Rating: 
Summary: It's not your Daddy's JCSS
Review: As many of those who've reviewed this presentation of the classic, I grew up with my parents owning the two album set of the London recording. Whenever I'm reading the lyrics (or listening to whichever version of the albums I happen to hear), it's the original words and beat I keep to. Much to the consternation of those around me, especially if the two are different (as one web-page noted, they are ALL different, a little!). I have to say, I have NEVER SEEN ANY OTHER VIDEO PRODUCTION of this ... event. So I cannot compare it to any of the older productions, except for the music.The Music is ... the music. It's bright, sad, driving and wallowing in its own miseries, pulling you into the emotions with the singers. However, having heard rumors of other productions (a tank in the desert?), I wasn't terribly expecting this to be Charleton Heston's The Bible quality. When I saw the costuming, I knew I was right - This isn't what my parents loved. It's newer, hotter, more ... today. Each version has it's place, I think. Bring someone in who's never heard the music or seen any of the productions. They'll be able to stay awake with this one. Gradually, you can work them towards the more "historical" adaptations. But, my favorite "bit" in this movie has GOT to be when Judas was sitting on the Cross Jesus was trying to carry, mockingly holding out one of the "mini-bibles" made by the Gideons. I about died laughing. Cruel? Mocking? Sure. Why not. From what I've heard of the other productions, we've gone from the dead-pan historically accurate to the odd ... Because, no matter WHO sings them, the songs are JUST THAT GOOD.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible.
Review: So this is what our Moulin Rouge culture has done to us. In order for musicals to be entertaining, they must have all of the following: hard-rock scores, overly dramatic expressions, bright costumes (all leather, just so people can pay attention to the characters), gyrating hips, and thongs. We must have thongs in order to sit through these musicals. As a Jesus Christ Superstar fan, this version was a huge disappointment. However, I've never seen the play performed, and frankly, I don't want to. There isn't a stage director who can pull off a decent production of this dated play. So if you can't make it good, make it cool to the majority of the idiots who watch movies. As soon as the movie started, I was disappointed. I don't want to see it in a modern-day setting. I don't like the modern score. I want to see hippies prancing around in the desert, dammit! I grew up listening to the original concept recording and saw the Norman Jewison film many times. That's what I want to see! I don't want to see Roman guards who are dressed like comic book villians. I don't want the high priests to look like aliens. I don't want the "Pilate's Dream" scene to look like porn! WHY?! In addition to the poor "modern" adaptation, this version is plagued with horrific acting. Renee Castle is pretty good...she could carry the whole production. Jerome Pradon as Judas is crap. His portrayal of Judas as Jerusalem's bully is ridiculous, overdramatic, and unconvincing. However, when he begins to sing, he seems whiney. I kept trying to figure out what he was attempting to do; when he performed "Damned For All Time," he kept running all over the place, and I kept thinking, "Why???" Caiaphas kept looking like Mr. T to me, and I was expecting him to sing, "I pity the fool who loves Jesus!" at any time. His group of high priests walked around looking like some kind of gang. The actor who played Pilate looked like he only got the part because he can sing and has played villians. He makes you wonder how such an evil looking person came into power in the first place. The apostles all dressed in Abercrombie-like clothes and acted so happy and joyful around each other. "Hey, it's Jesus. Let's all hug each other and smile and honor him now." It did seem logical during the Last Supper like all of Jesus's words were way over their heads. When the comic relief (the intended comic relief, at least) finally comes in as Herod, played by Drop Dead Fred himself (Rik Mayall). It could have been a good sequence if Mayall acting completely off-base with his audio...is it that hard to lip sync to your own voice? "Could We Start Again Please," my favorite song, also could have been a good sequence, if it wasn't mixed with a beating of Jesus. It wasn't upsetting at all...it was too dramatic and filled with slow motion shots of Jesus being thrown around between a group of what looked like stormtroopers. When the time for "Supestar" to be performed, I was so ready for it to be over. And it looked like a cross between a really bad music video and a Victoria's Secret commercial. I think it was supposed to be disturbing, but wasn't effective at all. And then Jesus was crucified, and it was again trying to be shocking and disturbing. It could have been, if all of the actors weren't stretching their faces in "grief". Overall, the actors looked like they had just left an acting workshop and wanted to try out their new methods. If this is the type of acting they teach, it's surprising there isn't more worthless crap floating around out there. If you're interesting in seeing a good version of the play, see the Norman Jewison film. It might be cheesy and dated, but at least it isn't horrific filth.
Rating:
Summary: FAMILY VIEWING
Review: THE MUSIC IS GREAT, THE ACTORS ARE REALLY FINE. DON'T MISS THIS ONE. WE HAVE SAT TOGETHER OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL WE EVEN KNOW THE WORDS. FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND THE MESSAGE. GO FOR IT.
WE DID. THE DROHANS.
Rating:
Summary: Takes superficiality to new depths
Review: The new version of JCSS achieves something I thought impossible: it makes the old, wooden Norman Jewison version look pretty good. Let's be positive. Renee Castle provides a much needed lift to the show in her interpretation of Mary Magdalene. She sings her numbers with intelligence, feeling, and sincerity. If it hadn't been for her, the whole thing would have been a wash. Not so Glenn Carter in the role of Jesus. He comes off as a rehash of Donny Osmond's Joseph, with none of the charm of that production. (Come to think of it, some of the sets look like they were borrowed from Joseph too.) His acting is shallow, his singing is mediocre, and his main insight into the role seems to be, "Gee whiz, Ma, I'm in a musical." In fact, the only thing he succeeds in convincing you of is that pretty-boy rock singers should not be given adult parts. By the time we reached the flogging scene, I was ready to whack him too, just to wipe the stupid smile off his face. And listen to how he goes flat when he tries for high notes! Maybe that's why the rest of the cast sounded so uncharacteristically sincere when they were shouting, "Crucify him!" Jerome Pradon's Judas is only marginally better. At least he manages to sing in tune. But he spends the first half of the show sadistically sneering, and then leads up to his suicide by whining like a two year old and folding up into a fetal curl. Flog him, too. Pradon did show a glimmer of humanity during the Last Supper, but it didn't last very long, and his reappearance to do a full-sneer interpretation of the theme song was just embarrassing. It's too bad, because he seemed like he might actually be an engaging performer if he had a director who knew what she was doing. In the supporting roles: Caiaphas sounds (and dresses) like Mr. T; Pilate (in a Gestapo uniform--how original!) sounds like he's spent too many years doing bad-guy voices for children's cartoons. The compassion that Pilate is supposed to show before the sentencing was well beyond his emotional range. Meanwhile, the Roman guards look like Darth Vader, and the apostles are so out of place in their roles, they couldn't sell Bibles to Baptists. What was director Gale Edwards thinking? How did she miss the fact that Judas is the main character in the show, not Jesus? How did she miss the fact that audiences need at least one character they can sympathize with? For that matter, how did she miss all the delicious sarcasm in the apostles' song during the Last Supper (absolute deadpan!)? And why did she put up with such plodding tempos for most of the numbers? If you want a decent JCSS, get the original London cast album with Ian Gillian in the title role. At least that version has drama, musicality, and believability, all noticeably lacking in this one.
Rating: 
Summary: DIRECTOR'S VISION TOO DARK
Review: FIRSTLY I HAVE BEEN A DEVOUT FAN OF SUPERSTAR SINCE IT CAME OUT 30 YEARS AGO, IN MY OPIOIN IT IS THE BEST THING WEBBER AND RICE EVER HAVE DONE. THE MOVIE VERSION BY NORMAN JEWISON IS VERY GOOD BUT I THOUGHT THIS PRODUCTION MIGHT ADD SOMETHING DIFFERENT SINCE IT IS A NEW RELEASE. I AM A BIT DISSAPOINTED HOWEVER BECUASE IT SEEMS SO DARK AND DISMAL. THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THE PRODUCTION,THE SET IS DARK AND GREY. GLEN CARTER GIVES A STRANGE PERFORMANCE,IN MY OPINION,NEVER CONNECTING TO THE FACT HE IS PORTRAYING JESUS,AND VOCALLY NOT ABLE TO GIVE THE UMPH! THE ROLE REQUIRES,YET JUDAS IS VERY GOOD. MARY IS VERY GOOD, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE IMMEDIATE CAST EXCEPT PILATE. PILATE'S DREAM IS GOOD BUT THE OTHER SCENES WITH HIM GO FROM GOOD TO BAD VERY QUICKLY DUE TO OVERACTING AND SCREAMING I AM SURE AT THE DIRECTORS REQUEST. I COULD NOT WATCH THE END OF THE MOVIE BECUASE I FELT CHEATED. LISTEN OR WATCH THE ORIGINAL AND NOTE THE PORTRAYAL OF PILATE-IT IS EXCELLENT. I FELT THE DIRECTOR DID SOME VERY GOOD THINGS IS THIS VERSION BUT FELT HE SCREWED-UP AS MUCH AS HE MADE GOOD. THIS IS NOT A DARK DISMAL STORY,THERE ARE SEVERAL POINTS OF LIGHT IN IT. IT IS THE LAST DAYS OF CHRIST THROUGH THE EYES OF JUDAS. IF YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD THE ORIGINAL OR SEEN THE MOVIE I SUGGEST YOU SHOULD BEFORE BUYING THIS VERSION.
Rating:
Summary: It's super!
Review: Well, I remember when I first saw Jesus Chirst Super Star on the stage was 1990 in Korea. Of course, the actors were Korean and the lyrics were in Korean. Then, I saw it again in 1994 in Seoul. Finally I had a chance to see it in London in 1996. It was so excellent, and I never forget the great musical.
Now, I have an great opportunity to keep the DVD of JSC for good.
I was so surprised that it is much different from 1996 version, and it has more modern than before.
But, still I am so impressed by Andrew, and the director of this film.
Whenever I see this DVD, I remember the scene in London, and I want to recommend it to my friends. I prefer Steve Balsamo as Jesus, though. I don't think Glen Carter is better than him. Anyway, Glen was Simon in 1996.
Rating:
Summary: Catchy tunes make this a musical you'll remember
Review: I really enjoyed this musical. "Everything's all right" is my favorite song. What I really love about Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals is that the music is very catchy. It's impossible not to sing along and anticipate the rhymes. Even the next day I could sing a few lines of most of the songs. I think this is a CD you can watch several times without getting bored, the music is that good. If you like this one I think you'll like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as well (I like Joseph even more).
Rating:
Summary: MAKES A MOCKERY OF OUR SAVIOR
Review: THIS SAD MOVIE IS DANGAROUS IT IS A MOVIE THAT SEEMS TO BE A RELIGIOUS MOVIE BUT ALL THE WHILE TREATING CHRIST LIFE AS A SILLY MUSICAL STAY AWAY FROM THIS MOVIE
Rating: 
Summary: I love it!
Review: Being raised on Jesus Christ Superstar, I have to say that I was perfectly thrilled when this new version arrived. I am not thrilled with some of the high notes of Glenn Carter but he was a great actor. I did see the show live and was so impressed with the modern staging. Big difference from the desert version! I have only one complaint about this video- I wish it was filmed as one would have seen it live. I didn't like all the trick shots and some of the camera angles. Being a person who saw it live, I noticed some scenes were not included in the video. Overall, it was fantastic. By the way, the kids (both 6 years old) sing just about all the songs. Buy it!!
Rating:
Summary: I wish this was good.
Review: I am a reasonable man. I don't like being a bad person. I realise that this production would have taken thousands of man hours and so many people would have poured their soul into this vision, this creation, this, this, this... I hope what I am about to write doesn't make me a bad man. I spent my money on this dvd and I unfortunatly spent it sight unseen. It was an impulse buy. Why did I impulse buy! JCSS is my favorite stage show. I love the power, the energy the story the genious of Webber and Rice. I didn't think I could ever have bad thoughts about it. Until now. So bad are my thoughts I am compelled to sit here at Uni when I should be working and write this. This version has taken a new "modern" aproach and I can not agree less with that. The priests and pharasies are ridiculous in their "lets be hip and ulrta modern" place of plotting. I can see what was trying to be done. I can see and to a certain degree agree with the theory lets gets JCSS out of flairs but I still think it should be executed so differently. Wheather you love the show for its story or song theres no excuse for it to be off the mark historically. The show is essentially about Judas' inner struggle with the ultimate betrayal. So please tell me why he sings Heaven on their minds to Jesus ( Even if jesus is there for symbolism sake- why). Why does Jesus sing to the pharasies in Hossana. It made my so annoyed I bought this. I could have spent my money on forty newspapers wet them all, convinced my friends to beat me with them until I was dead and I would have more fun. Poor performances were a stand out feature of this two hours of pain. Why cast a jesus who doesn't have the range? Why cast a Judas who has a voice I got tired of by the time he had told me his mind is clearer now. I tryed to pull positves ou of ot. But there just wasn't alot to pull (don't be dirty). The costuming was decent it just should have been used in another movie. I think the effort on behalf of the cast was there- it just wasn't convincing. I felt nothing for the characters. Jesus did't make me feel his pain when he was facing his ultimate demise. Judas did't take me on his journey of the painful chioce (can someone tell me why Judas acted like a naughty smart-alec child rather a grown man- wow that was annoying) I'm sorry- just one more thing. STAGE SHOWS DON'T WORK ON SCREEN UNLESS THEY ARE MADE INTO A MOTION PICTURE. THEY DON'T WORK IN THIS RIDICULOUS HALF STAGE HALF MOVIE I WANT TO STAB MY EYES OUT FORM. All in all a good try but I believe it just didn't quite work.
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