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Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar

List Price: $14.98
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: JCS movie is good although it is Dated
Review: Jesus Christ Superstar, the movie, is good for a huge fan like myself. But as much as I enjoy the songs, I have a hard time watching it. So I'll just list the pluses and negatives of it.

+ -carl anderson and yvonne eliman are fantastic as judas and mary -the songs are, of course, amazing -the choreography is exciting and fun to watch -Brian Dennen gives a great performance as Pilate

Now the bad part (-) -ted neeley, he looks, acts, and sings like a dead fish. His singing becomes annoying, especially when on songs like Gesthemane, he falls back 2 measures and then speeds up quickly to stay in time. "then i was inspired, nowimsadandtired." on some songs he actually does okay like, the temple, where he shows rare emotions and screams, "GET OUT, GET OUT!" -the COSTUMES! EEEKKKK, it becomes out of control in "Superstar" -Simon Zealotes' facial hair

Although there are some problems with the film, it is still a good viewing experience. If you aren't that big of a JCS fan, you might have some trouble though.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Definitely worth seeing
Review: Fabulous production of the Passion of Jesus. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars is that at first, I thought Ted Neeley was a little weak as Jesus. I also wasn't thrilled w/Yvonne Elliman's not-so-stellar singing voice (she slides all around the notes!) But as with many other films, repeated viewings have swayed my opinion. I now really enjoy Neeley's vocal delivery and presence (and I overlook weird little things like his shuffling walk). Carl Anderson as Judas is EXCELLENT, as is the ensemble of dancers. The 1970's production is a little dated, but the flare pants and phrases like "What's the buzz?" now only seem to add to its kitchy charm. Like coffee and beer, this one is an acquired taste - but once acquired, you'll love it!! Great music, and the location in Israel is beautiful. Really left me pondering the enduring appeal of the story of Jesus, his mission, and crucifixion. Very dramatic - get this one!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the best movie musicals ever
Review: Lovely settings, great period clothing, marvellous musical score. What's not to like?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: God
Review: i'd like to receive this dvd because i appreciate this opera rock so much.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hey JC, won't you die for me?
Review: Jesus Christ Superstar is, in my opinion, one of the best things to have ever happened to Jesus in the Common Era. Norman Jewison knows how to direct a musical (he also did West Side Story and Fiddler On The Roof), by which I mean that Andrew Lloyd Weber's best ever music and Tim Rice's best ever lyrics are taken and visualized in terms of the film medium, unlike so many other musicals (Judas sees a vision of jet fighter planes in the sky after having betrayed Jesus). But there's much more to the film than just this. If Weber and Rice gave us soul-spiralling music and ruthlessly brave new words, the point that Jewison so successfully drives home is that the story of Christ is fundamentally a story, and by doing so urges us to analyze why a story can make a difference in our lives. This is very much in the direction of Jesus' own philosophy. This film is about humanity - and like humanity, is too overwhelming to be anybody's favorite - but it is a film every person should watch, and every fourth person should own.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The thing that makes this film good...
Review: ...is the presence of two new songs, which were either newly-composed for this movie (they're not in the original cast production) or they were cut from that album's final release. The best one, "Then We Are Decided", is a conversation between Annas and Caiaphas before the council meeting in "This Jesus Must Die". The other one, "Could We Start Again Please", is a ballad along the lines of "I Don't Know How To Love Him" mostly sung by Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman--she was also in the original cast). The problem is that it's one ballad too many. We also get to see Elliman's waifish beauty to go along with her heartfelt voice--it reinforces this work's attempt to portray the Magdalen as a sympathetic character rather than the "fallen woman" history has always insisted on making her. After all, this is also the woman who may have had a crush on Our Lord. Barry Dennen matches the Pilate he did before, giving the character a sense of the stressed-out functionary caught in the middle. Otherwise, I was a bit underwhelmed. Ted Neely as Jesus might have better stage abilities than Deep Purple's Ian Gillan from the original cast (who knows?), but he's not a very good singer. This is made obvious by the way he speaks some lines rather than singing them. "Herod's Song" has always been a song I have problems with--Josh Mostel's goofy Dixieland performance only makes it worse. And the guy who plays Caiphas can't sing either--he's not the solid basso Victor Brox was. But this is an OK substitute for the original, which after all never appeared in visual form. Oh well...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Digitally Remastered Original Video Is Great
Review: It's better than the digitally mastered THX one that sounds like the music was recorded in a tin garbage can. I'll get back to you on that one. J. Christ

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: As powerful today as it was years ago
Review: Perhaps some theologians might argue a bit with the content of "Jesus Christ, Superstar" but it is a powerful movie.

This movie also brought out the point that Jesus, the Son of God, was also a man, tempted in all points like us, but without sin.

The portrayal of the scene at the temple, where he overthrew the moneychanger's tables was one of my favorite moments in this movie. It showed a side of Jesus that is true to the Biblical record, but is rarely portrayed in movies and that is the *WRATH* of Jesus. Sometimes, he got angry.

The prophet said "he loved righteousness and hated iniquity (inequity)."

Jesus Christ, Superstar really highlighted many aspects of the humanity of Jesus.

And the bit with the bus took me awhile to figure out - but my theory is - the people who were involved in the crucifixion of Jesus were bit players. They were actors in a drama far bigger than they understood or grasped. I suspect that is what Tim Rice was communicating. (As to the many anachronisms, I'm still not sure what they mean)

Remember, Jesus said "Look at your blank faces, I'll be forgotten - 10 minutes after I'm dead" and his followers refuted him, but in fact, after the crucifixion, they all went back to fishing for a time. Or, in this case, they got back on the bus and went home.

I love the story of Jesus and I think this movie told it well. It presents a sympathetic view of Judas Iscariot, Pilate and Herod, yet that too, has a degree of legitimacy, based in the four gospels.

This is a movie you'll want to see more than once. It has many layers.

However, like most movies, the Book was much, much better. :-)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It was rather hippie-ish.
Review: I must say that even though I'm only twelve and have never seen the stage play, I'm sure it's much better than this version. Carl Andreson gives a stunning perfomance as Judas Iscariot (even though his close ups are of him screaming and reveal his not-so-pretty-dental-hygene-problem.) Ted Neely was an allright Jesus, and Yvonne Elliman, the original Mary, has the most beautiful voice. I wish that it wasn't so 70s ish and remained faithful to the original stage style. The Really Useful Company (A.L. Webber's Music Company) is releasing a recording from the 2000 Broadway cast and is set to be on sale somewhere around Easter 2001. I've seen highlights on PBS, and it looks a lot better than this version. If you really wanted to see this, than buy it. It is a very good film. If you are a true and devoted fan to ALW and his musicals, I suggest you wait until the Broadway version comes out. (If only Yvonne Elliman sang "I don't Know How To Love Him" in the Broadway video!)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: You Have to See It
Review: Its a great movie about Easter and Jesus! Its a rock oprea! Not at all what I expected it to be. It has really good music too!


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