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Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)
EAN: 9780783252940
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0783252943
Item Dimensions: 25
Label: Universal Studios
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 5.1EnglishSubtitledFrenchSubtitled
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
MPN: MCAD21156D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Universal Studios
Region Code: 1
Release Date: March 20, 2001
Running Time: 107 minutes
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: March 20, 2001
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
TELLS THE STORY OF THE LAST SEVEN DAYS IN THE LIFE OF JESUS. IT DESCRIBES HIS ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM, THE ENMITY THAT HIS PREACHING AND HIS POPULARITY CAUSES AMONG THE JEWISH RELIGIOUSLEADERS, HIS BETRAYAL BY JUDAS, MOCKING CONTEMPT OF HEROD, ANDTHE TRIAL IN FRONT OF PONTIUS PILATE.
Amazon.com:
Before Andrew Lloyd Webber took over Broadway with his operatic productions and Tim Rice tossed in his lot with Disney's animated musicals, they were the young turks of musical theater and their rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar was their calling card. Director Gale Edwards's 1999 stage revival, which became the basis for this video production (also available on CD), takes the show out of ancient Jerusalem to an indeterminate mix of modern New York (complete with graffiti-scrawled walls and T-shirt garbed disciples) and timeless Rome. The grandly abstract sets, rainbow lighting, and striking costumes are more theater than cinema, but like the previous made-for-video Lloyd Webber-Rice production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the enormous soundstages give the director free reign to combine the mediums.
The setting folds fascism, intolerance, and revolution into a portrait out of time, robbing the play of its powerful historical grounding but injecting it with energy and insight. As Christ, Glenn Carter (who played the role in the 2000 Broadway revival) flashes his anger and rolls his eyes at Judas (Jerome Pradon) but cannot deny the truths of Judas's fears: "Every word you say today gets twisted 'round some other way." As Christ sees his cult of personality overtake his message and struggles with the fears of his sacrifice, he reaches within for faith and forgiveness, giving the show the spiritual dimension it so often lacks.
It's an entertaining, thoughtful, and well-sung production. Edwards avoids the tepidity of Norman Jewison's solemn 1973 film, driving forward with energetic editing and swooping cameras, and guided at all times by the dramatic, exhilarating score. --Sean Axmaker
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
I would have to say this dvd is great. Very enjoyable. Singing is great. I think I like this format better than the movie version because it's like a stage show on television. It's not the traditional way to tell the story but the story is still there and should not turn people off because of that.
Rating: -
I am such a big fan of the 1973 version of Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus Christ Superstar (Special Edition)that I was afraid to even watch this one. I have watched the 73 version a minimum of 100 times. I'm not a religious person, but rather a fan of the modern musicals.
Well, as I'm typing this review I am about half way through this version. I must say can not compare the two. Not only are the sets and the period it is set in different but the actors have totally reinvented the film. Every word and note is the same in both versions they are two completely different films. The actors but a whole new emphasis on the way you feel.
Glen Carter IS NOT Ted Neely and I am glad for it. I can honestly say that liking one version will not take away from the other. In all the remakes of films I have seen over the years I am immensely impressed at these two films. Now my biggest problem will be which one will I watch when I feel the mood to see this tale again next time.
One point of comparison though if I may....
1) the vocal performance of Ted Neely in Gethsemane cannot be matched but Glen Carter does a close job of it.
In the 73 version there was a controversy by casting a black man as Judas but now as it really was then race was not part of the casting but rather the talent was.
Well, after YEARS of putting off watching this film I am glad I finally did.
Rating:  -
As a lifetime fan of Jesus Christ Superstar who has opened his mind to many interpretations of this story, and of the music, I must say that Jesus Christ Superstar 2000 is perhaps my least favorite "professional" production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's classic rock-opera. Perhaps I am biased from being raised on the 70s film starring Ted Neely in the role of Christ, and Carl Anderson as Judas, but I honestly don't think that I am biased, even having heard Neely live, for I have accepted many other recordings. The cast of 2000 is just not right! It is flawed in many, many ways.
For starters I'm going to do presentation. The entire film is set in essential the same sets, which I have no problem with, seeing as I'm a proud fan of theater. My problem is not the sets, but the entire art design of this production. What I do have a problem with is that this production destroys what the best productions had aimed for, which was finding common ground for ALL audiences. One major appeal of the 1970s film was that they tried to not discriminate against the Romans, or the Jewish leaders; it was very open, and fair in its portrayals, even adding a song to Caiaphas and Annas to show that their reaction to Jesus' popularity wasn't of spite, but of fear (which, given the time, is COMPLETELY understandable). In this production the Jewish leaders are portrayed as evil, and I'm not Jewish, but this just is low, because anyone who has studied history should know that the reaction to Jesus was completely natural; no one wanted a rabble rouser to start a problem...because that would mean the Roman army would come back. Also, every character in this production - even the lepers - all look GREAT, as in fine specimens of the human race.
Getting around to the performers; Glen Carter leads the cast and as Jesus falls short in every regard. He seems to have come for a church choir audition oblivious to the fact that this is a ROCK (key word being ROCK) opera. His soft, mellow voice is not fit for the role in the slightest. Even worse is the fact that he just isn't at all convincing in the role. Take away Ted Neely's beard and long hair in the original film and he STILL gave a convincing performance in the role; the intensity in his eyes as if he knew something was great and he radiated a strong presence. Glen Carter has no such aura.
Jérôme Pradon is the real problem with this production. His scratchy voice is not at all fitting for the role of Judas, who is actually SUPPOSED to be the real star of this musical. This musical is mainly from Judas' perspective, and he is supposed to be a sympathetic character whose path has been set by God and he can't change it. 2000's portrayal returns the nihilistic interpretation where Judas is shown as nothing more that a schemer, and given the way Pradon sings the part it's obvious they wanted the most snake-like voice they could find when casting. Whoever lead the production seems oblivious the fact that this musical's point was to show Judas in a human light.
In all there are a few good numbers in here, but nothing that really stands out. What I remember most is just how dumbed down they've made the story. For the flogging here there is more blood than the original film, but no where near as brutal (they have people SLAP him in this one...SLAPPING!). They've turned a musical that shows the complex, human aspects of these historic figures and turned it into a simple "Good and Evil" story. In one line they even have Annas say "Is that it for the Jewish dream?" in a maniacal tone while Jesus is taken to trial...isn't' Annas SUPPOSED TO BE JEWISH?! The logic of this lyric particularly has me baffled because people into history should know that the Jewish leaders acted on what they believed to be their best interest, not to destroy their own dreams. So its little things like this that make an otherwise stylish production lose all value with me as a fan of the musical.
I guess this version is meant for the more traditional Christians than the original, but at that price it totally ostracizes anyone outside the Christian faith. As a Christian, and a fan of this musical, I was not at all impressed by this production. Numbers that should have rocked the house such as Heaven On Their Minds, Gethsemane, and Superstar fall horribly flat while the only good numbers are small ones such as Pilate And Christ, Jesus Must Die, Simon Zealotes, and Peter's Denial. This is the most forgettable version of the musical I have ever seen and I recommend you sticking with the original which is a thought provoking, timeless classic with rocking tunes and performers with sheer talent.
P.S. Pretty arrogant of Andrew Lloyd Webber to have them title it "Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar 2000" when fans should know that the story concept, and lyrics were written and conceived by Tim Rice. ... Read More
Rating: -
I always enjoy the chance to see a broadway production, especially when they usually don't come to my little small town very often, so I found this film of the broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar very cool. I thought the music was great, as was the acting, and I thought this was better than the old movie version.
Rating: -
I have read so many reviews saying that this version sucked and that this version cannot hold a candle to anything. I cannot disagree more this version has great singers ranging in thier styles and ranges that go together perfectly! jerome pradon as an example is a wonderful singer using his voice to tell a story it was because of his rock like lisp that i listened more intently to the lyrics and began to sympathise with Judas which i had never done befor. This movie uses the long flowing look of jesus to copare to the punk ruggad judas and thier voices are as different as thier looks! as to people saying that this version sucked they are wrong. this version was filmed entirley indoors which makes the story so much easier to understand the simplicity is genius!!
so kudos to jerome pradon and he enitre cast for a superb version.
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