Rating: 
Summary: error!
Review: i own over 300 dvds, and the GODSPELL dvd is the only one that won't play in my rca player. everytime i put it in it says "ERROR! TURN THE MACHINE OFF!" and it never plays. neither side of this dvd plays. i've tried SEVERAL different copies and none will play. what gives? otherwise, GODSPELL is a great film.
Rating: 
Summary: Trite, dated musical with a dedicated cast
Review: An assortment of young people from various walks of life leave their mundane reality behind to follow a modern-day John the Baptist, becoming transformed into a cheerful tribe of flower children/mimes who cavort through the streets of an abandoned New York in the company of a Christ figure who sports a blond fro and a Superman T-shirt, performing a musical version of the Gospel According to Matthew. I can understand the feelings of those who are captivated by its hippy-dippy charm. The actors are cheerful and bursting with energy and exhuberance. However, it didn't work for me. Only one tune, "Day by Day," is memorable. The film is extremely dated (an unfair criticism, perhaps, but that's how I feel). I was put off by the relentless cheer, yet the mournful ending came off as trite and simple-minded. Admittedly, I am not the ideal audience for this film, not being Christian myself. I am not hostile to the religion, though, and came to this film with an open mind. In the final analysis, it just didn't do it for me.
Rating: 
Summary: a great personality test
Review: GODSPELL is *SO* not about religion. It is about the creation of a family; preferably, the family of all humankind. It's not for everyone (it is, to say the least, eccentric and a product of the time in which it was made) but if you open your mind to its charms you will find much to reward your attention. Great songs, a lively and beautiful cast, and some of the best New York photography ever... and that's just the frosting. In particular, post 9/11 it's eerie to see a song called "All For The Best" staged on the roof of the then-brand-new World Trade Center, followed immediately by a "love your enemy" parable enacted at the foot of the twin towers. It's one of my top ten favorites of all time (sharing company with THE WIZARD OF OZ, the original KING KONG, DUCK SOUP and others). Some folks _hate_ this movie... but how you feel about GODSPELL says more about you than it does about the movie -- no criticism implied. I've owned both the VHS and DVD versions, and the DVD is the best commercial I can think of for the superiority of DVD over VHS and the virtues of a good re-mastering job. The compositions are dramatically better in widescreen, the colors are vivid and true, the image razor-sharp: you can see the weave in the actor's costumes; you can things in the background that were previously indistinct. The DVD version _is_ the movie that I fell in love with when I saw it in the theaters almost 30 years ago; whereas the VHS is just a representation of it.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Musical My 3 year old loves it!
Review: A perfect musical. Godspell is one of my favorites, we did it in high school! My 3 year old son loves it now thanks to this DVD. My only complaint is it could have been modernized a bit with more stuff on the DVD. Would be nice to see a where are they now or the making of, this is pretty much just the movie with minimal other information, but don't let that stop you, this movie is a must have.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE this film! Please give it a chance; you'll be glad.
Review: I'm a child of the 60s/70s, you'd think I would have seen this film before 2002! I didn't think I could get past the idea of Jesus with a big afro and clown makeup. As it was, I was on my second viewing of this film before it really hit me. So if you think you don't care for it after the first viewing, try again. Once you get into the fun, innocent, tie-dyed feel of the early 1970s (or at least when it doesn't jar you so much) you can begin to see Godspell for the brilliant production that it is. The musical score is fabulous and I have heard most of it used in church over the years. The scenes of NYC are both breathtaking and poignant, considering the events of Sept. 11, 2001. And how did they get the streets empty during the daytime? The cast absolutely shines here. Young, energetic and all very talented. John/Judas is the strongest of the supporting cast members. Some people had a problem with the same actor (David Haskell) portraying both parts, but I see it as an important reminder that no one is all good or all bad; that we all have both John and Judas within us. Each cast member is showcased in one or more of the parables, and they all express their emotions vividly and handle the comedy, along with their musical numbers, expertly. Besides the 70s feel, there is also a strong vaudevillian component (they are clowns, after all) so be prepared. And then there's Jesus. I can't say enough good things about Victor Garber's AMAZING performance! The young Mr. Garber (later of such films as "Titanic" and "Annie") is almost painfully thin and pale, which adds to the other-worldly quality of Jesus. Yet he comes across as unfailingly human: loving, caring and joyous, but also at times angry, awkward and doubtful as events unfold, a charasmatic leader for his motley band of disciples. As happy and carefree as is the first 3/4 of this movie, so is the last quarter depressing and tragic. The inevitable advance toward the crucifixion is heartbreaking as Jesus sits at the last supper with his disciples and then moves to each one with a personal and emotional goodbye. The song, "On the Willows," with its beautiful harmonies will make the tears brim in your eyes. If you can get through this and the subsequent crucifixion without crying, with Jesus dying while his followers writhe and scream below, you must be made of stone. Finally Jesus is gently taken down and laid across the shoulders of the disciples and borne through the empty cityscape. While there is no resurrection scene, it is certainly implied which was enough for me. The film ends on a hopeful and joyous note, with the disciples singing softly at first and then breaking into "Prepare Ye" and "Day By Day" with mounting happiness and enthusiasm as they move down the street. Do yourself a favor and also buy the soundtrack recording on CD; you'll want to be able to listen to the music over and over even when you can't be watching the movie. Victor Garber's clear and beautiful tenor voice conveys all of the same emotions as the visuals, from silly and fun to tragic and painful. You can hear the last breath leave him as he softly sings, "Oh, God, I'm dead." Actually, you pick up more subtle emotional nuances from every cast member as you listen. It's best with headphones!! There is an old saying that goes, "God respects you when you work, but He loves you when you sing!" God must love Victor Garber and company very much for this incredible film. Bravo to all involved in bringing this production to the screen and thank you, thank you, Thank You!!
Rating:
Summary: Not Your Parents' Gospel
Review: Okay, so it looks very dated now, thirty years later. This work is still around after all this time, and that alone says something. It's an odd combination of reverence and silliness, and the perfect cure for a bad mood. The singing could be a bit better, but then we're not talking opera here. The "Prodigal Son" set piece is hilarious. The acting, of course, is very theatrical, but well suited to a production like this. A very young Victor Garber shows already why he went on to have such a successful career. Just take it for what it is, and you'll find it both enjoyable and maybe even moving.
Rating:
Summary: Prepare ye the way
Review: This is a great musical and a great message regarding the gosple of Jesus Christ. When considering the music you have to keep in mind the era in which this thing was performed (1973) of course it is all going to sound like "Jesus Christ Superstar." I wish that kids today were more often exposed to this movie (nice and upbeat) instead of movies like Left Behind and The Omega Code. I only have one question, I only counted 10 aposles, where were the other 2?
Rating:
Summary: Surprising delight
Review: Reading over the other reviews here, I realize I am probably not like the average reviwer/audience of this movie. I've never seen "Godspell" live, I don't go in for church groups; in fact, I'm not even Christian, but an agnostic. I saw this movie when it played on Bravo, called by my sister as she was trying to figure out what it was (it was labeled under a different name in the tv program). However, I was immediately drawn in by the charming performance and irreverence of the cast, as well as rather intrigued by Victor Garber's curious resemblance to Marc Bolan in this role (still trying to figure out if that was intentional). Garber's looks aside, however, he really holds the film together, providing a wonderful focus point for the cast and the action. His Jesus is exceptionally believable; gentle, joyous, disarmingly charismatic and able to evince a lot of emotion, imbuing the character with the proper depth and slight melancholy despite the cutesy-seeming tint of the film. Sometimes the edgier, more painful aspects of Christ's character struggle seem glazed over--the Godspell Jesus is rather more wholly optimistic and less anxious about the world and his own final destiny--but this fits within the tone of the production. David Haskell as John the Baptist/Judas also gives a commendable performance, managing to balance the two conflicting roles very well. He plays his character with a wonderful mixture of cynicism and sincerety, and the scenes between him and Garber are always moving. The rest of the cast is strong as well, though several of the girls tended to blend together too much. My only criticism lies with the songs--as happens with most musicals turned to films, I feel that the songs don't work as well on screen as they probably do on stage. They come across as too repetitive. I know, they're lovely songs, but in a movie, they must add something integral to the plot as well as entertain. There are three songs in a row, that, even though very beautiful, end up saying only "praise the Lord." Nice, but is it necessary to have three songs to say that? I would rather there was another parable (as I understand it, some of the stage scripted ones were cut from the film) instead of one of these songs. Nevertheless, the movie is entertaining and well-carried out, presenting the story of Christ with an accuracy of feeling not often accoplished in such performances. One must be familiar with at least the basics of the Gospels in order to really understand this movie (some of the metaphors might be too metaphorical for those who have not read the Bible, and the Pharisees monster didn't speak clearly enough to easily distinguish the words--a shame, as that is one of my favorite passages), but it is suitable for kids as well as adults, and while it covers the parables, it avoids a preachy tone. Lovely and lively, it was quite a pleasant surprise to discover.
Rating:
Summary: Fits and starts
Review: Don't look for great dance numbers -- there aren't any. Just a lot of jumping around, really. And the music is okay. Like a lot of religious rock, the drive to quote the gospels exactly makes most of the lyrics weigh down like lead... "Day By Day" being a glorious exception, even if it really only has one verse. But for all of that, there are some really stunning moments in this video. And the cinematography is very, very good, and the actors are very earnest, real believers, and that comes across very well. This show has lots of energy!
Rating:
Summary: Not As Good As The Stage Show, But Close!
Review: I was thrown by the fact that nearly every guy cast for the role of Jesus sings with such a high voice. When I saw this on stage, the actor was a tenor, & sounded beautiful, especially in the finale & " God Save The People". But that's really my only complaint. The movie is great, & I highly recommend it!
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