| Jesus Christ Superstar (Special Edition) |  | Director: Norman Jewison
Actors: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen, Bob Bingham
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.13
as of 9/9/2010 14:40 PDT details
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New (32) Used (17) from $5.38
Seller: moviemars
Rating:  376 reviews
Sales Rank: 2,380
Format: DTS Surround Sound, Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Dubbed)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running Time: 108 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.5
MPN: 025192578625
ISBN: 1417015772
UPC: 025192578625
EAN: 9781417015771
ASIN: B00028HBIO
Theatrical Release Date: August 15, 1973
Release Date: August 31, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Told entirely in song, images, and music, the story focuses on the last week of Christ's life, his betrayal and crucifixion, seen from the point of vi
Amazon.com
Ted Neeley makes for a wimpy looking Jesus in Norman Jewison's screen adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice "rock opera," which was a smash on stage in the early '70s. Jewison (Other People's Money) adds some good exterior settings in the desert, but Webber and Rice's dialogue-free story (everything is sung, as in a real opera), with its quasi-profundities about the inner demons of principal figures in the life of Christ, is the real hook. Yvonne Elliman sings the show's best-known song, "I Don't Know How to Love Him." --Tom Keogh
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 376
 Jesus Christ Superstar Special Edition AND THEN SOME... May 25, 2005
Lauren H. Lavine (Cleveland, Ohio)
250 out of 253 found this review helpful
It's absolutely fabulous. Please note buyers that if you want closed captioned and you don't see it listed in the description, not to fear because it does have closed captioned in English. It has everything the regular edition has plus a few more extras. I was really impressed with the quality of the picture as well as the sound. Also, because it's a widescreen version as well when you choose to use the closed captioning it doesn't get in the way of the picture which is a nice advantage. I believe you'll love it. The music is extraordinary. Ted Neeley was wonderful and Carl Anderson is extremely talented. It's a rock opera not a musical and every song tells the story. Truly ingenious the way it was produced. The fact that it was shot on location in Israel gives it the authenticity you don't always see in films. I recommend buying the soundtrack as well. You can't beat the wonderful price either.
one of the best movie/musicals of all time April 8, 2001
41 out of 42 found this review helpful
It took me almost two years (and a recent viewing of the new JCS movie) to fully appreciate the masterpiece that is Jesus Christ Superstar, the 1973 film. Told entirely through catchy, rock opera music, it tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ, but is hardly a literal interpretation and consists mostly of the drama between Judas and Jesus. The point of the film is to show the bible in a new way- that everyone, even Jesus's closest disciples helped contribute to the death of Jesus through their inescapable humanism. Filmed in the Jerusalem desert, the production is wonderful. It's as if the best singers, film makers, dancers, musicians, and songwriters (Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice) came together for this one movie. Carl Anderson stars as Judas and is arguably the best performer to ever perform the role. Ted Neeley is fantastic too even though it takes a while to "get" the strenghth in his underacting. Norman Jewison, who's experience and creativity as director shines through with every scene, takes the musical to another level, using a brilliantly conceptual theme that is introduced at the very beginning of the film. The locations are beautiful and fit perfectly within the context of the story. The film has great music, the ideas it tries to get across are poignant, and it is much, much better than the new film in its directing, acting, choreograpphy, and singing.
This video will stay in your mind forever! June 22, 1999
19 out of 19 found this review helpful
This video is an absolute gem. When I saw the movie on release in the cinema I sobbed my heart out. It wasn't just that I knew this story didn't have a happy ending: its themes of love and betrayal, looking for redemption and coping with grave doubt struck a deep chord which stayed with me all my life. The key scenes are extraordinary - the rage in the Temple, Jesus' and Judas's confrontation at the Last Supper, Pilate's bafflement, the turmoil of 'Gethsemane' leading up to the heartrending climax. All the performers play their parts with empathy and verve. I love Ian Gillan, but Ted Neeley is superb as Jesus, his voice managing to convey virility and vulnerability - and the camera loves him. Carl Anderson's portrayal of Judas is both passionate and sympathetic. I was delighted to read that over 20 years later these two actors were still working together - their on-screen chemistry is great. Tim Rices's excellent lyrics, the 60s guitars and the audacious filmic techniques (which could've only been attempted with a straight face in the 70s) combine to make this a powerful portrayal of Christ's final days that will linger with you for a long, long time.
Controversial Rock Opera February 1, 2001
Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA)
22 out of 23 found this review helpful
Jesus Christ Superstar was Andrew Lloyd Webber and Time Rice's first major success. The rock opera was first a concept album that exploded on the charts hitting number one and spending almost a year in the top ten and unleashed Murray Head on the world. It was then made into a successful Broadway play starring Ben Vereen. In 1973, respected director Norman Jewison (In The Heat Of the Night, Fiddler On the Roof) brought it to the big screen. The film was shot on location in Israel and that gives it an authentic feel. There is no dialogue in the film, everything is sung in true opera fashion. It kind is like a forerunner of the music video in that fact. Mr. Jewison mixes the biblical setting with modern nuances such as guards carrying machine guns, tanks and planes appear and at the beginning of the film, the cast arrives by bus and at the end it leaves on the same bus. The beginning of the film shows the cast setting up what appears to be a play. They get into costumes and set up for the play. The movie focuses on the last seven days of Jesus and Ted Neeley appears in the title role. The movie focuses on Jesus' relationship with Judas, who is played by Carl Anderson. The plot likens Jesus to a modern-day rock star, who rises above all the other prophets due to the hype-machine. Judas thinks that Jesus is believing the hype and moving away from his humble roots. He turns traitor in the belief he is helping the nation. At the end, we are left wondering if this was just a play or was it real as all the cast members get on the bus except Mr. Neeley. The movie fades out quite powerfully in the sunset on the cross. The movie moves along through the series of songs and is well choreographed. The album, play and film were highly controversial due to its take on the Passion of Jesus, but putting religious beliefs aside, it is an excellent film.
Jesus as Outsider in Jewison Interpretation April 21, 2004
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
Viewers at the beginning of the new millenium may be sidetracked by the trappings of the early 1970's fashions and 'loud' hair to notice the underlying theme of the disassociation and humanization of what were, until JCS was first heard on radio and stage, iconic and unattainable religious figures.Jewison's version takes that (still) radical humanization further. Firstly, it was the first "jesus" film to be shot in Israel. The bleak arid terrain, the ruins, and the minimalist sets and cast was a huge departure - not only from previous films on the same topic, but from the stage version of this musical, as well. Such an atmosphere is a character in and of itself. The two breaks from this sterility are the cast, their costumes, and post-crucifixion shephard (who, aptly, leads his sheep past the empty crosses). Jesus physically fades into this atmosphere with his white robe, pale hair, skin, and eyes. He doesn't disembark from the production bus at the movie's beginning, and he doesn't return to it at the end (as the other cast members do). Of all his 'groupies', or apostles, only two offer perspectives on his characteristics and motivations (while the others cluelessly sing, "... write the Gospels, so they all talk about us when we die"). Mary Magdalen offers an emotional and human perspective ("I Don't Know How to Love Him", and "Could We Start Again, Please"). Judas Iscariot offers a political and human perspective ("Heaven on Their Minds", "Blood Money"). Yvonne Elliman and the late Carl Anderson are well cast and believable in their interpretation of their characters' motivations. Jesus , himself, offers a theological and human persective ("The Temple", "Gethsemane"). In addition to the distancing of theological issues from everyday life and from the other characters, his main relationship is not with the others, but with God - whose presence is absent in any form in this film. It is no wonder then, after his death, that Jesus is absent from the rest of the film as well. This makes Judas' questioning of Jesus' motivations even more understandable than just what is contained in the music . Ted Neeley is perfectly cast as Jesus. He is not suppose to be ferocious. His almost delicate physical appearance makes the character's suffering and death even more sym(pathetic). His voice is powerfully emotional and moving. Having heard many different versions of the character's central song, "Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)", including German, Swedish, British, French, American, and female (Amy Ray), Neeley's interpretation is the most poignent and relevant to this role.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 376
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