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<< Previous   of   Next >> Associated Press/Sony Pictures  (click to enlarge) The movie poster for “Michael Jackson’s This is It.”   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, October 30, 2009 ‘This is It’ showcases Michael Jackson the entertainer The plan to release a bunch of Michael Jackson rehearsal footage, shot in the weeks before his death in June, sounded like a rather ghoulish attempt to cash in on the 50-year-old pop superstar’s untimely demise. Well, maybe it is a ghoulish attempt to cash in. But the resulting movie, “Michael Jackson’s This is It,” while geared to diehard fans and not without its maudlin moments, is a lot more impressive than expected. Clearly the production team (led by director Kenny Ortega) shot copious amounts of footage and many of the numbers were well developed and choreographed. In fact, there’s a lot of evidence that the concert tour Jackson was about to embark on would’ve lived up to its high expectations. Among other things, this movie debunks the theory that Jackson was working on a dud or that he was exhausted and out of it. Actually, Michael Jackson appears to be in good physical shape in the rehearsals. Well, that’s overlooking the weirdo plastic surgery, of course. He’s also sharp creatively. One of the more notable things to emerge from “This is It” is Jackson’s perfectionistic control over his show. Ortega buzzes around offering support and suggestions, but Jackson is clearly calling the shots: telling his musicians to repeat musical phrases until a certain feeling is achieved (“You gotta let it simmer … bathe it in the moonlight”) or working with dancers to find the right piece of stagecraft. His instincts are almost always right, even admitting that we’re talking about an over-the-top stage show. The guy had a real sense of theater. For all the things he got wrong in his life, when he held center stage he was fully alive and knew what worked. Some film segments were shot for the concert, and we see pieces of those: new stuff for “Thriller,” a melodramatic environmental story for the overdone “Earth Song,” and MJ’s variation on the Steve Martin movie “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,” in which he is inserted into old film-noir clips. A few songs are obviously in the early stages of being worked out, such as “Billie Jean.” But others sizzle, and anybody who needs a hit of “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” or “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” or “Human Nature” will not be disappointed. Some of Jackson’s moves are the same as those executed in his original videos for his most famous hits, and some are new. They’re all skillfully performed. You can’t help feeling, as you’re watching “This is It,” that if only this talented manchild could’ve figured out a way to keep his head straight, he might’ve been that much greater. And probably lived longer. Jackson’s talent doesn’t absolve whatever creepy decisions he made offstage, of course. But this film does demonstrate how real the talent was. “This is It” The rehearsal footage captured in the weeks before Michael Jackson’s death turns out to be surprisingly compelling and shows Jackson to be in control and in good shape. It’s an interesting study of a performer creating theater. Rated: PG for subject matter Showing: Alderwood, Everett Stadium, Cinnebarre, Galaxy Monroe, Marysville, Merian, Metro, Oak Tree, Woodinville, Cascade Mall READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out The King Of Pop Michael was the biggest superstar and the most talented musical genius the world has ever known, but yet people just have to get their dirty little digs in about his plastic surgery...Who gives a damn about it! It's people like you that made his life a living hell, enstead of appreciating this man for all his talent, and for all his humanitarian deeds that helped millions of people, you choose to put him down for having plastic surgery, come on! You're mean- hearted ( totaly opposite of Michael) Michael Jackson was a kind hearted, loving and caring person. He was the worlds biggest star that will continue to shine bright for eternity.. people like you can no longer hurt him or drag him down. He worked hard for everything he had, and he gave all he could give while he was here. Michael Jackson is a legend "like it or not" he will have eternal life. Marian Smith | Nov 5, 2009 8:14 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Movie Review The movie review was fine, but the cheap comments about his personal life and plastic surgery were tacky. The cheap comments revealed more about the individual doing the movie review and less about Jackson. Char Len | Oct 31, 2009 7:16 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) I agree with the other posters thus far in that I think you give a decent critique of the movie minus the negative jabs (i.e., "weirdo plastic surgery," "creepy decisions," and "manchild"). Gem Girl | Oct 31, 2009 4:29 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) yea you could post your review without the negative about his personal life. His plastic surgery has nothing to do with this movie . terry Williams | Oct 31, 2009 3:27 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) The little jabs on Michael's personal life is really unnecessary and quite annoying. You do well reviewing the movie. Stick to that instead of making criticisms on something you obviously don't care to know much about. Dai Kim | Oct 31, 2009 12:04 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal This is It Review Your review of MJ's work is appreciated. But you allude often enough to his odd behaviour in life. I think we can count on one hand, no, one finger, the number of people that lived the unprecedented life of Michael Jackson from the age of five, when I believe he stated out in show business to his final day. No doubt he had his issues, some of his own doing, and much of it at the hands of manipulators, and those that seeked to exploit for their own gain, he couldn't have had a normal life. So, one can only hope that this film will finally bring positive attention and renewed respect to the supreme talents of Michael Jackson, and leave the so-called 'weirdo' and 'creepy'-filled opinions to rest. A M | Oct 31, 2009 10:10 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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