Rating: 
Summary: This was Before Sleepless in Seattle
Review: Some reviewer wrote that this was the same as Sleepless in Seattle but is very mistaken. This one was made long before and it is ten times better. I think this a kind of movie that will always be underrated because many refuse to see below the surface. Some of the silliness of the movie was made on purpose because it is a comedy and it tries to tell something. And it does in a smart and pleasant way. One of the things that puts this movie on top is the beautiful music of Georges Delerue (there is no soundtrack available)and I would buy this buy this DVD just for the small pieces of music. This is a movie to love or hate, but I would recommend to watch it alone, at night and with a good stereo system.
Rating:
Summary: When Reality seems hoaky...
Review: Let's face it, to the "sophisticated connoisseur" of the Hollywood movie, "Joe Versus the Volcano" is the very epitome of a poorly acted piece of cheese souffleed kitsch. In fact, this movie completely fails to match favorably with the archetypes of any of the well known classifications of film.I loved it. "Joe versus the Volcano" is my all time favorite movie. The first thing I would tell potential viewers is to eliminate any expectations and categorizations, and to watch it with a fresh open, alert, mind. The standard movie attempts realism in all it does. "Joe Versus the Volcano" is an allegory (as evident from its opening scene). Allegories do not deal with real people, but their abstracted archetypes. Only when you realize that Joe is an everyman will you ever be able to meaningfully talk about the acting in this movie. With this in mind, I think the acting is simply sensational. If the actors were trying to be three-dimensional, living breathing people they would destroy the beautiful mood of the story. In fact, if you judge someone's acting ability by how believable and real they seem, you will hate this movie because of its seemingly abysmal acting. The style of acting in this movie is instead magnificently harmonious with the allegorical nature of its story. Joe Versus the Volcano must be taken on its own terms so suspend your judgement until you understand it and see why so many people really like this film. If the reason you liked "the City of Lost Children" or "Amelie" had nothing to do with the fact that they were foreign, if you reveled in the ebullient childishness of "The Neverending Tale" or "The Princess Bride", if you appreciated the thoughtfulness of movies like "the Matrix" or "Fight Club", then you should really like this movie.
Rating:
Summary: I forgot how BIG...
Review: JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO is one of my all-time favorite movies. But if you've never seen JOE, I need to warn you that most people (and I mean *most*) don't like it. In fact, most of them hate it. Indeed, many of them will tell you it's the worst movie ever made. And that's even after I've given them my big pitch about how to watch JOE to catch its brilliance. I can't even tell you that the people who hate JOE are somehow lesser human beings - many people I really admire hate this movie. Still, I think you should see it. Think of it this way - it's like an easy personality test. Instead of answering twenty questions to find out whether you're a Type A personality or a Type B personality, you can just watch JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO. Right away, you'll know if you are a pro-Joe or an anti-Joe. I figure you can't lose either way. If you're an anti-Joe, you'll be in the clear majority. You and all the other anti-Joes can get together and roll your eyes about this ridiculous movie with its lame orange-soda jokes and stupid plastic sharks. At the worst, you'll be able to say you saw Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in the movie before they got the chemistry "right" in SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE. On the other hand, the gods might smile upon you and you might find yourself among the small but happy band of pro-Joes. It's like being in a secret society! When you find one of those precious few pro-Joes, you can mutually bask in the glow of having enjoyed this amazing fable of spiritual awakening. You can argue with one another about whether the best part of the movie is the opening sequence of Joe's really lousy job; or his diagnosis with a brain cloud; or Lloyd Bridges' over-the-top performance as Mr. Graynamore (Gray No More, get it?) the man who hires Joe to jump into the volcano; or Ozzie Davis' memorable chauffeur; or the LUGGAGE SCENE; or (my personal vote) the scene where Joe falls to his knees before the giant rising moon and says "Dear God, whose name I do not know. Thank you for my life. I forgot how BIG!" You'll marvel at the richness of the screenplay in which it seems every line is laden with meaning. You'll find yourself watching the film over and over and over again, finding new details hidden within each scene. Just read the many five-star reviews below to get a feel for the richness that awaits you if you turn out to be a pro-Joe. If you are already a pro-Joe and you are wandering through this review wondering whether or not you should get the DVD, the answer is obvious. Since you're a pro-Joe, your videotape is going to wear out pretty soon anyway, right? Plus, you'll want to have the widescreen version. There are a few minor extras (a brief interview piece; a music video; a preview) - but those are just bonuses. The main thing is that you'll have a copy of JOE that will last you a lifetime!
Rating: 
Summary: BAD!
Review: WOW! Another movie with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in which they have the exact same conflict as they did in "Sleeples in Seattle". There was no point in making another "Sleepless" with a different location. I hated this movie. Don't see it if you have already seen "Sleepless in Seattle", it's a waste.
Rating:
Summary: Finally!
Review: So glad to see this wonderful movie available on DVD. I saw it in it's theatrical release in 1990 and it became an immediate favorite of mine. It tanked at the box office because most people either didn't "get it", or refused to accept it for what it was, an allegorical fantasy. Fortunately there were enough of us who did "get it", Joe vs. became a cult classic (for lack of a better term). This is a beautiful movie, wonderfully acted by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It's every bit as wonderful as "Sleepless in Seattle" and much, much better than "You've Got Mail". One just has to open one's mind and heart to the story and it's deeper meanings - accept it for the fantasy it is, sit back and enjoy. It's a glorious movie with a great soundtrack and beautiful, contrasting images. I hope one of these days it will be appreciated as it should have been a decade ago.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a modern classic is on DVD
Review: After more than a decade, Joe Versus the Volcano, perhaps the best romantic comedy movie ever made, has been released on DVD. Initially overlooked by many critics and most moviegoers, "Joe" slowly developed a substantial cult following by those of us who "get it." This directing debut by John Patrick Shanley is so much more than it appears. People watch it as an ordinary narrative, when, in fact, it's a complete and fantastic metaphor for love. The story -- a man who believes he is going to die, so he decides to be a hero and jump into a volcano - isn't as important as the underlying themes. This is about a man searching for truth and love, and all of the dialogue and visual cues point toward that. Tom Hanks is about as good as he ever has been, and for those for are not Meg Ryan fans (and I understand your complaints), all I can say is she's as good as she's ever been, playing three roles (again, a metaphor for the various aspects of our personalities). But don't let this heavy talk dissuade you. This film is loaded with funny moments. When Joe buys his luggage and the lone scene with Lloyd Bridges are hysterical. The soundtrack is amazing (still unavailable), and the climax is the stuff wedding vows should be made of. In fact, if I meet a woman who doesn't like this film, it's the same as finding a woman who likes "Pretty Woman." She' s not worth the time. It's worth purchasing because the more times you see it, the more of the subtitles you will catch. Just feel your way through this film and see if you don't join the cult of "Joe."
Rating:
Summary: the second greatest romantic comedy ever
Review: After The Princess Bride, this is the best romantic comedy ever made. It's Hanks and Ryan together for the first time, so the acting is incredible. It's ridiculously funny. But it's a profound movie as well. It is a serious, critical look at the American way of life, especially life in the corporate world. Beyond that, it's a look at the human spirit searching for meaning. But even if you don't notice (or care for) these levels of meaning in the movie, it's very entertaining. I don't think any other romantic comedy has such depth. This really is a good movie, and I'd say it's worth owning.
Rating:
Summary: Two kinds of people in the world--you love it or hate it
Review: I'm so glad to see this out on DVD! Our VHS tape of it is running a bit ragged by now. I'm amused at the passions this movie arouses in people--they either love it or hate it. My experience is that very literal-minded people who have trouble letting the child in them out can't relax enough to enjoy this movie. Here's my theory--if you are an adult who can't imagine going down to the beach and playing on the swings or if you didn't enjoy fairy tales as a kid, you probably won't enjoy this movie. I'm in the camp of movie goers who love it. It has a magic and whimsy that I find very appealing. But you have to be willing to enter its world and enjoy the fact that it is just 90 degrees out of step. Tom Hanks is wonderful as a hypochondriac who is beaten down by the grey, purposeless world in which he lives, but who has a chance to step out into a bright, colorful world full of possibilities. Somehow he finds the courage to take that step. I'll paraphrase here, but one of Meg Ryan's characters in the movie says something like "Most people walk around asleep, never waking to the real world." This surreal movie gives us an inkling of the colorful, magical world just below the surface of the day to day life we all lead. If we could only WAKE UP to see it! This is one of my favorite movies and I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite movie! On dvd!
Review: I've wondered for a while why it wasn't on dvd, maybe I just missed it? I always knew it needed to be on widescreen, and I was right!Not as feature packed as many dvds, but to a real fan like me, well worth it, getting the behind the scenes interviews was a real treat, the music video was great, this movie is a classic any romantic, especially one who loves both Tom Hanks, and Meg Ryan, has to love!
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as I expected
Review: Tom and Meg have a good chemistry when making movies, but we were not as spleased with this one. If had good parts, but when it was over - we left a little disappointed. We had bought the movie based on the excellent ratings - I would not have rated a 3.5, but not a 4 or 5.
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