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| From: Spotify |
My Dad brought me and my sibs back in the 70s to see this film in the big screen. I fell asleep. I am the youngest of 7 children and my older sibs liked it and even bought a vinyl record of it. Growing up, as they would play it from time to time, I learned to like the songs. These three are my favorites among them:
- Gethsemane
- Heaven on their Minds
and of course, the most popular track of them all:
- I Don't Know How to Love Him
I would listen to them and the entire album (now on Spotify, where I got that image from) even during off-Lenten season.
Now 50 years later, in the season on Lent 2023, I got back to see the entire film and this time I was wide awake. It is a Rock Opera on Theater on Film. It's got the elements of Theater in terms of its Music and Dance. For its Film elements. the shots of the ruins of Israel and other deserts of the Middle East were just exquisite. The acting and the singing, of course, completed this masterpiece. That is not to mention yet, the wardrobe. You will see that the fashion then is back now. Yes, it tells the story of Jesus Christ from 2000 years ago showing the current fashion.
The reason, I guess, why I fell asleep as a kid when I first watched it, was because everything is in song. Maybe I was lullabied, I don't know. But as I watched it now in my more mature years, I got to appreciate where Andrew Lloyd Weber got his inspiration. There is so much emotion to gather from the Life of Christ to create powerful Music.
The Agony in the Garden is one such powerful moment where Jesus was anticipating the suffering He was about to go through. The WHYYYYYYYY in the song, "Gethsemane" really pierced my heart. I felt the anguish the human Jesus was going through - the question why He has to die and at the same time having to accept it. Ted Neeley really hit that high note with the right amount of anger. In Tagalog, we call it "ANGAS". Mr Neeley is my rock star!
Another notable moment was the heated exchange between Judas and Jesus in the last supper. Next time you witness two people fighting, listen more closely and you will hear them actually singing! Carl Anderson, who played Judas and Ted Neeley were doing just that! Really, what best way to release your passion! Through music and song!
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| From the Twitter of Ted Neeley |
Heaven on Their Mind is a Carl Anderson piece and starts the story of this film. He goes "JESUUUUUUSSS!!! You started to believe, the things they say of you, you really do believe this talk of God is truuueeeee" I particularly like the red outfit they put on him. It really shows the negative/antagonistic character of Judas.
Carl Anderson has passed away in 2004 of leukemia. He was only 58.
Next, Yvonne Elliman. While the film had a lot of masculine and fierce characters, the performance of Yvonne as Mary Magdalene gave it its feminine touch. Although Mother Mary per se was not represented in the film, this character performed the role of the one who took care of Jesus during the time he was approaching His death. Doing that, she goes "I've been changed, yes, really changed" You will also see her the one affected and devastated as Jesus was sentenced to die.
There. I've talked about my 3 favorite songs from the film but it should not discount the other scenes. I so enjoyed the Herod scene with Josh Mostel, the Pilate scene with Barry Dennen (RIP+) etc etc etc. There is so much more to say but I think I should already end this review and I hope you who are reading this are moved to watch it even if it's not Lent anymore.
Produced and Directed by Norman Jewison
Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice
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