Product Details

• Actors: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen, Bob Bingham
• Directors: Norman Jewison
• Writers: Norman Jewison, Melvyn Bragg
• Producers: Norman Jewison, Robert Stigwood
• Format: DTS Surround Sound, Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Unknown)
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed: French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: August 31, 2004
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (493 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00028HBIO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,229 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #36 in Movies & TV > DVD > Musicals
• Learn more about "Jesus Christ Superstar (Special Edition)" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ted Neeley makes for a wimpy looking Jesus in Norman Jewison's screen adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice "rock opera," which was a smash on stage in the early '70s. Jewison (Other People's Money) adds some good exterior settings in the desert, but Lloyd Webber and Rice's dialogue-free story (everything is sung, as in a real opera), with its quasi-profundities about the inner demons of principal figures in the life of Christ, is the real hook. Yvonne Elliman sings the show's best-known song, "I Don't Know How to Love Him." --Tom Keogh

Product Description

Jesus, Judas and Mary Magdalene cross paths in this version of the rock opera. Directed by Norman Jewison.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

299 of 303 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jesus Christ Superstar Special Edition AND THEN SOME... May 24, 2005

By Lauren H. Lavine

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's absolutely fabulous. Please note buyers that if you want closed captioned and you don't see it listed in the description, not to fear because it does have closed captioned in English. In order to get the closed captioning in English all you need to do is make sure that the option for closed captioning is turned on through your television instead of your DVD/DVR player(s). This applies to any DVD that says closed captioned is available but does not allow for an English option. It has everything the regular edition has plus a few more extras. I was really impressed with the quality of the picture as well as the sound. Also, because it's a widescreen version as well when you choose to use the closed captioning it doesn't get in the way of the picture which is a nice advantage. I believe you'll love it. The music is extraordinary. Ted Neeley was wonderful and Carl Anderson is extremely talented. It's a rock opera not a musical and every song tells the story. Truly ingenious the way it was produced. The fact that it was shot on location in Israel gives it the authenticity you don't always see in films. I recommend buying the soundtrack as well. You can't beat the wonderful price either.

115 of 120 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Beware the DVD transfer March 26, 2004

By A Customer

Format:DVD

I've been a big fan of JCS ever since the concept album came out. Over the years, I have come to appreciate Norman Jewison's interpretation, as well as his magnificent landscape shots, more and more. For me, this telling of the Jesus story is much more moving than Mel's Passion, thus my extreme disappointment after buying the DVD version when I discovered that a simple transfer of the film to DVD had been made. Unlike the restoration effort of many other transfers, in this case, there was no attempt to upgrade the sound when it was put into a 5.1 format. In other words, the film was literally copied straight onto the DVD version with all of the tape hiss, high frequency machine noise, and other assorted crackles. Perhaps Universal didn't feel the extra effort was warranted due to financial concerns, but in a film where the sound is crucial, this lack of attention detracts from the viewing experience. This being said, the DVD is still worth owning, particularly for an economical 15 bucks or less. Just beware of the sound quality.

79 of 82 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best movie/musicals of all time April 7, 2001

By "cwlova"

Format:VHS Tape

It took me almost two years (and a recent viewing of the new JCS movie) to fully appreciate the masterpiece that is Jesus Christ Superstar, the 1973 film. Told entirely through catchy, rock opera music, it tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ, but is hardly a literal interpretation and consists mostly of the drama between Judas and Jesus. The point of the film is to show the bible in a new way- that everyone, even Jesus's closest disciples helped contribute to the death of Jesus through their inescapable humanism. Filmed in the Jerusalem desert, the production is wonderful. It's as if the best singers, film makers, dancers, musicians, and songwriters (Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice) came together for this one movie. Carl Anderson stars as Judas and is arguably the best performer to ever perform the role. Ted Neeley is fantastic too even though it takes a while to "get" the strenghth in his underacting. Norman Jewison, who's experience and creativity as director shines through with every scene, takes the musical to another level, using a brilliantly conceptual theme that is introduced at the very beginning of the film. The locations are beautiful and fit perfectly within the context of the story. The film has great music, the ideas it tries to get across are poignant, and it is much, much better than the new film in its directing, acting, choreograpphy, and singing.