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Jesus Christ Superstar (2018)
#1
My love for JCS is long standing and deep. I am still bitter that the family all went to see the musical at the Circle Star Theater when I was young and left me at Bob Pratt's birthday party. Still bitter. They did bring home the recording of the musical and my mother played it constantly while dancing around the living room. And when she didn't play it, I did. For some reason, I would act out the flagellation scene.

I was not a big fan of the movie version. But watching bits and pieces of it over the weekend, I might have to reassess. I really need to get one of the hats Ciaphas wears.

Wow. Just wow. Really well done. It helped to have this on the DVR delay so I could fast forward through the commercials. I thought the production design was extraordinary. I had an inkling it was going to be off the charts when John Legend makes his entrance as Jesus and goes and shakes hands with the audience as part of his adoration. All I kept thinking was I wish I was there in the audience.

John Legend was good. Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene did a good job. The Queen was not fond of Pontius Pilate but I thought his interpretation of the character was strong. He did look like a Sting knock-off  and it was sad that he sort of lost his voice at the end. I think the counting of the whips is what did him in.

But what you really need for Jesus Christ Superstar is a great Judas and this Judas was really good. I didn't recognize the name but he earned his spurs as Burr in Hamilton. As Lin Manuel pointed it's a pretty good career when you get to kill Hamilton and Jesus.

I loved the choreography. I thought it was great incorporating the musicians into the production. Sets were great. I loved the spray painting beginning. It was a great night of TV!

The weakest moment for me was Alice Cooper as Herod. To be fair, this is my favorite song in the musical and I have the Original Cast Recording burnt into my brain. That is the standard. No, I'm not fond of the movie version of the song either. While Alice Cooper's presentation of Herod was terrific, I though his singing was not up to par. I really didn't care for the spoken part at the beginning. (Yes, if you play those opening notes I will sing along)
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm

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#2
(04-02-2018, 06:56 AM)Greg Wrote: For some reason, I would act out the flagellation scene.

TMI, bro.  Major TMI.
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#3
What can I say? I'm a giver.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm

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#4
The flagellation music is some of the most compelling music on the soundtrack. I used to rewind the cassette (that we got from the record club) to play it again.
the hands that guide me are invisible
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#5
(04-03-2018, 09:19 AM)King Bob Wrote: The flagellation music is some of the most compelling music on the soundtrack. I used to rewind the cassette (that we got from the record club) to play it again.

Hold the phone...is this some DOOM thing that I've not been privy to?  WTH?
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#6
Well alright then. That was the first of these live tv musicals that I made it through. John, Sara & Brandon nailed it. I enjoyed Alice but I’ve becime a fan of his radio show on the Hippo. Pilate failed at the crescendo and was the lone sour note of the cast. I enjoyed the look and design but found the cinematography too swirling and overdone (the choreography was already frenetic enough - in a good way). Likewise too heavy handed with the gratuitous guitar riffs. The musical backing was too bombastic, spoiling some of the tender moments in the ballads. Nevertheless, entertaining on the whole - I would enjoy a stripped down soundtrack, one that just focused on the soaring vocal gymnastics of the leads JC, JI & MM. Those three really won me over for this version. The flaggelation was spoiled for me by your discussion of it. It built my expectations too high, so when it came, it was anticlimactic.
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#7
Oh, sure. Make me the martyr.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm

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#8
Camerawork afterthoughts - it was too ambitious technically. The constantly moving cameras frequently caught each other or their own shadows and that was distracting. I would’ve enjoyed several still cams better. That would’ve allowed me to appreciate the choreography more. But then again, maybe the frantic cams concealed mediocre choreography just like with fight scenes.
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#9
Next week, when The Queen departs to be with her beloved Cubbies, I'll be dancing around the house ala Risky Business with JCS cranked to 11.

The problem with the camera work is that they wanted to probably make it an immersive experience. But the choreographer probably did his or her job so the audience could enjoy it best.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm

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#10
Quote:Hold the phone...is this some DOOM thing that I've not been privy to?  WTH?

Hey I just listened to it. It was Greg with the dance.

And there was a big review of the new Andrew Lloyd Weber autobiography in a recent New Yorker. The author put forth the interesting idea that Weber's music is the endpoint of prog rock.
the hands that guide me are invisible
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#11
(04-05-2018, 01:33 PM)Greg Wrote: Next week, when The Queen departs to be with her beloved Cubbies, I'll be dancing around the house ala Risky Business with JCS cranked to 11.
Now I have this mental image of Tom Cruise skidding into the doorway not with a candlestick but a bullwhip, and he gives himself a good whack on the backside before bursting into song.
I'm nobody's pony.
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#12
(04-05-2018, 01:33 PM)Greg Wrote: Next week, when The Queen departs to be with her beloved Cubbies, I'll be dancing around the house ala Risky Business with JCS cranked to 11.

TMI

(04-05-2018, 01:33 PM)Greg Wrote: The problem with the camera work is that they wanted to probably make it an immersive experience. But the choreographer probably did his or her job so the audience could enjoy it best.

Agreed.
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#13
Can't stop until you get enough.

Maybe I should post a video on Monday?
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm

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#14
Happy Easter 2020.

I was catching some of the religious epics over on TCM (Telly Savalas played Pontius Pilate? Seriously?) when I realized I could just be watching JCS since I never erased it from the DVR.

Still good. Should be called the Judas show. Liked the Bonus song better this time Although it is the one song that doesn't seem to have it's basis in scripture. I liked Pontius better this time, saw what he was going for. Still sad his voice gave out on him for the end. Still mad Alice speaks the first lines of his song. Where is Murray Head when you need him the most? On the whole it was a good revisit.

This is my version of the Bible.

Today, Monday, the songs are still ear worming through my brain. Try not to turn on to problems that upset you.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm

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#15
(04-13-2020, 06:33 AM)Greg Wrote: This is my version of the Bible.

was there...



...flagellation?
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