreciate you saying that and glad you love the movie!
Thank you for sharing all these beautiful moments raw and unvarnished. Jenny couldn’t come back to him until she knew she was healed enough to the point where she felt she was worthy of his love. You are a precious soul and sharing this journey with your perspective was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. I thank you so much for sharing your heart and mind with us. 🌹
12:07 Teegan thinking "15 Dr Peppers? Rookie numbers."
Gotta pump those numbers up! Haha
@@LiteWeightReactingIf I hadn't quit caffeine I could knock back Dr Pepper like water. Unfortunately I have to watch other people drink it.
@@LiteWeightReacting36:51 always cracks me up! With a straight face, “But you ain’t got no laigs, Lieutenant Dan!”
I gotta pee...
"Do they go into business together?" *Honey, you've got a big storm coming.* 😂 ❤
🤣🤣🤣
THE best reaction I’ve ever seen. You got every historical reference and all of the humor. You knew the music. It is a rare find now days, for a youngster like yourself to have a clue what they saw in this movie. Your parents must have done a wonderful job raising you. Thank you for this.
I agree. In fact the only reference this remarkable young lady seems to have missed was the interaction between John Lennon and Dick Cavett referencing the lyrics to "Imagine". And in fairness, that song was before her time, I'm guessing. Very well done on such a genuine and heartfelt reaction.
30:16
That’s from Midnight Cowboy (1969) said by Dustin Hoffman.
Also, fun fact: Dustin improvised that line because as he was crossing the street, a REAL NY Taxi cab almost ran him over. He really was yelling at the Taxi driver lol.
Thanks for sharing this!
"Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it." -Bubba 🦐
Frickin love Bubba!
I'm not a smart man, but you have done justice in your reaction to this movie. Thank you for sharing your heart.
It's funny because I saw this opening weekend and our 1,000-person-plus, pathetic-looking, blood-shot-eyed audience walked out of the theatre, and everyone waiting outside to enter the next showing was like "What in the hell happened in there?!?"
Omg that is amazing hah thanks for sharing!
I remember a magazine did a movie investigation, Dan and Forrest invested a 3% stake in Apple that in today's money is worth $90 billion. If this were real that means Forrest and Dan would be the 13th richest people in the world
Omg that is fantastic haha
That wouldn't even include the Bubba Gump Shrimp Corporation. I know it's a fictional company, but the movie played it out like they were the nation's shrimp barons, what with their expose in Fortune magazine and all. Could be worth another several billion in today's money.
It looks like Lt Dan was a lot better businessman than he was a soldier.
@@operator0 Believe it or not Bubba Gump shrimp was so popular in the movie that a real place opened called Bubba Gump Shrimp. It's still open today and has places all over the US
@@XXX_Carnage_XXX I am aware of that, but it's not the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company that was portrayed in the film. I'm sure the current company doesn't own a single shrimp boat, for instance.
@@operator0 We only trust the shrimp that's caught by Forrest 😂
"I said if you were ever a captain, I'd be your first mate." "You said also said you'd be an astronaut, I don't see you on the Moon"
Watch Apollo 13 X3
I always loved how Jenny was depicted. All judgment was up to the audience because we would only see how her actions hurt Forrest, not his judgment of her. One thing that stuck in Forrest mind was that she said he doesn't understand what love is. But clearly Jenny is the one who has a broken understanding of love and for obvious reasons.
So I always feel like I have to forgive Jenny for misunderstanding love and accidentally taking it out on Forrest. She never tried to hurt him and it was never hurtful enough to change Forrest's pure heart. So, forgiveness!
Wow Blag, that’s was very nicely written! Thanks for sharing that with all of us!
Forest is pretty intelligent where it truly matters. Emotionally he's very well adjusted considering the life he's had. I've known too many people like Jenny, so it always kills me to see how her life turns out. Never experiencing real, selfless love messes you up.
Jenny loved Forrest all her life. That's why she kept pushing him away
@peterdubois65 she was not pushing away, she was running away. Pushing is what Will Hunting does.
Right... jenny loved forrest so much that she kept friendzoning him until she gave him pity sex and then kept his child away from him as long as she could before her free spirit disease crippled her to death. Forrest sure was the luckiest dude ever to have her......
Finally, someone who understands Jenny. So many people hate on her. She isn't doing the things she does to hurt Forrest. She's just trying to cope with her trauma as best she can.
As an outsider, we can see that being with Forrest would be the best thing for her; but she wouldn't see it that way. As a survivor, she wouldn't think she was worthy of Forrest's love. She would think that leaving him was the loving thing to do. It always saddens me when people blame her for her actions when she's just doing the best she can.
Totally agree!!
I also thought that Jenny was self aware enough to know that she was too toxic and would have been a terrible element in Forrest’s life until she eventually straightened out herself. So while her actions of pushing him away were outwardly cruel, it was for the best at the time. Then again, as Forrest may say, maybe both are right… 🫤
He couldn't help loving her and she couldn't help being messed up but she could sure as shit refrain from stealing years of happiness from two people who's only crime was loving her.
Nope, she's selfish. We don't even know if that is Forest's son. It's still fine because at least the child is safe. But in the end, she was only reconsidering the mistakes she made due to the fact that her son would have been a ward of the state after her death. She only came back for convenience. She never loved him. It was all about her till the birth of her son. Lots of people go through trauma, but they don't take it out on others. Still, I don't blame her. She always knew she was no good, and that was why she never stayed. But then she ran out of time and needed to be cared for. She came back for convenience and safety. But like I said, I can't really blame her. Hurt people hurt people.
@@shubashkamta1509Nope, you’re just a cynical, unforgiving troll.
The "Is he smart, or is he.. *places hand on his own chest*" of course just RIPS your heart out.. One of my other favorite, perfectly delivered lines is when she asks him why he's so good to her.. and he gives her a look, almost slighlty confused as how she could even question why and just says so matter of factly "You're my girl!" Ughh.. my favorite movie of all time!
Your reaction to this movie goes to show what a pure heart and beautiful soul you have, thank you!!!
Thank you James! 😊
One of the best reactions I have ever seen to this movie , in that you totally got "Jenny" , many people hate her , but you linked up all those 'bird' references , even the one as Forrest walks away from her grave . It's amazing how many reactors miss that significant part of the movie and hate Jenny .
Appreciate you’re support! The free bird part really messed me up! That connection is when I knew this movie was going to be one of the best ever!
And that bird occurance after Jenny’s grave was completely coincidental during the filming of that little scene and director knew it had to be the take they would use. Angel must’ve given the project a little wink.
Lt. Dan became an astronaut in Apollo 13. 👍 So did Forrest.
Wow, what a great reaction! You say more with your eyes and facial expressions than others say with words. This movie is quite a journey, isn't it? Like you said, the soundtrack is unbelievable too. "I'm walking here!" is a Dustin Hoffman line from 'Midnight Cowboy', just another of the million references in this movie. I wasn't sure if you caught that Forrest gave John Lennon the lyrics to 'Imagine' when they were on the Dick Cavett Show. Lastly, Lt. Dan did become an astronaut when Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise starred in 'Apollo 13' together the following year lol. This is a masterpiece of a movie, and your understanding, empathy, knowledge, and wit made this a masterpiece of a reaction. I really enjoyed it, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed the reaction Jason! Happy to have you here in the community!!
This is my favorite Tom Hanks movie. Also we need more people like Forrest Gump.
Definitely! Just so wholesome!
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is another one.
@@cliftonmoore8316 - Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers was so heartwarming.
@@cliftonmoore8316I LOVE that movie!!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I've watched a couple of reaction videos to this one and you are the first one to instantly catch all the nuances and references, good job !
Forrest Gump hits, because as you get older, you learn that some people you care about, that are going through stuff, as much as you want to fix you, dont need you to fix them, or control them. But to just be there. Whenever they need it. It's scary because, as you do this, you hope they find themselves before it's too late. Forrest like many, should love unconditionally. Not only because they want them for themselves in their life. Masterpiece that I watch like 4 times a year, every year.
"I'm walking here" is originally from "Midnight Cowboy". This movie did a variation on the scene. In fact, the original scene wasn't planned. They were trying to shoot a scene using hidden cameras across the street. Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight made several attempts to time their walking and talking to match up with the street-light changing so they could keep walking. They finally did it and a cab driver tried to sneak through the intersection, bumping Hoffman. Hoffman ad-libbed the line and they just kept going. It turned out to be the best take, so they kept it. Hoffman talked about it on "Inside The Actors Studio" years ago.
Thank you for sharing that!!
@@LiteWeightReacting I was wondering if the kind of cross-hatching tattoo on your right arm is ogham, an ancient script from Ireland? It looks just like that.
Jenny was symbolic of Gomer and Forrest was symbolic of Hosea the prophet in the Bible who was Gomer's husband. Book of Hosea. The feather at the beginning and end symbolizes the Holy Spirit guiding Forrest as he walked through his unknown (life is like a box of chocolates) future by faith.
I have watched a lot of reactions to this movie. Your reaction has been the most genuine I have seen. Thank you.
Everyone will post a bunch of stuff, but my favorite thing was about Lt. Dan finally making peace with God. So much so, that he was engaged to a Vietnamese woman after going through the Vietnam War. Just shows that he doesn't have any animosity for that country or race. Getting the true context to the box of chocolates line is always heartbreaking. One year later and the actor for Lt. Dan (Gary Sinise) was alongside Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 as an astronaut :). I would love to see you possibly react to Japanese Anime movie called A Silent Voice. It deals with some heavy stuff, but it honestly beautiful the way they handle everything.
What is the premise of A Slient Voice?!
@@LiteWeightReacting I don't want to give too much away, but this is a very vague description. A grade-school student with a hearing impairment is bullied and transfers to another school. Years later, the former bully is tormented by his behavior and sets out to make amends. You find all this out at the start of the movie, but there are way more themes than just this. If you do end up watching it, I recommend Japanese with subs because the acting is so good. I've watched it now in both English and with subs.
Everyone overlooks the symbolism of Lt. Dan. Forrest and Jenny spend the movie running, both physically and metaphorically, away from their pain (Jenny, and then Forrest after Jenny leaves him). Lt. Dan loses his legs and can't run, then becomes the first character to come to terms with himself, when he thanks Forrest for saving his life.
The YT algorithm dropped your channel into my mix, and this is the first reaction of yours I’ve seen. I don’t want to sound like a total fanboi here, but I am very impressed. I have watched a lot of movie reactions… at least enough to form some quick opinions about the reactors themselves. You rank with the very best I’ve seen. I’ve developed a real appreciation for those who are very sharp, who don’t miss a trick, who understand what’s going on, who get the nuances, and who are well and widely educated enough to get both the historical and cultural references. And who are entertaining without over-powering the movie with their “personality.” 🙄 It’s a shame but those qualities are not at ALL common among reaction videos on YT. But you check all those boxes and then some. This is one of my favorites and I thoroughly enjoyed “sharing” it with you. Thank you. Sub’d. All the best.
How have I not seen your channel before? I’m in love with your personality and your laugh and everything!
I had to get a patreon membership to watch along with you for this one! It was so good! Great, empathetic reaction as usual, Lite!!
Heck yeah! I hope you enjoy it 😊
Jenny had her own demons and trauma to sort out and overcome. She always loved Forrest, it just took her a long time to realize it. He was literally the only person in her entire life that treated her with love and respect, he was the only constant in her life. I firmly believe that Forrest and his love for her is the reason she climbed down off that ledge that night. He always protected her even when he wasn't there.
Also, this movie inspired Gary Sinise(Lt. Dan) to start doing charity work for veterans and troops deployed overseas. He created The Lt. Dan Band to entertain troops and veterans and all proceeds are donated to various veteran and military charities.
Another great movie centered around the Vietnam War is "Good Morning Vietnam" starring Robin Williams. I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it.
Totally agree about Jenny! I also have not seen good morning Vietnam!
It's telling that when Forrest asks Jenny to marry him, she doesn't say No -- she says, "you don't want to marry me, Forrest."
Saw this in the theater when it came out. Everyone, including me, was laughing and crying, giggling and bawling, and everything in between. A flat out, hardcore emotional rollercoaster of a movie. Watching your reaction made me remember what that felt like. THANK YOU!
The “I’m walking here” line and pounding the hood of the NY taxi came from the 1969 movie Midnight Cowboy where Dustin Hoffman was almost hit by a taxi while filming and he yelled at the driver and kept in character. So this was a hat tip to that older movie.
Thank you for clearing that up!
@@LiteWeightReacting The "I'm walking here" line originated in a movie called Midnight Cowboy when a cab driver drove through the set as they were filming in New York City and almost hit Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voigt as they were crossing the street, Hoffman ad libbed the line and kept in character yelling at the cabbie and it made it into the film (as a matter of fact, the song you hear playing during the scene in Forrest Gump is from the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack as an obvious homage to it). It has been recreated in several films like Forrest Gump and Back to the Future II: th-cam.com/video/jgeEq09pkIU/w-d-xo.html Here's Dustin Hoffman talking about it: th-cam.com/video/O5UFL9qSff0/w-d-xo.html
The director was Robert Zemeckis. He also directed "Castaway" and the "Back to the Future" trilogy, amongst many other great movies. A wonderful talent who won an Oscar along with Tom Hanks for this gem of a movie!
Your empathy and emotional intelligence is beautiful to watch. Thanks for creating the content you do, it is truly appreciated. Thank you for being you! ❤
Hey 👋Such a wonderful movie. The world needs more Forest's in it. Just honest and straight forward. He's got no angle or ulterior motives.
Yes it does!!!
44:15 Not many people seem to know that the TV reporter is Sally Field who also played Forrest's mamma.
Ive only watched only one video of yours and you are already part of my favorite reactors here in yt, Keep it up!!!
Wow. You are one of the few reactors who got all of the references and everything else about this movie. Well done. Abbie Hoffman was part of the march on Washington in 1967, but he wasn't at the event at the Mall. Instead he was at the Pentagon threatening to levitate it. He was famously arrested for wearing a US flag shirt later in 1968. "I'm walkin' here!" to the cabbie is from Midnight Cowboy. That was just a sly reference to it.
Glad you enjoyed the reaction Gerald!
I love the sympathy you show to Jenny. My childhood sweetheart was killed by her father, as well as her baby sister, her two brothers, and her mother. May 16, 1969. Sleep tight Dana. See you some day soon.
You're reaction was the same as millions. Heart wrenching movie of all time.
Definitely one of the better reactions to this film. A serious lack of shitting on Jenny for the emotional trauma that gets in the way of her ever accepting love or herself. And I really appreciate that because it’s legitimately rare.
Thanks for sharing this! Her childhood was awful. Forrest, even though he was a bright spot of her childhood, he was apart of it nonetheless. It makes sense she would want to distance herself from him.
I have probably seen this movie a few hundred times in my 30 years of life and I have Never made the connection of free bird playing during the balcony scene. Awesome catch!
That absolutely blew my mind!
Lady you making me cry so much watching this with you 😂
Loved how you caught so many of the references. Many people doing reactions to this movie have never heard of Watergate or the assassinations shown in the movie. You caught both the laughter and the tears. Great reaction.
You are the only reactor I've seen who knew who Abbie Hoffman was!
There are certain characters in movies that are just the purest wholesome, like Forrest Gump and Rocky Balboa. Those people that don't know a stranger and just have a different way of looking at life. Also, RIP roomate's bath robe. You can go ahead and keep that one Forrest.
Hahaha so true!
This is my first time seeing a reaction of yours hit my feed. Thanks for this! I really appreciate your emotional intelligence. With so much of the resonance of a reaction being found in the empathic realm, your presence is really exceptional.
51 year old man who is known for taking no shit off people and I am an ox of a man. I was weeping like a baby with you when Forrest is scared his son is going to be like him. It always gets my heart. Subscribed.
55:49 A lot of people blast Jenny for constantly running away- but my take is that she believed Forrest was "pure" and she was not, stemming from her years of abuse and subsequent self-harm. And despite truly loving him, she felt that being with him would tarnish his purity. That is why she kept running from him.
It isn't until she knows that she is dying that she reaches out to him. Not because she wants to live the "easy life" as Forrest is a millionaire, but that she knows he is the one man, the *only* man that would be able to take care of their son Little Forrest after she is gone.
BTW the "unknown virus" she died of- many think it may have been AIDS because it was the early 1980s and AIDS was still unknown in the medical community. However she died of Hepatitis C (also unidentified at the time) most likely from sharing needles during her drug use.
I think you summed up the whole Jenny situation perfectly!!
It's telling that when Forrest asks Jenny to marry him, she doesn't say No -- she says, "you don't want to marry me, Forrest."
I appreciate your genuine reactions and you capture exactly why we love these movies in the first place. Great content.
I watch lots of reactions to this movie. Hers are about as ungenuine as you can get in the way that she has seen this before. She knows it’s coming up.
This is truly an underrated movie.
Congratulations for noticing things like the Freebird song, and Lt. Dan’s titanium legs linking him to becoming an astronaut like he promised. I’ve never known anybody to make those connections before.
Underrated??? Yeah, I guess those 6 Oscars weren’t enough!
You didn’t seem to pick up on it and honestly, I didn’t either the first couple of times I saw this movie, but Forrest essentially writes “Imagine” for John Lennon while on the Dick Cavet show. Forrest says in China “there’s no possessions and no religion.” Then Dick says it’s “hard to imagine.” And John says “it’s easy if you try, Dick.” These are all lyrics to the song.
I wasn’t familiar with the song so I had no chance!
@@LiteWeightReacting you don’t know “Imagine?!” Way to make me feel old! Well, it’s a classic. And probably Lennon’s most famous song and album of his solo career. He was shot in 1981, a year before I was born. So the ripple effects of his death were still present on the news when I was little.
Wonderful reaction!
The greatest film of all time for me. Tom Hanks has done a lot of great performances but this is he's magnum opus.
Spot on!
It is TIMEEEEEEE
Hope you enjoy!!
I’ve heard people say he earned his Oscar for the “is he smart?” line - and he does…. But also that scene with the Black Panthers where Jenny’s boyfriend hits her and they zoom in on his face.
It’s a good shot bc I feel like it portrays that tunnel vision, but his expression and the look in his eyes was so real
Amazing reaction video. So much empathy. Congratulation to your husband that he found such a beautyful and good hearted ❤ wife! Greetings from germany.
Greetings from NY!
Ahh jenny the most awful, despicable and disgusting movie villain of all time.
I respectfully disagree!!
@@LiteWeightReacting agree to disagree, but at least watch Family Guy's (ik ik but hear me out) take on Jenny, I mean, they're not wrong either :P
@@Kaiverze We know what she did. Maybe stop and think about why she did those things. Broken people will push people away to protect those people from being broken by them. ❤
@@staytrue5307 the thing is, forrest was not mentally at jennys level and she knew it since the beginning. In spite of knowing that, she still did what she did like the true scum she is. Now let's suppose, if forrest would've been at her mental level, he would've actually seen and understood the type of scum jenny was and would've moved on from her and gotten to live a way more fulfilling life with a real family of his own. But no, jenny always knew she forever had him wrapped around her finger and made sure to always remind him of that and still took advantage of him right until the very end. A truly sickening and unforgivable type of villain.
My first video in awhile, honestly didn’t know she was doing reactions. I’m glad I stopped by for this one liteweights. Loved it.
Wow. Probably the best reaction to this show I've seen. You caught all the key points in the story and was so knowledgeable about past events that you were able to see an appreciate the way they tied them into the plot.
Most importantly, I like the fact that you understood Jenny's character and why she was the way she was. Many ignorant people chalk it up to bad life decisions and completely disregard the root.
10/10 reaction! Loved every bit of it and it's been a long, long time since I've cried along with a reactor. Needless to say I was immersed lol. Bless!
"You died on a Saturday morning" makes my eyes well up every. single. time, even today watching this with you.
i just found your review and started to watch and just wanted to thank you for a really wonderful time spent with you in your first reaction. bravo
This movie is a classic and full of memorable quotes. "Night time in the Army is a lonely time" and "Sometimes I guess there just aren't enough rocks" are two of my favorites.