Film's esoteric meaning, that only a few truly understand

Joe versus the Volcano is one of the most important films in history, but had little impact on both the critics viewpoint and box office success. The importance of this movie is in its title, message, symbolism, and metaphor to explore numerous complex themes.

Through the main character's journey, the concepts of class, social status, good and evil, love and the existence of god are all examined as Joe Banks speculates upon his personal beliefs and his place in the universe.

The movie evolves around Joe's disturbing life, despicable co-workers, low paying dead-end job and the hopelessness of his future. But, everything begins to change for Joe after being told he had a terminal condition, a "brain-cloud" and had only 6 months to live. As Joe became more conscious of his own mortality and personal misery, he quickly set out to change it.

He began to discover that his life was a precious gift, whether he realized it or not. That in order to obtain happiness and joy in this world, we sometimes have to lose our life in order to find it. That's what happen to Joe. And his first order of business was to quit his job and start a new life.

While cleaning out his desk, he pulls out three book that symbolizes the essence of life, Robinson Crusoe (representing self-discovery), Romeo and Juliet (representing true love) and Homer's Odyssey (representing god and heroes). Books that he had, but did not use. They were laying dormant in his drawer, but now the student was ready to be taught.

John Patrick Shanley's genius was to show us, as Patricia stated on the boat, that we'll all asleep, in trance, reliving our past experiences and therefore forfeiting the present moment. That our need is "stay awake" by letting go of the past and to live our lives without being fearful of our future. To take risks, which is why Joe took the "Leap of Faith" literally in the Volcano, the Volcano metaphorically representing fear. Joe versus his fears.

This movie wasn't about Joe's sacrifice on the island or the Waponi's precious minerals, it was about awakening to our higher spiritual nature. This story so clearly demonstrated through Joe, how our rigid, conditioned thinking, keeps us chained to the past and fearful of the future. That's the point!

That's the whole story!!!!!!

In fact, Eckhart Tolle, the author of the best selling book "The Power of Now" is written about this phenomenon, living in our thoughts, ego and past experiences. And that only conscious living, to awaken to the present moment, can correct it.

The character, Joe Banks is modeled after Joseph Banks Rhine, the Duke University professor who was the founder of ESP and helped develop the field of parapsychology. He was also the first scientist to proclaim that man has a "soul". He hypothesize that we all have latent psychic abilities, a sixth sense, that we are only now discovering. And these psychic, mental abilities, that allow us to communicate with our minds, outside our physically bodies, is evidence of our spiritual nature.

John Patrick Shanley knew that most people would not get the message of this film and he depicted it in the movie when the ship was going down. Patricia was sending out distress SOS signals, that no one was receiving, and she announced to Joe " No one is getting this"

Watch this movie again with a fresh pair of eyes and openness to its message. Its brilliant!!!

To your Success, Frank Nicoletti, author of "You're the Best".c2001