Every version of the story of Jesus, even the most "traditional" is based on interpretation. So it shouldn't have been so surprising when in 1971 Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice introduced their own version, a rock-opera called Jesus Christ Superstar. As an alternate way of approaching the story, Superstar is totally legitimate. As a piece of musical theater, however, its charms may get lost of a lot of people.

The company performing the version presented on Univeral's new DVD also performed the show onstage in London. Some of the cast members, particularly Fred Johanson as Pontius Pilate, make a strong impression, while others, like Jerome Pradon as Judas, throw a little too much swagger into their roles. Jesus himself, as played by the pouty Glenn Carter, comes off as more Fabio than faith-based. The entire film has an air of gay camp, sort of a Jesus-meets-Queer as Folk, with the apostles resembling a bunch of Chelsea boys and the temple looking like the set of "Satan's Alley" from John Travolta's tremendously cheesy Staying Alive. To a fan of Lloyd Webber's style, Superstar is probably near-flawless. To anyone else it might just grate on the ears.

VIDEO:
The anamorphic video is crisp and the colors strong. For such an unabashedly stage-bound production the filming techniques are stylish and effective. The transfer looks good.

AUDIO:
The audio is also well-produced. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is taken from the cast album and sounds slickly produced.

EXTRAS:
A making of piece covers a little bit of the history of the production and some of the controversy from its original run as well as the preparations for this recent revival. While some of the cast members are not necessarily so well informed (One refers to the story of Jesus as "the oldest story in the world.") it is a well done piece.

A trailer is also included.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Fans of the musical will definitely be interested in seeing this modern retelling, minus the Seventies outfits and hair. Those not into the style, however, will probably thank the Lord when it's over.