The movie is pretty good considering the fact that the book is an abomination.

[Keith]

Wow. I cannot put into words how bad this book is. Tom Hanks was wonderful in the role. I guess I will give the author credit for creating an interesting character. Perhaps, credit is deserved for crafting a way to narrate a path through a couple of historically interesting decades in the US. Everything else, pure crap.

[kirkesque]

Shows the spectrum of flavors in the world. I find the book to be one of the most incredible pieces of narrative ever written and, like the author of the novel, find the film to be an asinine piece of saccharine candycrap.

The only positive thing I can really say about the film is that Hanks did get the Mobile, Alabama accent damn close. Course, it's pretty much necessary when the book has it perfect, but since Hollywood's never been known for its mastery of accents and dialects, it was good to hear one done well.

[Mariam]

Of course movie is amazing but that doesn't mean you have to bash what it's based on

[Erin]

I thoroughly disliked both the movie and the book. I saw the movie first; I have no idea what compelled me to read the book, or why I bothered to finish it. This reflects only my tastes; other people may feel differently.

[J.]

I like the Lt. Dan in the book more than the happy ending charachter in the movie.

[Chappy]

I hated the book, if i had read the book first i would not have seen the movie. Which is a real shame because i love the movie.
I find the forrest character a bit of an asshole, and able to turn this stunningly low mental impairment on and off whenever the author thinks it is convenient.
The movie was a beautiful story and thats the one ill keep with me

[ReGina]

Usually, if I read the book, I don't see the movie and vice versa. I made an exception for this, and I'm so glad I did. Aside from the characters' names and a few locations, the book and the movie didn't even seem like they were related to me. I liked the movie, but I really did not like the book. The biggest challenge I had with the book was that the character of Forrest Gump had nothing that was appealing or endearing to me. It is very hard to like a book when it is so difficult to have any emotion - good or bad - for the protagonist. Jenny earns empathy in the book far more easily than Forrest, and that's saying something.

[Allen-paul]

kirkesque wrote: "Shows the spectrum of flavors in the world. I find the book to be one of the most incredible pieces of narrative ever written and, like the author of the novel, find the film to be an asinine piece..."

I fully agree. The problem is the movie is done for America, Hollywood, Prime Time. The book was done for readers who want to read things they could not have thought of by themselves....Not to mention that is was not P.C.

[Dwayne]

Keith wrote: "Wow."

The movie is good, of course, but I prefer the book. The movie is a gentle, safe, almost too precious version of the book. The book was much more raw and madcap. But, to each his own.