Have you ever seen Jesus Christ Superstar? What did you think?

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I’ve seen it on stage twice and I memorized the cast album when I was a kid. I remember watching the film once as a teenager and determining that it as a little too “far out” for me. We were busy celebrating, so I only got to see the last 45 minutes of the show tonight, but I did like it and I’d like to see the rest of the broadcast sometime. I wonder if they will do a DVD? When I was in college, I always listened to the album in my car on Good Friday, as I drove home for the weekend.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
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0Scarlett_nidiyilii:
John Legend is a cutie
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This is how I know I’m O-L-D, because when I look at him, I think “I’ve seen dried-up orange peels that had more looks and charazzma than this guy”
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A 74 yr old I know texted me and said Legend was phenomenal.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Just finished watching the NBC version. I hope that it is available on VOD because I want to watch it again.

Alice Cooper was perfect as Herod!!
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I’d seen it wayyyyyyy off Broadway back in the 70s and had the album. Thoroughly enjoyed tonight’s version. Thought the entire cast did well. With special mention of Alice and Legend along with the cast members who played Judas, Mary Magdalene, Peter, and Pilate.
 
I didn’t watch the whole thing because I went to bed and I got weary of the commercials. I turned it off after King Herod made his appearance. Based on what I saw, I give it a thumbs-up.
 
I LOVE THE LIVE BROADCAST VERSION ON EASTER ON NBC! The redesigned staging, costumes and the use of mostly concert singers and stage actors, pumped up by a rock concert audience, made for a very vibrant production in which that music came alive as very fresh. John Legend was a great choice for Jesus! When I was a young teen in the 1970s I wore grooves in my Jesus Christ Superstar album. The music was fresh and daring. However, the stage production, which influenced the film’s design, became quickly dated. By the time I saw the movie and touring stage production the once-daring staging had since become dated and even weird (the ultimate failing for teen eyes), and I never played the album again. Last night’s production had great performers, and better reinterpretations for Pontius Pilate and for Herod, as Alice Cooper stole the show as he “schooled” the upstart celeb Jesus, ditching the now no-longer avant-garde drag queen Herod interpretation from the 70s. The lighted cross at the end was so much better and kept the portal of hope open for believers.
 
I grew up with the music! And I’m just old enough that it was an LP record. 🙂 My favorite was “Everything’s Alright,” which I still sing around the house sometimes. Saw part of the movie once and thought it was really weird. I’ve never tried to watch the whole thing.
 
I enjoyed last night’s production. I do agree with the comment above about the vocals, It seems some had trouble hitting the high notes that the originals on the record album hit effortlessly.
Whoever did the Sanhedrin and whoever did Pilate were good! I thought John Legend was good, too.
I was in my early teens when the album came out in 1970 and I got it for Christmas from my parents. I also saw a concert version of it in the '70’s as well.
I also wore grooves in it and I can still repeat every song. I gave the album away about 6 years later, though, because I became convinced that although the music was great-it came from too “agnostic” of a point of view and I had just recommitted my life to Christ. I felt it wasn’t God honoring. I wish I had kept it now.
Anyway re-watching last night that part of my life came back to me.
A couple of observations, though.
No Mary mother of God anywhere in the show, and no John the disciple.
and of course, no Resurrection!
I agree with the above view that the album portrays Mary as having a fangirl “crush.”
 
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So what about Godspell? Was there resurrection in that. Now I have to google the lyrics
 
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Thom18 said:
I’ve never gotten this far before. This seems like a very Catholic movie (I just saw the scene of Peter’s profession of faith. I didn’t think they would include the “You are the rock… and on this rock…” part).
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I’m not sure why you didn’t think they’d include the “You are the rock… on this rock part”. Protestants don’t dispute those words. They and the Catholic faithful merely disagree on the interpretation. Whether it is Peter or his profession on which Christ’s church is built.
 
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Sy_Noe said:
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Thom18:
I’ve never gotten this far before. This seems like a very Catholic movie (I just saw the scene of Peter’s profession of faith. I didn’t think they would include the “You are the rock… and on this rock…” part).
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I’m not sure why you didn’t think they’d include the “You are the rock… on this rock part”. Protestants don’t dispute those words. They and the Catholic faithful merely disagree on the interpretation. Whether it is Peter or his profession on which Christ’s church is built.
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I’m surprised because it’s so very Catholic. The director used some creative license, but didn’t even try to impress a protestant idea about the verse onto the scene. They made it clear that Peter is the one who the Church is built on, not merely a profession.

“You are Peter… the Rock… and on this Rock…” is the formula the film used.

Aside from that, in respect to creative license, they gave Peter at least one that I remember, probably more, extra-Scriptural opportunities to make it clear he is the “first” apostle. Near the end, after the crucifixion, the other apostles express that they wish they could return to Galilee, but don’t feel it’s safe to leave their hideout. They ask Peter what they shoukd do.

I’m surprised because I wouldn’t expect a treatment like this from anyone but a Catholic
 
To faithful Catholics the “rock” was Peter and to Protestants the “rock” was his profession. And I guess they could have just been asking for Peter’s opinion. So while I still don’t fully get your point… ok. I actually thought though both Catholics and Protestants could have enjoyed the production.
 
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Ohhhh! HULU has yesterday’s presentation available on-demand. Watched it again this afternoon.
 
I’m not saying we can’t both enjoy it, only that I’m surprised a producer that isn’t Catholic itself would emphasize Peter’s primacy so much.

And in the context of the scene, it was much more than simply asking his opinion. They were looking to him for leadership. Also in the movie is a scene based on Luke 22:32, where Jesus tells Peter that He has prayed for him in particular so that, when he turns back, he can strengthen his brethren.
 
No, not usually. The final ending is “Long live God,” where the cast understands that Christ now lives within them by virtue of their “baptisms” (or whatever little mark or flower they received in the show). The Resurrection wasn’t the focus so much as the freedom found within the Gospel.

That said, many productions bring “Jesus” back during the final moments or curtain call wearing white, with the obvious implication. Godspell is much more artistic in that respect. More can be done with its malleable script.
 
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The crucifixion scene blew me away. It was done very well! Everything worked. Alice Cooper was awesome as Herod, he really took over the character. I’m surprised at how well this worked. I thought for sure NBC was going to ruin it after I saw the film and listened to the album for the first time - Instead, they just introduced a whole new generation to this wonderful musical! Amazing!
 
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Thom18 said:
I’m not saying we can’t both enjoy it, only that I’m surprised a producer that isn’t Catholic itself would emphasize Peter’s primacy so much.

And in the context of the scene, it was much more than simply asking his opinion. They were looking to him for leadership. Also in the movie is a scene based on Luke 22:32, where Jesus tells Peter that He has prayed for him in particular so that, when he turns back, he can strengthen his brethren.
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I still think you might be reading far too much into it. As I already suggested, to me, including the rock verse meant nothing specific to Catholicism since Protestants could see those same words through their own lens and interpretation. And I think more than one person can strengthen another’s faith. But if it helps you to see parts of it as being specific to Catholicism to have been able to enjoy it more, then that’s great! I’m glad you liked it!
 
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I’m seeing mixed reviews of it being far our and excellent. What’s up with this thing? Why is it called “superstar”? Is it a faithful telling of the Gospel? What is it?
 
It’s a fan fiction.
An attempt to retell the Gospel with rock music and modern clothes.
It’s overall respectful of the source material, but there are some iffy moments.
I wouldn’t want to show it to somebody who was low-information about Christianity or the New Testament. And I would be cautious about showing it to impressionable kids.
But it’s fine for people who are mature in their faith.
 
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