The screening was late, I was fighting a cold and I was just thinking “UGH, why the MJ screening tonight?” But then, as soon as I saw Michael, I forgot about all of that. This film touched my heart in so many different ways. The memories of tabloids, court cases, and pajama-wearing in public, dangling of Blanket over the balcony, chimps, Peter Pan and all the madness that surrounded Michael Jackson’s life faded to black. This Is It was purely about love of dance, music and performing.

Michael Jackson’s This Is It is a 2009 film documenting all of Michael Jackson’s rehearsals for his This Is It concert tour. Sony Pictures edits the many hours of rehearsal footage to form the motion picture which includes MJ guiding his team of dancers, singers, musicians and many more for the 50 shows that were to take place beginning this past summer. With the assistance and professionalism of the film’s famous tour director Kenny Ortega, this concert looked like it was going to be fantastic.

This film gave audiences a very unique opportunity to see Michael -- a masterful performer -- sing and dance to some of his hit songs.

I saw a different side of Michael. He seemed strong and confident during the practices. Everyone who was a part of getting the show together knew he was the man. MJ controlled it and owned it. “He got this” kind of attitude. He was commanding and his voice was strong. Shoot, MJ was so in control he came off as Leonidas the Spartan King. At times, I thought he was about to say “This is Sparta!” and not, “This is it.”

He danced like some kind of Supreme Being in this film. I still saw Michael as a 30 year old man and not a prescription-medicine-taking 50 year old. MJ was on his game during rehearsals. Oh Michael. He sung all the GREAT songs. I won’t give them away, but just know it was going to be a heck of a concert. Every time a new song played from each decade, it just took me back to different times in my life. I thought about clothes, hairdos, jewelry like the big hoop gold earrings, the Madonna lace gloves, stretch pants, shoulder pads in jackets and I can’t forget the wild puffy hair or asymmetrical cuts. I just reminisced so much. This movie truly took me there.

I was pleased with how well the scenes and clips were put together considering they could only work with footage MJ simply wanted for his memories. Everything flowed magically. MJ really knew how to pick talent to be one with him on the stage. He had a great band, singers and dancers. Everyone on his show was Grade A+. The DVD is a must for me.
All what they went through to make this show a success, and never being able to step foot in front of a live audience, is so sad. Dang it, I’m tearing up. Awww. You can see so much respect and love for MJ from everyone that worked with him. He wasn’t a freak or a weirdo. All I saw was a brilliant hit-maker, heart-breaker (because he left us), dancer extraordinaire.

MJ had swagger I never knew existed. He actually was swaggerlicious. My audience was clapping and saying…”Go on Mike.”

Yes... go on Mike!

My Rating ~ 5 Reels

5 - Watch in the theater and buy the DVD

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Michael Jackson's This Is It

Unforgettable! Extraordinary! Perfection!

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My Rating ~ 5 Reels

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