Andrew Lloyd Webber

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Holy Boredom: The Jesus Christ Superstar Film

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[I came to the film version of "Jesus Christ Superstar"] with virgin eyes and ears both of which were glazed after one hour and forty minutes of almost unmitigated boredom. At the risk of being sacrilegious, I couldn't wait until they nailed Jesus….

[There's] the scene where Jesus is tossing the moneychangers out of the temple which is filled with postcard stands and hookers. In fact, in charging through the temple, Jesus breaks up a lot of mirrors and one can only conclude the curse of seven years bad luck was the reason Jesus died. The shallowness of most of the portrayals and simple-mindedness of a lot of the lyrics hardly make you feel there's any other reason. There is just nothing truly moving or inspiring about this film….

The film "Jesus Christ Superstar" only underlines to me the dangers of trying to be too hip and groovy with a story that is one of the most important in history.

Loraine Alterman, "Holy Boredom: The Jesus Christ Superstar Film," in Melody Maker (© IPC Business Press Ltd.), June 16, 1973, p. 3.

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