... I've never seen the musical, i had a brief idea of what the story was about and heard a couple of the songs, but having sat down and watch Jesus Christ Superstar for the last hour and forty five minutes, i now want to watch it all over again.
In case you don't know, JCS is a musical ... Read review
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar first exploded onto the West End ... more
stage in 1971 and it was clear that the musical world would never be the same again. For the first time ever Jesus Christ Superstar has been specially filmed f...
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This dazzling interpretation of the hit Tim Rice - Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera tells ... more
the story of Christ's (Ted Neeley) final weeks in a bold and epic production. Shot entirely on location in Israel, producer-director Norman Jewison creates a brilliant example of modern moviemaking with groundbreaking vision and the unforgettable songs of Rice and Webber. Nominated for several Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress, this legendary classic is now a must-have Special Edition.
Production Year: 1999 - Music / Performing Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Donny Osmond, Joan Collins, Richard Attenborough
Advantages: The performance is great, music is great, video is great. The religious aspect is not overpowering. Disadvantages: If you hate musicals this is deffinatly not for you.
...having sat down and watch Jesus Christ Superstar for the last hour and forty five minutes, i now want to watch it all over again.
In case you don't know, JCS is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, concentrating on the last seven days of Jesus' life. I'm not really religious, i don't know if there is a god or not, but i don't think you need to be to enjoy this. The video was filmed at Pinewood Studios last year, updating ... ...and he even overshadowed Jesus (Glenn Carter), although his performance is still excellent too. The cast also includes Renee Castle (Mary Magdalene), Tony Vincent (Simon) and Rik Mayall as King Herod. Yes, that's right, Rik Mayall, it's only in it for one song but in my opinion it's worth watching the video for his jazzy number alone. Overall, the cast all have wonderful voices and fit together nicely, making the video enjoyable.
"Every word you say today gets twisted 'round some other way." - Judas
Anyone who bothered to watch the video of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' will know how disturbing it is when musicals are made for the home format. I've never seen the musical, i had a brief idea of what the story was about and heard a couple of the songs, but having sat down and watch Jesus Christ Superstar for the last hour and forty five minutes, i now want to watch it all over again.
In case you don't know, JCS is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, concentrating on the last seven days of Jesus' life. I'm not really religious, i don't know if there is a god or not, but i don't think you need to be to enjoy this. The video was filmed at Pinewood Studios last year, updating the story, but is made to seem as if you are watching it on stage, rather than dramatising it and filming at the actually locations. This gives the story the effect that it is timeless which is enhanced by the scenery (the graffiti on the walls is a nice effect) and the ordinary clothes a costumes.
The performance is great too (If you like the all singing, no talking kind of thing) and the actors would win Popstars in a second with their singing vocals. I especially like Judas (Much to my mother's annoyance) who is played by Jérôme Pradon. His performance makes you sympathize with and respect the guy and he even overshadowed Jesus (Glenn Carter), although his performance is still excellent too. The cast also includes Renee Castle (Mary Magdalene), Tony Vincent (Simon) and Rik Mayall as King Herod. Yes, that's right, Rik Mayall, it's only in it for one song but in my opinion it's worth watching the video for his jazzy number alone. Overall, the cast all have wonderful voices and fit together nicely, making the video enjoyable.
I think the directors, Gale Edwards and Nick Morris, did good work with this as you actually got to see into each character and how they felt and what their intentions were. The music was very enjoyable and it includes songs such as I Don't Know How to Love Him and Superstar (I always thought this song included lyrics about a motorcar or Yamaha, but it dosn't).
I think what most surprised me about this, having never heard it fully before, is how open to interpretation the musical is. In the opening song, Judas confronts Jesus about believing his own publicity and his downfall arises when things get blown out of hand. Having had the bible shoved down my thought during school (Which is probably why i never pay any attention to it now), i like the idea that Jesus could have been real but was just an ordinary man. It makes him more human, even if it is fantasy or not. There was a film version of the musical made in 1973 but i haven't seen this yet and so i can't compare how effectively the musical was reproduced, this was the first time i have ever seen it.
If you are an Andrew Lloyd Webber fan or like musicals, then i would recommend this. It is enjoyable, no matter what your faith or beliefs. May also make a good present for Easter if someone's on a diet and can't eat chocolate.
Advantages: great soundtrack Disadvantages: quite dated
...here is my review about JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR the motion picture ...
Carried along by perhaps the best recorded version of its music (thus with its soundtrack), this is perhaps indeed the best version of Jesus Christ Superstar. Its reason for appearing dated (circa 1973) is because that it had incorporated much of the trend/culture of the Jesus Freaks at the time who've hailed from the flower power movement which have commenced in the late 60's ... ...of the one who betrayed Jesus into the hands of the power-conscious stricken Pharisees. And with such elements of hidden allegorical images in the film- such things are present if one would take the time to quite observe closely enough, such as in the transition scene from "Everything's Alright" to the meeting of the Pharisees in "This Jesus Must Die" - vultures are shown flying over as if to depict the pharisees who are threatened by the growing ...
CrutcHead 30.05.2003 (13.06.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Jesus Christ Superstar (DVD)
Advantages: Great music, great singing, great location. Thought-provoking film Disadvantages: Dodgy 70's hairdo's
...actor assuming the role of Jesus himself (Ted Neeley), and his disciples around him start to worship him.
The first “song” is sung by Judas (Carl Anderson) and sets the scene. It describes Judas’s growing disbelief and dissatisfaction with what Christ is preaching, and how he is conducting himself. He is concerned that they are attracting the attention of the Romans, and worries for their lives. He is not convinced that Jesus actually ... ...events at the temple, where Jesus throws out the moneylenders and traders, to Judas’s betrayal of Jesus. The scenes of the Last Supper, and Jesus praying are one of the most moving and poignant. Jesus questions and pleads with his father not to send him to his death, and we get a picture of Jesus as a mortal man; he knows what is to happen and yet is afraid. God may be his father, but it is him that has to face torture and death.
Judas cannot ...
hjsaunders 29.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Jesus Christ Superstar (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastic songs Disadvantages: Doesn't cover the resurrection
...see what would happen if Jesus (Ted Neeley) were to continue on the path that he was taking. This is a great alternative from the normal "Judas is a bad bad man" scheme of things. My only problem with this, however, is that in the Bible it speaks of Judas stealing from the money that was to be donated to the poor, and that this was the reason that he got annoyed with the oil that anointed JC's feet not being sold. Apart from this, the portrayal of ... ...for the first time.
Jesus is also shown as just being an ordinary man with the same passions and frailties as other men. This, again, is a refreshing change from the norm, as Jesus is normally shown to be a fantastically commanding character who cannot be faltered from his path.
However, the main thing about "Jesus Christ Superstar" is the songs. They are, without exception, some of the most endearing songs that you will find in a musical. One ...
thedeadparrot 16.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Jesus Christ Superstar (DVD)
Advantages: Great score, solid performances Disadvantages: Not for the young or the squeamish
...the most important line in Jesus Christ Superstar is Judas in the title song saying ‘I only want to know.’ This is a show that is supposed to ask questions, and most definitely doesn’t set out to answer them. Based on the final week or so in the life of Jesus, a contemporary sung-through rock score is used to examine the many and various reactions to his life and ministry and to try to ‘strip away the myth from the man’. Using Judas as narrator/commentator ... ...number of people converge on Jesus asking for healing, and he finally sends them away with the words ‘heal yourselves’. The Jesus in the Bible would never have said such a thing (though his disciples often did), understandable though it would have been. In this video (based on the current touring production) even this problem has a solution – this sequence becomes a nightmare from which Jesus awakes to be soothed by Mary Magdalene. The character ...
DavidBedford 20.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Jesus Christ Superstar (DVD)
This movie is really one of the better albums out there. It sort of stinks as a whole that everybody doesn't love it.
Everybody should try and obtain this DVD.
I hope everybody who buys DVDs, will please go out and spend their good money on this one.
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Scapp70 27.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Jesus Christ Superstar (DVD)
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Advantages: Brilliant score Disadvantages: Seems rather dated to a modern audience
THE FILM
As a musician, playing Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical 'JesusChristSuperstar' is an absolute joy. His use of tone, both major and minor can sometimes be exquisite. However, I was interested as to how his stage work would translate on the big screen, so went and bought myself a copy of the 1973 Norman Jewison film staring Ted Neeley as JesusChrist. Let's just say, for the £15.99 that I paid for the DVD, I was less than impressed by what I found!
THE PLOT
'JesusChristSuperstar' tells the story of the last six days of Jesus' life, but interestingly doing so through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, played by Carl Anderson. The film begins when Jesus' popularity, according to Judas, is getting out of control, and we have the first song 'Heaven on their minds.' I love this song, a really up tempo number, in a film you would ...
Advantages: Great music and cast. Disadvantages: Mild violence at the end.
scene with his wounded facial expressions as his powerful voice (and great diction, you can hear every word he sings clearly) of classics like 'JesusChristSuperstar' Ted Neeley looks the part and although his voice is rather high pitched. When he sings about his doubts he sounds full of angst and becomes JesusChrist Rock Star. The movie is directed by Norman Jewison and he uses a stark desert backdrop- although the costumes are very dated as the movie starts with a group of travelling students/hippies in a tour bus putting on a rock opera in the desert. It captures some of the ethos of the sixties through the costume etc.. and the music so if you love this era you'll enjoy this. Mary Magdalene is played by Yvonne Elliman and she is great in this part and her rendition of I don't know how to love him is another highlight too. Lloyd Webber ...
Advantages: Funny, obsvervational spot on gags Disadvantages: No DVD extras on one of the DVDs
Peter Kay, you either love him or hate him. Personally I love him, and think he is a great comedian of recent times.
So, Peter Kay "The Live Collection"...I bought this quite a while ago now, i'm talking a few years ago, and have watched it quite a few times in those years.
*WHO IS PETER KAY?*
Well if you haven't already heard of him, which i think is quite doubtful, but none-the-less, he is an actor/stand up comedian from Bolton, he starred in the likes of 'Phoenix Nights', 'Max and Paddys Road to Nowhere', and more recently in 'Britain's Got The Pop Factor And Possibly A New Celebrity JesusChrist Soapstar Superstar Strictly On Ice' reality show spoof as his creation Geraldine Mcqueen.
*THE LIVE COLLECTION*
In this boxset there are two DVD's of his stand up comedy tour. 'Live At The Top Of The Tower' and 'Live ...
Musicals & Music Films - Musicals & Other Music Films
Classification
Exempt
Production Year
2000
Running Time
2 hours 17 minutes
Plot
A new stage production specially filmed for video. The story focuses on the last week of Christ's life seen from the point of view of Judas. Tracks include 'I Don't Know How To Love Him', 'Gethsemane', 'Superstar' and many more.
Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital Stereo English
DVD Description
Director Gale Edwards's film is an updated stage version of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's acclaimed masterpiece. Experience the last seven days in the earthly life of Jesus through the magic and wonder of a catchy and inspirational score. From his triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the enmity that this naturally arouses to his trial by the sympathetic but ultimately partisan Pontius Pilate, follow Christ as he assumes the role he was born to play. Notably, in a career change that some British comedy fans may find a bit odd, Rik Mayall (known to fans of THE YOUNG ONES as left-wing New Waver Rick) stars.
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