Michael Jackson's This Is It

Props to Kenny Ortega and the editing team for a really well constructed movie, made in a fraction of the time a feature normally takes to produce. Nothing about this movie seemed "thrown together" or rushed. It's a neat homage, concert film and documentary rolled into one. An unintentional work of art, as the footage was never meant to see daylight. Much better than I expected, and very moving in spots. (Those who stay through the end of the credits will be rewarded with additional small treats.)No question in my mind, this would have been the live show to end all shows. It's almost difficult to comprehend so many mind-blowing production numbers in one two-hour concert. MJ said in an interview that his intention was for fans to leave the shows unable to sleep all night, needing to stay up 'til dawn to talk about the experience with their friends, and I believe he would have achieved that. He had many fresh ideas for what are now considered his classic works. "Smooth Criminal" has never been a favorite of mine, but I liked it here a great deal. After seeing this movie, I believe that Michael would have not only made it through all fifty shows at the O2, but would have been absolutely smashing, wowed his kids and his fans, and achieved the comeback and respect he so strongly desired. As one reviewer noted, Michael Jackson wasn't about to just phone this one in for a payday, despite what some detractors have suggested. In the collected footage we're privy to here, Michael looked to be in astonishingly good form as a singer and dancer considering he hadn't toured in over a decade. If he was "frail" or otherwise compromised, there is no evidence of that here. Work obviously brought out the best in the man.I would have liked a touch more of MJ speaking/instructing/interacting; it could have been a little longer of a film to accomplish that. No one would have been fidgeting in their seats if the movie was 2:15 instead of 1:48. To me, those were some of the best moments, a rare treat to see a master craftsman in unself-conscious work mode, oblivious to the cameras. So one hopes that there will be lots of special features on a blu-ray edition (the whole videos, maybe? More interviews with the dancers/crew/band? More outtakes of MJ just being himself?) But a terrific film, a must-see for any Jackson fan, not only the die-hards. When this comes out in Blu-Ray, it will be in my library.

This is a very special (and inexpensive) piece of history. The stage rehearsals are fantastic and the video editing is superb. Audio is excellent. Insight into MJ's thoughts and insight into all the nuance of Best-In-Class performance and dance ... WOW. The production team they had, from choreography to music direction. The guitars and drummer and keyboards -- ALL awesome. Dancers from all over the world came to audition. The whole thing is great. The ending is so sad. If you love MJ, buy this. (The Thriller scenes are great, too.) The stage setups were going to be so awesome, it's tragic in that light also that the show never appeared.

Excellent!!!! Loved it!!!

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