Similiar Movies...
What other similiar movies do you "Joe" fans enjoy?
sharel.a. story is a good one with similar themes!
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MovieChat Forums > Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) Discussion > Similiar Movies...
I don't know if there are any similar movies.
"Harold and Maude" is a possibility. "King of Hearts" is another one.
But all three are really sui generis (that means the films each define their own class . . . "
Jedi-R-Us
I agree that JVTV defines its own class - there really is no other movie like it (that I've seen, anyway).
I'm not suggesting the following as being similar, but they all reminded me of JVTV in a way because they deal with forks in the road. (after about a 30 second pause to think about what I really wanted to say next, it occurs to me that these movies really have nothing to do with JVTV! But they popped into my head, so maybe there's something there...)
2 that I love: It's a Wonderful Life, and Sliding Doors (Gwyneth Patrow)
2 that were kind of weak, but I kind of liked them anyway: Mr. Destiny and The Kid (Bruce Willis)
Then there's one I just caught again while flipping channels the other night: The Rookie with Dennis Quaid. That guy really took a leap - steady job, family to support, then he goes off to play baseball, and MAKES IT! This would have been a ridiculous movie if we didn't know it was taken from real life; you can't make that kind of stuff up. (BTW, I would put this one in the 'love it' category)
I really really liked 'The Kid' :)
"Hey, I'll have the poached salmon..." "HEY POACHED SALMON I'LL HAVE THAT"
Besides the obvious (Moonstruck--John Patrick Shanley's most famous screenplay), I would recommend a strange little movie called "A Pyromaniac's Love Story." Like JVtV, it has a bad title but this movie reminded of "Joe" for some reason.
Also I saw similarities in American Beauty--if you can believe that.
"American Beauty" was also the first movie that came to my mind when I saw the title of this thread. So, yes, I can believe that!
shareIn terms of its un-usualness, sentimentality and/or visuals perhaps some of Jean Pierre-Jeunets films are slightly similar. Eg: City of Lost Children, Delicatessen, Amelie, A Very Long Engagement. Alien: Resurection not so much!
shareI rank Joe and The Princess Bride among my top 10 all time favorites. Anyone else agree that The Princess Bride is similar in its "romantic adventure quirky fairytaleness"...or am I just weird?
shareWell, I have two friends who LOVE The Princess Bride (in one case, it's her favorite movie of all time) but HATED Joe.
I mean---loathed it. I can't even mention the movie to her.
I don't understand why someone could hate this film so much.
I thought Princess Bride tried too hard. It was just too hokey. Actually, the scenes on the Big Wu in Joe reminded me a bit of Princess Bride. And I thought the scenes on the Big Wu were the least effective ones in Joe.
Human Beings...Wowshare
Definately Princess Bride ... which did not try at all, it just worked and was hilarious, but I think Joe seemed a bit more serious, as he was 'condemed to die ...' and then decided to make the best of it.
I can never be sure of people who 'hate' things... because its often just a phase.... it seems like the next time I mentioned something that's hated, they want to see it, love it or are upset that they didnt get to see it. I guess that fits with the movie ;)
Princess Bride and JVTV are definitely two of my all-time favorite movies and have been since they came out so many years ago. I rank movies as all time favorites by virtue of how easily I stop and watch them as I flip through the channels. I will always stop for these regardless of where in the movie I pick them up. Others include Alien, Caddy Shack, Casablanca and Silverado. Is there a common thread amongst any of these?
sharei definitely see the comparison. probably the best one i've heard. i'll throw in "Grosse Point Blank" because it's a very off-beat romantic-comedy. It definitely goes the complete opposite way of the fairy tale angle, but the fun quirkiness of the characters and the outlandish plot take precedence over the sappy, romantic elements, like JVTV.
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A closed mind gathers no knowledge
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - Robert Heinlein
I think that the idea that "most people are asleep, and the few who are awake live in constant amazement" is very well expressed in the movie "Peaceful Warrior", where the protagonist comes to realize that there are "No Ordinary Moments"..so "Peaceful Warrior" comes to mind.
"American Beauty" and "JVTV" both have the protagonist express the sentiment that they are thankful for their stupid little insignificant lives of wonder and amazement.
And on some level, the theme of abandoning one's current life of conformity and ordinary boredom and embracing an entirely new and different way of living is captured in a variety of movies such as "The Majestic", "City Slickers", "Dead Poets Society", and to some extent "Wild Hogs".
"Don Juan DeMarco" also expresses JVTV themes through the changes which take place in Marlon Brando's character, Don Octovio De Flores
the truman show
shareI think Ikiru should be mentioned, Kurosawa's 1952. It has a similar set up, where the main character is going to die and decides to make something of his life. The style is totally different. Ikiru is an inspiring drama. But the themes and message have some considerable overlap. Someone also mentioned Groundhog Day, which is another good message movie about changing your life.
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