Journal 4

FORREST GUMP

Because I first encountered “Forrest Gump” as a movie a couple of years ago, the book version of Forrest Gump was quite new. As I was reading the story, I could match the narration with the scenes I remembered from the screen, and could compare the image I saw now and then. Although general traits of Forrest was not that different – low IQ, football player, etc – the atmosphere I could grasp were quite different. The image that popped up in my head while I was reading the book was a big, strong guy who does not seem feeble at all at first glance. Because ‘Forrest Gump’ in the movie is a bit more fragile and naïve, Forest’s adventure feels a bit more touching and dramatic.

As I read through the story, a question arose: what is the definition of ‘stupid’? Can it really be determined from a simple IQ test; do those two-to-three digits numbers really determine our intelligence? Although Forrest’s IQ is 75 – well below average for sure – he achieved so much more than those people who live their lives without much meaning endowed in them. Yes, Forest is stupid if we look from a very calculated point of view. However, in real world – where things much more complex than simple numbers and calculation exist – Forest is never stupid. He is a  genius, and a true hero.

As some of the classmates have already mentioned, the narrative style of the novel does not contain much emotion. Instead, the author [or, Forrest himself] relates the story objectively, or to put it more bluntly, dryly. However, perhaps because I’ve seen the movie, I still could get the scene that the author tries to relate: a heartwarming story of a mentally challenged man who learns about the world as he goes through hardships. To add on, I liked Winston Grump’s use of slangs and spelling mistakes, for it made the story much more lively and realistic.

LIFE IS A BOX OF CHOCOLATE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHICH ONE YOU’RE GONNA GET.

Movie Review - Everything must go

“Everything must go”

At first glance, it is hard to believe that “Everything must go” is a movie based on a short story “Why don’t you dance?” Whilst the movie gives out a full story of an extremely unlucky man whose wife got out of house with all his belongings thrown out in the lawn and the door lock changed on the day he got fired from his work, the story itself is only a page long, capturing only a very short scene of the movie. However surprisingly, nothing seems awkward or overwhelming. The movie harmonizes with the novel smoothly – the scenes match naturally with the kind of feeling and atmosphere I could gain while reading the story. I’d say that the movie is practically the story itself with a bit of heart-warming stories and wits added to it.

The part I liked the most about the movie was how the movie is comedic, light-hearted, and at the same time, heart-warming. Though the situation itself is definitely gloomy, it never depresses the viewers. Rather, we feel impressed as the black boy, the newly-moved women next door, and the man character himself helps and sympathizes each other, getting over their own hardships and at the same time help others heal as well. Ferrell’s comedic nature definitely shows in the movie and provides occasional laughter to the viewers, but it is never too overwhelming to spoil the essence of the film.

Not too disturbing, not too gloomy, not too light – I thought this movie is exactly the kind to grab and enjoy in Friday night with family!