Jesus Christ Superstar

[livnlern]

I absolutely love this movie. I know that it has a lot of problems and is certainly not “Catholic”. However, it does make me contemplate my faith and our Lord Jesus Christ. I always walk away feeling so much stronger as a Catholic after watching.
!

Anyone else share this love?

I haven’t seen this in…well since it came out in the 70s! Thinking back on it I’m sure there were many faults and inaccuracies but I have to say that I was a young teen when it came out and I could relate to the music and it made me think about my faith more. I also had the album (no CDs then!) of the original stage production and listened to that pretty frequently. I know a lot of people didn’t approve of this version of the Gospel but I think it was helpful in some ways.
I also love the movie “Jesus of Nazareth” by Franco Zeffirelli. And there are some faults with this one as well but over all it’s very well done. I especially love the portrayal of Peter in this. I can’t think of the actor who played him but he did a good job of making him seem impulsive and hot tempered as well as kind of vulnerable. Well done!

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I like it also. LOVE Caiphas’ voice!

It is an interesting perspective seeing everything from Judas’ pov. Kinda like how Ignatian meditation tells you to imagine being someone in the scene. I doubt Ignatius ever counsel anyone to imagine being Judas!

 

[Publisher]

Which movie are you talking about?

The one that came out in the 70’s in mostly modern dress?

Or the one based on the stage revival of the 90’s?

The latter is better, in my opinion.

I believe you’re thinking of “Godspell” not “Jesus Christ Superstar”. “Godspell” had “modern dress” and took place in New York…I loved “Godspell”…I have the album…and the CD. I’ve never listened to JCS…the only song I would recognize is the song “Mary Magdalene” sang to him…“I don’t know why I love him…”???

“Godspell” is uplifting and wonderful. I’ve seen it performed on stage several times. The movie has the song “Beautiful City”…my favorite verse is…

“We don’t need alabaster
We don’t need chrome
We’ve got our special plaster
Take my hand (Take my hand)
I’ll take you home (I’ll take you home!)
We see nations rise
In each other’s eyes (in each other’s eyes!)”

 

[patrick457]

I believe you’re thinking of “Godspell” not “Jesus Christ Superstar”. “Godspell” had “modern dress” and took place in New York…I loved “Godspell”…I have the album…and the CD. I’ve never listened to JCS…the only song I would recognize is the song “Mary Magdalene” sang to him…“I don’t know why I love him…”???

Actually JCS was revived/updated in London in 1996 by Gale Edwards (who later directed the 2000 remake). So it’s not too wrong; and the 1973 JCS film did have ‘modern’ 70’s fashion beside the stereotypically-Biblical.

 

[Jaypeeto4]

I was hooked on Jesus Christ Superstar from the time I was 15 years old.
The music is fantastic, some of the lyrics are very problemmatic from a
theological point of view, especially when he tells-off the Father in Gethsemane,
which scene borders on blasphemy I’m sorry to say.

Of the songs, I liked nearly all of them, but my
favorite was HOSANNA (1970 London brown album version, gorgeous & exhilarating).
From the film, COULD WE START AGAIN PLEASE was lovely.
And, having seen it both on stage and screen, my favorite dramatic scene
in the whole story is the TRIAL BEFORE PILATE. That is a powerful,
powerful scene.

 

[Pons]

Same here - the music is great, but some of the lyrics are problematic, and the sad thing is many don’t know or don’t care that this is so. Similarly, “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” has this dubious lyric:

“I am God’s creature,
Of Him I am part”

BUZZZZ!

 

[LilyM]

Have you seen the movie? The intention is entirely different. First of all, the use of the word “pathetic” . I know a lot of “poor” people, for lack of a better word, and there is absolutely nothing pathetic about them or their struggle to make ends meet. Second, the way it is delivered in the movie implicates that it is pointless to try and help them. There will always be poor people. Why bother trying to do something about it? This is not at all what Jesus stood for. Why else would He tell us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and tend to the sick? There will always be hungry and sick people as well, right?

Jesus said the very words ‘the poor you will always have with you’ - and used that as justification for the ointment being used on himself instead of being sold and the proceeds spent on charity.

He certainly didn’t mean not to help the poor, and anyone who knows that line of scripture should also realise that the line in JCS doesn’t mean that it’s useless.

‘Pathetic’, for those who are unaware, has two distinct meanings. Neither of which means ‘useless’ and neither of which implies that it is fruitless to try and help them.

From the Collins Essential English dictionary:

"pathetic:

Adjective

1. arousing pity or sympathy
2. distressingly inadequate: his pathetic attempt to maintain a stiff upper lip failed [Greek pathos suffering]"

Now unlike you I don’t just know poor people, I’ve been poor people. Not homeless-on-the-streets poor, but skipping-meals-because-I-can’t-afford-enough-food poor.

My struggle certainly wasn’t pointless or useless, nor was the help I have been given.

But it WAS pathetic in both senses of the word. It was arousing pity or sympathy - in those who have helped me. It *was *distressingly inadequate in that it took a good deal of effort and help to finally lift up out of that level of poverty.

 

[newbear]

Great musical for the stage! Worked on the technical side while in College, love the music:clapping:
May God Bless
newbear

 

[LookingForFaith]

I LOOOVE This movie!! I have the soundtrack on my ipod and I’m forever listening to it.

Funny story, I was listening to it on my ipod while cooking one time. And I wasn’t paying attention to which song was playing because I was so into what I was doing. I was singing out and just doing my thing when I realized something very important…I realized at just the end of the song that I was singing loudly “Must die, must die this Jesus must die…” then I was like…OH MAN!!! Watch a bolt of lightning come through my roof right now! I think from now on, I’m gonna pay attention.

 

[albertziggy]

Same here - the music is great, but some of the lyrics are problematic, and the sad thing is many don’t know or don’t care that this is so. Similarly, “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” has this dubious lyric:

“I am God’s creature,
Of Him I am part”

BUZZZZ!

Well ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and ‘Brother Sun Sister Moon’ are both hippie movies - and I never got to appreciate both. As for ‘Brother Sun, Sister Moon’, it grossly inaccurate that it should not be promoted by any Franciscan. Yuck! There are far more superior Saint Francis movies than this one!

albertziggy

 

[Aramis]

I absolutely love this movie. I know that it has a lot of problems and is certainly not “Catholic”. However, it does make me contemplate my faith and our Lord Jesus Christ. I always walk away feeling so much stronger as a Catholic after watching.

Anyone else share this love?

About my favorite stage musical.

The movie version is, uhm, politicized to be critical of Israel in ways not apparent in the libretto.

 

[Snugglebugmom]

Now unlike you I don’t just know poor people, I’ve been poor people.

Please do not assume that you know anything about my life. I have had days when I didn’t know where my child’s next meal would come from. And yet I have never felt pathetic.
I will bow out of this discussion now. I have had two snarky responses and that is my quota for any thread.

 

[HarmonyServant]

I will say that because of this thread, I’ve had several of the songs running though my head. Mr. Webber has a great talent.

 

[Rascalking]

What’s the buzz, tell me whats-happening-

I love this musical.