"FORREST GUMP is the same damn book I wrote years ago,
only it took a movie to get discovered. And that's okay with me."
This is a quote from the book's author, WINSTON GROOM.
| When you mention the name FORREST GUMP
everyone will say: Yes, this film with this crazy guy. But no one will
remember that first there was the book. I didn't, either.
Wendy Finerman, co-producer of the film, knew that this book would be perfect to be turned into a movie. She needed a few intensive years to produce a script that would make Forrest Gump a classic. Another important step to success was the director's decision to have TOM HANKS play the main part.
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| Although everyone thinks of the film, the
book (1986) was a success, too. Over 40,000 copies have been sold. The
film won 6 Oscars, including best film, best actor and best director - a
commercial as well as an artistic success.
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| The audience was overwhelmed by this film.
Spontaneous agreement occured while the movie was running, also tears were
running freely.
A lot of Americans saw it as a liberation from the Vietnam War drama and the problems of the 60s and 70s. TIME wrote: "Thank you, Forrest Gump, we feel so much better."
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| I think the book is very good. It's a
fulfilling and heart-warming book. The naive and infantile Forrest moves
you in every chapter being so human. You can easily identify with him.
The book is full of irony and funny situations. Because of this, reading the book is not boring at any time.
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| However, it is very difficult to read because of its childlike and
not very "intelligent" language. Forrest Gump says things like
'fambly' for 'family or 'a helluva ness' instead of 'a hell of a mess'.
Despite the context it is very difficult to follow Forrests sentences. But
this is only a problem for German readers.
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"Let me say this: bein a idiot is no box of chocolates. People laugh, lose patience, treat you shabby. Now they says folks sposed to be kind to the afflicted, but let me tell you - it ain't always that way. Even so, I got no complaints, cause I reckon I done live a pretty interestin life, so to speak." |
| In conclusion I would say that FORREST GUMP -
the book as well as the film - is a wonderful thing. It deals with true
problems in a soft way that everyone is able to handle.
Even if you're not familiar with the historic background, it's worth while reading it. |
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Sebastian Winkler | LK Englisch 2001