Jesus Christ Superstar
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Movie Reviews of Jesus Christ Superstar
Movie Review: This Is The One To See
Summary: 5 Stars
The final week of Jesus' life makes for masterful storytelling. It's full of the agonies of deep reflection, and the hope that human existence is not without some meaning. It's got jealousy, rivalry, hate, lust, greed, torture, fear, self-doubt, and, yes, all-out betrayal of the most brutal, blood-soaked kind. Yes, the story of a vacillating Jewish mystic who was the inspiration for a major religion is great, and this version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's still-controversial 1970's musical is my favorite of the many productions I've seen. Here a nice twist comes in and takes the form of the evolution of the set and characters, as we begin with pseudo-modern-looking performers and backgrounds, and gradually over the course of the next ninety minutes everything shifts to looking like some neo-post-modernist version of Jerusalem circa 30 CE. The excellent Glenn Carter in particular takes his version of Jesus from a man who'd garner nary a sideward glance on twenty-first-century streets, thru a vaguely Greek-looking Christ, to the full-fledged Jesus of Sunday School familiarity. The cast here, mixed in ethnicity and nationality, achieves a superb synthesis of purpose and meshes together as few groups of actors do, until these individuals convincingly weave together a story that is ancient and modern, timeless, universal, and as powerful now as it was at its first telling nineteen-hundred years ago. Jesus Christ Superstar has it all: great music, outstanding performances, and a re-telling of a story that launched a change in world civilization that continues with no end in sight.Movie Review: Awesome!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a huge Jesus Christ Superstar fan. I absolutely love it. I instantly fell in love with the original cast concept recording (Ian Gillan, Murray Head) and loved every minute of it. I had seen the original 70's movie and was a little disapointed. The sound quality was terrible and Ted Neeley (Jesus) had an annoying voice that he hardly ever took risks with. So when a firend told me that another one was out, naturally I was jazzed to see it. When I first saw it, I thought it was good but not great. I mean, I thought others could have pulled off the same thing better. But then I started watching it again and again and I realized how brilliant it was. It was absolutely marvelous. I mean, every single character is wonderfully placed! At first I thought that Judas had a bad voice and Zubin Varla (played Judas in 1996) would have done better. But as I listened, Varla always seemed mad in the recording. Jerome Pradon pulls off the character of Judas brilliantly. I think his acting pays off greatly as apposed to his singing. I aslo thought Glenn Carter was weak. But as I watched again and again, he is absolutely marvelous in that he captures what I think Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wanted out of Jesus. Through Judas' eyes, Jesus was exactly what he was in this film. (for those of you who don't know it, JCS was written about the last days through JUDAS' eyes). Tony Vincent also pulls off the best portrayal of Simon I have seen along with his spectacular voice. I have introduced this film to many people all of which loved it. Anyway, I simply think it's a masterpiece.Movie Review: Absolutely essential for any JCS fan!
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, I am one of those people who CANNOT watch or listen to Jesus Christ Superstar without singing along in a loud voice much to the annoyance of my wife. I have been a fan of the piece for years. When a friend pointed this DVD out, I was suprised as I hadn't heard about a new version of JCS and I thought this was just a quick "cheapie" rehashing of the show to cash in on the upcoming easter season.Being a fan, I bought it anyway. This production completely blew me away. It is a fabulous update of the show -- not only in terms of costume and staging, but also in terms of interpretation. The focus on telling a story is much stronger in this than in any other version I have seen (and I've seen many). Astoundingly, while it is clear the music takes second place to the *acting* in this version, the music is not second rate by any means. Basically, we have tremendous acting on the part of Jesus and Judas -- brilliantly highlighting the attitudes of each towards Jesus' "superstar" status -- coupled with fantastic singing and a fabulously orchestrated score.
On my fancy dolby digital home theater system, it sounded great (though I had to push the volume to a high level to get a good balance between the vocals and orchestration). This delighted me since I remain underwhelmed by the dynamic range of the music track on the Norman Jewison movie DVD. Overall, a MUST buy for any fan of the show. There is also a great "making-of" featurette on the DVD that is interesting and insightful.
Movie Review: WOW!!!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am such a big fan of the 1973 version of Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus Christ Superstar (Special Edition)that I was afraid to even watch this one. I have watched the 73 version a minimum of 100 times. I'm not a religious person, but rather a fan of the modern musicals.
Well, as I'm typing this review I am about half way through this version. I must say can not compare the two. Not only are the sets and the period it is set in different but the actors have totally reinvented the film. Every word and note is the same in both versions they are two completely different films. The actors but a whole new emphasis on the way you feel.
Glen Carter IS NOT Ted Neely and I am glad for it. I can honestly say that liking one version will not take away from the other. In all the remakes of films I have seen over the years I am immensely impressed at these two films. Now my biggest problem will be which one will I watch when I feel the mood to see this tale again next time.
One point of comparison though if I may....
1) the vocal performance of Ted Neely in Gethsemane cannot be matched but Glen Carter does a close job of it.
In the 73 version there was a controversy by casting a black man as Judas but now as it really was then race was not part of the casting but rather the talent was.
Well, after YEARS of putting off watching this film I am glad I finally did.
Movie Review: A powerful, moving and beautiful work
Summary: 5 Stars
This modern revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice masterpiece from three decades ago is nothing less than spectacular. It is a film version of the 2000 Broadway hit, and it gives the audience an intimacy that a live show cannot. We are right in the middle of all the action, standing amongst the characters as they move about--quite a thrill as this is an energetic and passionate show. The stage set is simple and unobtrusive, the lighting dramatic, the acting inspired, and the singing simultaneously beautiful and edgy. The Last Supper scene, especially when Jesus and Judas have it out about the impending Betrayal, is amazing--it is a flowing, powerful, sung dialogue, an argument, a painful realization for both characters of what is to come. When Jesus sang "Gethsemane" I was completely blown away; he sings with such a profound honesty and humanity, expressing his anger, his fear, his doubts. Glenn Carter's range on this song goes from a pained whisper to a screeching anguish, with such melodic grace and power, you can barely breathe.
Having listened to the original concept 1970 album since I was a small child, I'd never before had any faces to go with any of the songs. I was rather indifferent to the movie version with Ted Neely. But this production, with Gale Edwards' vision fully supported by Lloyd Webber and Rice, has--for me--now become the definitive version of "Jesus Christ Superstar."