Scene Standoff: Forrest Gump vs. Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone
The opening scene in 'Forrest Gump' in which Forrest utters "Life is like a box of chocolates" vs. the moment that Harry meets Hagrid in the first 'Harry Potter'.
If you've clicked on this wondering what's going on, then click on the link here to read the rules of the Scene Standoff: https://www.focusfilms.online/post/scene-standoff-lion-king-vs-grease
Opening bench scene - Forrest Gump
A steady zoom in focuses on a privacy-invading Forrest (Tom Hanks) as he attempts to make conversation with a lady who has just sat on the other end of the bench. He begins his story here and utters the famous line, "Mama used to say, life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get!"
- Ellis' scene
"You're a wizard Harry!" - Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone
The door bursts down, a thunder storm ruptures outside, a giant hairy man walks into the room, and a thick, friendly West Country accent seeps out. In the scene, Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) tells Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) all about Hogwarts and gives him the true news that he is in fact a wizard. Also Dudley eats cake so Hagrid gives him a pig tail...does he still have a pig tail?
- Gareth's scene
Ellis - italics
Gareth - bold
PERFORMANCE
The performance of Forrest Gump has gained a bit of backlash in recent years and people have found the performance offensive. However, the performance is still remarkable and I think Tom Hanks went about the role in the most respectful way. In this scene in particular you see that Gump's kind nature hasn't gone away.
If you're portraying someone with learning difficulties or particular disabilities you have to research it and be respectful. I think this performance did that.
Daniel Radcliffe isn't great in the first few Harry Potters it must be said.
But Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid is!
And the Dursleys!
FORREST GUMP - 7/10 HARRY POTTER - 7/10
NECESSITY
Forrest Gump could survive without the bench segues, it’s just a nice way to move between the parts of his life.
Without the scene in Harry Potter we don't even find out that he's a wizard we just go straight to Diagon Alley. "I'll have that wand please."
The audience are like "wands? And who's that big hairy guy he's walking round with?"
It would become a film about child abduction.
I never understood why Vernon and Petunia aren't just like "yeah take him!" because they hate him.
FORREST GUMP - 7/10 HARRY POTTER - 9/10
REFERENCABILITY
Well, obviously the big one is "you're a wizard Harry!"
And you can change the name and it's still a reference to this.
But to counter that "life is like a box of chocolates" is very iconic.
I think these two are on a par. They're two of the biggest quotes in movie history.
FORREST GUMP - 10/10 HARRY POTTER - 10/10
POPULARITY (using Letterboxd for reference)
Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone is a 3.7.
And Forrest Gump is a 4.1
Good scorer that is!
Would you agree with those scores?
Yeah I think I would.
FORREST GUMP - 4.1 HARRY POTTER - 3.7
ICONIC RATING
On a scale of chocolate bars...so most iconic is like a mint aero and least iconic is something like a chomp. They're very nice don't get me wrong just not very iconic.
I prefer a chomp to a curly wurly. It's more concentrated fudge.
And when you eat a curly wurly you get in a right state.
It's the gaps!
Yeah, what are the gaps about? I guess that's what makes it curly wurly.
For "you're a wizard Harry" I'm going with a 2-piece Kit-Kat with the foil. You might start with the classic two piece and then if you like it you move on to the four piece, then the chunky, then the share bites. So there are equally popular sequels to the Kit-Kat.
That's a good answer. Gump needs to be top tier so I'm going with a twirl. No clever reason, twirls are just super iconic.
Not as iconic as a Kit-Kat though come on! The running of your thumb down the foil, snapping the bars...iconic!
I think we're going to have to call this one a draw.
FORREST GUMP - kit-kat HARRY POTTER - twirl
THE FINAL STANDOFF
Forrest Gump 1-1 Harry Potter
Tom Hanks is back with a bang but this time it's not a gracious victory from the Hollywood nice guy but a settle-for-a-draw kind of situation.
Both Forrest Gump and Harry Potter have made it through to the next round. With Potter's incredible treat of nostalgia-filled, wizardly goodness and Gump's charismatic naivety it's no wonder that this ended in a draw. They're both completely different scenes but both so full of life and energy.
Perhaps they'll do battle again in the future. These are two scenes that could make it all the way to the end...but then again, there's so much talent already waiting in the next round I wouldn't count on it.
Current Standings: G - 7 E - 11
NEXT BATTLE:
LOVE ACTUALLY VS. DIE HARD
Forrest Gump and Harry Potter & The Philosopher's stone available now on NowTV and Sky Cinema