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

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MrsAngelala said:
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.
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I had it on cassette tape in the 70s and played it to death. Among my favorite songs were “I don’t know how to love him” and Pilate’s Dream. I saw the movie when it came out in 1973 and in the first minutes my reaction was “This is weird” but then I started to like it, and then to like it a lot. Even now, I sometimes watch parts on YouTube and am very, very impressed!

I understand the theological objections but for me it was helpful on my Christian journey. The artistic journey also.

Glad to hear the NBC production was mostly liked by the critics here!
 
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I watched it the first time it came out on when I was a teen. I loved it and it sparked my interest in Jesus and the Gospel accounts of Jesus. I was a nominal Catholic and I was so entranced I opened up my Bible and started reading the Gospels for the first time from start to finish.

Back in the “olden days” LOL it was criticized highly by many Catholic priests/non Catholic pastors for not being quite perfect in its representation of the Bible. I however am convinced it was the spark I needed to ignite my love for Jesus and curiosity about the Bible accounts of Jesus.

I personally feel the ENTIRE musical focuses on Jesus and it seems the biggest challenge by the critics regarding the musical is it did not complete the gospel message emphasizing the reason for Jesus coming,( forgiveness of sins) and the final part does not show the resurrection of Christ which of course gives us everlasting life, for those who repent and LIVE a life according to to he Gospel.

That said, I am watching it now (Taped it Sunday night) and it is FANTASTIC!. I am blown away by the live performance and the actors/actresses? ( Are they are called actors now, I don’t know, I’m not up on the most politically correct terms) that played the parts.

I would show it to anyone interested but not yet a believer and even feel it could be shown for educational purposes for those interested, perhaps a lot of young adults/teens and then point out what their denomination feels is missing or incorrect according their beliefs.

For Catholics EWTN posted this:

Jesus Christ Superstar
Question from Danielle Truskowski on 1/4/2002:
What is the Catholic Church’s stance on the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar”?

Answer by Bill Bilton on 1/8/2002:
This review appears on the web site of the USCCB…

Jesus Christ Superstar – Screen version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical adds a completely new dimension and drive to the music by virture of a cinematography that enhances the original songs but also threatens to overwhelm them. Director Norman Jewison presents a visual recording, with optical embellishment, of a performance of the rock opera based on the last days of Christ’s life on earth, ending in his crucifixion. Entertaining as musical theater, it can also be seen as a sincere if naive effort to tell the story of Jesus in contemporary musical and ethical terms. Some scenes require a mature perspective. A-III (G) ( 1973 )

http://www.ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage.asp?number=322588

(reprinted by permission; not for sale or distribution but for personal use only)

Watch it, you have nothing to lose and let us know what you think on this thread. It’s amazing to me Alice Cooper is now Christian, what a testimony to God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness. He does an outstanding job as King Herod.

God bless, Let us rejoice this Easter as we are the Easter people and Alleluia is our song!~
He is risen, he is risen indeed Alleluia,
 
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Yes I really liked it. I hope that perhaps someone watching it would be inclined to open up their Bibles and read, as well.
 
Kei said:
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?
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It isn’t. Great music. Bad theology.

It is a musical loosely based on the last week of Jesus’ life, and told primarily from the perspective of Judas Iscariot. The key word is loosely.

You can watch it for entertainment, not for edification or inspiration.
 
Remember how every female singer in the 70s did a cover of “I don’t know how to love Him”
 
Now I want to see if “Godspell,” which was written at my alma mater, is on Amazon or Netflix.
 
I don’t believe so, but the entirety of the soundtrack is available online. So are many small video clips to show the “flavor.” Haven’t found a solid bootleg yet, though…

The revival was so much cleaner than the original and its terrifying movie adaptation. The revival just added so much more to the cast vocals and harmonies than the original did. Schwartz really made it shine.
 
on_the_hill said:
Now I want to see if “Godspell,” which was written at my alma mater, is on Amazon or Netflix.
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Now, that’s bragging rights!
0Scarlett_nidiyilii said:
I have the DVD
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I realise this was about Godspell, but this conversation (and @thephilosopher6’s clip) have reminded me that I like the 1973 Jesus Christ Superstar enough to buy the DVD. The movie is a great memento of the era, and, IMHO, is brilliant in its own right. I might even get the new NBC version as well, on the strength of the recommendations here.
 
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No, I acted in that play once, many years ago, and the Jesus figure was carried off the stage, lifeless, with the cast singing “Long Live God/Pre-pare Ye The Way of the Lord”. The only resurrection in that show was when the actor came back onstage with the rest of the cast to take his bow. 😀
 
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Thank heaven they were covering that song and not “You Light Up My Life.”
 
Saw the movie version on tv not too long ago. I remember being disappointed by it when I first saw it. It was stale and slow.
 
Kei, it is not a verbatim presentation of Christ’s passion. What the play does do well is to portray Jesus’s human anguish and submission to God’s plan for salvation through his impending suffering and death.
 
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