Movie Advice Wanted - Jesus Christ Superstar

Entertainment
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The Film - Jesus Christ Superstar

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I have not seen this film, although I remember my mother watching it when I was but a child. As it is on my bucket list to eventually watch, I thought it prudent to do some resarch. Here is what I found out about this highly praised & criticized movie.

Background

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973 American musical drama, released 8-15-1973, and directed by Norman Jewison and co-written by Jewison and Melvyn Bragg. It is based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera of the same name. The film was shot on location in Israel and other Middle Eastern spots and it had a budget of $3.5 million, returning a gross of over $34.5 million, including rental sales. The film runs for a total of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It centers on the conflict between Judas and Jesus and features a cast consisting mostly of actors from the show: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen, Bob Bingham, and Kurt Yaghjian.

Plot

The film is framed as a group of performers who travel to the desert to re-enact the Passion of Christ. The film begins with them arriving on a bus, assembling their props and getting into costume. One of the group is surrounded by the others, puts on a white robe and emerges as Jesus.

This story begins with Judas , who is worried about Jesus’ popularity; he is being hailed as the Son of God, but Judas feels he is just a man who is beginning to believe his own propaganda and fears the consequences of their growing movement.

As the film concludes, the performers, now out of costume, board their bus. Only the performers who had played Pilate, Mary Magdalene and Judas notice the actor who had played Jesus is missing. A shepherd and his flock cross the hillside beneath the empty cross.

Summary

For their portrayals of Jesus and Judas, Neeley and Anderson were nominated for two Golden Globe Awards. Inital reviews for the film were positive.

The film as well as the stage show before it, were criticized by some religious groups. by some Jews as anti-Semitic, but also by some Catholics and Protestants as blasphemous in its portrayal of Jesus as a young man who might even be interested in sex. Some Christians found the fact that the musical did not show the resurrection, to be blasphemous and while the actual resurrection was not shown, the closing scene of the movie subtly alludes to the resurrection. Biblical purists pointed out a small number of deviations from biblical text as additional concerns; for example, Pilate himself having the dream instead of his wife, and Catholics argue the line “for all you care, this bread could be my body” is too Protestant in theology, although Jesus does say in the next lines, “This is my blood you drink/This is my body you eat”.

Of Note

Despite its detractors, the film was still popular years later, winning a 2012 Huffington Post competition for “Best Jesus Movie.”

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 55 percent based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 6/10.

My questions are this.

  • What is your brutally honest and modern opinion of this film?

  • Should I watch it? (­ vote below )

  • Why or why not?

­

Should I Watch This Film?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters
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I have yet to see a film that accurately portrays Jesus, the Gospels, and Paul. Brother @Joe-Also .

J.

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Me neither, and neither does this one. It is “a group of performers who travel to the desert to re-enact the Passion of Christ.” So I guess in a way, it could be compared to the movie Tropic Thunder. It does however have a very catchy soundtrack from what I’ve heard. (Listen to: “What’s the Buzz” on youTube.)

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…if someone is looking for biblical accuracy or serious Pauline theology, the buzz is irrelevant. If they like catchy music and experimental religious art, that’s where the attention is coming from.

J.

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Sorry, I had edited that ↑ too late.

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We are in the end times brother, stay vigilant and rock solid in Christ Jesus.

Goodnight.

J.

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Oh yeah, here is the theatrical release poster of the 1973 film Jesus Christ Superstar.

Bad Gateway

or

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I went to the theater by myself when Jesus Christ Superstar first came out, I was 16 years old. It was awesome, I learned exactly who Jesus was for the first time and I’d love to watch it again. To this day, when I think back on, it changed my life. I was born and raised a catholic. Seems like all we did in school was memorize catechism, we never read the Bible, I truly did not realized who Jesus really was. When I turned 17, a lady I babysat for, introduced me to Jesus in a way that was different than my catholic education. I left my former way of life, I got saved, got baptized for the second time, and have been a Spirit Filled Believer ever since. I did backslide off and on when I was in my 20’s, but I always knew which path I must stay on. Eventually, as my journey continued, and I matured, I was talking to God one day at a dark time in my adult life and all of a sudden I had an epiphany, a peace came over my entire being and my whole life changed. ALL of my fears disappeared, I felt very different and calm. I really feel like that movie was what started my curiosity about what was I missing in life. In time, I finally got it. I am so very thankful and blessed and in the winter of my life, knowing that when I become absent from my body, I will be in the presence of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Blessings to all.

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Thank you for your wonderful story. :grin:

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Thank you for allowing me to re-live it. God Bless.

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I am honored that it was your first post here. Welcome to the forums by the way. :folded_hands: :latin_cross: :heart:

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My Opinion? No doubt Andrew Lloyd Weber is a brilliant composer, but there is also little doubt that he is NOT a Christian. He doesn’t pretend to be Christian or even “spiritual”, even though his musical publications often borrow from religious themes. He is mostly following in the footsteps of other profound and prolific composers who wrote “spiritual” music but were not Christian (think Mozart).

After writing his “Requiem”, when asked:

“Your earlier work, Jesus Christ Superstar, and the more recent Requiem seem to exhibit very different theological points of view. Does this represent a personal change over the years?"

He says of himself:

“Well, I haven’t suddenly become a “born-again Christian” or something, although I could see where the tremendous differences in the points of view of both works could lead people to assume that”

I voted No.

A person without the Spirit of God is a “natural man” and therefore can not accurately represent The Spirit of God.

“ The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14)

It is one thing to take-in a worldly philosophy from a worldly author, it is quite dangerous to take-in a supposed “spiritual” message from a worldly author. 1 Corinthians 10 leads us through our discernment here; in short, “if you know, don’t go!”. His amazing and masterful works are well written for the pure enjoyment of his audience, but NOT for the Glory of God whom he does not know. If he were writing on subjects he does know, I would have no similar objection; when he is writing on important issues, litterally issues of “Life” and “death” that he doesn’t understand, I say all should steer clear.

KP

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Ya know Joe, I am so excited to be here. I feel like it’s my last stepping stone before I meet Jesus. Current events and social media are rotting my brain, filling me with hate, I have had it. After being here and reading so many posts, I feel like the elevator ride is almost to the top floor. I truly needed this fellowship.

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Thank you for answering honestly. A few related follow up questions are in order.

So you don’t believe God can work through Non-Christians? Our new sister BarbJo herself testifes it brought her to Christ.

Should the intent outweigh the effect?

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Love this.

Scripture gives multiple clear examples of God using unexpected, humble, or even resistant instruments to restrain error, expose pride, or redirect His servants. The point in each case is the same. God’s authority is not limited by the worthiness, intelligence, or status of the instrument He chooses.

The donkey/ASS episode itself sets the pattern.
Numbers 22:28[1] shows God using a mute animal to rebuke a prophet whose spiritual perception had failed.

The irony is intentional. The seer cannot see. The beast/ass does.

J.

  1. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? - KJV ↩︎

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Sometimes we need to turn off and tune out for our own good. This gives us time for greater things, such as fellowship in the Lord. Sadly, too many are addicted to the news even though they can’t stand the contents and what it does to them. More blessings to you for seeing this and stepping away. I am happy that your walk with Jesus led you here to be with us. :footprints:

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You know, sometimes it is okay to use verses other than from a kjv version Bible…

Othertimes it should be mandatory. [1] :slight_smile: (I get the meaning though.)

The [2] trick seems to have drastically improved your posts, by the way. Makes your writings easier to grasp without flooding it out. Good work.

  1. “What have I done unto thee, that thou hast caused me to be intensely attracted to you these three times?” - KPV ­

    ↩︎

  2. :upside_down_face: ↩︎

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And much appreciated for the trick Joe, the KJV quote was for the likes of Anderson, KJV-only-ism

As here…

God bless.

J.

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@Joe-Also

I appreciate your rhetorical question:

“So you don’t believe God can work through Non-Christians?”

Of course, as you know, every question with “Can God” in it already has an answer within the question. The answer is always “God Can!”.

I will give my thoughts on your other question:

“Should the intent outweigh the effect?”

I think what you are asking is, should we consider everything to be “profitable” just because anything is “possible”? My response is, obviously “No!”

However, you originally asked if you, a born-from-above, gospel believing, growing disciple of Christ, should go see the Superstar show yourself. And again, I can unequivocally say “No!”, for the reasons already given.

However, while I cannot personally understand how a lost sinner can one day observe a sunrise, or smell a sweet gardenia, or sob through a funeral, or even watch a musical might perchance, through that pedestrian event, somehow be moved to faith, and put their trust fully in the saving grace of Jesus, I know it happens. But, even though something supernatural has happened, I don’t read we are to begin to use that event as a sign that God is endorsing that thing to us as His means of evangelism; I am not going to start raising donkeys, hoping they will one day talk someone into hearing the Gospel. That fact that unusual conversions happen is, to me, unsearchable grace. It is also an entirely different subject than the one you posed. (IMHO)

Do you get my distinction?

KP

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You raising donkeys is a funny mental image… but I see your point. Well presented. I do get your distinction.

books*kick* ­­ ­ ­ ­ ­ books Ahhh…

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