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Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Jesus Christ Superstar: did you think this production would become a record breaker ?
An all time favourite! I've seen it many times and I do not refrain from being moved every time ! The first time I saw it I was 9 years old and it did make an impact, I saw it again years later and I fell for it ! Now I have it on video and it is still interesting. Why ? The cast is splendid, the lyrics are brilliant, fantastically sung, the music is great, the scenery is although low budget, always wonderfully inventively used overwhelming ! This movie grips you at the throat and nails you to your tree eh
seat. The beginning of the movie is great, a splendid intro that gives a gloomy look at mid east ruins and landscape. Then on the horizon a greyhound type bus which races on the bumpy road. It's the young hippie cast of the movie with all the props. Just watch them get out of the bus, stretch their legs, chat somewhat and then: action ! Unload the bus. See one guy climbing onto the hood of the bus and pull up another guy which jumps on the roof and pulls the first guy upon it. Haha, the sixties ! Tin hats, machine guns a whip
he, where's that wooden cross going ? Then from the middle of a gathering blooms Ted Neeley, JC himself in a very basic, brilliantly white robe. Then the title Jesus Christ SUPERSTAR ! And what a spectacular title ! Sure it seems tame enough now but when you consider traditional believers it is
blasphemy ! While Jesus walks and chats with his overenthusiastic followers, Judas from a distance overlooks the situation: I see it all much clearer now
too much heaven on their minds ! Sung brilliantly with great posture, expressions, action and intonations. Judas (fantastically played by Carl Anderson) convincingly makes his point, alone in the desert. And although you know he is the one that will betray Jesus, you cannot dislike him. Brilliant lyrics also, did I already mention that ? Then watch the complot unfold, apostles, the Zealots, the rest of the herd, the priests and
Judas. While Jesus is the star, Judas is the most important figure who tries to overlook the situation unknowing that God has got the real 20/20 oversight Vision. One more detail: See the priests on top of their scaffolding/temple. The stress their words by rattling their hands upon the metal pipes ! Surprising views at the market/temple, the explicitly represented hunt on Judas' mind, the horrifying betrayal. A last supper - with painting like still - an unforgettable plea to God for answers. ('You are far to keen on when and how. But not so keen on why !') While the authorities fiddle about with the silent King and nobody seems to want to take responsibility of clearing this mistaken fool, Pilate finally washes his hands in a bowl and concedes to the mob's wishes. ('We have no King but Caesar !' 'You hypocrites, you hate us more than him !') Then the stage is set for the pardoned Judas with a lot of quite loose angels. Although Judas still does not see the point of the whole Jesus mania ('Why'd you choose such a backward time in such a strange land ?
Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication.'), he is the rock superstar of this production. Jesus seems (!) kind of dull, leaving you begging for answers. I will not spoil the end of the movie, but chances are you already know how it ends
No one was hurt in making this movie and a company somewhat more wise after this tale departs the desert in their bus. Leaving everything the same and yet undoubtedly very different
Anyway, to me this is 10 out of 10 !
Great Performances: Jesus Christ Superstar (2000)
I did watch it 2 times in 2 days; I do NOT like this !
OK, I do have the pleasure of knowing the movie-version of the stage musical. It happens to be one of my all time favourites. Seen it many time over 25 years. I like the story, the singing, the lyrics, the actors, the setting, the grips, the splendid effective amateurism, the whole lot. 5+ Stars. But now.... I watched this formerly for me fully unknown version, I recorded it, and watched it twice. Really I cannot sit still and looking at it with some feeling of unease. I did not like, the city-grafitti setting but that was not hm... omnipresent so that is not the biggest problem, this Judas is white, OK, but.. he ain't has got the blues like that other fellow has. Heaven on their minds in 73 is beautiful, but this is bad singing. Strange accents also, British or what ? I love the intonation in '73 but this is, indeed no shameless copy, but quite often quite wrong and misplaced. I do not like any of the actors, not one of them is, for me, genuine or convincing. It is more a stage-production and as such it is a worthwhile experience but I will not look at the thing again. Jesus, well he does his best I guess but he not even close to the real thing. Herod, Rick, you are just a tiny bit awful ! Stick to the 'Young Ones' and 'Bottom', that's your level.;-) Pilatus, well Nazi-look is impressive but he does not fit in the Plan. Priest, well, I am not gonna say anything negative about the Clergy but I had the impression that '73 Caiaphas just stepped off his Harley and still he made a very good performance. Sorry guys, I do like the mixture of Black as Night and White as Sheet, but hm. that's is it. Why do you not have the pretty hats from '73 ? Maria, ah, well she wasn't too bad, but she does not make my back itch like in '73. But it is a small role anyway... The title song is splendid in '73 and horrendous in the version ! As a Jesus (CS) Freak ;-)I watched it a second time with the lyrics printed before me, to give it another chance, to set aside my acquired taste for '73 but it does not 'Rock this cynic' even so they tried. If you do not know JCS'73 but do know this one, or are about to see it then give it a chance and pay special attention to the fabulous lyrics and music. But... get to experience '73 !!! Then you will say: My mind is clearer now. At last I can see.. which version I like best. Sorry, maybe I must be getting old (well, older anyway) but you can not beat '73!! I would give this a 3 out of 10.(at most)
The Avengers (1998)
Absolutely awful, simply completely unattractive
All words are wasted on this film. The only good thing if you look at it from the bright side is that you hopelessly long for the real thing back in the old days. The story is absolute rubbish, the actors are always completely unbelievable. Now I will end this line and 'review'. Trust me (or us) on this one ! Do NOT rent it !
La vita è bella (1997)
One of the most embarresing disapointments despite of its heavy theme and glorious welcome
What an awful movie. This is supposed to be a perfect match between drama and comedy. It has missed the nail on both counts. In fact it misses every nail you can think of. It is badly acted, totally incredulous, unbelievable silly extremely childish jokes, no tension whatsoever. I only liked Benini (a lot) in Down by law. Watch the movie to check what a lot of other people say, and wait to be heavily disappointed like me.
A Time to Kill (1996)
If you have got the time to watch another film, my advice would be do so and try another Grisham-movie of take Mississipi Burning
What ? Is this film based on a book from the 'great' author John Grisham ? I thought that he was supposed to be a lawyer writing legal books which are legally correct or at least convincing ? Well, he must have had a terrific head-ache because the story of this movie is rubbish ! The story about a (black) father whose 10 year old daughter has been brutally raped and almost killed and who revenges himself on the (white) trash is OK for me but the movie tries to make this legally acceptable ! Ridiculous. The father is OK by me and probably by most viewers but it still remains a vigilante type of action. The role of Sandra Bullock is strange, the legal whizkid which gives important advice to the lawyer on little scraps of paper is handy but she is annoying and one can constantly feel the threat of a forbidden love-affair. Please don't ! The movie is not a movie about Racism, not about the KKK. You can far better watch Mississipi Burning for that. The plea at the end of the movie is hard to stand. Very, very disappointing and I can still not believe anyone taking this movie serious.
Giù la testa (1971)
This is a great film, rough, sweaty, cynical, humorous and a great adventure which will splatter you with tomato-sauce !
This is a great movie which is a real Leone/Morricone product: beautiful close-ups, beautiful music, a fabulously vicious cast, a great story, a lot of laughs and a lot more.
To me this movie, despite its age, is still interesting for a lot of people. This movie has some critical elements which are brilliantly envisioned. The story of a drifting Irish revolutionary biker and a poor struggling Mexican is a delightful mixture which has a lot to offer. You have probably seen Once Upon a Time in the West; this one is the same... yet very different. Pity they do not show this movie much on T.V. Hope you will have a chance to view it soon - it is worth skipping the all-too-familiar bar-visits !
Abel (1986)
Good, fruity, optimistic, colourful, comical and identifiable (among other)
Abel is a very amusing movie. It has been made with love and class. It has a very familiar odor of burned potatoes and crispy fishfingers. Life is sweet certainly when you are still within reach of your (obsessive) mother and notwithstanding the difficult relation to your strict dad. I could make this a lot longer but at this instant I just wanted to be the first person to add a comment. In short, very good movie !