Jesus Christ Superstar

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11/08/2021 I love this version. It is quite different from the 1973 film, but has its own style of interpretation. See more 03/29/2020 By far inferior to the 1973 version ... they slowed down the beat and lowered the octave to a ridiculous extent ... and the characters were far less likeable, especially that whiny butt playing Jesus! See more 12/19/2018 Terrible misunderstood adaptation of the legendary rock opera. Judas in hell? Really? See more 10/23/2018 ehh.... The cast seemed half asleep during filming. See more 05/24/2017 It's absolutely fantastic!!! See more 04/01/2017 Deeply flawed, but still worth seeing. Glenn Carter plays a wonderfully conflicted Jesus, and for the most part his singing is both expressive and beautiful, but it can be a little jarring when he goes for the high notes. There's a moment towards the end of 'Gethsemane' where he switches from his regular voice to a very high, artificial-sounding falsetto, and it clashes horribly with the powerful, anguished performance he gives up to that point. Renée Castle does my favorite rendition of Mary Magdalene, I have absolutely no complaints there. She's probably the only one of the main cast who sounds consistently good and never overacts. Jérôme Pradon as Judas...oh boy. He's great with the physical part of the role, and I love the dynamic between him and Jesus - which, in my opinion, makes the most sense given how the show is written - but vocally, he was not the right choice. I don't know if he's got the wrong voice type or if he was overplaying the emotion or what, but he squeaks and whines in all his numbers except 'Superstar'. The choice to portray Judas as an obnoxious, provocative manchild is unorthodox to say the least, but I think it could work if he would just stop squeaking. It's not that he *can't* sing, as there are definitely a few moments where his ability shines through, but when you put his performance next to the original, the 1996 stage version, even the 2012 Broadway revival...bleh. That said, his rendition of 'Superstar' is impressive. Simon and Peter are both very good, especially Peter, although I'm always distracted by Simon's Guy Fieri hair and tiny brown goatee. I guess it was the year 2000, after all. I really dislike how this production portrays Annas and Caiaphas, who are played with all the subtlety and complexity of a one-ton truck. In the 1973 version, they're fully realized characters - concerned leaders who are forced into a corner by Roman occupation, and who in the end make a carefully considered decision to hand Jesus over to the Romans because their entire community may be destroyed if they don't. In this, they're two cartoon villains in late-90s black trenchcoats vocally blasting their way through every scene. The one thing I can say for them is that Annas doesn't squeak. This brings me to Fred Johanson as Pontius Pilate, who completely steals the show. He's like a younger, taller Brian Blessed wearing bizarre Nazi-style fetishwear whose sole purpose in JCS is to turn the ham factor up to eleven. He dominates the screen from the moment he appears and chews the scenery so intensely I'm surprised that the set didn't collapse by the end of 'Pilate and Christ' Somehow, though, Johanson makes it work. Even if you think Carter is a feeble Jesus and you can't stand Pradon's shrill singing, you should watch this version just for Pilate, and also for Herod, who is seedy and sleazy in the best way possible. Overall, the set is weird, the costumes range from mildly odd (bland 90s streetwear) to over-the-top ridiculous (Annas, Caiaphus, do I even need to mention the Romans?), the singing often leaves something to be desired, but the chemistry between Jesus, Mary, and Judas, the earnest performance of the apostles, and Pilate's sheer force of personality make this worth watching at least once despite its failings. If you want a more complete version, I'd recommend the 1973 film - though I personally can't stand Carl Anderson's flat, emotionless acting - and if a fantastic listening experience is all you're after, try the 1996 cast recordings featuring Steve Balsamo as Jesus, Zubin Varla as Judas, and Alice Cooper as the best damn Herod this side of Galilee. What I would give to have a movie version with that cast! See more Read all reviews

Jesus Christ Superstar

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