Jesus Christ Superstar: Live Arena Tour (2012)

Based on the hit Broadway musical, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, this film tells the story of the last week of the life of Jesus of Nazareth as a rock opera.

I probably don't need to go into great detail on the plot, I think the story is probably pretty well known by this point.

But allow me this small indulgence. Jesus and his band of followers arrive in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Passover. When they get there, a large crowd gathers around Jesus, and eventually the chief priests and teachers of the law hatch a plot to get rid of him once and for all, as they believe he will cause an uprising and overthrow the powers of the day. They arrest him and have him crucified, and his disciples flee.

At least that is the story as we know it from the gospels, and it is the basic plot of the musical. But this retelling is different again, even from the original stage production.

This version has been heavily modernised, with Jesus’ followers gaining traction through their tweets, status updates and YouTube clips. Jesus is not a Messiah here, but an anarchist revolutionary who wants to overthrow the corporate structure of society.

All this is well and good for a modern film, I suppose, but the notion that someone would be crucified for it in the twenty-first century is way too far fetched for my liking.

Everything about the show has been modernised, but the music and lyrics are still exactly the same, still stuck back in the first century.

The cast are good, however. Tim Minchin plays Judas Iscariot, and does so very well. Mary Magdalene, who falls in love with Jesus as in the original production is played by Melanie Chisholm of Spice Girls fame.

Jesus is played by Ben Forster, and while his singing ability is good, he comes across as a feeble pawn, rather than a revolutionary leader and prophet.

Pete Gallagher as the high priest Caiaphas is a particular standout from the cast, and there's just something about that deep bass voice that is perfect for the role.

Kevan Allen's choreography works with the modernisation of the show quite well, and also utilises the space effectively (this filmed version of a stage performance was made at the O2 Arena in London).

Director Laurence Connor has made a relatively enjoyable film here. Just don't expect it to be a verbatim account of the life of Christ, it's a retelling of a retelling, to be more accurate.

Check it out if you get a chance, just in time for Easter.

6 out of 10.