Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3710 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-10-16
• Rating: Exempt
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 137 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Jesus Christ Superstar has been the definitive rock musical ever since its 1972 London stage premiere. Revived to great acclaim in the late 1990s, it has everything you'd expect from a blockbuster: great songs, strong characterisation and, crucially, a cracking story. This video is based on the 1998 London production. Director Gale Edwards pulls few punches in her efforts to draw a truly modern interpretation from a gifted cast. Pilate's cronies are sinister Darth Vader look-alikes. The whole thing has a hard, brutal edge, which both startles and thrills. And anyone who dismisses musicals as lightweight confections could do worse than look at the way Lloyd Webber and Rice treat Judas: this is a complex, well-written role. The performances are largely excellent: Jerome Pradon' Judas shines, and Renee Castle's Mary reinvents "I Don't Know How to Love Him" as a delicate exploration of her dilemma, far removed from its usual overblown treatment. Rik Mayall's relentlessly gurning Herod is less of a bonus than he would like us to believe, but will doubtless appeal to his fans. And the quality of Glenn Carter's singing in the title role makes up for a slight deficiency in the charisma department. --Piers Ford

On the DVD: Die-hard groupies will appreciate the inclusion of a documentary about the making of the video, which includes interviews with the cast, the production team and Lloyd Webber and Rice. There are also previews for video productions of Cats and Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
Director Gale Edwards's film is an updated stage version of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's acclaimed masterpiece. Experience the last seven days in the earthly life of Jesus through the magic and wonder of a catchy and inspirational score. From his triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the enmity that this naturally arouses to his trial by the sympathetic but ultimately partisan Pontius Pilate, follow Christ as he assumes the role he was born to play. Notably, in a career change that some British comedy fans may find a bit odd, Rik Mayall (known to fans of THE YOUNG ONES as left-wing New Waver Rick) stars.

Customer Reviews

OK...
...and that's pretty much the best way to review this performance, because that's what it really is, not a DVD but a DVD of a performance, and they never really work as well on tape as seeing it live. The problem I had was that I was constantly comparing it to the (I think) excellent 70s film version (on which Tim Rice worked, lending it slightly more of a feeling of relevance than this version) and it comes up short in every department. JSC is about Judas, not Jesus. This performance misses that entirely, in my view, and Rik Mayall is just a joke. Which me may well have been meant to be, but isn't a patch on the Herod in the 70s version for either humour or pathos. Stage works on stage, screen works on screen, I really do wish that film makers would start realising that.

Brilliant
There is nothing wrong with this. If you are into musicals, add this to your collection. Forget all those other fluffy type candy-bar musicals, this one really makes your heart stop. There is traces of fluffiness in this, it's really gripping and brutal..which is how it should be seeing as it's about the last twelve hours of Jesus's life.
The actors are all unknown but their singing ability and acting ability is simply superb. I know from experience, that singing to that level takes a lot of training and hard work and responsibility. I think especially, that the vocal work of Jesus is incredibly hard but the actor,
Glenn Carter, gets it exactly right.
Jerome Pradon presents a much more human version of Judas. Not just a typical bad guy, but a man with feelings and a conscience, and reasons as to why he betrayed Jesus in the first place. His representation of Judas is very intense, very serious and very human indeed; showing the audience that he had no choice but to betray his best friend, who he loves, more than the other disciples do.
Renee Castle is excellent as Mary Magdalene, and so is Rik Mayall who plays King Herod. To say he isn't a singer, he's really very good.
The supporting cast are also equally good.

Outstanding, with Jerome Pradon simply Fantastic.
After relucting watching this musical ( and I am a Big musical fan! ) I was overwhelmed. This is one of the BEST EVER productions I've ever seen, Live or DVD! and the CD is also a MUST. Jerome Pradon is *SIMPLY OUTSTANDING*! It would be hard for anyone to fill Judas' boots after this performance.
Glenn Carter singing Gethsemane almost brings tears to your eyes! If you love musical's you will absolutely be in awe of this production. Sit back, dim the lights and Enjoy Rice & Webber at their best.