Tom Hanks

Most war movies fall into the category of heroic tales of glory or different trends such as glamorizing or condemning the war. Saving Private Ryan veers away from the both of those downfalls. Instead of Saving Private Ryan falling into heroic tale of glory, it’s brought along courage and sacrifice. Yet, there is no one hero, and the men come together as one cohesive team. The characteristics were essential for their survival during the war and their quest to find Private Ryan. The D-Day…

In his article, History Re-Membered: Forrest Gump, Postfeminist Masculinity, and the Burial of the Counterculture, Thomas Byers argues his point by presenting two conflicting views about the movie, Forrest Gump. Steve Tisch, one of the producers of the movie, states that the film is about humanity, not politics. However, Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, claims the movie is a conservative film that upholds the view that counterculture destroys people and their basic values. While Byers…

A Millionaire Forrest Gump is a successful, mentally slow man in the film Forrest Gump. Despite many people’s opinions of him, Forrest is more prosperous than most. He is a football star, a medal-honored veteran, a successful businessman, and a father. Facing prejudice, he has his mother, his lover, and his best friend who treat him well and encourage him. Despite all of Forrest’s challenges, he lives a fulfilling life with those around him. Despite Forrest’s mental retardation, his speech is…

The film “Saving Private Ryan” is widely considered to be of Steven Spielberg’s best work. Set in World War 2 the film tells the tale of Captain John Miller whom is given the responsibility to find Private James Ryan, whom is missing in action and his three brothers have been killed in combat. The story follows Captain James Miller’s journey through war torn France. Many film experts have said that this movie is one of the most realistic war movies of all time. World War 2 veterans as well have…

A Jewish father with his wife and son are trapped between the appalling situations of discrimination and fall of a race. La vita è bella (Original title: Life is Beautiful) will certainly leave you in awe once you finish the film. According to IMDB (n.d.), it lavished prestigious awards including three Oscars (1999), one from the Cannes Film Festival (1998), four Italian Golden Globes (1998) and one Grammy Award (2000). The Italian film was directed by Roberto Benigni and was released on 20th…

3.2. A study of Native American troops in war movies. Windtalkers (2002) by Chinese film director John Woo is an excellent example of a clichéd war movie with its authentic looking war scenes, non-stop action and heroic American soldiers. Marine Stg. Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage), during the mission on Soloman Islands, loses all his troops. He receives the medal but still suffers from emotional problems and he feels guilty. There are two Native American characters: Private Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach)…

In many works, books, movies, and other aspects of entertainment, the hero’s journey is not uncommon to the typical reader or moviegoer. The hero’s journey is one of the oldest tools to compose a piece of literature or work, however, it hardly ever fails to strike the audience as entertaining whether it be about a fictional or nonfictional occurrence. The journey to contain evil, both mythologically and realistically, requires sacrifice and courage in the face of fear, demonstrated in The House…

Challenges are presented to everyone within their daily lives, each struggles does not compromise who a person fundamentally is. Rather, the actions taken whilst one undergoes adversity forms a person’s character. Through the use of the characters in, Forrest Gump, Robert Zemeckis shows the audience different forms of adversity, and different reactions to such. For example, Jenny Curran --the love interest of the main character-- has a life riddled with strife, and the ways she responds to…

In a scene from “Saving Private Ryan”, a film directed by Steven Spielberg, Captain John Miller and other GIs approach Omaha beach in a landing craft. The scene begins with the soldiers all tightly cramped in the landing craft awaiting the landing on the beach. There is then a close-up of Captain Miller’s hand shaking and the camera then pans up towards his face and then slowly moves backwards to show the faces of the other soldiers in the landing craft. It shows some men throwing up and then…

The main protagonist in the novel Forrest Gump is Forrest Gump. Forrest is named after his ancestor Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Scotch-Irish American and a noted Confederate general in the American Civil War. Some examples of Forrest being the main protagonist are Forrest always trying to do the right thing which shows his heroic traits and protagonists usually try to do the right thing. Even after Bubba died, he still continues to fulfill their dreams of making a successful shrimp business. When…