If you've seen the 1973 version of JCS, can you tell me why a movie about Jesus includes guns, blue jeans, tanks, and jets?
2006-07-02 17:28:30 · 8 answers · asked by Nowhere Man 6 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
I think JCS did have the resurrection, in a symbolic form at the end with Jesus / Ted Neeley walking at the bottom of the screen with the sun setting.
2006-07-02 17:54:32 · update #1
it was an anti war flick
2006-07-02 17:32:21 · answer #1 · answered by ithek_thundervoice 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Think of it as more modernized - that Jesus and his followers are seen as this radical militant group.
But the 2000 movie (based on the London stage revival) is even more modernized - grafitti, more guns, electronic scroll signs, TV/video production "news" crews, etc.
Instead of setting it entirely in a historic period, since it already is a rock opera, why not make it somewhat relevant to the existing time period? To quote from "Superstar" (ghost/voice of Judas):
"Every time I look at you I don't understand
Why you let the things you did get so out of hand.
You'd have managed better if you'd had it planned.
Why'd you choose such a backward time in such a strange land?
If you'd come today you could have reached a whole nation.
Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication. "
2006-07-03 00:50:03 · answer #2 · answered by mrvadeboncoeur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This movie of a broadway musical was supposed to depict a sort of hippie Jesus with contemporary images and concepts - it got a lot of flack because of the lyrics to the title song and that it left out the resurrection,and the negative way it depicted the Jews-also using a black actor as Judas was a big deal to some people at that time. It includes one of Webber and Rice's best songs, I Dont Know How to Love Him
2006-07-03 00:47:38 · answer #3 · answered by grandfather 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My favorite movie of all time!
Those elements were symbolic on many levels. I remember seeing it when i was around 8 por 9 and the guns were much more real and intimidating to me than any spears or swords would have been. The presence of guns and tanks are also indicative of the situation in the middle east around the holy land. As it was in 73, it still is today.
The story of christ is just as current today as it was in 73 and it always will be.
2006-07-03 00:47:45 · answer #4 · answered by little_baby_kahn 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Jesus Christ Superstar" is the film that took a dusty, stagnant religion and presented it to young people in a manner that they could understand and participate in. In the jargon of the times, after seeing this film young people "turned on to Jesus." This is similar to what Tom Key, Harry Chapin and Clarence Jordan did in "Cotton Patch Gospel." Norman Jewison made JCS to appeal to people who had experienced the 60's while CPG aims at the redneck south.
2006-07-03 00:54:15 · answer #5 · answered by Chutzpah 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It was paraphrasing the Gospel. In other words putting the story in modern settings. If it happened today there would be blue jeans, guns, and jets.
2006-07-03 00:33:37 · answer #6 · answered by Stratobratster 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because JCS was meant to be contemporary. (for the time period). There's a graphic novel that tells the Passion story from a 21st. century perspective and He's wearin' jeans in that one too!
2006-07-03 00:32:36 · answer #7 · answered by blkrose65 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because some people hate Jesus Christ and dont believe in him so they want people to think hes bad which is which is outstandingly horrid!!!!!!
2006-07-03 00:32:58 · answer #8 · answered by ImAnswer 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋