JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (THE ARENA TOUR)
Musical theatre fans take note: an exciting 21st century reinvention of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary rock classic is set to hit Australian cinemas for one week only. Filmed live at London’s 02 Arena, the latest production of Jesus Christ Superstar is surprisingly inspiring and emotionally intense, with a contemporary take on costuming and that super-awesome soundtrack including hits Hosanna, Could We Start Again Please and Heaven on Their Minds.
While former Spice Girl Melanie C is a questionable choice as Mary Magdalene, Tim Minchin plays the cynical and tormented Judas with perfect conviction, and Ben Foster is equally fitting for the role of Jesus. For those worried about seeing a film of a live production, it is done so well it feels like you are getting more out of it than if you were actually there.
Hippies are replaced with punk-anarchists, the Jewish rabbis with bearded men in snazzy suits, and King Herod is a charismatic game-show host, in this highly recommended film that will make both old and new fans obsessed with the soundtrack all over again. (MH) ***1/2
