As you may know, I really like Jesus Christ Superstar. I’ve written about it on my own blog and I’ve even written about it on this blog (last year–check here if you want). Since it’s Easter, I thought I’d mention it again, especially because I’ve seen a few news items related to the movie and the musical in the news lately.

First of all, have you heard of Muppets Christ Superstar? I’m not sure what to make of it, but I think it’s pretty funny, at the very least. I tip my hat to the guy who made it, although Gonzo will never be able to sing like Carl Anderson:

Next up: Apparently Ted Neeley, the original Jesus from the musical, is reprising his role and taking the show to Rome. He’s hoping to get the Pope to check it out. If I were the Pope, I’d definitely go. But then again, you probably have to be Catholic to be Pope, so this scenario probably won’t play itself out too soon.

Finally, I came across this article talking about how a group of prison inmates in Peru will be performing the play. You really should check out the pictures of the stage. I wish there were some video, too, but I guess I’ll have to head south and commit a crime if I want to see it.

I know not too many people read this blog, but has anyone else watched this movie lately? If not, see it tonight! Thanks for reading, and Happy Easter!

Carl Anderson, Ted Neely, and Yvonne Elliman. Of all the coffee breaks in history, this is the one I most regret not being part of.

I won’t get too much into the movie here, seeing as I’ve already written a lot about it in other places (if you feel like reading my commentary on JCS, The Last Temptation of Christ, and the theological implications of the roles of Jesus and Judas in general, here are a few thousand words for you). Anyhow, the movie itself is actually 40 years old (man, that’s crazy!), and it’s a musical that tells the story of Jesus from the perspective of Judas (who turns out to have incredible singing chops–who knew?).

Needless to say, the movie has a few anachronistic elements. This is Herod.

If you’ve not seen JCS, though, I can heartily recommend it. It’s excellent for many reasons: the songs, the acting, the singing, the setting, the nostalgic value, and the ability to make the viewer think. It’s my favorite musical, and it’s also on my list of Top 10 movies in general (sandwiched at #9 between the two Godfathers). I’ve talked about it with ministers, Germans, devout church-goers, lapsed Catholics, non-believers, and even a drunk guy in Madrid (who burst Jesus’ part from “What’s the Buzz”). The point is, if you’re thinking, “But I’m not religious, so I’m not really interested,” then you should still give it a chance:

I know that Easter isn’t really as “ripe” for movie fodder as some holidays, but does anyone else out there have any movies that they like to watch around now, whether for Easter or Spring in general?