Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert

Remarkable performances by all of the major players and a modern revamping of the visuals make this live airing of a classic musical a total success. Legend is spectacular as Jesus Christ, impassioned and in complete control of the vocal challenges posed by the story's soundtrack. He's matched by similarly memorable work by the exceptionally talented Dixon and Bareilles, who don't seem motivated to outshine the title character but at times do so anyway. Even the smaller of the main performances are noteworthy, especially the commanding presence of Lewis as the imposing figure Caiaphas, who encourages Judas's betrayal, and Cooper's flashy, scene-stealing Herod.

Historically controversial but beloved by fans, Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar takes some liberty with the biblical account of Jesus' relationships with disciples and his last several days, and that may bother some viewers. It's also a choice to match this ancient story with this performance's decidedly modern slant, with Jesus in tennis shoes and the throngs of followers (and later accusers) in torn jeans and T-shirts. But the very aspects that set apart this telling -- Judas' sympathetic torment, Mary Magdalene's deep love for Jesus, and, most of all, Jesus' humanity -- combine to make this an engrossing watch.