Michael Jackson’s This Is It (2009)
Posted by Branden on November 20, 2009
When I heard that they were making a movie of rehearsal footage from the This Is It, I thought that it was too soon. I am a Michael Jackson fans since “Thriller”. I know the dance moves off most of his videos. When Michael said that he would have his last hurrah in England, I was bummed out. He dies and all of this unnecessary attention descending upon him. I thought this was a cash grab. This film is a reminder of how Michael Jackson affected our lives.
The movie starts with the back up dancers giving their impressions about the tour that never materialized. They grow up with Michael and want to be near him in any capacity. They would have had the time of their lives.
The director Kenny Ortega talks about the mechanics of the concert from the announcement of the concert at the 2006 World Music Awards, auditioning the dancers to the spectacular visuals. Michael appears onstage to run through the concert from beginning to end. Michael wanted to put on the best show that he could for the multiple fans that were to see him final concert.
The footage was supposed to be a behind the scenes featurette on the DVD release of the movie. Michael is not singing full out to save his voice or dancing on cue with the dancers to conserve his energy. It wasn’t intended to be released on the big screen.
It demonstrates some reinventions of classic songs with The Way You Make Me Feel or Thriller. Some sequences were supposed to be in 3D. You wonder how that would be as an audience member. You wonder what could have been.
Judgment: The movie is a nice tribute to the King of Pop.
Rating: ***1/2
Heather said
Everyone keeps telling me to see this, but I’m still disturbed by his death. I could care less about the controversy of his personal life. He brought more joy to my life as a kid and still as an adult threw his music than I can ever truly explain. No matter how things ended, he changed the face of music for eternity. I will see this eventually, but for now I’m just not ready.
Branden said
I waited for hype to die down to see this. Some people don’t ever want to see this. Do it in your own time. Maybe when it comes out on DVD.
LAMBScores: This Is It | Horror Movies Blog said
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cmrok93 said
I loved this movie, it had a lot going on under the service that gives you some emotion, because unlike a lot of documentary films that give you facts and that alone, this is it has a heart.
Branden said
It’s does have that, but it was not intended to be released as a theatrical feature. It was supposed to be special feature on the DVD of the actual concert.