MovieChat Forums > Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) Discussion > Critics Versus 'Joe Versus the Volcano'

Critics Versus 'Joe Versus the Volcano'


Rotten tomatoes' critics have averaged a 67% fresh rating for "Joe Versus the Volcano". The ones who gave it less than an 80% rating should all jump into a volcano themselves.

It is a unique plot with superb direction and acting. I love this movie and I watch it whenever I'm feeling down - which is not too often. It lifts my spirits and I have acquired an abiding love of orange soda.

Bill

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I think you misunderstand the Rotten Tomatoes Fresh rating. It is an average of all the critics ratings based on Rotten Tomatoes' assessment of their review as "Fresh" or "Rotten", much like a "Thumbs-up" and "Thumbs-Down". (It must be pretty easy to decide which is which for most reviews but there must be a few which give them trouble. I don't know how they resolve those.)

So if you have 10 critics and 8 give it a "Fresh" rating and 2 give it a "Rotten" review, then if you assign a "100" to the Fresh and "0" to the "Rotten", the average of those 10 would be 80 and the film gets an 80% rating. If it's 5 Fresh and 5 Rotten, then it gets a 50% rating, and so on.

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have to agree with previous post, unigue storyline, great music.
I don't love orange sode (Mt dew actually..has orange juice it though).

This movie is easily a ten. If you can find it buy the updated version with the remastered soundtrack in 5.1 surround sound. Absolutely incredible difference from the first version. Reminds me of when I saw it in the movie theatre.

"16 tons and what you get, another day older and deeper in debt"
Sorry just put it in to play and the opening song sets the tone right off the bat.

Great movie

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Rotten Tomatoes is the most trustworthy and accurate source for evaluating whether you want to fork over your $8 to go see a movie in the theaters. Much better to trust an average of all the major critics than just one super-critic's opinion.

The only thing I dislike about Rotten Tomatoes is that the people in charge over there don't censor quotes that contain spoilers (for the most part). You see, each review counted by the site is given either a fresh or rotten rating, and almost always (for new/recent releases) has a short quote giving the gist of the author's opinion. RT is so useful because you can find out about movies you haven't heard much about by just skimming over these quotes and getting the general consensus on the quality of the film... but every once in a while some moron will put a spoiler in their quote (the critics submit their own).

Still though... it's a much better option that turning to the entertainment section in your local newspaper every Friday to get the scoop on new releases.

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Here is Siskel and Ebert's review of it from when it came out way back in 1990.

http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/atm/reviews.html?sec=6&subsec=tom+hanks

Everytime the movie is on cable I watch it. I absorb and take something new in each time. It was on again today on one of the Starz or Encore channels.

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I think the movie took a hit from critics because they watched it as though it were some kind of romantic comedy, not a quirky, surreal fairy tale. The movie was not intended to be taken "seriously," and only a few critics (Roger Ebert notably among them) actually GOT it.

The highly positive reactions to the movie from posters on these boards and elsewhere is a testament to the fact that there are people who appreciate it (I love this movie). And I'm very happy that John Patrick Shanley (the writer and director) has since gone on to cement his reputation as a REAL creative talent, winning the pulitzer for his play "Doubt" 20 some odd years after winning an oscar for his screenplay for "Moonstruck." Sandwiched in between those is "Joe," and hopefully the bookends of success that Mr. Shanley has enjoyed will cause critics to revisit "Joe" with more discerning eyes. It truly is a very special little movie.

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