DVD Forrest Gump may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he somehow finds himself present at many of the most important and historic moments of the twentieth century.
Details
Forrest Gump is not like the other children his age. Slow-witted and often the target of playground bullies, he struggles to fit in with the world around him. The one person who truly understands him is Jenny Curran, a young girl who sees beyond his limitations and becomes the most important person in his life. It is Jenny who first encourages Forrest to run, something that will later become one of the defining traits of his life.
As Forrest grows older, this unexpected talent for running leads him to college football stardom. With little understanding of the fame surrounding him, Forrest simply does what he is told - take the ball and run. His success on the field eventually brings him face to face with President John F. Kennedy, along with a memorable encounter involving several bottles of Dr Pepper.
Life continues to carry Forrest along on an extraordinary journey. He serves in Vietnam where he becomes an unlikely war hero, befriends the shrimp-loving Bubba and meets the ill-tempered Lieutenant Dan. After the war he unexpectedly becomes a world champion table tennis player and even finds himself present during the events surrounding the downfall of President Richard Nixon. Later, fulfilling a promise made to Bubba, Forrest becomes a highly successful shrimp boat captain.
Despite all his adventures and achievements, Forrest's thoughts always return to Jenny, the one constant presence throughout his life. From childhood friendship to adult longing, Forrest's unwavering love for Jenny remains the emotional heart of the story.
Picture & Sound
The picture quality is excellent with bright, crisp colours and an above average bit-rate. There are occasional moments where a small amount of outlining can be noticed and, although there are no visible signs of artifacting, it can be slightly distracting at times. However, this is only a minor quibble and does nothing to detract from the overall enjoyment of the film.
The sound really adds to the viewing experience with wonderfully clear dialogue and excellent use of the surround channels. Early scenes are relatively gentle, which may tempt viewers to increase the volume slightly to appreciate the ambient effects. However, once the film reaches the Vietnam sequences the soundstage comes dramatically to life with the thunder of helicopters and the chaos of battle. During the ambush scenes the soundtrack becomes truly explosive and rivals the intensity later experienced in films such as Saving Private Ryan.
Menu & Extras
Surprisingly for Paramount, the number of extras included here is substantial enough to warrant a second disc. There is an informative commentary track accompanying the film, although a commentary from Tom Hanks himself would have been the icing on the cake.
The second disc contains several interesting documentaries, with the visual effects featurette being particularly impressive. Some of the material may feel familiar to those who owned the earlier Laserdisc edition, but it is still a welcome inclusion.
Overall
Tom Hanks delivers a truly remarkable performance as Forrest, and his portrayal of the character's childlike innocence deservedly earned him a second consecutive Academy Award. It is the warmth and sincerity he brings to the role that makes the character so memorable, allowing the audience to experience the world through Forrest's uniquely simple perspective.
Combined with clever visual effects, a memorable soundtrack and a story that manages to be both humorous and deeply moving, this two-disc DVD set represents excellent value. Few films leave the viewer with quite the same warm and uplifting feeling once the credits roll.
If you don't already own Forrest Gump, this release is an easy recommendation. Just remember to keep an eye on that volume control during the Vietnam scenes.
Special features
- Commentary by Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey and Rick Carter
- Commentary by Wendy Finerman
- Theatrical Trailers
- Through the Eyes of Forrest Gump Documentary
- Through the Ears of Forrest Gump Sound Design
- Building the World of Gump Production Design
- Seeing is Believing - 11 Visual Effects (Including 2 Never-Before-Seen Sequences)
- Photo Gallery
- Screen Tests
