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Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.24
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great Classic
Review: I saw this movie with my kids in 1974 at Ft. Bragg, NC when they were 3 and 5 years old. To this day they remember the movie and I recently sent the DVD to my daugther not only as a memory from way-back-when, but because the movie is still fresh and wonderful to watch and listen to. A classic that should be part of every movie collection.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "The Passion of The Christ"......the G-rated version
Review: On the eve of one of the most controversial movies about Jesus Christ ever made, here is a movie that makes his story superbly entertaining! If you cannot stomach the scourging scene in that other movie, you won't have to worry about that here. Jesus Christ Superstar takes an old and complex subject and uses a rock score to look at it from a modern perspective (check out the musical piece "What's that buzz, what are you telling me"...it's funny! Come on, even you serious theologists out there have to admit being entertained by that sequence). Yes, it's inaccurate in its depiction of Jesus Christ and of the entire message that He proclaimed and His entire reason for being here. Even the actor who portrays Jesus Christ doesn't look anything like Him. But Jesus Christ Superstar was not intended to be a Bible lesson or a theology seminar -- it's just a rollicking good time starring the man upstairs, so grab some popcorn, have a great time with the movie, and don't take the subject of Christianity in this movie so seriously. After all, look how pop singer Stacie Orrico turned out...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Timeless Classic
Review: This will and always will be my favorite musical. Ted Neeley's voice is searing and you feel every note he sings. Carl Anderson is a scene stealer and the chemistry between them is timeless. I also enjoy Yvonne's portrayal as Mary Magdalene and "Close your eyes" will always be my favorite song from the musical. I've seen the updated version with Sebastian Bach playing the lead and Carl Anderson continuing to reprise his role and I will admit I am almost as moved as the original. If you see it in your area please watch it. Even though I've long given up on orthodox Christianity I have and always will find this musical seems to celebrate his humanity.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Fantastic Rock Opera
Review: This movie is a true classic. And no, this isnt coming from some old timer or a religious fanatic. Its just that i can remember when i first saw this movie, I'm 16 now and i was just 5 when i saw it. It instantly became my very favorite movie. The next week after i got the movie, i had memorized every line. I can sing the whole thing, accurately imitating the voices of all the actors, accents included. Thats quite something. The choreography is incredible, and surprisingly my favorite character is not Jesus, but rather Judas. His voice is particularly striking, especially so in the opening scene (which by the way has some of the most beautiful scenery i have ever seen). The tale it tells is also very interesting and engrossing. You laugh at the funny singing in the beginning ("what's the buzz"), you wince when Jesus is whipped, and you cry when he dies on the cross. It's simply that powerful. There is no other match to this movie that i know of. If a 5 year old can be emotionally touched by this, why cant you? Get this now, or else you will miss out on one of the true cinematic gems of the last 40 years.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A dad's review.
Review: I purchaced this movie for my children. I figured the music may hold their attention. They like it a lot. It is a good way to get the gospel to your kids. I have never seen it either. I was surprized in a positive way. It is one of those movies you just get cought up in. Very important to me was that is was not disrepectfull. :)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Period Piece
Review: Whether or not you like this film will depend upon three factors. 1) if you like the 70's; 2) whether you would rather listen to incredibly talented voices or easily singable tunes; 3) If you have the ability to feel the emotions of a religious piece done in an unconventional way. If these three apply to you, purchase this film. If you have a problem with these three, don't waste your time. You'll end up complaining to a lot of people who won't share your opinion.

My son and I saw this film together and now we have decided to take a weekend and watch the play live. It is currently in production in two cities near us.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Jesus Christ Superstar 1973
Review: I first saw this movie in the theater in 1973 - I was 13 yrs. old. I loved it very much. I've viewed it a few times since and most recently, 2004, and I still love it even more!!! Yes, it's a modern day version depicting the last week of Jesus' life, (not the old fashioned way), and I think it is done so well. It's simple - its pure - it gets a powerful message to the viewer if you listen to the lyrics and pay attention. The connections between the characters are so clear. I was quite impacted as a child and even still as an adult. The music is great. I wonder if Ted Neely,Carl Anderson,Yvonne and all others are still around. I would love to meet them and shake their hands for their wonderful acting/singing in this production!!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Watch it for the music
Review: "Jesus Christ Superstar" is one of my all-time favorite musicals. The music is great, the lyrics are outstanding, and I loved how the character of Judas was examined not just as the betrayer of Christ but as a man with genuine feelings and emotions. Now, regarding this film, I have to say while the music was all there, I really don't know about the visuals.

It looks really underbudget, which might have been intentional - but even "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" had a low budget and managed to at least get good sets. In fact I think the filmmakers blew their money on having tanks and jets randomly appear in the "Blood Money" sequence. The stylized portrayal is a little too...70's for me. I am glad I never grew up in the 70's, and talking to some people who did I seem to be not missing much. Watching women with huge afros dance around assures me of that. Watching Harod (the white Fat Albert) cavort around in skimpy shorts and 1960's pop star glasses pretty much solidifies it.

The cast is kind of a mix. The guy who played Judas is a great singer, but as an actor...I don't know. He looks and sounds mad all the time! The man who played Jesus...I didn't think he was wonderful at all. He looked like a greasy drug addict; I expected him to tote a joint every time they did a close-up. Also, I found his singing to be annoying. "In the Garden of Gethsename" is a great song about Jesus' conflicting feelings on giving up his life - some thing they didn't capture here. When Jesus screams out "mind" like a menstrating sea lion I was just like "Um...no."

I couldn't find the choreography that great either. Most of it consists of a character standing in the middle of a shot and singing. The song "I Don't Know How to Love Him" is great if you listen to it from a CD player, but when I saw the scene in this film I had to fast forward it out of boredom.

Overall, I was kind of disappointed. The only reason I saw it a second time was because I liked the soundtrack, but that was about it. I didn't even like the soundtrack for this version - I went out and bought the original London cast recording.

By the way, that Roman with the assault rifle? No.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Five star movie!!! Five star DVD!!!
Review: This movie is a clasic!!! A visual and musical feast!!! The DVD is top notch,with a beautiful widscreen transfer and great sound!!! Two thumbs up!!! A+

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Spectacular
Review: This musical takes one of the most popular stories of all time and makes it into a living, breathing drama. Names we are taught to recite as children leap out of the gray annals of history into vibrant people with hopes, desires, and fears.

Judas becomes much more than the simple, vicious villain of old. He is scared, and he is weak, and, incredibly, idealistic! Herod is a vicious fop, Mary Magdalene is a kind-hearted woman, torn between her past and growing emotions for the man Jesus. Pontius Pilate, in one of the most intimate and thrilling songs of the play, "Pilate's Dream", becomes far more than the Roman toady of lore.

The movie adaption of this musical does exactly what it should: let the music do the talking (singing, in this case). It is cinematically vivid, but more as a background than a part of the action. The core of this film is the spectacular performance of the cast.

I feel, as a long time fan of this musical, that a first-time viewer should see the movie first. Unless the viewer is very well versed in the bible, they need to see who these characters are to comprehend--they need to see the Pharisees in their vicious, scared gaggle, the lepers swarming about Jesus, and all that the movie has to show. This movie helped me to place the sundry characters in the songs.

Now, no one is going to watch this movie and think it was made last year. You need to be aware, as a watcher, that this is cut from the same filmmaking cloth as Enter the Dragon, rather than the Godfather.

However, if you can get past that, buy this, watch it, listen to it, and love it.


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