Jesus Christ Superstar (Special Edition) [DVD]List Price: |
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Description from  |
| Ted Neeley makes for a wimpy looking Jesus in Norman Jewison's screen adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice "rock opera," which was a smash on stage in the early '70s. Jewison (Other People's Money) adds some good exterior settings in the desert, but Webber and Rice's dialogue-free story (everything is sung, as in a real opera), with its quasi-profundities about the inner demons of principal figures in the life of Christ, is the real hook. Yvonne Elliman sings the show's best-known song, "I Don't Know How to Love Him." --Tom Keogh |
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| Customer Reviews |
Reviewed by ASU Mom of Katy, TX, USA on September 6, 2010
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| This is the story of the conflict between Judas & Christ before the crucifixion. As the movie opens, you see a movie crew going to film, but actors step out of the bus as characters (Herod is hilarious, and Mary Magdalene is portrayed by none other than Yvonne Elliman - beautiful voice). Several of the actors from the Broadway version reprise their roles - but Ian Gillian (Christ) was touring with Deep Purple. Micky Dolenz (the Monkeys) & David Cassidy (The Partridge Family) were both considered for the role of Christ, before Ted Neeley (who was understudy to Ian Gillian - Christ, played a reporter/leper in Broadway version) was eventually chosen. It was mostly filmed in Israel - primarily the ruins of Avdat as well as some other Middle Eastern locales. I felt some of the scenes were a little "harsh", but remember this was the 70's and the USA was involved in the Viet Nam War - which does "color" this production. As with any movie (from the stage) settings can be larger, but also less intimate. Neeley won a Golden Globe in '74 for his performance. The ending again shows the cast & crew boarding the bus...watch this part carefully. A true Rock Opera (like Tommy) with a religious theme. A classic. |
Reviewed by Leaht on June 26, 2010
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| I love most all musicals that are out there: West Side Story,Chicago,Fiddler on the Roof, Sound of Music, Grease,and many many more - those are just off the top of my head. However Jesus Christ Superstar holds a special place in my heart. I was born in '87, my sister '89, and both of us grew up watching the movie with our parents. Surprisingly, even my father watched and quietly mouthed the words while the rest of us girls sang along. I think that's a main reason why J.C.S is such a popular musical, the fact that it's appealing to men as well as women. Mention the word "musical" to any typical guy and their reaction is immediate; They roll their eyes and start talking about how ridiculous it is for people to randomly break out in song and start dancing. This one though can easily be enjoyed by both sexes. Jesus Christ Superstar tells an interesting yet familiar tale, but from a modern more human and realistic point of view. It's a nice break from your typical Jesus-was-a-saint-and-never-did-or-said-anything-wrong point of view, as if he wasn't a person with fears or doubts like any of us, or that it would be any less christian to be so. This movie is tied up with some of my best childhood memories, and it's a comfort to know that after my parents are gone, I can pop in this movie and be the ten year old girl who sang along in the living room with her little sister and mother, both taking turns holding her hand so she could twirl us around round! For it's uniqueness, beautiful yet cool and modern music, humanistic retelling of a typically one dimensional and one sided story, and it's outstanding cast, this will forever be not only my favorite musical of all time, but my favorite MOVIE of all time! |
Reviewed by E. Staley of Bullhead City, Az United States on June 21, 2010
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| I never saw this film in my own era, so I was pleasantly surprised I found the music forms still enjoyable.
Though clearly a product of its time, the depiction of the tension between Judas and Jesus was enlightening. The deeply expressed emotions of Judas as he tries to understand why Jesus is not following the expected political agenda is almost heartrending. Carl Anderson carried the role beautifully, his voice unforgettable when he mourns the direction Jesus has chosen. Ted Neeley's voice I didn't expect, but I found his voice appropriate for his role and his upper range musical screams very successful denoting the emotions Jesus felt, especially in the temple. Understanding that this opera's version of the Gospel is told from Judas' point of view is an important point or believers may find some scenes to be especially irreverent or heretical. The scene with Jesus swamped with diseased ones seeking healing pictured Jesus as incapable of healing them all. If Judas felt Jesus was wasting his time and energy healing others, then the scene makes more sense. Otherwise, it does not agree at all with the Gospel accounts of the miracles and healing Jesus performed. Likewise, the scene of Jesus praying to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemany while climbing up the hill, does not match Gospel accounts. Jesus is portrayed as tired to the bone of trying to teach the truth and now uninspired to follow through with the plan that takes him to the cross. Finally giving in, Jesus yells at his Father to take him, kill him now, before he changes his mind. I had a hard time finding any way to accept this interpretation of Jesus' prayer and in my opinion it diminished Jesus' deity by weakening his spirit to do his Father's will. Yes, the flesh is weak, but not the spirit. Even the superstar scene denotes such doubt as to who Jesus is, and with "angelic" beings asking the question! Retro to the late 60's and early 70's when everything was questioned by the existing pop culture and perhaps that scene makes more sense. The most emotional part of the film for me was the counting of the 39 stripes of the scourging. Very powerful. In summary, if you consider this rock opera as a contemplative example of late 60's music and interpretive thought, not as an accurate representation of the last week of Jesus' life or of who He is (God in the flesh), then you may find it enjoyable. Singing rated 4, representation of truth rated 1. Rating = 2.5 |
Reviewed by Mark R. Wilcox of Central IL on June 6, 2010
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| I saw this play in the 70's and have enjoyed the movie version over the last many years. I had to replace my DVD so I bought this special edition. |
Reviewed by A. D. Turner of Shreveport , LA USA on May 28, 2010
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| There are some reviews saying that the audio and video for this DVD is not very good. I found both the audio and the video to be just fine. The movie is just as I remember it from when it first came out in the 1970s. Still good songs. Some of the costumes reflected the pop culture of the early 1970s so some might find that a bit strange. |
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JC Superstar
Neeley & Anderson great vocals!