My family quit trying to pretend to be normal a long time ago. We've even stopped wishing for it. Easter traditions in this house means shushing everyone and sitting down for the all time best of the favorite movies: the 1973 rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar.
"WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY should I dieeeeeeeeeeee ohhhhhhhh
Why should I dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."
Right here.
Our reasons for loving this 1973 classic are beyond measure, but I'll give you the quick tour: the best Jesus ever, Ted Neeley. There is no other Jesus possible. His octave range is from the heavens. The HIGH songs that never sound like wailing, but instead true lamentations of the soul. How else can you hold three boys stone quiet during a movie without one second of dialogue?
This movie is the best Jesus movie with the best Jesus songs and the best Jesus. You won't hear songs performed better by anyone as they are here. You won't see a scene played with more pained authenticity than when JS Superstar's Pontius Pilate washes his hands of Jesus' death.
To watch this film is to see an amazing masterpiece, the singing, the actors, the story, the zealots dancing, the Age of Aquarius hair! All without a single word exchanged. It's the gut punch of music that stirs emotions that words cannot.
My children were amazed when I pointed that out to them, a story told all in song. And they are not fans of musicals.
"This is a musical?"
"Yes it is."
"But I don't like musicals. And Dad hates musicals. Are you sure it's a musical?"
"Yes it is."
They never even noticed. They only love it because to them, it's now church.
Why should I dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."
Right here.
Our reasons for loving this 1973 classic are beyond measure, but I'll give you the quick tour: the best Jesus ever, Ted Neeley. There is no other Jesus possible. His octave range is from the heavens. The HIGH songs that never sound like wailing, but instead true lamentations of the soul. How else can you hold three boys stone quiet during a movie without one second of dialogue?
This movie is the best Jesus movie with the best Jesus songs and the best Jesus. You won't hear songs performed better by anyone as they are here. You won't see a scene played with more pained authenticity than when JS Superstar's Pontius Pilate washes his hands of Jesus' death.
To watch this film is to see an amazing masterpiece, the singing, the actors, the story, the zealots dancing, the Age of Aquarius hair! All without a single word exchanged. It's the gut punch of music that stirs emotions that words cannot.
My children were amazed when I pointed that out to them, a story told all in song. And they are not fans of musicals.
"This is a musical?"
"Yes it is."
"But I don't like musicals. And Dad hates musicals. Are you sure it's a musical?"
"Yes it is."
They never even noticed. They only love it because to them, it's now church.
Jesus Christ Superstar is over 40 years old. It's still, so good. Timeless, eternal. Just like the original story.
I'm going to sum up my obsession for this movie this way - chilling, to the bone, tears in my eyes, you can hear a pin drop in our house when we watch. Even after 1,000 views and now on to a second generation of fans.
ha. i have seen it maybe once...sorry, i am sure that disappoints you...smiles.i dont know if my boys have ever seen it....hmm...maybe i need to correct that...smiles.
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of fact, I absolutely adore that movie. LOVE it. I was ten when it came out and we watched it then and our family had the album. And I've seen it countless times since, most recently sometime last year. Those are my go-to belt-em-out songs (as long as there is no one around to mock me). I had childhood crushes on both Ted Neely and Carl Anderson, and loved the sympathetic portrayal of Judas. I actually think the seeds of my atheism were planted with that movie. But the humanness of it is incredibly moving to me.
ReplyDeleteMy sister's husband is an Episcopal priest and before he was ordained he was showing me the ornately embroidered white robe with gilt trim. It had a very 70's feel to it. I said, "You know, Frank, every time I look at you I don't understand..." and he interrupted me to say, "I know, very Jesus Christ Superstar, isn't it?"
You made me laugh, Secret Agent Woman. And Brian, my teens LOVE love sitting down and watching this movie on the weekends. I love that bond. Scraps: you nail it. The HUMANNESS of it. I love it.
DeleteI've been listening to the original concept album recording for the last couple of weeks--it was an early fav when I went through my musicals phase in Middle/High school and still holds true.
ReplyDeleteI love that the movie version is wonderfully irreverent and anachronistic but not hokey or heavy-handed like Godspell was.
I think I have achieved a proper level of shame concerning the fact that I have never seen this movie!
ReplyDeleteThe community theatre that I play at most often is doing this for their fall production . . . I'm super excited ;-)
ReplyDeleteI used to ask to rent this all the time as a kid and my parents were usually confused about it.
ReplyDeleteRenee, my husband and kids bought it for me about ten years ago b/c we were always renting it. I LOVE IT.
DeleteI love this show! It was one of my favorite musicals to watch, and it was a thrill to be in it.
ReplyDeleteI have actually never seen it before!
ReplyDeleteOh, @airing: it's a great movie. My kids and I love it.
ReplyDeleteI never saw it, though my neighbor was in his college production of it when I was little. Does that count? I think it's totally something I would geek out on if given the chance though. Love me some Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen it, but of course, heard of it. Now I'm going to have to watch it! That's a funny Easter tradition. We're pretty unconventional over here too. My daughter still complains about the time I made the kids pull weeds on Easter.
ReplyDelete