SnoopyStyle
It's the spring of 2009 and Michael Jackson is organizing a new concert. However on June 25th and 8 days from traveling to London to begin final dress rehearsals, he is found dead. The movie starts on April 15 with interviews with the dancers. It goes back to the dance auditions, the planning, the construction and most importantly Michael Jackson performing in rehearsals. What's missing is some in-depth interviews with Jackson. He's the only person that truly matters. It's nice to see the young dancers get emotional but it's Jackson that is historically important. Jackson does speak as he directs everybody. He is sharp and on the ball. His performances are always present. It is interesting that he's always in charge. It's basically behind-the-scene footage and it's good on those terms. This is for the fans and there are plenty fans around. The other missing element is post-Jackson. It would be compelling to have everybody's reaction to his death. Although I understand the idea of this as positive memory.
Nooshin Navidi
I didn't expect to like this film as much as I did. There's been some criticism about turning the rehearsal footage into a film, but that's exactly what makes this film so different from anything else we've seen with or about Michael Jackson. What's most engaging about the film is being able to witness Jackson's creative process versus just seeing the final product, and observing how he worked behind the scenes and how he thought, managed and directed his artists and technicians.While I enjoyed Michael Jackson's work off & on over the years, all the negative press, media frenzy and over-exposure made me lose interest over time. Watching this film obscured the negative for me. Jackson's creative genius, intelligence, humor, depth, dedication, kindness and charisma made him incomparable as an artist. We see an artist who is mature, wise, self-aware, capable, mindful, kind and respectful to everyone around him. Yes, it's irrefutable that Jackson was eccentric and childlike, but he seems neither weird nor wacky here. There have been many brilliant people throughout history who were viewed as "weird" by their contemporaries because they were unusual and different from the pack or purely interested in-- and focused on-- what inspired them. Jackson also appears quite strong and lucid in all the footage and seems completely inspired & energetic. The film also does a great job of showing how much heart, integrity and care went into this tour by everyone involved. How lucky were all those who got to watch the magic up-close, and how lucky his fans are that all this was actually captured on film so thoroughly. The dancers are incredible and the dance routines and sets breathtaking. The concert would have been amazing. But for me, being able to glimpse this magical artist behind the scenes was the real gift.
Leofwine_draca
When Michael Jackson died, he left behind him numerous debts and the whole cost of a planned and prepared-for tour. So the obvious thing would be for the bean counters to hash together some rehearsal footage of Jackson performing behind the scenes, call it a film, and rush it out to cinemas shortly after the superstar's death in order to cash in on the media furore surrounding his death.The result is disappointing to those of us who are fans of genuine documentary films that are assembled, edited and directed with care and attention. This is a mish-mash of stuff that just about gets by generated on the goodwill accrued by Jackson. I consider myself a fan of the musician, and I admit there's a certain thrill from watching him going through all of the old classics one more time. So, as a film this is hopeless, but fans will lap it up anyway for the chance to see the final footage of the man before his untimely death.
Dalbert Pringle
In 2009, after nearly a decade of absence from performing on stage, an elaborate production called "This Is It" was set into motion which was intended to be Michael Jackson's much-lauded "comeback".Well, needless to say, Michael Jackson never, ever made that comeback. No. Instead, within that very same year, Michael made a confirmed date with death.In a weird sort of way, I found "This Is It" to be a somewhat eerie, little documentary. As one closely watched Michael during all of the behind-the-scenes preparations that went into "This Is It's" production, you could easily bet yourself that thoughts of suicide were already set in his mind. It was an event that wasn't very far off in his own personal calendar.I found it quite curious that through all of "This Is It", no close-ups were ever taken of Michael's face (either indoors or outdoors) without him first having a pair of sunglasses on.For me, "This Is It's" spookiest moment was when footage was shown of Michael as a young, afro-headed, 10 year-old in his happier, more carefree days with The Jackson 5.In my opinion, "This Is It" is a mighty sad and sorry statement about an aging ("has-been") pop star who gave so much of himself for the sake of his music, but in return he never acquired anything that would ever deliver him from the loneliness of his own inevitable suicide.Below is an excerpt from Michael's song The Man In The Mirror, which I think reveals a lot about Jackson if you happen to take into account what he ended up resorting to in order to "change" his ways - I'm starting with the man in the mirror.... I'm asking him to change his ways.... And no message could have been more clearer.... If you wanna make the world a better place.... Take a look at yourself and then make a change.
AD
