Rating: 
Summary: BOO! A visual mess
Review: The recording of the original Broadway show of Jesus Christ Super star is one favorite CDs to listen to. The music is spectacular, the lyrics profound, and the end result is extremely moving. Unfortunately every time it's translated into a movie it gets badgered up by some postmodern artist (and I use the term loosely) who fail to realize the profound impact and inspiration of the "Historical Jesus". They're always trying to translate the story into the current time frame and add some spin to the story that escapes me. The result is a mess that leaves the viewer confused and feeling cheated. In this latest version, the musical presentation was OK, however, I felt that it lacked the intensity of the original Broadway version. Two things I found annoying where the low level of the instruments relative to the vocals, and some of the inflections/interpretations of the singers are off base and detract from the music. The visual aspect of the presentation is awful. It is more suited to West Side Story than the Christ story. Why can't they get some props and clothes that remind us of the Historical Jesus instead of using the big city gang motif? Hey Jesus did live. He developed a profound philosophy that had a snowball effect through history that left the world changed in its wake. Why the hell do these idiot choreographers, producers and directors fail to notice this and feel the need to start mucking around trying to be clever. Well that's modern art for you. Dunk a crucifix in a jar of urine and your making a profound statement. The truth is they really have no talent so they resort to shock value to gain notoriety. Reminds me of maladjusted teenagers.
Rating: 
Summary: Generally good but...
Review: I enjoyed many aspects of this DVD. Sound was great, picture quality good, some casting was excellent. Overall singing was strong. I liked Judas and Herod expecially. Judas added a bit more dimension to the part than in the movie. Some of the visual design changes were thought provoking, while other changes seemed pointless, only to show that it was different from the movie. The actor playing Jesus seemed a bit empty, not really an inspiring multi-dimensional character as it should be. The character I absolutely HATED was Pontias Pilate. The actor WAY overplayed the part. It's tough to avoid comparisons when you know the old movie practically by memory. Pilate in that film seemed regretful of his part and I felt sympathy for him despite the fact that he is one of the "bad guys". The new Pilate played it one note/one pitch angry and shouting. Annoyed me so much I almost skipped his scenes. Only other complaint--somehow the overall effect was less inspiring than the original. I always felt this rock opera was a good jumping off point to get people interested in the last days of Christ. Perhaps make people want to research more, or at least give a new dimension/perspective worthy of discussion. This version seemed a bit TOO far removed from the time and place of the story. At least the movie, shot in Israel, never left me wondering where the story came from. This one left me a bit cold. Despite these objections, believe it or not, I liked many parts of the DVD and will no doubt see it a few more times. Chances are though, I'll stick to the original as what I feel was the more definative version.
Rating: 
Summary: What's the Buzz? This movie.
Review: This movie is a dramtization of Jesus' last week on earth. It starts with Judas expressing his concerns, then extends thru the annointing at Bethany, Palm Sunday, and Good Friday. The movie is extremely well made, except you should ntoe this following. Many young kids will find the 2nd half of the movie scary. [If fact, the 39 lashes kind of disturbed me. They strip him down to a loin cloth and whip him, and with each crack of the whip, someone slaps more stage blood on him. Kinda gross.] Other than that, "Everything's Alright."
Rating: 
Summary: The New Millenium's JCS
Review: I have mixed feelings about this new production of JCS as opposed to the 70's film. First off, let me say that the 70's film was a LOT more emotional and seemed to have more. . . heart? Although it seems downright tacky at times, the inner emotion ALWAYS burst through. This new JSC, while VERY good, seems to lack that last umph for whatever reason. However, the updated music sounds superb, are there are wonderful singers or actors (sometimes both) in this version. The new costumes are welcomed voer hippie garb, and the high priests are like members of some mofia religeous cult with was an EXCELLENT move IMO. But this new versions sorely lacks the wide open, on-location FEEL that the 70's version had. You simply can't beat the 70's cinematography. I'll go into character detail now. JESUS: Although Glenn Carter is ok, I MUCH prefer Ted Neely (I guess his singing really DID grow on me!). Ted just SEEMED more like Jesus to me in song and character. I never made that connection with Carter. JUDAS: Carl Anderson was simply timeless in all aspects. He IS Judas. But, Jerome Padron did a FANTASTIC acting job as Judas, though in a few versus of some songs his voice left me with something to be desired. But he DEFINATELY has the look and feel of Judas down pat. MARY: Yvonne Elliman will always own this part in my book. Just the whole characterization was in the book from the start. PERFECT. However, on a flip flop of Judas, I thought Rene castle's singing was better as opposed to acting (plus she's VERY easy on the eyes). PILATE: Barry Dennen is STILL my favorite Pilate. The Pilate in this new JCS while very operatic and imposing, just didn't FEEL like Pilate to me. However, he was very good in parts. CIAPHAS: These two are actually neck and neck! The new Cai is FANTASTIC with a great voice, great acting, and he looks positively powerful. A joy. ANNAS: An improvement over the 70's. He was downright freaky and unsettling in the new version. Just how I always pictured him. Finally, Tony Vincent was FANTABULOUS as Simon. He NAILED that part just as he did Judas on Broadway.
Rating:
Summary: Intensely moving
Review: Left me speechless by the performances and the abilities of the actors and the words to move centuries of cultures. Nothing has changed from the message,
Rating:
Summary: Didn't come close to the Broadway version, but still awesome
Review: Okay, I'll admit it, one of my very first reactions to this movie was, "This talent-less bald guy is Judas?" I could not figure out what they were thinking when they cast Jerome Pradon in the role of Judas. Firstly, he looks at least twenty years older than just about everyone in the entire cast. Second, his voice was absolutely terrible; his British accent was so thick you could cut it with a knife (and, for the record, I usually adore accents, especially English ones) and it sounded to me that he was experiencing a voice change, which would explain the many squeaks and cracks. On a more positive note, Glenn Carter was just as amazing in this movie as he was on Broadway. I was also incredibly impressed with Renee Castle, whose Mary is one of the best I've ever heard. I found myself picturing her in the title role of AIDA. Tony Vincent's Simon was another highlight of the film. His voice is absolutely incredible and his facial expressions were perfect. All in all, it was very good, but I would have much preferred a different Judas. Perhaps Tony Vincent, who was just as good in that role on Broadway as he was as Simon here.
Rating:
Summary: The 1st JCS was great and so is this one
Review: If you loved the first version of Jesus Christ Superstar, then you will truly appreciate this version...You get the feeling of "Big Brother" and all the technology of today's world but the story is the same. I think the ending was done with more emotion and the actors in this new version put a lot of feeling into their characters. I really enjoyed this DVD, but I am a Lloyd-Webber fan from the word go.
Rating:
Summary: overwhelmed
Review: I was an adult when this show first materialized. I have seen it on stage many times. I loved the visuals of the film. This, however is the first time I have been moved to tears by this vehicle. I simply can not take any individual piece of this apart it is a whole and it is wonderful. Of all the work that Webber & Rice have done this will last the longest as I have seen in this production that what ever else may be done the story will forever be vital. I greatly appreciated the emphasis on the lyric and the downplay of the music. It has been put where it belongs, as an underscore of what it being said and done. I have read some reviews that felt Jesus was weak, I for one got far more out of his eyes than ever before, I also liked the fact that the man could sing, falsetto and in full chest voice. Judas is incredible, Mary sang her pieces in character and not as a "STAR" turn. On the whole very emotional piece.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing; get the 1973 version instead on Amazon.com
Review: Judas is excellent: he's like an intelligent and sensitive but crude little white-trash assassin. But the monumentally edgy Outsider Judas of the Jewison 1973 film, in his larger-than-life wired destabilizing gestures and movements and sufferings is the more powerful and defining evocation. The nub is, Jewison's ability to evoke the triumph of Jesus' whole early career into the Palm Sunday lends to the end of the week its tragedy, its dramatic and compelling sense of rise and fall. In the new version everything is dark and flat from the beginning--even Palm Sunday--, so there's no sense of dramatic forward movement. Since it's all flat and dark from the beginning, all the emoting seems to me rather contrived and artificial ado about nothing: melodrama rather than drama. The over-acting adds to it: there's lots of over-grimacing and facial over-contorting in this claustrophobic atmosphere. Only two script changes improve anything, and these are returns to the original play. Ciaphas says to Judas, "What you have done will be the saving of Israel," which Jewison had diluted to "the saving of everyone." Jesus says to Pilate, "there may be a Kingdom for me somewhere if *I* only knew," Jewison having turned into, "...if *YOU* (Pilate) only knew," which diluted the play's notion of Jesus' human ignorance. Yet these are Jewison's (or Rice and Webber's)only two and small concessions in the 1973 more powerful film. Ted Nealy, as the 1973 Jesus, doesn't have to over-act, as there's already a natural enactment of dramatic forward movement in natural Biblical surroundings. Also Jewison's Pilate seems more anguished and more terrifying--and also not over-acted. And Jewison's Herod is scarier. So that even beyond its unforgettable swooping jet fighters and its tanks, to me Jewison's is the more dramatic and convincing, and therefore intense and artful, evocation of this great play of Jesus' final week and Passion.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Great
Review: Well, the first movie verion had MUCH better singing, but the visuals are much better. You may like the singing if you never saw the first movie. I really liked this Judas's acting. Well, just see this movie, and don't over analysis it(like me).
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