Comparative adaptation: Forrest Gump

Forrest gump – comparative revies

How does the film differ from the book, and how does it succeed or fail in the metapmorphisis?

In most cases, novels get adapted into films only after they become extremely popular – think of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, just to name a few. It is also very likely for the film to be criticized by avid book lovers if they fail to follow precisely the original book version. Nevertheless, this was clearly not the case for Forrest Gump. Although Winston Grump ambitious in writing the novel, expecting it to become a best-seller, it was only after the book was adapted into a movie that it started to get attention from them public. Furthermore, the movie apparently made visible changes in the film – changes that satisfied the readers, the viewers, and even Winston Grump himself.

One of the most visible changes made in the movie is Forrest’s physique. While Forrest is described as a giant man – well over six and half foot – in the book, Tom Hanks, the one who plays Forrest in the film, is Forrest Gump in the book who plays wrestling and football, Forrest Gump in the film instead plays ping pong – a sport that is definitely more suitable for a person with not a very big stature. Although Forrest do play football in the movie, the focus not in how well he plays the game, but in the fact that Forrest loves to run. Considering the fact that Forrest is a naïve man with a mind as soft as that of a child’s, the changes made in the movie fits much better with Forrest’s image as a whole, making the film come closer to the viewer’s minds.

            

Furthermore, many of the experiences that Forrest goes through in the novel are not shown in the film. In the original book version, Forrest saves Mao-Tse-Tung from drowning, and runs for the United States Senate. However, instead of spotlighting Forrest as a hero who saves a celebrity’s life, the movie focuses in the part where Forrest risks his own life in the battlefield to save his comrade. Although saving Mao from drowning may be a much bigger issue, Forrest’s behavior during the Vietnam war does much more effective job in showing the humane and warm characteristic of Forrest. Also, by erasing the part  where Forrest runs for the United States senate, which seems a bit too overwhelming and lacking appropriate connection, the film successfully maintains consistency throughout the story, increasing the viewers’ sympathy toward Forrest.

In addition to the changes made in the story of Forrest, the role Jenny plays within the story also differs significantly from the novel. Originally, Jenny’s story does not play a major role in the story; instead of working as an independent story, it is more of an additional detail that accompanies that of Forrest’s. However, in the film, Jenny’s story plays a role that is almost parallel to Forrest’s, leaving the audiences some light touch deep in the heart.

Overall, the changes made in the movie were more than successful. The story became must more consistent and touching, which made it even more appealing to the audiences. Winston Grump, by providing the basic theme and story line, certainly had a role in this movie. Nevertheless, the movie obviously trimmed the story so well that, even though it has been more than a decade since the film was released, it is still deemed as one of the best adapted movie so far.