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starman · Jul 9, 2002, 01:31 AM

If you haven't before, watch this movie. I'm listening to the soundtrack right now and this really is one of the best movie scores made. Great film. Of course some people will come away from it saying "err...brain cloud? Orange soda? I don't get it." Let it sink in.

My 1000th post.

Mike

pathogen · Jul 9, 2002, 01:52 AM

I have no response to that.

MikeM32 · Jul 9, 2002, 02:29 AM

One of my favorite movies of all time

Too bad I think the ex-wife took it with her half of the movies a few years ago. I haven't watched in in ages though.

Mike

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Jul 9, 2002, 02:34 AM

I'm in complete shock.

Sword of Orion · Jul 9, 2002, 02:52 AM

I thought I was the only one who liked this movie! Most people just give me a blank stare of disbelief when I tell them it's one of my favorite movies.

I think one of the things that I identify with is that several of my jobs have resembled Joe's job - right down to the buzzing flourescent lights...

I have to admit though, I never understood the orange soda... enlightment, please? (I definitely have a Brain Cloud, though...)

Tigerabbit · Jul 9, 2002, 04:09 AM

I'll take the Volcano in the 2nd round.

Cipher13 · Jul 9, 2002, 04:40 AM

Never heard of it...

juanvaldes · Jul 9, 2002, 05:40 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Cipher13:
Never heard of it...<hr /></blockquote>don't worry you didn't miss anything, "Dude where's my car" comes to mind when I think of Joe vs the volcano....

chris v · Jul 9, 2002, 07:42 AM

I recommended "Under the Volcano" (Dir. John Huston) to a friend a few years back, and he went out and rented "Joe vs. the Volcano" by accident. Boy, was he steamed at me the next day-- "Dude! That movie SUCKED!"

I like the occasional bad movie (Man with Two Brains comes to mind) but Joe vs. the Volcano isn't one of them.

CV

Lerkfish · Jul 9, 2002, 08:50 AM

Joe vs. the volcano was one half of a very interesting and original movie, and one half of a trite, sucky movie. Unfortunately they put both halves together.

Before Joe leaves for the volcano, I'd give the movie a B+, after that, it nosedives to an D- rather quickly.

Just my opinion, of course.

ringo · Jul 9, 2002, 08:59 AM

...is a great movie! OK, it's lighthearted, REALLY lighthearted, but so worth the rent if you haven't seen it.

Nothing oscar-worthy or anything, but sweet and tounge-in-cheek funny. Great date movie.

[ 07-09-2002, 09:00 AM: Message edited by: ringo ]

chris v · Jul 9, 2002, 09:28 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by ringo:
 Great date movie.<hr /></blockquote>I watched it with my (ex) wife. She hated it too. Nine Weeks is a great date movie.

CV

beb · Jul 9, 2002, 09:35 AM

I want the luggage.

Xaositect · Jul 9, 2002, 02:58 PM

Watching the beginning, that is a auto-counting sign of "satisfied customers" of rectal probes. How can one not find the humor?

But I agree with Lerkfish - it loses steam halfway through, although the more odd, old and/or foriegn slang words you know the funnier the end is. And the commentary on religious fervor is overtly sublime.

davechen · Jul 9, 2002, 03:18 PM

LUGGAGE SALESMAN: Have you thought much about luggage, Mr. Banks?

JOE: No, I never really have.

LUGGAGE SALESMAN: It's the central preoccupation of my life. You travel the world, you're away from home, perhaps away from your family, all you have to depend on is yourself and your luggage.

Sword of Orion · Jul 9, 2002, 11:16 PM

This seems to be a love it or hate it movie. Only Lerkfish had a mixed response to it.

BTW, I'm still waiting for someone to clue me in on the meaning of the orange soda...

Sword of Orion · Jul 9, 2002, 11:25 PM

chris v : Do you mean "Nine 1/2 Weeks"? Or "Nine Months"? I couldn't find "Nine Weeks" at IMDB...

(And no, I didn't post this separately just to get 100 posts...)

chris v · Jul 9, 2002, 11:33 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Sword of Orion:
chris v : Do you mean "Nine 1/2 Weeks"? Or "Nine Months"? I couldn't find "Nine Weeks" at IMDB...

(And no, I didn't post this separately just to get 100 posts...)<hr /></blockquote>Hmmm.. Maybe I meant 9 1/2 months?

No, I oopsied, and for got the 1/2. It's been a long time since I've needed a "date movie" to work its magic.

CV

ringo · Jul 9, 2002, 11:41 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by chris v:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Sword of Orion:
chris v : Do you mean "Nine 1/2 Weeks"? Or "Nine Months"? I couldn't find "Nine Weeks" at IMDB...

(And no, I didn't post this separately just to get 100 posts...)<hr /></blockquote>Hmmm.. Maybe I meant 9 1/2 months?

No, I oopsied, and for got the 1/2. It's been a long time since I've needed a "date movie" to work its magic.

CV<hr /></blockquote><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0091635" target="_blank">this one?</a> ...lots of kinky sex? Kim Basinger?

Paco500 · Jul 10, 2002, 02:56 PM

Yet another fan of Joe vs. the Volcano here.

Very off beat and quite funny.

chris v · Jul 10, 2002, 03:01 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by ringo:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by chris v:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Sword of Orion:
chris v : Do you mean "Nine 1/2 Weeks"? Or "Nine Months"? I couldn't find "Nine Weeks" at IMDB...

(And no, I didn't post this separately just to get 100 posts...)<hr /></blockquote>Hmmm.. Maybe I meant 9 1/2 months?

No, I oopsied, and for got the 1/2. It's been a long time since I've needed a "date movie" to work its magic.

CV<hr /></blockquote><a href="http://us.imdb.com/Title?0091635" target="_blank">this one?</a> ...lots of kinky sex? Kim Basinger?<hr /></blockquote>That one. Your date can turn out either very badly, or very good, with that as a "date movie." What the hey. Live a little and give it a whirl some time.

CV

MikeM32 · Jul 10, 2002, 04:07 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by juanvaldez:
don't worry you didn't miss anything, "Dude where's my car" comes to mind when I think of Joe vs the volcano....<hr /></blockquote>That's a pretty drastic comparrison <img border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" title="" src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" /> I don't know that I'd go that far. "Dude where's my car" was fairly juvenile "teen angst" humor along the lines of movies like "Road Trip" or "She's all that" (for example). It's actually kind of hard for me to even think of anything to compare Joe vs. The Volcano to at all. But I'd say the content is "different" than something like "Dude where's my car". More "mature humor"? Well that's up to the viewer, but to me it is more mature humor.

I'll admit it is offbeat humor, but it's probably my all-time favorite of the "Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks" movies. I've never been the "sappy romance" lover either. I've always liked a little offbeat humor in a romance. The movies of Monty Python or those Directed by Terry Gilliam can also be described as very "off-beat" as well.

I loved alot of the "surrealistic" visuals in the film, like the similarity of the walkway to Joes job, and the pathway to the top of the volcano. The part where he's on the raft out in the ocean and this HUGE moon comes up over the horizon, and he's raising his hands as-if he's lifting the moon up to the sky. To me, the "meaning" of the movie is to live life to the fullest. Don't let life become dull or routine. When Joe "thinks" he's going to die from the "Brain Cloud" he turns his whole life around. I find the movie to be inspirational in many ways.

As for the orange soda, I really don't think there was any "meaning" to it. To me it was just funny that there's this tribe of half hebrew - half greek (?) islanders who love orange soda and worship a volcano. So if you didn't find that somewhat funny in and of itself, then the type of humor in the film probably isn't your type of humor. The humor may have been a little politically incorrect also, from a time when it was "okay" to present such humor. Dare I say the whole "PC" movement has waterred-down lots of great comedy nowadays.

(off-topic a bit): I sometimes catch the old SNL episodes on Comedy Central (the real old Bill Murray/Chevy Chase/Dan Aykroyd days) and that stuff is still, to this day, absolutely HILARIOUS because they knew little to no boundaries.

One of my favorite scenes from Joe vs. The Volcano is when Joe arrives at work in the beginning of the film and his boss (Mr. Waturi) is on the phone:

MR. WATURI

Yeah, Harry, but can he do the
job? I know he can get the
job, but can he do the job?

I'm not arguing that with you.

I'm not arguing that with you.

I'm not arguing that with you

Yeah, Harry, but can he do the
job? I know he can get the
job, but can he do the job?

I'm not arguing that with you.

I'm not arguing that with you.

I'm not arguing that with you

Yeah, Harry, but can he do the
job? I know he can get the
job, but can he do the job?

I'm not arguing that with you.

I'm not arguing that with you.

I'm not arguing that with you

Mike

It's annoyingly funny in an "I've known people that talk on the phone like that" kind of way.

thunderous_funker · Jul 10, 2002, 04:48 PM

Joe vs. The Volcano is a terrific movie, IMO. Hilarious, satirical, zany and loaded with all kinds of symbolism that registers with me in a big way.

It's definitely a brand of humor that doesn't tickle everyone, however. If you don't find it funny, the cutsy love story and the overt "carpe diem" theme will just be heavy handed and hokey.

It's the combination of odd-ball satire like Mr. Waturi on the phone and the very stylized symbolism like the Walking to Work scene that opens the film. The path to the factory, the path to the volcano, the cracks in joe's apartment wall, the lightening that sinks the yacht are all the exact same shape. The film visually re-inforces it's theme. It's highly stylized, cartoony and weird on purpose. If that doesn't resonate with you on some level, I can understand how the film would be very lame. I mean, it's not exactly subtle thematically.

The point is obvious so why not tell it in a weird and funny way?

I'm curious how the love/hate break-down on Joe vs. The Volcano would compare to another satirical, odd-ball, highly stylized movie like The Hudsucker Proxy. I think they are very similar films.

Sword of Orion · Jul 11, 2002, 12:17 AM

Well, it looks like we had a strong showing in favor of JvTV here lately. Glad to see it!

Every time I've watched the movie, my thoughts on the orange soda were pretty much the same as MikeM32's, but when starman said

<blockquote>quote:<hr /> "err...brain cloud? Orange soda? I don't get it." Let it sink in. <hr /></blockquote>I started wondering if I had missed something.

I guess I better go out and rent "The Hudsucker Proxy"...

talisker · Jul 11, 2002, 12:34 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Sword of Orion:
Well, it looks like we had a strong showing in favor of JvTV here lately. Glad to see it!

Every time I've watched the movie, my thoughts on the orange soda were pretty much the same as MikeM32's, but when starman said

<blockquote>quote:<hr /> "err...brain cloud? Orange soda? I don't get it." Let it sink in. <hr /></blockquote>I started wondering if I had missed something.

I guess I better go out and rent "The Hudsucker Proxy"...<hr /></blockquote>Do - it's wonderful. One of my favourites in fact! ("You know, for kids") In return I think I'll have to try J vs V, sounds promising...

His Dudeness · Jul 11, 2002, 06:12 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by juanvaldes:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Cipher13:
Never heard of it...<hr /></blockquote>don't worry you didn't miss anything, "Dude where's my car" comes to mind when I think of Joe vs the volcano....<hr /></blockquote>I love both of those movies! Dude, Where's My Car is freakin hilarious!

Macola · Jul 11, 2002, 05:37 PM

My wife convinced me to watch Joe vs. the Volcano the day after I told my boss to shove it and quit my job. It was an extremely appropriate movie at the time. I agree that the second half didn't quite follow through, but a funny movie nonetheless...

Sword of Orion · Jul 11, 2002, 11:15 PM

Well, I rushed out and rented Hudsucker Proxy today. There are a lot of similarities between HP and JvTV, both in presentation and meaning. HP is a bit more frenetic (everybody talks so fast). I liked it, and recommend it, especially if you like JvTV.

MikeM32 · Jul 12, 2002, 12:48 AM

I haven't seen Hudsucker Proxie as many times as J vs. V. Now that it's been brought-up I'd have to agree that it is sort of similar in many ways from my recollection. The directorial styles of both films are very similar (were they directed by the same person?)

Mike

talisker · Jul 12, 2002, 12:56 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by MikeM32:
I haven't seen Hudsucker Proxie as many times as J vs. V. Now that it's been brought-up I'd have to agree that it is sort of similar in many ways from my recollection. The directorial styles of both films are very similar (were they directed by the same person?)

Mike<hr /></blockquote>No, the Hudsucker Proxy was the Coen brothers, and I've no idea who directed J vs V apart from it wasnt them.

Sword of Orion · Jul 12, 2002, 01:02 AM

John Patrick Shanley wrote and directed JvTV. He also wrote (and won an Oscar for) Moonstruck.

11011001 · Jul 12, 2002, 09:13 PM

I liked it! This was when I watched all of Tom Hanks movies... I believe I watch it right after The Man With One Red Shoe, or a title along those lines, the one where he was a violinist... and there were spies, and he got a great looking chick... er... ya

So anyways, I liked it so much, that when this guy came in asking for a movie with Hanks, and Meg Ryan in it, I told him to watch that one (he had already seen Sleepless in Seattle), and later he said he didn't like it. Sigh. So I never suggested it again, but I still liked it, I just figured I was weird.

But ya, Tom Hanks is probably my most favorite actor, him or Nicholas Cage (check out some of his older movies, Birdy is an excellent one. His newer movies aren't too bad either, Gone in 60 seconds, or City of Angels, or even the Family Man! Wow... City of Angels/The Family Man... great love stories)

Err.. Hugh Grant is also awesome, with Julia Roberts in Notting Hill. Another good romantic comedy.

Damn but I feel there is another Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movie that is slipping from my mind, and it's a good one!!! Ah! Help me.

Oh, and Addicted to Love with Meg Ryan isn't too bad either. City of Angels of course completely owns it, but meh... still a good movie.

Err! Damn! I am sure there is another one with Meg and Tom! I am pretty sure they did three together. Or more? I think the number is three though.

Another one that isn't toooo bad is Runaway bride, Roberts, and Richard Gere (that's the guy right?)

Oi!! I can't wait to see Tom Hank's new movie though! That looks amazing!! He is awesome in all his Dramas; Cast Away, Forest Gump....!

Oro!!!!

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Lerkfish · Jul 12, 2002, 09:19 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by 11011001:
Damn but I feel there is another Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movie that is slipping from my mind, and it's a good one!!! Ah! Help me.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <hr /></blockquote>Youve got mail (or similar title)
which was a less than believable remake of the classic "little shop on the corner" (or similar title) old black and white british film.
Although I like Hanks and Ryan, in this last collaboration, the movie spends TOO much time making Hanks unsympathetic so that by the time they get together, it seems implausible.

11011001 · Jul 12, 2002, 09:52 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Lerkfish:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by 11011001:
Damn but I feel there is another Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movie that is slipping from my mind, and it's a good one!!! Ah! Help me.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <hr /></blockquote>Youve got mail (or similar title)
which was a less than believable remake of the classic "little shop on the corner" (or similar title) old black and white british film.
Although I like Hanks and Ryan, in this last collaboration, the movie spends TOO much time making Hanks unsympathetic so that by the time they get together, it seems implausible.<hr /></blockquote>Oi! I can't believe it. I am such a moron!

That was a good movie. You've Got Mail.

But ya, I agree it all kinda happened odd... but I guess it was about him discovering how he really felt. I don't know. He had an interesting character though.

JUnderwood · Jul 12, 2002, 10:26 PM

It was good. I would watch it as many times as someone else or (cable) showed it, but never would own it. after the first time it is kinda a wash-over movie. You can have it playing it the background and never care but you'll still get the laughs.

just what i think of it.

Jonathan

Silky Voice of The Gorn · Jul 13, 2002, 08:29 AM

This movie could have been a cult classic. The first half is great, and any fan of Office Space would love it. However, after that the film shifts 180 degrees and turns into this trite, feel good thing. What a letdown.