Gale EdwardsJesus Christ Superstar (Musical) [Blu-ray]

During my childhood as a youth there seemed to be an enormous amount of experimentation going on in the theater, music, the arts...I missed most of it. I always seemed involved in things which had nothing to do with those endeavors and enterprises. So, I'm using my present circumstance as an old guy the primary care-giver for an 80-year-old lady (finally, someone reveals a lady's age!) with severe dementia who has seemed to experience enjoyment of the music and motion on the screen to revisit and review the products of those, acquire some and use them essentially as a means to keep the lady entertained while I go about other tasks, chores, projects--weeding, for instance.I never saw this film during the period it was prominent. Saw good reviews. I'm not religious, but my lady was so remembering some of the tunes. I bought this film for her. I haven't had time to watch it, myself, but she sure seems to enjoy it and I play it for her at least once every two weeks. The music, the storyline, the episodes and staging are terrific. I love the music. For some there is a reminder and a message. Together, they all represent an excellent addition to anyone's collection of fine performances.

I already know you love Jesus Christ Superstar, you wouldn't be reading otherwise. You want to know if THIS version is worthy, and I say oh HELL yeah! Let me state up front ( so I don't have to keep repeating myself) that I love the 1973 Norman Jewison film, (JC73 from here on) and think it sets an incredibly high bar, that few rock musicals have ever reached. Jesus Christ Superstar 2001 (JC2K1 from here on) not only reaches the bar, but demolishes it. It's not without it's problems, however.Where JC73 is broad and cinematic, JC2K1 is tight, small, and theatrical, sometimes to the point of being claustrophobic. The problem with a theatrical production brought to film, is that when you have to pitch to the "back of the house", it can look melodramatic in close-up. JC2K1 crosses that line a number of times. OTOH, there are times when the closeness and intimacy of this production are mesmerizing.Let's get to the actor smack-down, shall we?JESUS: Glenn Carter is good, but I think Ted Neely owns this role. Carter arguably has the stronger voice, but his performance stays stuck on "angry and frustrated". Neely gives a much more subtle, restrained performance, that Ithink more accurately depicts how Jesus must have felt in the final week. TED NEELY. (JC73)JUDAS: I don't want to say a word against Carl Anderson from JC73, he is amazing. But Jerome Pradon absolutely sold me on his performance. Pradon definitely has the weaker voice, but his performance is so damned (literally) amazing that he now is Judas for me, forever. JEROME PRADON. (JC2K1)MARY MAGDALENE: No question at all. Renee Castle is the best Mary I've ever seen, live or film. You can hear her heart bleed, with pitch-perfect passion. I don't think anyone has done this crucial and difficult role better. RENEE CASTLE (JC2K1)PONTIUS PILATE: My biggest dissapointment, by far, in this production. Fred Johanson comes across as a melodramiatic "Snydley Whiplash" rather than the multi-layered, anguished mess that Barry Dennen portrayed so brilliantly. BARRY DENNEN (JC73)HEROD: My toughest call. Josh Mostel is delicious in JC73, portraying the grossness, decadence, and fun of evil. Rik Mayall does an equally delicious job in JC2K1, but puts a very different spin on it, highlighting the scariness of decadence. CAN'T CALL, I LOVE THEM BOTH.THE APOSTLES: Another no-brainer. In JC73 the apostles were fairly anonymous bit parts, necessary to move the story and songs along, but otherwise forgettable. In JC2K1, Simon, Peter, and James POP! They take relatively minor parts, and breathe new life into them, without distracting from the main story. JC2K1.CONCLUSION: I love Jesus Christ Superstar. It's one of my favorite musicals (and I'm a musical buff) I've listened to the Broadway and London recordings hundreds of times, seen it on stage 5 times (twice in San Francisco), and watched both film versions at least 20 times each. JC2K1, Jesus Christ Superstar  is the version that consistently takes my breath away. Despite a few individual performances where I would argue that I've seen better, and a few times where the filming seems both melodramatic and claustrophobic, overall, this version works at a level that few movie musicals have touched.Andrew Lloyd Webber is quoted as saying "This is the version I've waited 30 years to see".If you care for the musical at all, you simply have to give this a chance. Most highly recommended.

First let me say that comparing this to the Norman Jewison 70's movie version is like comparing apples and oranges. The staging of this movie is completely different from the original, as is the feeling- it is a much darker version and gives a much more chilling feel of the political factors in place during the time of Jesus. It is also much more violent and graphic in its depiction of the torture and crucifiction of Jesus.That being said, I enjoyed this every bit as much as I enjoyed the 70's movie and the original concept albumn, although for completely different reasons. Jerome Pradon as Judas is absolutely incredible and manages the extremely difficult job of turning Judas into a character we like and have sympathy for. He and Glen Carter do an excellent job of showing the depth of their relationship; it is clear that both of them are wrapped up in something over which they have no control.Renee Castle as Mary Magdalene has an amazing voice and completely upstages the terrible portrayal by Yvonne Elliman in the 70's movie. She and Calvin Cornwall as Peter sing a haunting version of a song missing from the 70's movie and the concept albumn, "Can We Start Again Please?" This movie shows the shock and helplessness felt by the apostles.Rik Mayall's interpretation of Herod as a Las Vegas-style performer is brilliant, and is later recalled during Pradon's performance of Jesus Christ Superstar.A discordant note for me was Fred Johanson as Pilate- he bellows out his songs but is just not convincing as the Roman regent who is also swept up in something beyond his control.My first thought on watching Glen Carter's protrayal was that he is a mighty touchy-feeley Jesus. The more often I watch the film, the more annoyed I get by the way he constantly tosses his hair around and remains ever conscious of his role as a martyr.My family and I like to speculate on our dream cast for Jesus Christ Superstar. We would definitely take the Mary Magdalene, Judas and Peter from this movie and Barry Dennem's Pilate from the 70's movie. We are undecided as to which Herod we would use, Rik Marall or Josh Mostel, but we run into a real problem when trying to pick our favorite Jesus. The jury is still out on that one as far as I'm concerned-- if only Glenn Carter weren't quite so vain and Tim Neeley weren't quite so wimpy.However, the strong performances of the other actors for the most part make up for my annoyance with Carter. Is this movie better than the 70's version? No. Just different. They seem like completely different musicals. My guess is that people who love the music and who loved the original will love this one as well. My speculation is that many people who were offended by the first version will find this version much more to their liking. I like both of them.

Jesus Christ Superstar is my favourite musical by far and so I was always going to love the dvd version of it.It's not a video of the show, which I was expecting - it's adapted for film so is different from the show, but I still enjoyed it immensley once I had got used to the set up of it!Definately recommend if you're a fan of the musical.

This is a new stage production specially filmed for video and is an excellent production. The characters are all in modern everyday clothes and the "baddies" are dressed like stormtroopers. The production certainly gives a new interpretation to the show and is well worth purchasing and watching, again and again. Highly recommended.

I had only seen bits of this musical from when I was younger and really wanted to see it again. This contemporary version of Jesus Christ Superstar set in year 2000 (A.D) is really good. Even though they sing all the time the songs are not too long, and all have different rhythms and tempo which makes it easy to follow. The movie is made from Judas Iscariots perspective and the theology in it is questionable but I think it's a movie where it will be easier for teenagers to connect with the gospels (even though Jesus do not rise again at the end).

Had the opportunity of seeing Glenn Carter perform in Jesus Christ Superstar when the show came to Milton Keynes, fantastic cast and Glenn's vocals were amazing, brought this DVD to relive the experience

Amazing. Saw the live stage show the week before in Bristol, starring Glenn Carter himself. He is both amazing live and also on this DVD. I really enjoyed the DVD and would certainly recommend this version of it. A great few hours entertainment.