RIALTO CHATTER: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR To Be 'Resurrected' On Film?

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My sister's high school did this show two years ago. I haven't seen it, but being an atheist who does not like Andrew Lloyd-Webber musicals and HATED Joseph and the blah-blah Dreamcoat... eh, I'll probably end up seeing the movie just because it's a musical.

Being an atheist shouldn't really factor into liking JCS because it's pretty... not in line with common religious views. A lot of religious people even find it offensive.

Basically, it takes a lot of liberties with the Bible, shows Judas sympathetically, and portrays Jesus as more human than most "Jesus movies," which bugs some people.

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Why?!?!?

I actually have a bit of a fondness for "Jesus Christ Superstar" but there are already two film versions out there (one released less than a decade ago) that run the stylistic gamut. What would be accomplished with a third adaptation?

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I love this score and it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to understand what cultural impact this piece had in its day. I've written a 50 page thesis on it, actually. But, why now?

In general, why?

I mean, neither film is satisfactory... but I just don't see the need for this when SO MANY other scores, even ALW scores, would make better movies. We already have TWO versions on DVD.

ALW needs to buy the rights to SUNSET BLVD and just make the go*damn movie if the studio is just dragging their feet as they have for a decade. I think the time is right for that. Not this.

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What's really awesome, AwesomeDanny, is that you seem to be totally dismissive of ALW based on 2 movies (neither of which I liked very much), 1 high school production, and comments from other people.

And by the way .... when Phantom closes (probably not for many more years) it will probably be at least a generation from now when it is surpassed as the longest-running musical.

Muddled thinking is awesome .....in the true dictionary sense.

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At least Les Mis has run for longer than Phantom on West End

Yes, because Les Miz is high art and so much more deserving of the title.

(snort)

Eek This really isn't necessary...why not do a new one!?

" "Sunset Boulevard" isn't generally well known enough, and I have always thought the problem (apart from rights issues) has been the perception that it isn't family friendly enough either. Not that JCS was obviously family friendly, but I can see the attraction."

...My family always enjoyed watching SUNSET much more than JCS. SUNSET's one of Hollywood's greatest tales, I don't necessarily see how it is not family friendly / why that would matter. Phantom killed a lot more than good old Norma.


Which BTW, Phantom sells much better than Chicago. Chicago tends to go through some really low stints throughout the year, where-as Phantom, for the most part sells pretty well.

I'm sure it is much better on stage, but I live in Chicago where the tour isn't coming this season, so I'm out of luck for my opinions to change. I think a big reason why I didn't like it is that I can't watch anything remotely scary. I had to listen to the [title of show] recording when I fell asleep so that I would have less scary nightmares... and I still dreamt of being killed by the Phantom. It's just like in those movies where somebody has a nightmare where they are about to die when they wake up a moment before death. I was in a boat for some weird reason that was being chased by the Phantom who was holding an axe. He chased me around the sewer the boats were in (kinda like the sewer to his lair, except without a weird hideout) and swung the axe to my neck as I suddenly woke up. Now does everybody understand why I can NEVER watch The Phantom of the Opera?

Awesomedanny...Has it not actually occurred to you that it really isn't clever to form such fixed opinions when you are coming from a position of such limited knowledge? And while I am presuming you were very small when scared by the idea of the phantom, and that might mean that you have been put off the concept of the show, you are supposed to learn to be able to be more objective when evaluating quality. And having been scared should have no bearing at all on appreciation of a score. Phantom isn't actually a particular favourite of mine, but I don't deny that it has some amazing songs in it.

And Philly03, I think "Sunset Boulevard" is amazing too! And I would really love to see it filmed fantastically well, not that I would say no to a new JCS either. But of course perception of potential audience matters! Films aren't made for charity. The bottom line is always money.

It has to be better than the previous film. They could not do any worse.

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ladybegood, you were partially right in assuming I was very young when scared of the phantom because I was in second or third grade when I saw the first trailers for the movie. However, it wasn't until sixth or seventh grade when I saw it. I understand that Andrew Lloyd Webber has made a very great contribution to the theater society, but I just don't see anything that makes him so much more special than other, less known composers. As for the score from Phantom, actually the haunting, scary feeling the music gave me is a big reason why I didn't like the score. What I find slightly annoying in Andrew Lloyd Webber shows is that many themes are repeated too many times in the shows.

I haven't used this argument against him yet because I don't believe I have enough evidence yet, but I find some themes are derivative. In "Joseph"'s "Jacob Cam to Egypt" the melody with the lyrics "So Jacob came to Egypt, No longer feeling old" can be found in Mozart's Rhondo Alla Turca. A while ago, I played a Clementi sonatina that had a melody that I could have sworn was in Phantom.

I want to make it clear that I have not used that argument before, and I don't have enough evidence to make the argument yet. Also, If you read my original post, I said I would probably end up watching this remake of "Jesus Christ Superstar" anyway. I won't express any of my already formed opinions about it until I see it. Anyway, if they didn't make the last movie version too long ago, why would they decide to make another this soon? Movies are very expensive, and although a movie musical can be successful, many aren't.

Daughtry as Judas?

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