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Jesus Christ Superstar (Special Edition) (Widescreen) (Dual-layered DVD)
- Starring: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman
- Director: Norman Jewison
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Description
The second Biblical epic to be turned into a musical by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice, this box-office disappointment recounts the last week in the life of Jesus Christ in rock-opera format and from the surprising point of view of Christ's betrayer, Judas Iscariot. Carl Anderson stars as Judas, who has begun to believe that Jesus (Ted Neeley) has sold out and started buying into the mythology that's quickly springing up around him. Particularly disturbing to Judas is the relationship between Jesus and his friend Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman), a prostitute. When Jesus throws a temper tantrum at the moneylenders in a temple, Judas determines to work with the Pharisees who want to put Jesus on trial as a false prophet. Following his success with the adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof (1971), director Norman Jewison experimented with a hippie-influenced sensibility on Jesus Christ Superstar (1973). Among such touches are depictions of the cast arriving via bus to mount the show, modern high-tech weaponry in the hands of the ancient Romans, and on-location filming in Israel. Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Features
- Genre: Musical
- Category: Musical Drama, Religious Drama, Rock Musical
- Theme: Message From God, Redemption, Religious Zealotry
- Release Date: August 31, 2004
- Rating: G (General Audiences)Rating Opens in New Window - Adult Situations, Suitable for Children, Violence
- Studio: Universal Studios
- Lead Actors: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen, Bob Bingham
- Supporting Actors: Jonathan Wynne, Larry Marshall, Robert LuPone, Pi Douglas, Philip Toubus, Jeffrey Hyslop, Richard Molinare, Leeyan Granger, Marcia McBroom, Kurt Yahgjian, Josh Mostel
- Director: Norman Jewison
- Picture Format: Widescreen
- Run Time: 1 hr 47 min
- Language: English, French
- Subtitle Language: English, French, Spanish
- Format: DVD
Additional Information
- DPCI: 058-13-0133
- ASIN: B002HZOMPU
- Catalog #: 11335138
- Item can not be gift wrapped.
Shipping & Policies
- You may return this item to any Target store.Opens in New Window
- Shipping & Delivery InformationOpens in New Window
- Estimated Ship Dimensions : 7.56 inches length x 5.46 inches width x 0.59 inches height
- Estimated Ship Weight: 0.31 pound.
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Expert Reviews
Norman Jewison's Jesus Christ Superstar may not be the most tuneful rendering of Andrew Lloyd Webber's beautiful score and Tim Rice's deconstructive lyrics, but that's precisely what makes it the definitive realization of Webber and Rice's work. The 1973 film oozes human emotion, better encapsulated by cracking voices than golden throats. This crucial thematic approach starts with Ted Neeley as Christ, an imperfect, temperamental saint whose frail voice plants him firmly in the world of mortals. Not only does Neeley look the part, he lives it. But Carl Anderson's Judas carries the film. Wiry, acrobatic, and torn apart by anguish and confusion, Anderson is part sneaky fox, part peaceful dove, as complex as the part was written. While many directors have chosen unconventional settings to stage Superstar, Jewison was smart to film on location in Israel, as the stark, arid climate both drives home the themes and gives the Biblical story a sense of place. Jewison understood that the lyrics themselves -- "If you came today you could have reached a whole nation/Israel in 4 B.C. had no mass communication" -- provided as much anachronism as the film needed. The standout scene is the intense, lively ode from Simon Zealotes (Larry Marshall), which includes an inimitably choreographed number that likens the hippie movement to the followers of Christ. Bob Bingham's guttural Caiaphas also makes a lasting impression. Far superior to Godspell, the similarly themed hippie/religious outing released the same year, Jesus Christ Superstar remains repeatedly watchable for its rousing, unabashed earnestness that narrowly steers clear of excess. It's also a glorious snapshot of an era and the imagination inspired by it. Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
