[Mistress]

I'm just interested in what the local concensus is here...I've just started wactching the new one...and it's interesting to say the least...I really Like Renee Castle's Mary...Jerome Pradon's Judas is creepy to say the least, but I still find him vocally enjoyable, but Carl Anderson from the '73 movie is still my favourite (did I get the name right?).

I'm really not sure what to say to Glenn Carter's Jesus...he's not bad, but I really want to cut off that hair...makes him look like Michael Bolton...
any way, all stop yaking and what for some replies...you guys are the hardcore fans and clearly know more than I do about it.

[Salome]

I like the new one with Glenn Cater. its very visionary. The priests are done quite exquisitely. the whole look and mood is powerful.

[Lazarus (Adam G)]

[Pannic]

I don't like either of the filmed versions.

[JMantis]

Definitely the 73 movie with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson. It's far superior to the new 2000 Stage Production.

[jcstar]

My new review:

Carter: has a few great moments of great acting. Vocally, he's not right for the part. He's got an alright voice and he can sing BUT he doesn't fit the bill as Jesus. I prefer him as Simon.

Pradon: I have enormous respect for him taking on this role. He tried his best to sing it. I can hear the pain and anguish in Judas' lines. His acting is excellent. He has a great understanding of the role.

Castle: I like her. But I think if I saw her live, she'd blow me away. Very pretty and well acted

Johansson: sings the shit out of Pilate! I have seen bootlegs of his Pilate and he's much better in the live. Not sympathetic enough, though.

Owens: Nice to see a black actor play Caiaphas.

Scaffer: a very robotic Annas. Nice interpretation. Annas here seems cold-blooded and heartless.

Mayall: Love the piano bit.

Vincent: Stole the show! Terrific voice. Great Simon Zealotes.

The settingis well done. I love the concept of the film.

But, '73 is perfect. It's a fact.

Andy.

[Beagle On Stage]

[Melindaisy]

I LOVE the 1973 version much more.... Neeley was awesome!

[Tj@themusicals]

I prefer the 1973 interpretation.
Tony Vincent's voice and Jerome's acting are the only saving graces for the modern version
xx

[Lazarus (Adam G)]

73', no question.

There were no redeeming points to the 2000 film.

[learntowalk]

Very, very sad. While Webber and Rice's materials are as amazing as always, I found the staging and the casting (more of the full cast than the main charaters) to be a sad example of type casting and sexisim. Somehow pole dancing on the cross and Victoria secret angels do biker/dometrixes and Herod does the Vegas/mafia thing detract from am amazing piece of work. I've seen this piecee of worki since the 70's in every format from HS productions, church productions, broadway and everything inbetween and this was the first time that the production overshadowed the message, the work and the music. I am so, so sad.

[MunkustrapQC]

Neeley really look like Jesus...
I'm impatient to see him in Montreal in about 1 month...

[Salome]

[Brother Marvin Hinten, S.]

I cry "bull" -- Yvonne would be a better lay, without a doubt.

[Mistress]

My les side would take Renee Castle any day....I agree with Salome ( I can't believe I just said that) Castle was the more attractive Mary, although I though Ellman sang decently. Castle's "How Do I Love Him" was much more emotional though.

I can't really recall the Pilate from ther old Movie, but I actually like the dude in the new movie, same with Rik Mayal or whatever his last name is as Herod (He did get a tad creept after a while, but at least he didn't look like he smoked too much and stuck his hand in an electrical socket)

And Neeley sounded like a Beejees brother...a tad odd for Jesus, but thaen again that was my first experience of the show, so I was generally thrown off a little by Jesus singing falsetto.

[Salome]

[Lazarus (Adam G)]

Castle is one of the worst actresses I've ever seen. It's alright to show emotion, but Castle ---- over I Don't Know How to Love Him. Natlie Toro of the US Tour, the tour version of the 2000 Revival, did ten times better.

And although Ellman isn't 'beautiful', she's kind of cute. And I like her
voice.

[Mistress]

[jcstar]

Who dares say they can't remember Pilater from the '73 film? Who... WHO???

You may want to go back and really LISTEN to Neeley's version. But... you should also listen to Ian Gillan (1970) and Jeff Fenholt (1971) sing Jesus.

I am starting to dislike Carter as Jesus. (Adam, Gibby... be silent!)

Yvonne Elliman is beautiful. You can't deny that. Castle was good... but I'd want to see her live.
Toro was amazing. I saw her as Mary three times and she was everything Elliman was and is. Thing is, she didn't try to be Yvonne. Her version was very different. Anyone who saw her on tour would say that.

Andy.

[kittengoespop]

I said it once, I'll say it again. I can sum up the stupidity of the 1973 movie in five words:

Judas gets chased by tanks.

[Beagle On Stage]

True, Yvonne Elliman isn't exactly a pretty face. But to me, she looks the part. You don't have to be pretty to be a prostitute. And having her not be emphasizes that Jesus loves her for more than just her body, which is not only a huge part of Mary's character, but separates Jesus's character from the other men, too. What Elliman does have is the beautiful long hair so closely tied to Mary Magdalene. She also may not have a gorgeous voice, but her "I Don't Know How to Love Him" is legendary. At the time the film was made, there was basically no one else for the role.

And Renee Castle isn't all she's cracked up to be. I don't think she does much of a job acting the role. Her voice is okay but not outstanding. And I don't like her face, either. She may be a step above Elliman physically, but we're still not talking about a knockout here.

I don't think it matters what the actress looks like as far as this show is concerned. Whereas in DeMille's silent "The King of Kings," we have the stunning Jacqueline Logan playing her as more of a radiant silver-spoon Jezebel type, the Mary Magdalene of "Jesus Christ Superstar" was never a beauty queen.

[Beagle On Stage]

[kittengoespop]

[Pannic]

The show is supposed to have anacrhonisms, hence the machine guns.

But at least they made sense in the 2000 version. The tanks in the 73 movie were just random and out of place.

Which brings me to another point: Simon Zealots. The 2000 version was vastly superior on this number, because the 73 movie fails to get the point accross. In the 73 version (and the current tour), it's just another "Hosanna." In the 2000 version, it actually gets the point accross that they want to arm - these are fanatics. Simon wasn't called a "Zealot" for nothing.

And please do not excuse the ridiculous dancing in the 73 movie with "well he's supposed to be out of control" - no. He just looks stupid.

As to how "effeminate" Glenn Carter is in the role, at least he puts some emotion into it. Neely's Jesus has the personality of a rock.

[jcstar]

^ CRUCIFY HIM!!!!!!!

(I am referring to his description of Neeley's Jesus.)

Andy.

[Pannic]

Oh, please. Aside from his rock screams, Neely has absolutely nothing. In the entire movie, he has about three facial expressions, two of which are exclusively spent in Hosanna.

[Brother Marvin Hinten, S.]

True. But that was in 1973. 35 years later, in my opinion and also in the opinion of a man who has worked in the industry for well over that amount of time, Neeley has not only grown into the part, but is at his absolute best level of performance now, bar any other time in his JCS career.

[Beagle On Stage]

[Pannic]

Likewise, Neely's portrayal as Jesus, as I saw in the tour, was as lame as he was in the movie.

[Lazarus (Adam G)]

[Pannic]

Cute.

[spencerlee]

Not a huge fan of either. but there are parts I like of each one. I like the voices better in Glenn Carter's version but I like Harod's song better in ted Neely's. It depends on what mood I'm in

[Lazarus (Adam G)]