Did you notice Ted Neeley's eyes in the 1973 film adaptation of "Jesus Christ Superstar"? Robert Powell possesses a similar quality that proves effective in this telling of Christ’s story. Beginning with the birth narrative and assembled with a strong ensemble cast portraying key figures, Franco Zeffirelli employs believable (North African) settings, detailed production work, and adheres reasonably closely—though on a grand scale—to the timeline found in the Bible to present a story that Powell manages to carry through effectively, despite his late introduction. This isn’t simply a biblical epic; it also aims to utilize the secondary characters to shed light on the political climate of Judea as it's governed by successive Herods (played by Peter Ustinov and Christopher Plummer), acting under Roman authority. Michael York delivers an outstanding performance as John the Baptist, arguably his finest work, embodying the fragility of everyday people who were apprehensive of both their temple Pharisees and Pontius Pilate (Rod Steiger, in a limited role). There’s considerable dialogue, but that, along with the measured tempo and Maurice Jarre's score, allows everything to unfold at its own pace, letting viewers slowly become absorbed in the events. It distinguishes itself from previous portrayals of this man’s life enough to remain engaging and occasionally quite stimulating, even for those who aren't particularly religious, making it a worthwhile viewing experience.

Source on TMDB