Jesus Christ Superstar (2000) (TV)

Directors:

Gale Edwards
Nick Morris

Writer:

Tim Rice (book)

Release Date:

20 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Drama

Plot:

A rock musical version of the Passion Play seen from the point of view of Judas.

Plot Keywords:

Rock | Rock Musical | Jesus Christ | Passion Play | King

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Glenn Carter	...	Jesus of Nazareth
Jérôme Pradon	...	Judas Iscariot (as Jerome Pradon)
Renee Castle	...	Mary Magdalene
Fred Johanson	...	Pontius Pilate
Michael Shaeffer	...	Annas
Cavin Cornwall	...	Peter
Tony Vincent	...	Simon Zealotes
Rik Mayall	...	King Herod
Pete Gallagher	...	First Priest (as Peter Gallagher)
Michael McCarthy	...	Second Priest
Philip Cox	...	Third Priest
Matt Cross	...	Apostle / Ensemble (as Matthew Cross)
Kevin Curtin	...	Apostle / Ensemble
Paul Vickers	...	Apostle / Ensemble
Mykal Rand	...	Apostle / Ensemble

Also Known As:

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar (Australia)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | Netherlands:6 | Australia:M | USA:Unrated

Company:

Really Useful Films

Trivia:

Tony Vincent (Simon) played the part of Judas in the 1999-2000 Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Quotes:

Pontious Pilate: Look at your Jesus Christ! I'll agree, he's mad! Ought to be locked up! But this is not a reason to destroy him! He's a sad little man! Not a king or a god! Not a thief! I need a crime!
Crowd: Kill him! He says he's God! He's a blasphemer! He'll conquer you and us, and even Caesar!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest Musicals (2003) (TV)

This incredible video version focuses on the relationship between Judas and Jesus.

This video production has everything you could want: Visual appeal, great acting and singing, PLOT, and just the right touch of drama. (It IS the chronicle of Jesus' last week among the living, after all!) The songs are performed with passion and skill, as they should be. Glenn Carter plays a wonderful Jesus, although there are parts where I wonder HOW THE HECK he could get his voice that high! Renee Castle does well as Mary Magdalene. She has a lovely voice and her rendition of "I Don't Know How To Love Him" is deeply moving.

At last we come to BY FAR my favorite performer in this show, Jerome Pradon, who plays Judas Iscariot. In my opinion, Judas MAKES THE SHOW. He is a great character, in spite of his being... well, JUDAS. Mr. Pradon's facial expressions are a riot. He manages to look smug, lascivious, innocent, angry and sad all within the first few minutes of the video. He has an incredible voice as well. The very first song, "Heaven On Their Minds" is probably my favorite, although all the songs are so good that it is really hard to pick. He, in my opinion, is perfect for the role of Judas.

As for the lighting and sets, all I can say is GOOD JOB, Gale Edwards! She has a flair for this video stuff. The lighting is wonderful, especially the scene with Judas and the Jewish priests. Everything in this film has a somber quality, and it makes for an unusual and profound visual experience. There are slogans and phrases spraypainted all over the walls (mostly in French) in the opening scene, (I had to rewind several times to read them all) and the actors / actresses wear leather jackets, jeans, vinyl, tank tops, boots and camouflage. This truly is an UPDATED video version!

The only annoying thing in this video was the Jewish priests, especially the bald white guy with the grating voice, although I guess it's possible that they were meant to be annoying. I watched the parts with them for the first few times (I own the video) but now that I have pretty much memorized those parts I fast forward.

All in all I recommend this video just about anyone who likes broadway-type acting and singing, as well as anyone who likes GOOD ACTING. (Just observe Jerome Pradon and Glenn Carter in the "Last Supper" scene and you'll see it in spades.)