Jesus Christ Superstar
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Movie Reviews of Jesus Christ Superstar
Movie Review: Different from the Original, but Just as Wonderful
Summary: 5 Stars
First let me say that comparing this to the Norman Jewison 70's movie version is like comparing apples and oranges. The staging of this movie is completely different from the original, as is the feeling- it is a much darker version and gives a much more chilling feel of the political factors in place during the time of Jesus. It is also much more violent and graphic in its depiction of the torture and crucifiction of Jesus.
That being said, I enjoyed this every bit as much as I enjoyed the 70's movie and the original concept albumn, although for completely different reasons. Jerome Pradon as Judas is absolutely incredible and manages the extremely difficult job of turning Judas into a character we like and have sympathy for. He and Glen Carter do an excellent job of showing the depth of their relationship; it is clear that both of them are wrapped up in something over which they have no control.
Renee Castle as Mary Magdalene has an amazing voice and completely upstages the terrible portrayal by Yvonne Elliman in the 70's movie. She and Calvin Cornwall as Peter sing a haunting version of a song missing from the 70's movie and the concept albumn, "Can We Start Again Please?" This movie shows the shock and helplessness felt by the apostles.
Rik Mayall's interpretation of Herod as a Las Vegas-style performer is brilliant, and is later recalled during Pradon's performance of Jesus Christ Superstar.
A discordant note for me was Fred Johanson as Pilate- he bellows out his songs but is just not convincing as the Roman regent who is also swept up in something beyond his control.
My first thought on watching Glen Carter's protrayal was that he is a mighty touchy-feeley Jesus. The more often I watch the film, the more annoyed I get by the way he constantly tosses his hair around and remains ever conscious of his role as a martyr.
My family and I like to speculate on our dream cast for Jesus Christ Superstar. We would definitely take the Mary Magdalene, Judas and Peter from this movie and Barry Dennem's Pilate from the 70's movie. We are undecided as to which Herod we would use, Rik Marall or Josh Mostel, but we run into a real problem when trying to pick our favorite Jesus. The jury is still out on that one as far as I'm concerned-- if only Glenn Carter weren't quite so vain and Tim Neeley weren't quite so wimpy.
However, the strong performances of the other actors for the most part make up for my annoyance with Carter. Is this movie better than the 70's version? No. Just different. They seem like completely different musicals. My guess is that people who love the music and who loved the original will love this one as well. My speculation is that many people who were offended by the first version will find this version much more to their liking. I like both of them.
Movie Review: A musical that's restricted to mature audiences only!
Summary: 5 Stars
A brilliant production in every sense of the word! Gale Edwards' interpretation of this fascinating musical rocked me to tears. What was Norman Jewison thinking when he did the Disney version -which actually might as well have been animated with the Original Broadway cast members singing? You need not even worship musical theater to appreciate this performance. Each and every performer shines through with the depth of a superbly seasoned theater actor. I have seen many stage productions of JCS, but this one really captures what, I would like to believe, Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Time Rice had in mind while they were putting it all together - perhaps even beyond their wildest expectations! Glenn Carter is a profound, multi-dimensional JC with stunning bravura. Jérôme Pradon, the deeply moving Frenchmen from Les Miz (Paris cast), Saigon (with Joanna Ampil in London), and Martin Guerre (Original Cast) fame and fortune is Judas incarnate-so intense is his portrayal, imbued with remarkable passion and fervor, that puts JC's favorite apostle the substance never before felt. Fred Johanson as Pontius Pilate is the quintissential guilt-ridden public victim. (That's even a whole lot better than how I would have imagined "Pilate's Dream" sung.) Renee Castle is a luscious Mary Magdalene with incredible pitch and belting power. Rik Mayall performs a very camp Herod without the nelly nuances of many past Herod's. Frederick B. Owens as Caiaphas sounds like an incredible well-honed baso profundo with Isaac Hayes' unmistakable timbre. Michael Schaeffere's Annas is terrific without the ubiquitous falsetto. Tony Vincent is an astonishing Simon Zealotes, and Cavin Cornwall is a powerful Peter. I incessantly laud David Grindrod, and Johanson Liff for their impeccable job at casting (a very tough job, indeed), Roger Kirk for the ingenius costumes, Ivan Unwin for art direction pregnant with deep thought and inspiration, Peter J. Davison for his flawless production design, and, of course, Nick Knowland for the excellent, and drop-dead cinematography. The editor, Nick Morris, did very wonderful work that made this finished product a gem. The only loopholes that actually distracted me in this production were Anthony Van Laast's extremely bland and uninspired choreography, and the ensembles often disturbing upstaging antiques - the, sometimes, overdone facial contortions probably would work well in live theater, but when filmed up close, it sometimes did appear like it was day one in Drama 101. This is a must-buy for every adult with a video player at home, and if you have a dolby surround theater at home with a DVD player grab this one immediately. It will most definitely rock you to tears. It is the opera-masters' intense tradgedy in rock format. Vedy bloody good. Bravissimo!Movie Review: Bloody Brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
The 2000 film version of Jesus Christ Superstar not only superceeds the orginal '73 version, but is a thoughtful, powerful and classy presentation of the brilliant musical penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.I first saw this movie several months ago, I was stunned. Based on the Broadway revival, this is essentially a stage play on film and perhaps that is why it keeps some of the "theatre magic". It should seem easy with the fantastic work of ALW and TM behind them but Gale Edwards and her team ought to be commended (actually, I think they were *cough*EMMY*cough*) for the presentation of this show; the lighting, the direction, the costumes, the setting all add, not only a modern and easily accesible feel, but a believable dramatic aspect that makes the story all the more heartbreaking. It is an undeniabley dark and tragic presentation, but this does not take away from it so much as add more power to the story. As Mr Webber says in the extras, this version is the one he always wanted.
It is the actors however, that bring the most to JCS 2000. In particular Jesus and Judas (Played by Glenn Carter and Jerome Pradon respectively) bring an amazing dymnamic to the screen. Carter (after you get past the fact that he looks scarily like a cute crossbreed of Michael Bolton and Fabio) is an impressive Jesus, he adds a vulnerabilty to his character that makes him both intriguing and humanising. Jerome Pradon is even better, his vocals struggle at times, but his portrayal of Judas outweighs this. He is perhaps one of the most pathetic and simeltaneously heartbreaking Judas' ever played. He plays the inner conflict beautfully, and when Jesus and Judas come up against each other their scenes are rivetting and intensily emotional. The Last Supper and the Kiss Of Betrayal in particular is...just amazing...
The supporting cast is brilliant also, Tony Vincent plays an great warmongering Simon Zealotes, and Pilate is given a newer, sadder aspect by the intense looking Fred Johanson. Perhaps the one exception is Renee Castle as Mary Magdelene, who while looks beautiful and sings even more beautifully, brings a touch too much drama to her part to take in.
If you do not like musicals, or you do not think you can tolerate a story that explores the ideas behind the story of Jesus Christ then you wont like this film, if you do however, you are in for a real treat.
Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. ;P
Movie Review: The Great Jesus Christ Superstar
Summary: 5 Stars
I had watched the 70s film version of JCS and was not impressed much, then I had this DVD. I was captured right from the beginning and couldn't believe how great it is! This production is a piece of theatre caught on screen. I experienced everything I could have experienced in a real theatre while sitting in the front row: the realness, the dramatics, and the rawness, plus the surround Dolby 5.1, which, however, cannot be experienced from the stage. This musical itself is the kind of show that no matter where the stage is set, the essence and the musicality will always be there. However, when it is set in the 90s New York City, the effectiveness of the drama is magically amplified and intensified. Moreover, the T-shirt garbed, young and vigorous disciples in the hippest hairstyles, and the catchy choreography are simply closer to the young people at our time.Musical is meant for the theatre and stage. It needs a stage, no matter if it is a real stage or one on screen. Once the play is set on the stage, everything falls into place. The theatrical acting becomes quite captivating. I could point out a few weaknesses of the vocal delivery in the show, but they are complemented by the greatness of the acting.
"He is a man, he's just a man." While Glen Carter reveals the human nature of Jesus Christ very truthfully (definitely with credit to his look and figure), he couples the outside softness with the inner strength very well and creates the profoundness and extraordinariness of Jesus. "Every word you say today gets twisted round some other way." The complexity of Judas is more emphasized on his loyalty to his mission, rather than his greediness. Jerome Pradon, taking on the most challenging part in both acting and singing, is remarkably good. "I don't know how to love him." The soothing and smooth voice of Renee Castle distinguishes herself as the best Mary Magdalene I've ever heard. Tony Vincent, Wow! Just couldn't be better. The ardency in his singing and acting catches the rebelliousness of Simon Zealotes brilliantly.
This is the show that once you start watching, you won't be able to pull yourself out. So get yourself a comfortable chair, let music wash you, let emotions drown you, let words and melodies hit, sadden, and inspire you. This is the magic created by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Gale Edwards, the cast, and many others.
Movie Review: "Jesus Christ Superstar" is, well, super!
Summary: 5 Stars
The 2000 DVD of Jesus Christ Superstar is a well-done update of the 1970's classic. That fact doesn't take away from the point that the original film was very good as well, but it's important to recognize that the productions are very different, if only for the reason that Norman Jewison's movie was just that, a movie, while the new production is very definitely a stage show.All of the actors did a wonderful job with their roles. Especially outstanding were Renee Castle as Mary and Glenn Carter as Jesus. Many have commented that the actors' facial expressions seemed to be exaggerated and overdone. However, one must realize that most, if not all, of these actors were trained for the stage. In live productions, you don't have close-ups. It's important that even the audience member in the last row of the theatre be able to see every emotion projected. While, on TV, Pilate and Judas's expressions may seem over the top, in a Broadway show they would be just right.
That said, the real outstanding performance of the show is Jerome Pradon as Judas. He hits every aspect of the role head on, from vocal to dancing to acting. The moment for me that makes the whole show is during Judas's confrontation with Jesus during "The Last Supper" when Pradon wails "Every time I look at you I don't understand/Why you let the things you did get so out of hand." The frustration and guilt for the act he must perform is palpable, and the strangled cry of sorrow as he sinks to his knees takes the viewer's breath away.
Other, smaller performances are just as good as the main roles. Tony Vincent (who played Judas on Broadway) is a wonderful Simon Zealotes, filled with exactly the wrong kind (in Jesus's eyes) of enthusiasm and ambition. Frederick B. Owens is great as Caiaphas (what a wonderful voice!). Rik Mayall, whose performance may be the most disputed of the recording, brings a new interpretation the Herod. He has fun with the song, while still managing to be threatening and scary, and his unique voice contributes to a memorable performance.
The 2000 recording is a performance full of energy, life, and a timeless message that has enthralled millions not just since the 1970's, but for 2 millennia. While different from the older movie, it is no more or less, but a new version of the same story. Watch both, buy both, and love both.