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Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) More at IMDbPro »
4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Misunderstood work of Genius, 29 March 2003
Author: Tyler Norman from Irvine, California
A lot of people didn't like this movie because they misunderstood what it was. This movie is a modernization of early French and German expressionist films.
Unless you've studied film history, this movie will likely go way over your head. But what John Patrick Shanley has done is truly unique. He has created a modern motion picture in the style of Cinema's early years. This movie was basically made asking the question, "What would the early filmmakers do if they made movies today?".
The beginning of this film is done as German expressionism, specifically referencing Fritz Lang's "Metropolis". If you've seen the first five minutes of "Metropolis", you'll recognize it instantly. Once they get out on the ocean, you start to get wisps of George Melies' storybook films (moons were really big with him). This trend continues until the famous, hauntingly beautiful moonrise scene, which would make Melies himself very proud.
The early stylings rub off on other parts as well, specifically it's use of unreal lighting. Various colored lights are used throughout the movie, giving them a very artistic look. Another early style mimicked here is film tinting. This happens in one scene in particular. When Joe and Patricia are on the deck of the boat before the typhoon hits, the entire image is tinted green. Early filmmakers in the silent era did this all the time to give specific scenes a certain feel before color film existed.
I have to give credit to George Delerue for giving this movie one of the most beautiful, exquisite, and awesome musical scores I have ever heard on a movie. I always watch this movie LOUD because I love the music so much.
Joe Versus the Volcano is a modern classic and one of my all-time favorite films. DO NOT watch this movie in Pan & Scan. This film is strictly Widescreen-only.
10/10. Perfect.
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