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A look back at Michael Jackson's "Moonwalker"
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As everyone in the world knows by now, Michael Jackson died yesterday of an apparent cardiac arrest after being found unconscious at his Los Angeles rental home. It has yet to be determined what exactly caused Jackson’s death, but there is speculation that an accidental overdose of prescription drugs could be involved. Whatever the cause may be (and it will most likely take weeks to find out), Jackson was a truly gifted entertainer, who left behind a catalog of inspired music, millions of adoring fans, and one of the most bizarre films ever conceived.
“Moonwalker,” released in 1988, isn’t a film of one continuous narrative, it’s more so a collection of several short films and extended music videos. The film opens with the music video for Jackson’s song “Man in the Mirror,” which is followed by a musical retrospective of Jackson’s career up to the film’s release. This part of the film serves well under today’s circumstances, succinctly showing Jackson’s rise from child star as a member of the Jackson 5, to his burgeoning solo career, to his takeover of the pop music world. This retrospective serves as a fond look back at Jackson before all the controversy that practically eclipsed his music career.
The segment which follows the retrospective is an all-child, shot-for-shot remake of Jackson’s “Bad” video, entitled “Badder.” This segment transitions into “Speed Demon” a short film where Jackson tries to avoid some overzealous fans, disguised as a rabbit. “Speed Demon” starts out as a mix of live action and claymation, before converting completely to claymation for an extended part of the video. After Jackson has a dance off with his clay alter-ego, the Grammy Award winning video for “Leave Me Alone,” follows.
The next segment is where the film gets strange. “Smooth Criminal” acts as both music video for the song of the same name and a 40 minute mini-movie. Jackson plays a gangster who is less interested in crime and more interested in protecting the children of his city. Jackson and his young friends stumble upon the lair of Mr. Big (Joe Pesci), a mob boss who wants to get the entire world addicted to drugs. Jackson uses powers he derives from shooting stars to transform into a giant robot, after which he kills all of Mr. Big’s henchmen. The robot then turns into a spaceship which blasts Mr. Big with a high powered laser beam, killing him. Jackson then returns in human form, much to the delight of the children. "Moonwalker" then rounds out with live footage of Jackson performing a cover of the Beatles song “Come Together.”
“Moonwalker” has yet to be released on DVD in the United States, but VHS versions of the film and bootleg DVDs are available all around the web. The entire film has also been uploaded on Youtube, if you can’t get your hands on one of the other versions. It is an essential piece of any Jackson fan’s collection, as it is a reminder of a time when Michael Jackson wasn’t such a strange enigma, but an entertainer loved by millions. Even though Jackson is gone, his influence on the world of pop music will be eternal. He was a legendary musical icon, whose sudden passing will be mourned by his fans, friends, and family over the weeks and months to come. No matter how you view Michael Jackson the man, he was admirable for bringing joy into the lives of millions of people, through his music, his innovative dance moves, his one-of-a-kind sense of style, and, to a lesser extent, his feature-length opus, "Moonwalker."
For more coverage on the death of Michael Jackson, click here.
For coverage on the death of Farrah Fawcett, click here.
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