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Overall Rating
  Awesome: 77.55%
Worth A Look: 6.12%
Just Average: 2.04%
Pretty Crappy: 10.2%
Sucks: 4.08%
1 review, 43 user ratings
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| Jesus Christ Superstar |
by Godfather
"This is God's favourite movie. After all, it's one-third autobiographical."
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Jesus Christ Superstar is one of those rare films that not only entertains but also has the benefit of according a good deal of its viewers with a life changing experience. Released in the early 1970's, this film draws from two historical periods: the 1960's and the period which would later become to be known as 33 AD. While the 30 AD's did not have a great impact on the young persons of the 70's it is quite apparent that the 60's did. And it was with this thought in mind that the director Norman Jewison adapted the successful Broadway play of the same name into one of the greatest films ever made.Jesus Christ Superstar, as you most astute of readers may have guessed, is about the life of Jesus Christ. Or, more specifically, about the last days of Christ. In this adaptation of the greatest story ever told we watch mesmerised as Jesus and his disciples and friends come to life not as the stale characters from the Bible but as living human beings with real lives, hopes, dreams, fears, and aspirations. If you have had any exposure to modern day Judeo-Christian beliefs the cast of characters will be to you both familiar and exotic in their true life forms. There is Jesus Christ (Ted Neeley) who not only is capable of great wisdom and understanding but also to fits of anger, frustration, and fear. With Jesus is his right hand man who later betrays him Judas Iscariot (Carl Anderson). Looking after his earthly needs is the prostitute Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman). Worshipping him and yet later denying him is one of his most devote disciples Peter (Philip Toubus). And following him blindly and at the same time completely misunderstanding any of his motives is Simon the Zealot (Larry Marshall). The Head Priest Caiaphas (Bob Bingham) is conspiring to kill him. Cheerfully assisting him is the very unusual and hedonistic King Herod (Joshua Mostel). And reluctantly issuing the death sentence is Pontius Pilate (Barry Dennen).
One of the many magnificent things that this film does is avoid the temptation to present the characters in their well known but one-dimensional roles and therefore play down the controversy this film created. If you believe the events of this movie then you learn the following. Judas betrays Jesus but only because Jesus (and God) force him to. Mary Magdalene may have been a prostitute but she was also in love with Jesus and quite possibly his girlfriend. Caiaphas didn't hate Jesus; he just wanted to kill him for political expediency. And Pontius Pilate was the one man who was most reluctant about issuing the order to crucify Jesus. As well as bringing the ancient text of the Bible to life this film also entertains. The singing is unsurpassed by any film in cinematic history, with songs by two legends in the industry, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. And the tie in with ancient Israel and modern day times is brilliant and a tribute to the genius that is always displayed by Norman Jewison.
There is nothing unique, of course, about a movie that focuses on the life of the man who is considered by many, many people (rumour has it even more than read my reviews on a regular basis!!) to be the Son of God. And in all fairness it is not even the only movie to discuss Jesus in a controversial (The Last Temptation Of Christ) or modern musical genre (Godspell). But it is the film that has been credited with taking what was considered to be a stagnant religion and presenting it to young people in such a manner that they could understand it and participate in it. In the lingo of the times, after seeing this film young people "turned on to Jesus". Whether or not Jesus really is the Son of God or just one of the greatest prophets that ever lived is a matter of (religious) opinion. What isn't opinion is that Jesus Christ Superstar ranks in the top ten greatest films ever made. And if that isn't worthy of Superstar status, I don't know what is.For Hollywood BitchSlap, I'm the Godfather.
link directly to this review at http://hollywoodbitchslap.com/review.php?movie=4300&reviewer=142
originally posted: 04/24/00 20:38:12
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USA
02-Apr-1973 (G)
DVD: 31-Aug-2004
UK
N/A
Australia
N/A
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