癲狂院 Vixen Owl Cigar..。o○

Jump ... and See ...


Bad Start, Great Finish..
I admit it. I'm a movie snob.
I don't like a lot of "Hollywood " films, the kind that do nothing but make us pay high prices for popcorn and end like "Rocky".
I assume that when this movie was released it probably made the big bucks. (At least enough to pay the salary of its stars ).
Those stars, of course being the couple of the '80's, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
That alone might have made me me pass it up.
Not to mention the dubious plot: Joe (Hanks) has 6 months to live.
He is hired by Lloyd Bridges, who owns an island that contains a rare mineral.
Joe is supposed to sacrifice himself by jumping into a volcano located there and thus appease both local god and natives.

Joe Verses the Volcano is an art film, kind of, and a romantic comedy, sort of.
Joe's workplace is reminiscent of Metropolis: a large, gray human machine from which there is no escape.. The film is stunning to look and is breathtaking, particularly on the big screen.. It was thought provoking, well crafted, and visually amazing.. The acting ability of Meg Ryan shines in this film as she plays the roles of the three women in Joe's life.. Tom Hanks is wonderful as well.. Their chemistry is amazing, it is no surprise that they have been paired up twice since....

What gets me the most about this film is the overall message.
No, I shouldn't have to leave everything to discover happiness like Joe.
Honestly, thought, if I'm too caught up in the monotony of life, so unhappy that I'm sick, miserable and hate life, maybe Im better off jumping into a volcano.
This all sounds so pessimistic, but there is so much hope in this movie.
There is time for all of us to follow our dreams.
Even if we don't quit our soul sucking jobs, we can still express ourselves, find happiness and may be even enjoy life before it's too late.

【Meg Ryan】Versus the Volcano【Tom HanksJoe】
Loopy, Literate and Fun !!!!!

You either it ... or you it.
Not a big hit at the box office I believe but I have seen it several times since I saw it on the big screen and each time it reminds me that it's an allegory for life.
It's so easy to get stuck in a rut, in a dead end job with your life somehow going along on auto-pilot.
It takes a kick in the pants to get you ... kick started.
The score is gr8.
The music fits so well and the chauffeur is a gr8 character.
I'd love a chauffeur like that of my own.
Well, you can wish !!
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are gr8 together as always. (Watching the film yesterday made me think of the number of films they've been in !! "Sleepless in Seattle", "You've Got Mail". I must be forgetting others too. The Doris Day and Cary Grant of the 90s and the noughties ).

The truth is, "Joe Vs the Volcano" is a heroic journey and a very symbolic one.
At times it can even seem overwhelming how much thought has been put into this film.
Joe Banks is a man trapped in a horrible job.
He is like so many corporate underachievers, losing his soul and with it, his will to live.
Joe a man frightened by his own past becomes a hypochondriac.
It is only with his persistence of medical testing that he find his time is coming to an end.
And with it, his journey begins.
If you're looking for anything akin to "Sleepless in Seattle " or "You've Got Mail ", you probably won't find it here.
There is gr8 romance, but it's not a story.
If you're expecting a lot of laughs on the first viewing, put those thoughts aside too.

I'm not saying it isn't funny, it just escapes any common comedy slots.
If you laugh, you'll be laughing at something more than the movie, and that's too.
Although it took me time and experience to embrace this film, many people see it for the first time and it.
A few even it without getting into all this gr8 pondering and mumbo jumbo I've gone on about above.
But if you don't it, or even like it, just give it awhile.
Maybe even years.
Sure, that's a long time to wait, but isn't it worth even the chance of being this happy.

The fishing scene alone is worth the price of that popcorn.
Even the music is kind of a kick. (Can you imagine the song "On the Street Where You Live" done mariachi style? )
And any movie that casts Abe Vigoda as a minor league "god" can't be all bad.
The moon scene shows just what Hanks is capable of in filmdom and he helps carry it through its weaker spots.
Overall, I would say this is good, (not Great mind you ), but good entertainment.
A final note: This was filmed during the period in Hanks' career where he was not only young enough for leading man status but wise enough to pick and choose to perfect his craft ("A League of Their Own", "Big" ).
So if you have seen those and enjoyed them, I think you will also find this one worth a view.

Nobody knows anything, Joe.
We'll take this leap, and we'll see.
We'll jump, and we'll see.
That's life, right?