Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks was one of the biggest blockbuster smash hits of the 1990s. It was adapted from the novel of the same name written by Winston Groom and released in 1986 and the movie was released in 1994. The movie stars Tom Hanks, Robyn Wright Penn, Sally Field and Gary Sinise.

Immediately upon the release of the film it was a huge success and ended up grossing more than $677 million. All this despite some problems with casting the film and director. The movie ended up winning seven Academy Awards and many other industry awards with Tom Hanks winning best actor for his performance as the main character.

The storyline centers on Hanks' character Forrest Gump. Gump is from Alabama and although he has a low IQ and is considered throughout his childhood to be simple, he manages to live an entirely amazing life. The twists and turns of his life see him present at some of the sixties, seventies and early eighties most important events and meeting highly influential people from politics to pop culture.

At the beginning of the movie Gump is sat at a bus stop and begins telling a woman about the series of events of his life that have lead him to the bus stop. The woman listens incredulously as he tells her that "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get". The beginning of his amazing journey really begins with his scholarship to study at Alabama State based on his football prowess.

During his convalescence from war injuries he takes up ping pong and becomes a national champion who visits Maoist China as a representative of the United States government. Later on he receives a medal of honor from the President and experiences the fringes of the sixties hippy movement.

All the while that Gump is living some incredible experiences, he keeps being haunted by his love for his childhood friend Jenny. Jenny became his friend on the first day of school and came from an abusive household. As Jenny supported Gump in childhood, Gump supports the damaged Jenny throughout her turbulent adult life and self-destructive behavior.

Both the movie and the book are filled with events that will make you laugh, smirk, sigh and cry. And when the credits roll you start to wonder who was the smart one and who of us might learn a thing or two about how to live life from the innocent and sweet Gump.

Forrest Gump is an entertaining and beautiful movie that has become one of the biggest success stories of Paramount Pictures and Hollywood. Hard to believe when you consider that Robert Zemekis was the third director the movie was offered to and the role of Gump was also turned down by several other Hollywood heavy weights before Tom Hanks decided to take it on.