A waste of 90 minutes of my life

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Jewison's 1973 film Jesus Christ Superstar is an adaptation of the Broadway production of the same name written and scored by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is a retelling of the last week of the life of Jesus Christ beginning around the time he enters Jerusalem and ending with his crucifixion. The film is told mainly from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, but also gives insight from Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It is a portrayal of the struggle of Judas Iscariot and his fears of Jesus's growing fame. He is worried about what the implications of Jesus's teachings might be for himself and the rest of Jesus's followers. Mary Magdalene struggles with her feelings toward Jesus and her premier song, "I Don't Know How to Love Him" gives insight into her thoughts. Jesus is shown as a fairly normal man who has gathered quite a following and seems to be annoyed by the pestering of his followers. Every moment is sung and the performances make the film worthwhile. Carl Anderson who plays Judas is the real star of this film in terms of vocal performance. Ted Neeley as Jesus and Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene are not far behind. Their voices combined give life to this film.Jesus Christ Superstar succeeds as a musical, but falls short as a movie. In fact, it's only real redeeming quality is the fact that it is a rock opera. If the songs, lyrics, and performances are removed, the film has little that is interesting about it. This stems from the fact that all of the mythological components of Jesus are taken away leaving him as just another ordinary man claiming to be something more. Jesus is humanized, and not in the sense of a divine being struggling with his mortal existence, but as a mortal claiming to be a God. Without the key elements to the story of Jesus and the mythology surrounding him, he becomes just some guy in Palestine who riled up enough people to get him killed. And frankly, that is what the film is, but the music, at least, gives viewers a reason to watch. Judas's opening song "Heaven on their Minds" is a perfect intro to the premise of the movie. In one line of the song he sings, "If you strip away the myth from the man you will see what we all soon will be." Judas is stating exactly what the film's intent is-- to strip away the myth of Jesus from Jesus leaving him as a normal person. Sure, this approach is unique, but it is not very effective by any means. The mythology of Jesus is unique—thus making him an interesting person in history, but since this movie "dumbs him down" to a human level, it no longer has the same bearing. There are multiple scenes that illustrate this, but the prime example is when Jesus is overwhelmed by the sick and afflicted people. He tries to touch them all to heal them, but he starts yelling saying, "Don't crowd me!" Those that he touches do not appear to be healed or to look any different. The mythology of Jesus claims that he, as God, came to Earth to use his own power to save us and yet this film shows him giving up on trying to help a few people because they are crowding him. Again, without the myth, the story of Jesus becomes monotonous. I personally am of the opinion that if Jesus Christ Superstar was not a musical I would either fall asleep or turn it off ten minutes in. The music makes it semi-enjoyable though.

one of first titles who appears in mind about a good rock opera. the image of Ted Neeley and one of the greatest Broadway 's shows. the clash between the New Testament and the perspective of Judas about the last six days of Savior's life.more than a film, it is collection of music, imagination, reminds of basic moral virtues and touching performances. more than a show , it is a large fresco, unconventional, maybe surprising or strange but remembering the flavor of true essence of life in a splendid and clever manner. it is not easy to define it. it is not another film about Jesus, it is not an experiment or a show in clothes of film. it represents, in inspired way, a message about purpose of existence. poetic, cruel, touching, fragile, fresh, direct. and each of that virtues does it almost unique.

I've always loved Jesus Christ Superstar, and along with Phantom of the Opera and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat it ranks among the top 3 of Andrew Lloyd Webber's best musicals(well more like a rock-opera strictly speaking). My love for Jesus Christ Superstar was the main attraction into seeing this film, as well as the fact that it was directed by Norman Jewison, director of the brilliant Fiddler on the Roof. As a film, it's not quite as good but I did find myself enjoying the film enormously. I can understand why some mayn't like it so much, the costumes are not very appealing to look at all and the anachronistic touches like the students arriving to put on a show, Judas ducking jet fighters and the Army Tanks made it harder to properly decipher the period. However, it is also very easy to see why people love it. The desert setting is gorgeous and the camera work and editing were great, loved the colour in Herod's setting contrasting to the more purposefully drab moments of the latter part of the film. Lloyd Webber's score is brilliant and Tim Rice's lyrics are very witty, performed with gusto by the orchestra/band. The choreography is very spirited and dynamic, particularly in Superstar, and while the story has some fun moments like Herod's song- some might take offense but I think it's hilarious- and Superstar, and stirring moments like the Hosanna chorus, with I Don't Know How to Love Him, Gethesmane(especially powerful here) and Jesus' death scene it is also deeply moving. The closing shot concluded things beautifully. Jewison allows the performers to have fun and allows time to breathe for the more poignant moments to have their impact. The performances are terrific, a big shout-out to Carl Anderson as Judas, he has an amazing soulful voice that will lift your spirits every time you hear it, and he captures Judas' sorrow and anger with equal conviction. Ted Neeley's high notes have soaring freedom, and he brings a nobility and command to Jesus, while Yvonne Elliman's Mary is very moving. The Pontius Pilate of Barry Dennen is authoritative and troubled, Bob Bingham has a wonderfully booming bass voice that has a really chilling effect and Kurt Yaghjian is equally as menacing and sounds very comfortable in the falsetto range. Larry Marshall's Simon Zealotes is excellent, Joshua Mostel's Herod is hugely entertaining in the funniest moment of the film and the Peter of Paul Thomas shows loyalty, defiance and pathos with aplomb. On the whole, a very enjoyable film that may not rock as much as it could have done but not fully deserving of the flak it's gotten. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice in the early 1970s, and this is a movie version. I saw the original London run of the show, as a child, and it made a huge impression on me. Some reviewers have questioned why Jesus is portrayed as human, but the point of this opera is to examine the "superstar" status of Jesus in his time, and the effect that this had upon his followers, the Jewish priests and the Romans. It deals with the phenomenon of Jesus from every angle, and it works. Musically, it stands up just as well as it did in the 70s, and it still packs a punch. It shows the reality of how the political threat posed by the Jesus movement was dealt with, and suggests a reason for the Crucifixion. There are many historical accounts of Jesus's life, based upon the Bible. This libretto and screenplay are brave enough to look at it from a human angle, and it spoke to me as a child. I understood for the first time the reality of Jesus's life as a man and how he suffered, as a man. It's value is its originality. Probably one of the best things Lloyd Webber has ever done, and the wit and wisdom of Tim Rice is always valuable. Give it a chance, even if you are a Christian.