Jesus Christ Superstar (2000)

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Despite loving the 1973 version, I always had an interest in seeing another film adaptation of the play. When I heard that this was being made, I was actually very interested because it seemed like a really good idea.Gale Edwards took on the role of director with the intention of making something that was more loyal to the stage show, which I commend because it's always nice to remain loyal to the source material.The story, in a nutshell, is about Jesus' last few weeks before his crucifixion from Judas' point-of-view. The entire story is told in song rather than spoken dialogue.Problems with this film are very clear right from the start. First is with the vocal recordings of the two leads, Glenn Carter (Jesus) and Jerome Pradon (Judas). Both are actually really good singers in other productions but neither seem to really fit into their roles. Pradon's vocal range never really truly accommodates the tenor requirement for Judas and Carter's voice lacks the emotion for the role of Jesus, and comes a little too close to Sebastian Bach's horrible rendition of the character on stage three years after this film released. To Carter's credit, he finally got into the role when it was redone on stage but it just wasn't there for the movie.Fortunately for Pradon though, his acting really makes up for his vocal shortcomings. Pradon is an amazing stage actor and it shows here.Most of the others in the cast seem to be very miscast. Fred Johanson as Pilate is more fitting for Caiaphas than Pilate as his voice is not the high range that Pilate is usually sung at and with the music playing to a more tenor range, his deeper bass voice doesn't blend well with Pilate's music at all. The same is actually for Cavin Cornwall as Peter, his voice is way too deep for the role. There are two actors that do blend into their roles well, Renee Castle and Frederick Owens. Castle is actually a really good Mary Magdalene. While not quite has versatile in her range as Yvonne Elliman was in the original, she does manage to make the role her own in this version of the production. Owens is a good Caiaphas and is actually one of my favorites to take on the role. He has a great bass voice and has an intimidating look to him.Unfortunately, while the last two are good casting calls and they do their songs justice, the film fails to hold up in other areas. Sometimes, great talents are completely wasted like Tony Vincent as Simon. Vincent is one of the best singers and dancers currently working in theater and yet he seems very restrained and not as active as he usually is but this might also have to do with the limited size of the set, because while the set is meant to represent a stage, it is much smaller than most of the actors are use to working with because while the stage the movie is on is big in height, there's not as much floor room due to the stairs.Also not helping the film is some of the costume choices. Jesus, his followers, Mary and Judas are fine but it's mainly the villains and Pilate that are a bit strange. Pilate looks like a blend between a character from Gladiator and Bison from the Street Fighter film, than there's all the leather of Caiaphas and his team and the leather on some of the other characters. You can't help but almost forget your watching Jesus Christ Superstar and not some soft-erotic film. It doesn't help that Pilates first song has him shirtless in bed. Nothing wrong with the idea, considering the subject of the song but the way he acts it out doesn't help the idea.So overall, while it tries it's best, the 2000 version of Jesus Christ Superstar fails to live up to standards, the vocals of some of the actors is restrained and some flat out don't fit in the roles. While there are a few good moments, the bad does outweigh the good in this film, which is unfortunate because it was obvious that the intentions were good.

Seriously? Why?! The actors couldn't sing OR act, the director took VERY liberal liberties with many things (Simon wasn't a militant, he just thought Jesus should take some action against their oppressors, and other things), and if a modern version of a classic WERE necessary (which it isn't) this is a horrible excuse for a modern equivalent of the original. Carl Anderson is doing somersaults in his grave.The singing was also very guttural. Even at Gethsemane when the singing is supposed to be smooth and calming it sounds like robots singing an announcement versus a group of men sitting down to dinner (like the original). Every syllable in the entire production is pronounced...and that's annoying.

Happy Easter, everyone!!! Love is in the air!!!... just not on IMDb, and especially not on my review of this demolition of a classic.I'm one of the few who thinks Andrew Lloyd Webber is the worst thing to happen to musical theatre and the cause of the downfall of modern society. I think that JCS is quite possibly the ONE good thing that he has ever been a part of, and it was one of my favourite movies as a child. This weekend, this remake aired on TV, and I figured this would be a good watch, eh? No, actually.First off, the look of the movie is incredibly awful. I totally don't believe this was shot at Pinewood- for starters, this film looks like a cross between a commercial for some 1990's street clothing company, and a Colour Me Badd music video. What's with all the graffiti??? Are they trying to make this a "street tough" JCS??? Lots accuse the 70's movie of being too "hippie", but I respectfully disagree, and besides, even if it was, it still would be way better than this trainwreck of a film. Especially hilarious was the Pilate's Dream scene... it looked like a gay porn spoof of Aladdin.The cast is HORRIBLE!!!! The one good performer in this is Tony Vincent... shame he got a role so small (Simon) and below his INCREDIBLE range!!! And why does he look like a gay stripper in this movie???? He should have been Judas. Speak of the devil (no pun intended), Jerome Pradon is quite possibly the worst singer ever to make it to the stage. His voice is so nasal and whimpy. And then there are times I thought I was listening to Yogi Bear singing. I actually laughed during Heaven on their Mind, when he yelled "JEEEEEESSSUUUUUSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!". Actually, since I recorded this on my PVR, I go back and rewind that part over and over if I need a laugh. Then, there's Glen Carter... and even he sucked!!!! His falsetto was so bad, he even made me laugh in the wrong places too. "MOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYY TAMPLAH SHAD BEEEEHHH A HOOOOSEEEE OF PRAAAAHAAAAYAAAAHHHHRRRRRR!!!!!" don't get me started. Those calling him good, GET YOUR EARS CHECKED. Also, I love when he over-emphasizes "obssessed" in "What's the Buzz"... "Whah ah you Obsessed with faaaatttting!!!!!" Mary sounds like she's singing with her throat. Pilate?? Let me just say he has nothing on Barry Dennen's kick-ass rasp that totally added.As for the production in general... I gotta give props to Tony because he really acted and sang his face off in this trainwreck. Why did they make Judas a leather jacket-wearing punk who acts creepily around women (what was with the flirting during "Everything's alright"? Why does Herod look like Al Capone??? Why does Jesus come off as a wimp who looks like Robert Plant in a wifebeater??? Why does Judas wear red in the finale and sing spitefully in Jesus' face during "Superstar"? WHy does Jesus cry like a baby during the crucifixion? Why does Jesus deliver his final line like "I commend... MYYYYYYYYY SPPPIIIIIIIIIIIRIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!" (on the same topic, does whoever directed this think a man who got whipped senselessly, forced to carry his own cross, nailed and hung from the cross have the energy to do that?!?!?!?!)?. Oh, and don't forget, I was just yelling "Hurry up and die already!" at the screen during the crucifixion... not a good sign.Just avoid this disaster. Seek the 73 version out because it's a rockin' movie, and Carl Anderson and Ted Neely FTW.

I am totally blown away by the high ratings and laudatory comments reflected by others for this production. It's like, what movie did you watch? I felt this production was one of the most miscast movies/videos that I've ever seen. The only cast member that evoked even the slightest pathos in me was Mary Magdalene; having said that, her singing talent fell shy.The Jesus and Judas characters left me totally cold and confused. They really didn't seem to have a clue what their roles were meant to convey. Jesus was lacking in any quality that would ever make me think of him as a "messiah" or even a complex human being. I felt zero warmth emanating from him.The Judas character, while certainly reflecting significant zeal, left me bewildered as to his real motivation, his commitment, his humanity.Sometimes updating the original setting to the modern era works, but this production totally failed to carry or convince me of anything. An interesting thought that my wife pointed out was that the scenes near the beginning where Jesus touches his apostles and vice versa left her feeling like there were almost sensual gay sentiments being conveyed, rather than the natural warmth and compassion that were communicated in other "time of Christ" presentations.I love musical theater and have seen quite a few productions of JCS, including the original Broadway and movie presentations. This production did have a few good moments that I did enjoy, but this was clearly the worst presentation I've ever viewed, including our amateur local productions. Very disappointing!!!