Jesus Christ Superstar

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rewatch ~ 🤩 THE most effervescent, exuberant, energetic retelling of the JC story. Setting, performances, choreo.. gymnastics! And EVERY song hits, not just musical perfection but also lyrical narrative (by Tim Rice) beautifully and emotionally punctuating and elevating the visuals. Exquisite direction by Norman Jewison bringing it all to life! The Jerusalem location filming is seriously astounding .. gloriously expansive and starkly tangible. No post production magic, matting, backdrops needed, only few simple set pieces among the rocky topography of desert ruins. An innovative blending of real AND surreal, utilizing clever juxtaposition of the ancient with modern era imagery (capturing some early 70s post Vietnam cultural zeitgeist) This movie wouldn’t be what it is without the unbelievable Ted Neeley, a mirror image to paint-by-numbers white Jesus (the one we all had hanging on the wall lol). The notes he hits!! Full_Body_Chills💥 Only *possibly* outdone by Carl Anderson’s Judas. Their every moment onscreen electrifying, you CANNOT pull your eyes away. And of course Yvonne Ellison, a star as a velvety voiced, softly luminous Mary Magdalene. I am not religious at all which shows the mass appeal and wild phenomenon of the film and stage productions. I made my mom take me to the theater over and over. Really had no idea what I was watching but do know I was utterly transfixed from surreal start to transcendent finale. So many years later, this viewing has shown me that JCS is a very simple yet profound, clear and creative, sharply insightful telling. It explores the fervor of worship, the literal zealotry (Simon of Zealotes!) and the ramifications that come of it, striking a balance between profundity, awe, and the occasional camp. I was too young to know but think it may have been considered blasphemous at the time? Maybe because it was a whole bunch of hippies in the desert creating it? Nonetheless, those hippies did a mind blowing job. "

"I'm not religious at all and usually not a fan of musicals, but I love this movie. You can't not sing along and it will get stuck in your head for days, but in a fun way."

"Silly and amazingly overdramatic and fun. I’m an agnostic but jesus seems like a cool anticorruption anti-imperialist socialist dude to hang with."

"A rewatch. Last day on Prime: 5/31/25. At this time I see: "Leaves Prime in 4h 51m." Thanks to @sher_free for reminder."

"You don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate this movie."

"A musical version of the story of Christ. Who doesn't need that in their life? "