Rating: 
Summary: A PERSONAL FAVORITE
Review: This HAS to be my favorite musical!!! I saw the movie at the theater back in 1974 and wanted it for my personal collection all of these years. It has only recently been re-released on tape. Athough set in the 70's, the message is without time. The music and dancing are flawless. *****
Rating:
Summary: It brings life into this lifeless world
Review: It touched my spirit and made me want to sing, dance, laugh and cry! Very few movies now a days has the ability to do this. Congrats to the writers courage and to the actors for their intensity!
Rating:
Summary: Hollow and unmoving? I also strongly disagree.
Review: This has been a family favorite ever since we taped it many years ago off a cable channel. I think it's one of the most credible dramatizations of the gospel I have ever seen.I'm happy to see it finally come to video.
Rating: 
Summary: Hollow and unmoving? I couldn't disagree more.
Review: The cast and score of Godspell infuse life and energy into well-known scripture and sometimes difficult to imagine context in a way that is both uplifting and inspiring. Jesus is perfectly compassionate and kind; Judas is loving but conflicted; the portrayal of the Pharisees is clever and moving. The body of the film comprises several parables which are each creatively imagined and directed. Though the "gethsemane scene" takes some license with the Biblical account, the film does quite a good job sticking close to Matthew's Gospel (even while projecting it onto modern-day New York City). No recreation of the gospel is perfect; Godspell doesn't pretend or try to be. It is a screen adaptation, hippie interpretation of a timeless story that will facinate and enlighten.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Religious Musical Ever!
Review: I am in a production of "Godspell" myself at my high school as John the Baptist. The movie was the perfect way to really see how David Haskell performed it. Not only that, but the power of the final scene made realize just exactly what I'd undertaken. The music, the characters, and the scenery made this a very moving show. The only bad comment that I would have to make is that the sound quality on some of the songs deteriorates, which made me a little edgy. However, I cannot believe that someone could call it a mockery of the New Testament. I consider it one of the best. Suddenly we can see Jesus, in a modern-day situation, and relate to him. The songs add more brilliant color to the movie, with songs varying from jubilant (Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord), to sad (By My Side, On The Willows). I would say that even if you aren't a religious person, the music and the acting is worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: Better than Superstar
Review: Someone said that this musical is horrible and if you wanted to see a Bible-based retelling of the Gospels to see Jesus Christ Superstar or !Hero. First of all, Jesus Christ Superstar is not Biblical and denies the diety of Christ (the writers aren't even Christians). !Hero is a well-intentioned try, but it's not the Bible, its paralellism (like sandwiches out of a backpack instead of bread and fish for feeding the 5000). Godspell, while at first seeming entirely bizarre and maybe even mocking, once you take a good look at it, you can see that they are really presenting the teachings of Jesus (whereas Superstar only presented the 'drama' of the story) in a fun and creative way that doesn't take away from the message. The songs are great too, although they may need some time to grow on you (because it is very very 70's).
One thing to keep in mind is that this movie is told in presentational form, where the audience is acknowledged and talked to. The actors in the movie are playing *actors*. The movie is meant to be understood that the people in the movie are *actors* acting out the stories. Once you get this, it's a very entertaining movie with great songs, dancing, and creative ways of modernizing some aspects of the Gospel without completely changing the message. I suggest getting it if you enjoy musicals in general, or if you're looking for a good alternative to Jesus Christ Superstar.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, but an Acquired Taste
Review: Godspell takes the story of Jesus from the Bible and transposes it to "modern" (read 1970's) New York City. It uses a small cast to act out various parables and stories from the life of Christ. Interspersed are songs inspired by the events the cast has been reenacting. This movie musical has several drawbacks. The biggest is that it is obviously a 70's musical. The costumes and arrangements just scream it out. The second is a personal pet peeve. They removed the song "We Beseech Thee" and added the song "Beautiful City." I've tried, but I just don't think it's a good substitute. Third, the "crucifixion" scene is almost laughable in this version. Lastly, with the small cast, everyone but Jesus plays multiple "rolls" in the overall story. This can be very confusing and often interrupts the message that segment was trying to get across. In my mind, the positives out way the negatives, however. The cast is obviously having fun with the material and each other, which makes the movie more enjoyable. There are many good songs, including my favorites "God Save the People" and "Day by Day." The video choreography for "All For the Best" and "Light of the World" are imaginative as well. All in all, I enjoy it. The DVD only includes the movie. Some behind the scenes info would have been interesting. But it does include both wide screen and full frame versions of the movie. If you're looking for a strict filming of the life of Christ, you will be disappointed. If you want a fun, slightly cheesy musical that is relatively faithful to the gospels, you'll enjoy this movie. It's not for everyone, but it is fun.
Rating:
Summary: When wilt thou save the people?
Review: I love Godspell, but this film won't be for everyone. The plot is confusing, since it's basically just Jesus and his disciples acting out parables from the Bible as the plot meanders along, somewhat faithful to the Gospel of Mattthew. The cast mugs a lot, using a ton of cartoon-y voices and facial expressions, which can get annoying. My favorite part of Godspell is the music. I love almost every song. "Save The People," "Bless The Lord," "By My Side," "Beautiful City," "Day By Day," "Turn Back, O Man" are just some of the classics that appear in this film, sung with an exciting innocence, and staged somewhat inventively, especially the "All For The Best," number. The cast is great - fans of ABC's "Alias" television series will be shocked to see Victor Garber as an Afro'd Superman shirt singing Jesus. I know I was! The great Lynne Thigpen, sadly passed away, gets a great rollicking number in "Bless The Lord," and the rest of the cast is entertaining as well in their own ways. So this movie may not be for everybody - if you don't think you can handle a movie based on Bible parables, then don't bother buying this. But I suggest giving this a try - I did, and it turned into one of my favorite movies.
Rating:
Summary: All Good Gifts
Review: The story of Jesus of Nazareth has been made and remade so many times over the course of time. This version provides, in my opinion, a more grass-roots approach. Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, Godspell takes the story and provides a fresh look at the story of Jesus and the lessons he taught and the things he experienced. The play, while simple on the surface, is rich in symbolism (the fact that Jesus wears a "Superman" shirt, that he is represented as a clown, that John the Baptist and Judas are played by the same actor, etc.) and an opinion of the film (and the play) should be formed after one has seen it more than once. Many of the original Broadway cast is represented here including a very young and vibrant Victor Garber. The music remains full of life and meaning and the tale remains poignant and meaningful even though the hippie culture which inspired the version has long since past.
Rating:
Summary: A very Special Movie
Review: I must of seen this movie a hundred times, and it never gets old. This movie just brings back so many memories of my childhood, since I grewup on musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and The Amazing Technolcolor Dream coat. But Godspell is the one that I cherish. I grew up on the 1971 soundtrack, and know the movie. Which I know by heart. Victor Garber is fantasic as Jesus, as is David Haskell, and Lyne Thigpen, Robin Lamont, who sang the famous song, DAY BY DAY. This movie have left out other songs like, We Beesech Thee, and Learn Your Lessons well, but they make up for it, with Beautiful City, which has become a favorite of mine. Also, All Good Gifts, sung by Merral Jackson is so moving and wonderful. What is also striking, is the use of New York Skylines. Making The Big Apple, the cast's own personalplayground. And in the showstopping "All For the Best" they cast dances on one of the Twin Towers. Overall, this movie is amazing and joyful. I would advise anyone who is a fan of rock musicals or just fans of musicals in general to see this film.
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