The film Forrest Gump seems to get better every time that I’ve watched it. Granted, the first time I watched it was with my friends at home who, throughout the entire film, were attempting their impersonation of Forrest Gump’s Southern drawl saying Jenny’s name. This last time I watched was the first  I have watched the complete film again.

There is a reason why the movie received so many awards when it was released- it’s a great  movie. While I enjoyed the movie the first time, my memory of it was clouded by my friends’ voices. This time, I was able to actually appreciate the film in its entirety. I was able to catch some details that I hadn’t before, adding onto what makes the movie special.

The simplicity with which Forrest views the world around him is most likely the best part of the film. His nonchalant manner of walking around the world provide a new perspective on historic world/national events. I personally consider this aspect of the movie to be the standout factor and what makes the film particularly memorable. I believe that this is a large message of the film as well, that although there are large historical events that have occurred, it does not necessarily have to affect the quality of life of a person. Rather than having these events hold society/a person down, people can take the cue from Forrest Gump, who continues to pursue his goals and doesn’t let events in his life prevent him from having a fulfilling life. Although he had moments of grief and hardship, he let these experiences have a space in his memory for when he needed guidance. In the words of his mother, “Life is a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”.