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Michael Jackson - This Is It - Epic Film for an Epic Man
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It is a damn shame that “This Is It” is the last glimpse of the Michael Jackson everyone knew and loved.
He was definitely startin’ somethin’ as the song goes.
The film “This Is It” sheds a nice light music legend Michael Jackson. Through pyrotechnics and elaborate stages and lighting techniques, the audience is able to see behind the curtain of a mysterious man and what could have been an amazing concert experience.
Cobbled together from footage intended for Michael Jackson’s personal archives, the film serves a medley of Michael’s greatest hits. The concert would’ve been a surefire money maker for Jackson, but it also would have been the ultimate love letter to the fans that have stood by him. Unlike other artists who jukebox their way through comeback concert after comeback, it seems Michael was really trying to breath new life into his songs and make the good even better.
In “This Is It,” Michael doesn’t just come in for soundcheck – he had his hand in every aspect of the show, from picking dancers, to fine tuning piano riffs, to what the giant bulldozer should do on stage.
Yes, a bulldozer. Despite the aesthetic eccentricities, Michael seemed really on top of his game creatively and in good spirits. This did not look like a frail man who was drug dependent. He bantered with band member Mo Pleasure over putting a little more “booty” into the instrumentals. He demonstrated to dancers exactly what he was looking for from them. He transformed into an old school gangster for a black and white filmed montage for “Smooth Criminal.” He was having a ball.
For fans, besides enjoying the music and spectacle of the film, it is really interesting to see Michael working and joking. He never knew this footage would be aired, so you really see his true self. He was humble and polite to all around him and seemed grateful to the whole crew. It was refreshing to see a person who certainly had the talent be so kind, unlike so many other stars who lack talent and are divas.
Despite the plastic surgery, Michael was channeling his heyday, from his curly ponytail, to his moves, to his vocals. Despite holding back in rehearsals to rest his throat, his presence was still overwhelming to those around him.
For the singers and dancers who stated how big this tour was to them at the beginning of the film (and to the fans who loved him), one of the best scenes was at the end of the film – just Michael alone dancing on stage, losing himself in the moment. Not resting his vocals. Not resting his body. Going full out.
He just couldn’t help himself, he was a star and he had to give them a show.
**Edit: I would like to state that the above review is a commentary on Michael Jackson's "This Is It" and is intended to comment on the film and the artist, not his personal life.**
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