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A still shot of Michael Jackson captured from the film "This Is It."
Walking into the theater to see “This Is It,” the final glimpse of Michael Jackson’s much-anticipated comeback, I had absolutely no expectations. As the film opened a weird thing happened, emotions hit me and somehow I was brought me back to my childhood innocence.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not a Michael Jackson super fan. I don’t even come close. In fact, I could be quite the opposite. No one can deny the man’s talent, but as his career and personal life merged into one it left many of us with images of his bizarre antics and ever-changing face.
Around 1988-1991 like most kids, I possessed a great fondness for Michael Jackson, I loved it all – Man in the Mirror, Black or White, Smooth Criminal, his dancing, his outfits, the glove, he was the ultimate star.
But as MJ’s reputation deteriorated so did that innocence. Growing up in the 90’s, we experienced two very powerful pop culture events that introduced the "Pepsi generation" to the dark side of celebrity and humanity – Michael Jackson’s impending legal battles shrouded with sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior, and the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman followed by the media circus that was the O.J. Simpson trial.
Somewhere around 1993 (the year he oddly defended himself to the world), Michael crossed into the sphere much of the world kept him in, the Wacko Jacko world of sleepovers, Neverland Ranch and endless plastic surgery.
The spotlight that he charismatically occupied as a kid and young adult began to dim.
“This Is It” washes away much of that negativity that has since surrounded MJ and brings back the love or “L-O-V-E” as he says in the film. The behind-the-scenes shots, interviews with the crew and rehearsal footage allow you to experience firsthand the magical triumph that was Michael Jackson and his return to greatness.
The film opens with an introduction to the tour’s dancers each emotionally sharing their journey to share the stage with the King of Pop, “the pinnacle of their career.”
With a mix of pyrotechnics, visual effects, vignettes, choreography and oh yeah, the music, “This Is It” the tour would certainly have lived up to the hype, or at least that’s the feeling you walk away with.
This was the chance to be re-introduced to the Michael Jackson that virtually every human of our generation at some point truly respected, hardly thinking about the oddity that he became or the financial woes that he suffered, instead feeling a rush of emotion torn between his career and talent mixed with the sense of tragedy and loss at his death.
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Comments
Most of that "reputation deteriorated" junk was media generated sensationalism by such stellar representatives of journalism like Nancy Grace, Diane Dimond, Martin Bashir, Maureen Orth, etc. etc.,...and vendetta driven Tom Sneddon...
just to make money...The media has no standing to judge Michael..Not one apology from any of them for trying to send an innocent man to die in jail...
Where are the weapons of Mass Destruction?
He made good music. He was a child molester. Which one negates the other? By the way, good article.
"... the media circus that was the O.J. Simpson trial." The book, "ANATOMY OF A TRIAL" by J. Hayslett shows how the clowns in that circus undermine reputations and facts in the name of the almighty buck.
I think in Michael's case one must separate the entertainer from the person. Victoria, great article. I like how you time lined it.
Mr. Jackson was a superb entertainer but he lost me at some point when he became a weirdo. Like Roman Polanski his work was overshadowed by his personal foibles. I had no desire to see this movie but after reading Victoria's review - well maybe.
CressonMom:
Your statement says more about your heart than it does about Michael. A child molester does not strike once every 12 years..(See Catholic priests scandal). Michael did not have to leave 20% of his massive estate to charity.
Educate yourself: www usnewslink com/framedjackson.htm
Notice everytime "child molestation" slander is regurgitated no one EVER mentions the people who made the accusations
Why? Because the minute you look at the history and character of Evan Chandler and Janet Arvizo the whole thing falls apart. They are revolting perjurers and extortionists.
Did you ever wonder why anytime the child
If one person every twelve years accused him of child abuse then he didn't learn from the first trial, which means he wasn't too bright. The parents of the first child prostituted their child by taking the payout. Maybe they wanted to protect him, maybe they wanted the money, who knows. As for the allegations against the priests, throw them in jail if they are convicted. You can't do God's work if you harm a child.
CressonMom
There was no "first trial"....Did you read GQ article?
"And what became of the massive investigation of Jackson? After millions of dollars were spent by prosecutors and police departments in two jurisdictions, and after two grand juries questioned close to 200 witnesses, including 30 children who knew Jackson, not a single corroborating witness could be found."
MJ's insurance company negotiated and settled the case...to avoid a media circus and the exact kind of slanderous accusations that you are engaging in..
The second trial was a farce...All objective observers and lawyers noted but for Tom Sneddon's vendatta, the case should not have been brought..He wasted $20-30 million of taxpayer money to satisfy his prejudice....Check the Youtube clips ..even Geraldo Rivera said Sneddon should have been disbarred....(Notice what happened to Mike Nifong in North Carolina)
It's ironic that people want to disregard facts in order to believe the worst of MJ...All he did
cont...
was honor a request from a kid who was dying from cancer.....If Michael was a little bit more cold hearted and had just hung up the phone...He would have never met that god forsaken family of con artists.
Wow Zach you really have a thing for MJ. Maybe at this point there are better ways to spend your time.
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