Lightdeossk Captivating movie !

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Melanie Bouvet The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Charles Herold (cherold) The message of Godspell is basically, hey kids, Jesus is a groovy cat who wants you to treat people good. This was my idea of Jesus as a pre- atheist kid: not the miracle Jesus, or the gory bleeding Jesus, or the Jesus sending folks to hell, or the Jesus that requires nothing except unfailing belief, but that fellow who talked about the Good Samaritan and not throwing the first stone. I'm also a fan of hippies and prefer the folk-rock of Hair to the traditional Broadway of Rogers and Hammerstein, and I had the original cast recording as a kid and was a big fan. So really, this movie is the sort I would expect to like.The movie is wonderfully joyous, with a talented cast prancing and singing and running and painting their faces. It's fun, although it also can feel a little like something you'd get from a Christian group doing skits at the local high schools.One of the movie's great strengths is its New York locales. The movie begins with a bunch of young, multi-racial folk living their frustrating city lives only to be visited by someone bringing a message of joy. Then they run through the fountains and take over the vacant lots and, now ironically, sing "All for the Best" on top of the World Trade Center.The movie finds many imaginative ways to tell bible stories, including using old silent movies, but this is still basically a movie in which people tell bible stories, one after the other. There's little in the way of story or character, so the whole thing begins to feel like a review. For a while my attention flagged, although the darker last third revived me somewhat.The music is terrific, including Day by Day and the honky tonk Turn Back Oh Man (but not, alas, Learn Your Lessons Well, which was cut), and the cast - pulled from early stage productions, is talented and fun and attractive, even if the funny voices occasionally seem overdone.Overall, this is a tremendously fun movie. I may not believe in hippy Jesus anymore, but I still like the fantasy.

Cinebuff38 One has to go back as far as Christmas 1978 (you remember those days when there were only 2 channels and Christmas telly was good) when the film version of the musical Godspell was premiered on TV (ITV) (There is a rumour that Christmas was invented by Charles Dickens but we all know it was Morecambe and Wise we have to thank for it). In those days I had little choice of what and when I watched so I didn't get to see it.Having owned the soundtrack album since the early eighties, and to the best of my knowledge the film not being on TV since Morcambe and Wisemas 78, It was some time in the mid noughties that out of the blue I checked the TV guide to see if it was on and low and behold there it was on channel 5.(Which just goes to show that in most cases the best stuff on commercial TV is material not actually made by them)With the greatest of respect to other films of the genre, and there were some great ones around, Godspell is a pure cinematic delight. Director David Greene (Not to be confused with David Green who directed Buster) uses the original stage cast for the film to brilliant and stunning effect. Stage style acting was used under cinematic conditions and the marriage of the two conjured up the one of the most wonderful chemistries on the big screen.Telling the gospel according to St Matthew, Jesus (Victor Garber, and John the Baptiste/Judas, (David Haskell) leads a very impressive cast of modern hippie like characters as they sing songs (some of which are based on the episcopal hymnal) by Stephen Schwartz who, in my opinion is one of the best song writers in the world, and dance through the (for the majority of the film, empty) streets of New York which itself was not so much a character but an extra, with each member of the ensemble taking it in turn to lead a musical number. The production takes us on a sight-seeing journey of the city without taking anything away from the main business in hand of using modern techniques to relate ancient philosophy.From the opening of the film when Haskell is wheeling a barrow over the Hudson Bridge, then through the prologue where the cast is gradually introduced to the audience, to the breath taking and dramatic crucifixion after which Christ's body is carried through the streets by the singing and dancing players. In fact, right till the very last end credits fade, every second of this film is a work of sheer art. The interaction of the cast with each other and with the camera, the photography and direction are above first class. Every single frame of this film shines like a powerful twinkling star. There is not one single negative thing that can be said about this film. It is a gold encrusted masterpiece where the cast and crew made a one hundred percent effort to successfully create an entertaining piece of benchmark cinema.

owensecord Watched this again after many years. Hated it first time as JCS was out and was more 'hip'. Now realize that this was much better and that the portrayal of Jesus is more accurate. (I think HE would probably really enjoy it). Cast was great, especially enjoyed the lovely Gilmer McCormick's portrayal of Abraham and the Good Samaritan. By My Side as a song made me cry as it's the way we should relate to Jesus, I tend to put the word death in place of dare as for me it makes more sense. This should have been released rather than Day by day. Loved the settings and the simplicity of the way the people related to Jesus. As a Christian I would recommend it highly even if bits of it are out of sync with the Gospels

moonspinner55 "Godspell" (a play on the word 'gospel') lived in the shadows--as an off-Broadway musical, a roadshow production, and as a motion picture--of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "Jesus Christ Superstar". It doesn't help that the pocket of post-flower power young people who make up the cast are outfitted like happy refugees from a carnival: thrift-shop chic with vaudevillian makeup (it smacks of preciousness, and perhaps an old fogy's idea of being 'alive' and free). It's The Gospel According to Matthew as a Rock Musical (what a come on!), and yet the music isn't rock: it's ersatz folk. The real star of this movie-adaptation is New York City (looking beguilingly nonthreatening); cinematographer Richard Heimann gets some stunning shots of the Big Apple that are (as seen today) both wistful and vulnerable: lonely skyscrapers with only one another for company. The cast has been encouraged to play-up to the camera--to exaggerate, both comedically and dramatically, their actions and responses--so that audiences will respond only to what's in the moment. This may be why the picture barely leaves a trace of itself in the memory. "Day by Day" was the sole hit from the stage show, and no wonder: the rest is a whirling-twirling blur. ** from ****