8.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.8 |
The title character leads viewers through an accidental travelogue of U.S. social history from the early 1960s through the present in this revisionist fable. Vietnam, desegregation, Watergate, and more are presented from the perspective of loveably slow-witted Forrest Gump as he finds himself embroiled in situations he can't quite comprehend.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally FieldEpic | 100% |
Period | 73% |
Drama | 17% |
Romance | 15% |
Comedy | 12% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
I don't know if we have a destiny or if we're all just floating around all accidental-like on a
breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both.
Few films perfectly symbolize that old phrase "movie magic," and Forrest Gump not only
symbolizes it, it defines it. Director Robert Zemeckis' (Beowulf) complexly
choreographed and seamless special effects-laden tale of extraordinary simplicity charmed; spoke
to; and spiritually, emotionally, and physically moved audiences both during its 1994 theatrical
release and in the years later as the film nestled comfortably and deservedly into its rightful place
as an American classic and one of the great films in the history of motion pictures. Indeed,
Forrest Gump represents movie magic at its absolute best, the film telling the simple tale
of a man who lives a wonderfully fruitful life thanks not to his intelligence or determination
but instead through the guidance of his soul; foundation in core principles and values; and love
for life,
his
mother, his girl, and his fellow man. A somewhat unique hero in the world of motion pictures,
the film's title character in every frame perfectly defines what life should be: simple, honest,
morally upright, emotionally fulfilling, and full of love not for self but for all, and particularly for
those that see past the
superficial and into the soul, that which truly defines a man.
I believe he said he has to go buy the Blu-ray!
Forrest Gump floats onto Blu-ray with a spectacular 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. Aside from the occasional speckle over the image, Forrest Gump delivers a natural and film-like high definition transfer that should more than satisfy both longtime fans of the film and videophiles alike. The transfer reveals a strong sense of depth in most every scene, exceptional clarity and sharpness, high levels of fine detail, strong color reproduction, and a moderate layer of natural grain that rounds out a wonderful visual experience. Perhaps the most impressive aspect is the high level of visible detail throughout; whether Presidential china as seen in one scene, bricks and building Façades in downtown Greenbow, the general wear-and-tear on Forrest's shrimping vessel, or even the glean of freshly-polished Army boots in one scene, there's nary a moment where viewers won't be pleased with the fine detail in most every nook and cranny seen in the film. Perhaps most visually stimulating in the film is the Vietnam sequence. The heavy green foliage looks marvelous and pops off the screen, and fine detail is most impressive as seen on both tree trunks and dirt roads but also in the wrinkles, tears, and other nuances as seen on the U.S. military uniforms in appropriately up-close shots. Close-ups of faces, too, reveal extraordinary texture and fine detail in pores and facial hair. Skin tones are perfectly natural throughout and black levels are dark and true. All in all, Forrest Gump delivers everything a film fan could want in a high definition transfer; it's a wonderful effort from Paramount.
Just as good -- if not better -- than the video presentation is Forrest Gump's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Generally, Forrest Gump is a dialogue-heavy film with little room for aggressive and loud sound effects, but in those few moments where the track comes alive, is excels and proves itself just as good as anything else out there. The track does enjoy a few good directional effects early on, for instance a bicycle clacking across the front half of the soundstage as several troublemakers chase a young Forrest. A rainstorm in chapter four is subtly but pleasantly engrossing, though the heavy rain as presented in the Vietnam sequence far surpasses what comes before it. Said Vietnam scenes deliver the highlight of the track. The first shot of a chopper flying overhead delivers thunderous bass as the rotors tear through the sky, but it is when the firefight begins that even seasoned Blu-ray Action movie listeners will have their jaws falling on the floor as what is now arguably the reference-quality action sequence plays out. Explosions deliver a tremendous wallop, bullets zips all around the soundstage, gunfire erupts from every corner, and incoming artillery rounds pierce the soundstage with startling clarity. It's as well done as the Omaha Beach scene in Saving Private Ryan, and if that scene sounds this good when it eventually comes to Blu-ray (as a Sapphire series release, perhaps?), listeners will be in for a sonic treat for the ages. Later in the film, a ferocious thunderstorm at sea in chapter 13 features the sensation of being in the midst of a hurricane as waves pound on the ship's hull, effectively turning the listening area into a drenched shrimp boat deck. Outside these segments, Forrest Gump features minimal surround sound usage, though it does deliver plenty of atmospheric effects nicely. Music -- whether the score or the many popular songs scattered about the film -- sound exceptionally crisp and clear throughout the entire range. Rounded out by strong dialogue reproduction, Forrest Gump makes for one of the best soundtracks yet on Blu-ray. As an addendum to this section of the review, it seems as if there is virtually no surround activity. Though the above-referenced "Vietnam" and "hurricane" scenes are loud, aggressive, and abundantly clear, and listening at normal volume and from the normal seated position creates the sense of a more immersive environment than there really is. With ear directly in front of the back speakers, it appears there is, in reality, no surround activity during these scenes. Said scenes remain loud, impressive, and engaging, and the track still enjoys pinpoint clarity here and throughout.
This "Box of Chocolates" Blu-ray release of Forrest Gump features a plethora of extra
material spread over two Blu-ray discs, and it includes several bonuses found inside the
packaging.
Inside a box measuring approximately 11"x7.5"x1.25," buyers will find a "scratch-n-sniff" replica
of assorted
chocolates,
a white feather, and a full-color, 14-page booklet containing quotes, trivia, and images from the
film.
Disc
one of the set features two commentary tracks, the first with Director Robert Zemeckis, Producer
Steve Starkey, and Production Designer Rick Carter. Discussions include the purpose of the
feather
that begins the movie, Tom Hanks' performance and his comfort with the character, Forrest's
character traits, casting additional roles, the film's visual style, molding the humor and working
with
archival footage, and even the film's aspect ratio. This is a superb track all viewers will want to
listen to. The second commentary track features Producer Wendy Finerman. She discusses the
uniqueness of seeing the world through Forrest's eyes and the movie's ability to perfectly
showcase it. She also covers shooting locations, her favorite moments in the film, what helped
Forrest's character get through his various trials and why he was an extraordinary character, and
more. This is something of a more philosophical and insightful track, and despite some stretches
of silence, it, too, is well worth a listen.
Also included on disc one is Musical Signposts to
History (1080p, 3:54) featuring Rock Journalist Ben Fong-Torres, Director Robert Zemeckis,
and Music Supervisor Joel Sill discussing Forrest Gump's soundtrack and score and how
the popular songs match up to the scenes they accompany. Also featured are Michelle Phillips
from "The Mamas and the Papas," Roger McGuinn and David Crosby from "The Byrds," and Ray
Manzarek from "The Doors." Once this introductory piece concludes, viewers will be prompted to
choose a mode through which to view the film with the Musical Signposts feature. Modes include
"Manual," "Auto," and "Selective." When activated, the film will stop and Ben Fong-Torres and
others will discuss the music accompanying each particular scene.
Moving onto disc two, viewers will first find Greenbow Diary (1080p, 25:59), an
excellent piece that chronicles the production of the film from the perspective of a bystander.
Viewers will be transported to the set to witness the construction of various shots, and the piece
also features interview clips with the cast and crew discussing the scenes being filmed. The
Art of Screenplay Adaptation (1080p, 26:58) looks at the fascinating process of translating
novel to screen and the lengthy process that was the creation of Forrest Gump, including
the difficulty of the special effects, the films transition from Warner Brothers to Paramount, the
many drafts of the screenplay, and more. The piece includes Forrest Gump author
Winston Groom and others
speaking on the process, from studios seeking to discover material not even on bookstore
shelves to the process of adapting a screenplay from the novel, which may require changes to
make the story work on-screen. This is a fantastic supplement that will enthrall anyone with
interest in writing, filmmaking, or Forrest Gump.
Getting Past the Impossible: 'Forrest Gump' and the Visual Effects Revolution (1080p,
27:04) is another solid feature that examines the creation of some of the film's visual effects. It
chronicles Industrial Light & Magic's contributions to the film, offers a fascinating history of optical
effects, and Forrest Gump's groundbreaking visuals that advanced the field considerably,
with emphasis on several particular shots, including Forrest's meeting with John Kennedy, the
removal of Lt. Dan's legs, and the Washington, D.C. segments. Little Forrest (1080p,
14:48) looks at the casting and contributions of Actor Michael Conner Humphreys, including his
voice that influenced Tom Hanks' performance. A now-adult Humphreys also recalls his
experiences in working on the film. An Evening with 'Forrest Gump' (1080p,
55:08) is a discussion with Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Eric Roth, and Robert Zemeckis discussing
the film at the University of Southern California.
Concluding the supplemental package is a collection of archival supplements. The Make-up of
'Forrest Gump' (480p, 8:03) looks at the contributions of Make Up Artist Dan Striepeke.
Through the Ears of 'Forrest Gump:' Sound Design (480p) features Sound Designer
Randy Thom and looks at the process of
creating the sound effects for several scenes: Bike (2:29), Crowds (1:43),
Vietnam (7:59), Rain (2:00), and Ping Pong (1:23). Next up is
Building the World of 'Gump:' Production Design (480p, 7:18), a piece that looks at
shooting locations and set design. Seeing is Believing: The Visual Effects of 'Forrest
Gump' (480p) features Visual Effects Supervisor Ken Ralston discussing the process of
constructing several different shots (some of which did not make it into the final film): Run
Forrest Run (2:02), Martin Luther King, Jr. (3:05), George Wallace (2:22),
Vietnam (7:35), Ping Pong with George Bush (1:26), Lyndon B.
Johnson (2:24), Enhancing Reality (7:21), Dick Cavett and John Lennon
(2:14), and Richard Nixon (1:54). Also included are a collection of screen tests (480p)
for Michael Conner Humphreys & Hanna R. Hall, Robin Wright, and Haley Joel Osment. Rounding
out this most impressive collection of extras are two trailers: "Theatrical" (1080p, 3:57) and
"Remember" (1080p, 1:13).
If Forrest Gump's genuine emotion, heartfelt honesty, and innocent tone doesn't bring a tear to the eye, the fates of several of the characters will. Though completely fabricated, the life of Forrest Gump makes for a moving tale of the strength of simplicity and heart in a time of great upheaval both personally and in the world at large, and it does so by juxtaposing two contrasting elements -- both fiction and nonfiction and gentleness and turmoil -- and thereby creating a singular motion picture triumph. Paramount's "Sapphire Series" Blu-ray release is extraordinary. If Forrest Gump and Braveheart are indicative of what Paramount has planned for the Blu-ray releases of the best films in its impressive archive, the studio will move to the forefront of the Blu-ray format where the high definition presentation of classic titles are concerned. Delivering a wonderful film-like video presentation, a pristine lossless soundtrack, and plenty of fantastic extras spread across two discs, this "Box of Chocolates" edition of Forrest Gump easily makes for one of the finest Blu-ray releases yet and it earns my highest recommendation.
Sapphire Series
1994
Paramount 100th Anniversary
1994
1994
20th Anniversary Edition | Diamond Luxe Edition
1994
1994
1994
25th Anniversary Edition
1994
Remastered | 25th Anniversary
1994
1994
25th Anniversary Edition
1994
1994
Limited 30th Anniversary Edition
1994
2012
MVD Marquee Collection
2006
2007
2008
2011
1985
Extended Director's Cut
1984
1998
Final Cut | 40th Anniversary Edition
1979
2011
2012
Warner Archive Collection
1982
1999
1998
2011
2014
1996
1984
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1995
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2004