Customer Reviews

Joe Versus the Volcano (Widescreen)

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This has quite possibly the best opening sequence I've ever had the privelege to see. It rocks; the song, the situation, and the set work perfectly.

But, further along with the review.

It's about a hypochondriac named Joe Banks. He had had a job before, putting out fires, but for the past several years he's had a job shipping out catalogues for a medical parts company. He uses up basically all of his salary on doctors' bills, because, being the hypochondriac he is, he won't rest until he finds something wrong with himself. And- wonder of all wonders- one doctor FINALLY tells him he has an uncurable disease- a 'brain cloud' that will kill him in the next six months. Joe feels great about that; quits his job, and takes out the secretary he had to dinner. (played by Meg Ryan)

After she dumps him (he tells her he's about to die), he is visited by a very rich man who is willing to give him any amount of money that he can spend in the next few days in exchange for him voluntarily jumping into a volcano. On his way to accomplishing that goal, he meets the man's two daughters (both played by Meg Ryan).

Wonderful performance by Tom Hanks (as usual) and a wonderful show of acting by Meg Ryan. The voices, costumes, and mannerisms for each of the three women she plays are completely different from each other.

I loved all the Tom Hank/Meg Ryan movies, and this is no exception. Great movie, great acting, great plot... great reasons to see it. :)

A friend gave me this film years ago. At first I was not sure if I liked it. And then, I watched it again and again. It is a story that opens one's eyes, heart and mind. It made me see the world as hilarious and profound at the same time. And John Patrick Shanley, who wrote and directed this film, presents the story in such a subtle and affecting way. I wish he wrote and directed more movies. I am curious what he would do next. Sometimes I wonder what happened to Joe after he went on his next journey "away from the things of man." I am not a big fan of Hanks or Ryan. It is the story that is amazing. I am glad I was able to get it on DVD as my VHS tape is barely alive. Now, if they only released the soundtrack!

Joe Banks (Tom Hanks) is doomed. He not only works for the most despicable boss at the most horrible job since the slave-driven corporation in "Metropolis", he has also found out that he is dying from a rare condition called a "brain cloud". Thankfully, Joe is visited by the filthy rich owner of a super-conductor manufacturing company (Lloyd Bridges), who wants Joe to go to the island of Waponi Woo and jump into a volcano to appease the god of the Waponi people; so he can secure the mining rights of a rare mineral he needs. This is in exchange for unlimited funds for Joe and the guarantee of high adventure. Joe accepts the offer and sets out on the journey of his life. Meg Ryan plays three very distinct roles as the women Joe encounters on his way. This is truly an oddysey of discovery. Full of humor, romance, miracles, great music, and unexpected events, JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO is not a typical romantic comedy. If you have ever once fantasized about telling your boss to get bent, or have ever wanted to just quit your job, take off, and live like there's no tomorrow, then watch this movie right now! I would advise you to buy some water-tight steamer trunks for the trip. They come in VERY handy! Highly recommended...

For those of you familiar with later Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movies such as "Sleepless in Seattle" and "You've got Mail", "Joe Versus the Volcano" is the movie that started it all, for good or ill. Tom Hanks is a down-on-his-luck guy who gets fired from his job and diagnosed with a fake terminal illness, only to be duped into promising to jump into a volcano by a wealthy mining tycoon. Meg Ryan plays 3 parts, but most convincingly that of Hanks' cruise director and principal love interest. Add to that a raft of everything-proof luggage and an unstable island full of orange soda-guzzling natives and watch the romantic comedy hijinks ensue!
As far as these types of movies go, it's pretty standard fare. The movie is low budget enough so that you can rule out any real technical innovation, and was done at a time when both Hanks and Ryan were at that uncertain point in their careers when they were considered competent without being particularly bankable. True to typecasting, Hanks is the earnestly striving everyman and Ryan is sweet and charming, and they go through the most gosh-darned amazing things to end up falling in love.
If nothing else, it's interesting to see Hanks before triumphs like "Apollo 13", "Forrest Gump" and "Saving Private Ryan", and realize that he was as good then as he is now, if much less appreciated.
Like others have said here: you either love this movie or you hate it. I, for one, happen to like it.

OK, I understand that a lot of people have trouble connecting to this movie, but it's probably because most people don't see plays anymore. It doesn't force-feed the comedy to people as americans are used to. This is a cute, pithy play shot as a movie. I found it delightful, mildly thought-provoking, and would recommend it as a great rental.

This is an odd little movie, that appears to be more of a play than anything else. The first 5 minutes are perhaps the funniest five minutes of any movie ever made. There are several layers of humor to this movie, so watch it more than once. The jokes don't get old. Plus, it is one more chance for all the Hanks/Ryan fans to sit back and watch the on-screen chemisty that has made the duo so amazingly popular. For those of you who start this thinking you have just rented a "b grade" movie keep watching. The filming and lighting at the beginning are all part of the joke and there is nothing "B-Grade" about it. Have fun with this one.

Joe Banks is in a dead end job and going nowhere. Then he learns that he has a terminal condition called a "brain cloud" and has only a few months to live. An eccentric millionaire offers to let him "live like a king, die like a man" if he'll jump into a volcano on the island of Waponi Woo (he gets mineral rights from the islanders in exchange for the human sacrifice to appease the gods). He gets several credit cards and a plane ticket and is off on an incredible journey.

I'll be the first to admit this is a corny movie - at least on the surface. Upon watching it a few more times there's a lot of philisophical stuff there, but it's still a very funny movie. One scene in the beginning has Joe's boss on the phone and he keeps repeating the same phrases over and over. The funny part is that I've heard conversations just like that on the job. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (and Meg Ryan, and Meg Ryan) are great together. Ryan shows good versatility in the 3 roles she plays, and Hanks is simply great.

One of my favorite movies - one I highly recommend for a good laugh.

I have always been mystified at the lack of appreciation for this film. I think it is profound, funny, charming, and life-affirming ... I watch it at least once a year and enjoy it more each time. It is a fable, which may be the reson more literally-minded folks don't enjoy it, and I don't think it was intended to be a comedy in the strictest sense of the word, it is much to subtle for that. It makes me feel good all the way down to my toes!

O.K. - - so the critics may not consider this Great Cinema ! But, this movie is one of my favorites because it is filled with great life lessons and it makes me feel good every time I watch it. All you have to do is pay attention.

I was in the eighth grade when JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO was first released. Friends who saw the film hated it. Until a few months ago anytime I asked someone about this film, they said the hated it. A few months ago I caught the opening scene on cable. I was intrigued. In less than fifteen minutes, I had watched a comedy that displayed allusions to the silent movie METROPOLIS, the writings of George Orwell, and Plato's allegory of the cave. A few weeks later, I rented the film and fell in love with it.

The movie is a modern-day allegory with deep spiritual symbolism and anti-materialism. After watching the movie I was reminded of Dante's DIVINE COMEDY and Bunyan's PILGRIMS PROGRESS.

Joe is an everyman of all the classic fairy tales. And make no mistake, this is a fairy tale; it even begins with "Once upon a time". His existance is boring and he's afraid he's going to die and he's scared. Things weren't always that way for Joe. He used to have an exciting life as a firefighter. Now, he just exists along with most of other humanity. Then he's told he has a brain cloud and is going to die. That knowledge brings revelation and Joe decides to live and accept his death. In doing so, Joe becomes the person he was always destined to be and he is born again.

I admit there's a lot in JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO that I just don't understand, yet. But I'll watch it again and again until I do. They film seems so corny, yet is really quite complex and deep, full of romanticism and myth.

The closest Tom Hanks' film that Joe resembles is THE BURBS. That's another film that people either love or hate with no inbetween. However, THE BURBS is more of a scary story (what happens when our greatest fears are actually true) than the everyman, romantic tale that JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO is. Still the styles are somewhat similar and they are both movies that are much more complex than they originally appear to be.

JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO is a modern-day fairy tale and like most fairy tales, kids may enjoy it, but they won't understand it. It's a movie that only an adult with a child-like faith will understand. You'll either love it or hate it. However, whatever the case if nothing else, it's worth watching to see Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan on the screen for the first time together.