Forrest Gump
for drug content, some sensuality and war violence.
Reviewed by: John Dickerson
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
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| Primary Audience: | Adults Young-Adults |
| Genre: | Romance Comedy War Drama |
| Length: | 2 hr. 22 min. |
| Year of Release: | 1994 |
| USA Release: |
July 6, 1994 (wide) |
For a follower of Christ, what is LOVE—a feeling, an emotion, or an action?
What is true love and how do you know when you have found it?
War in the Bible
What is the Biblical perspective on war? Answer
DEPRESSION—Are there biblical examples of depression and how to deal with it? Answer
What should a Christian do if overwhelmed with depression? Answer
What is FAITH and why is it important?
About hope
Where did cancer come from? Answer
What is DEATH? and WHY does it exist? Answer in the Bible
Why does God allow innocent people to suffer?
What about the issue of suffering? Doesn’t this prove that there is no God and that we are on our own? Answer
ORIGIN OF BAD THINGS—Why are they in our world if a good God created us? Answer
What are the consequences of racial prejudice and false beliefs about the origin of races? Answer
SUICIDE—What does the Bible say? Answer
If a Christian commits suicide, will they go to Heaven? Answer
| Featuring |
Tom Hanks … Forrest Gump Sally Field … Mrs. Gump Robin Wright Penn … Jenny Curran Gary Sinise … Lt. Dan Taylor Mykelti Williamson … Pvt. Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue Kurt Russell … Elvis Presley (voice) Rebecca Williams Michael Conner Humphreys Harold Herthum George Kelly See all » |
| Director |
Robert Zemeckis |
| Producer |
Paramount Pictures Wendy Finerman See all » |
| Distributor |
 Paramount Pictures Corporation, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS |
“Life is like a box of chocolates… you never know what you’re gonna get.”
Using the “foolish things of the world to confound the wise” and having a “child-like” faith are two of the many Biblical themes woven into this remarkable, Oscar-winning story of a simple, unassuming man who somehow finds himself at the center of just about every major historical event from the 1950s to the early ’80s.
Played by Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump is a man of limited IQ but seemingly unlimited love and devotion, especially for his lifelong sweetheart, Jenny (Robin Wright). Gump’s innocence and humility are constantly contrasted with Jenny’s destructive search for love and fulfillment in all the wrong places. Special effects used to re-create various period scenes are outstanding, but serve to simply enhance rather than overwhelm the central story of an unusually moral man in the midst of an often immoral, chaotic and hypocritical society.
Though not clearly defined, mention is made of “receiving Jesus,” with Gump expressing confidence that he was indeed going to heaven in response to his embittered Vietnam commander’s railings against the Almighty. Other positive images include Gump’s color-blind involvement with an otherwise all-black church (as well as his black best friend from the Army), showing obedience and honor to his loving “mama” (Sally Field) and other authority figures, sacrificial giving, and completion of any task “heartily as unto the Lord” (from non-stop running for his life and then to save others to becoming a world champion in ping pong).
Unfortunately, the graphic portrayal of the fallen world around Gump makes this film off limits for children’s tender hearts. While not glorified, sin is strongly depicted in the form of profanities (especially taking the Lord’s name in vain), premarital sex (partial nudity), violence (namely, the effects of war) and illicit drug use.
Although Gump steadfastly resists the temptations of other women and various worldly vices, his intimacy with Jenny prior to marriage is regretfully condoned.
For mature Christians, “Forrest Gump” can serve as a challenging reminder of the blessings and opportunities that flow from simply wanting to do the right thing without seeking gain or personal glory.
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
Winifrid Whaley, age 21
Eileen, age 27
Then there is the horrible, profane speech in the movie.
Let me say this also: I watched this movie before I became a Christian. I can not watch it now, just as David says in Psalm 101:3 "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes". Lt. Dan’s blasphemy against God is portrayed as “coming to terms” with Him, yet Isaiah 45:9 pronounces "woe unto him who strives with his Maker…". The movie portrays such striving as having a “good” outcome. Also there is the sexual relationship Forrest has with his childhood love. Scripture condemns such as wicked, and yet it is entirely sanctioned in the movie and portrayed as “good” (Isaiah 5:20).
While obviously I do not pretend to be sinless, King David (also a sinner) vowed not to have anything wicked before his eyes. We are called to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them (Ephesians 5:11), yet people say that this movie gives them a “good feeling” in their hearts. One must wonder how a “Christian” can have warm feelings while watching wickedness… tolerating wickedness for a "good feeling"? Psalm 1:1-2 says the blessed one is the one who does not fellowship with the wicked, but delights in the law of the Lord, and meditates on that law day and night.
Profane speech (Ephesians 4:29) is wicked, sexual sin is wicked, committing sexual sin in order to secure Earthly benefits (enrollment in school) for one’s child, blasphemy, and striving with one’s maker are all wicked in God’s eyes. Proverbs 8:13 says that the fear of the lord is to hate evil (and the perverse mouth). A child of the most High God has absolutely no business watching this, and for those who profess to love God yet are comfortable viewing this worldly enmity (James 4:4), how would your spouse feel if you cheated on him/her but claimed to love him/her? To be unfaithful to God and view corruption is quite similar, considering we are called to holiness (Hebrews 12:14) …many will claim that the nice parts outweigh the wicked parts. The Bible says nothing like that. This movie is terrible.
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Charity Temple, age 16
Layne Mattox, age 18
My friends and I were wondering, since this movie showed Forrest Gump meeting the Black Panthers, why didn’t it show Forrest Gump meeting the late Brooklyn born Rabbi Meir Kahane 1932-1990 with his followers, or Kahane and his controversial alliance with Italian American leader Joseph Colombo, since the 1973 episode of the TV series “All in the Family” titled “Archie is Branded” was clearly based on the real life Rabbi Kahane and his movement. Robin Wright was beautiful and talented as Jenny, while Gary Sinise was very relatable as Lt. Dan. In 2024 “Forrest Gump” should be required viewing for all high school students for social studies class.See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½