Michael Jackson This Is It
It’s hard not to watch This Is It without feeling a mixture of sorrow and elation. When he passed away in the summer of 2009, Michael Jackson was in the midst of rehearsals for his final tour, an ambitious 50-date engagement. In editing 120 hours of rehearsal footage together, Jackson producer Kenny Ortega proves that it would’ve been an event for the ages. Michael performs material that spans his career, from a Motown medley to multi-platinum hits from Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. Though he hadn’t toured in 10 years, it becomes instantly apparent, despite rumors to the contrary, that Jackson was still in full possession of that unmistakable voice–high-pitched whoops and all–and that he still had the gravity-defying moves of a man half his age. Jackson and Ortega also collaborated on some real showstoppers, such as a graveyard-set “Thriller”; an imposing “They Don’t Care About Us,” in which several dancers appear to morph into thousands; and a film noir sequence in which the singer slides in and out of Gilda and other black-and-white classics, singing “Smooth Criminal” all the while. Not everything works, like the Jackson 5 numbers, in which he flubs a few lyrics, claiming that his earpiece isn’t working properly, but as he readily acknowledges, “That’s what rehearsal is for.” It’s a tragedy that he didn’t get the chance to share this dazzling show with the world, but Ortega allows fans to feel as if it actually happened–at least onscreen. –Kathleen C. Fennessy
Stills from Michael Jackson: This Is It (Click for larger image)
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Extra Footage?
I was under the understanding, according to the internet, that the DVD was being released with an hour of extra footage.
I see it’s only 111 minutes on the product details, which would be just under two hours, which is how long the movie played.
Does anyone know anything to the contrary?
Thanks,
Cindy Hughes
5 Stars THIS IS IT AND IT WAS GOOD!
I pre-ordered my movie ticket a month in advance and I eventually saw the movie four times in theaters.
I was riveted. I loved seeing a behind-the-scenes Michael Jackson who was very humble, understanding, yet totally in control and not one to accept any less than the best. My favorite part of the movie was when he was instructing Michael Bearden, the musical director on how to correctly play “The Way You Make Me Feel”. He knew what he wanted from his dancers, musicians and singers and he got the results.
I am grateful to Kenny Ortega and all the others involved in the making of this film for allowing us once last glimpse of a man who should very much be alive today. What a tragedy June 25th, 2009 was……I don’t care to relive that.
I have been a fan of MJ since 1988 and I felt that a piece of my childhood was literally ripped away from me when I found out he passed. It was lilke hearing about the death of a family member.
Michael Jackson was one of the greatest that ever did it and I pray that his critics and detractors come to learn it.
5 Stars TII: compelling, moving, uplifting, funny, inspiring, toe-tapping and more.
I view this movie-documentary as a tribute to Michael for thousands of his loving and adoring fans worldwide. It is a beautiful legacy, a splendid farewell ‘eulogy’ to a beautiful man who’s heart was all about love/brotherhood, a man who truly tried to make a difference in his/our world. He danced his dream to make it a better place. I am glad TII was NOT a `tissue-for-tears’ work. In my opinion, a true documentary would have been less perky. For me, it was uplifting (with funny moments sprinkled in). My heart felt light and chipper, filled with the light and spirit of MJ’s love.
Before TII, there was a new generation out there who had never heard of MJ before his passing. They were curious about this world-stopping icon. They wanted to know who and what he was all about, who was this man who almost crashed the almighty Internet, who all but brought the world to a standstill…fans pausing at their various activities/occupations to mourn, to bring honor and tribute to MJ’s passing. People everywhere seemed to mourn him in some shape or form. This generation found themselves wanting to go with the flow, to climb aboard that seemingly ‘universal’ bandwagon… and they have. For many, many of us who had stepped away from his career path and forgotten him for the moment, we reset our sails in an effort to renew our interest in the talents of this Man and his phenomenal Music. Ortega’s TII set out to do just that…to ’showcase’, if you will, this country’s masterpiece…our King of Pop. TII is showing us in this movie-work the makeup and musical depthness of Michael’s genius… who and what The Man In The Mirror was all about. We saw him at his art, at his final best–preparing, carving, chiseling, molding, sculpturing it for the Moment… a la Michael Jackson! This Michael Moment was not to be, however.
For the fair price of a ticket, we were able to see him at his work, to see him weave his tapestry of magic, to look into an integral part of his soul. We readily see him in character and style, we watch him perform (robbing himself of 100% now to give 200% later at O2), we see him (perhaps not at his best) at what he does best and probably better than any performer alive—happy, smiling catchingly, singing, dancing… executing his phenomenal talent and influence on stage right in front of our eyes. Counting my blessings that day, I likened the film to a ‘live’ concert!!!!! Yes, yes, a warm and loving human being. Outside of our dreamy state, all of us knew that we were watching his swan song– those final `animated’ days of his life. We knew that the stage-curtain would never again be lifted on him, not in our time and space.
In this movie, he appeared thin yet he went about every facet of his work joyously. My thanks and appreciation go to Ortega for his fine footage-editing and ‘displaying’ MJ in a good light for millions to see. And, I thank the producers for giving us Michael as Michael appeared in the last months or weeks of his life. Many say he was not health, but he did not appear frail. Thank God, I would have truly tear-flooded the theater. Michael was 50, said not in his finest form, and a tad thinner than former times… yet, in loving eyes (his fans) he was beautiful and the man we knew and loved as Michael Jackson. As I write this my eyes are teary; I do not apologize for this emotion.
Btw, I took along a couple of my larger hankies to wipe away my tears, but had no need for them. Each emotion of the moment (no sad moods) engrossed me throughout the movie–so much so that I forgot that MJ had left this same stage a mere 4 months earlier!
I walked out of this theater feeling greatly touched, inspired and entertained… enough to want to see this movie a second time. And, I did… but this time without the hankies!
TII….no waste of my bucks!!! Anxious to add the movie DVD tribute to my MJ trove of ‘precious memories
5 Stars FABULOUS! The BEST!!
I love this film. I am sad Michael never got to perform. The CD is the best as well as this video. I love you MJ!!
5 Stars Simply Amazing
I was in awe as I watched this movie. It was amazing to see Michael do is thing again, but at the same time it was very sad to know that a musical giant, someone with such a big heart and soul and such amazing talent is actually gone. This Is It was everything I expected it to be and more. Michael’s legacy will always live on and he will never be forgotten. I definitley plan to get this dvd when it comes out because this movie is a must have for all Michael Jackson fans.
R.I.P. MICHAEL WE LOVE YOU AND WE MISS YOU!!
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