WaterInYourBath said:

There was one other double... the cardboard cutout of MJ

[Edited 10/28/09 14:23pm]

WaterInYourBath said:

Me too! I have a pair of those pants! I love them so much more now!

Bboy87 said it best, he had his hero back during that movie.
The same is true for me.

I had the pleasure of getting to see Michael (in person) for 3 days during that sham of a trial back in May 2005. I always vowed to myself the next time I saw him (in person) would be performing LIVE or at least during happier times.

I consider "This Is It" the second best thing and was simply amazing.

I want that DVD! Now!

bboy87 said:

I´m gonna be the same probably tomorrow, but with a tear or two as well, I guess. Can´t wait. The reactions to it are so wonderful.

Vanilli said:

Yeah, I went on Ebay looking for a pair and ended up buying a different pair for $45!

Every Brother EXCEPT JERMAINE lookin dapper. He looks like he stole a rug from the oriental carpet store- hand tufted and stuff.
[Edited 10/28/09 15:08pm]

Vanilli said:

SO. DO. I.

This is the first time I've watched an MJJ production that wasn't recorded so I could instantly start studying and rewinding it over and over. Instead I have to wait until December. ....

Vanilli said:

Was it very strange to see him during the trial?. Seen him many times but only on stage. booking some tickets to see this in imax tomorrow. I was going to give it a miss till the blu-ray, but reading some of your reports, guess I can't resist. bit disappointed about the lack of 3D sequences though. I was looking forward to seeing the smooth criminal in 3D action.



[Edited 10/28/09 15:33pm]

Evvy said:

wow...in the 1st pic u cannot miss which of the brothers is jermaine...talk about flashy...

the 2nd pic is very nice...

My review:

Michael Jackson's This Is It far exceeding my expectations. It wasn't sentimental at all, his death wasn't mentioned, it didn't need to be. Instead it was a bit like A Chorus Line. You watch what would have been an incredible concert take shape. You have Michael as the star often clashing with the directors, the dancers and backing singers slowly getting it together. It's fascinating to see a multimillion dollar production come to life.

As soon as the movie started there was a hush that descended around the auditorium like I've never experienced in a film. As the scenes played out people were laughing, dancing in their seats and crying, it was quite an experience.

What came across most for me was how normal Michael seemed during the 'backstage' moments. You watch him direct his mini empire, he was very much the captain of a ship he expected to travel the world on. You could tell he was passionate about the adventure they were all about to take. He was both forceful yet respectful as he issued his commands. He was also very funny and came across as warm, committed and in perfect health. Nothing like the press reported at the time. And that's one of the other things that struck me, the way the media at the time reported that he wasn't showing up for rehearsals, that his lungs were diseased and his nose was falling off. And people believed it. The proof is right there on the big screen at your local multiplex.

He seemed obsessed with every small detail from the sound of a piano note to directing the 3D elements for the massive screens. One of my favourite moments was seeing him acting alongside Bogart and Cagney during his remake of Smooth Criminal. That homage to black and white film noir was a lesson in creative genius.

Although the film wasn't sentimental there were two moments that caused the tissues to come out. The first was Michael improvising onstage, he sang a few lines from Speechless, accapella and the sound of his voice, the clarity of his tone was breathtaking. I've seen him live before and I've never heard him sound like that. There are moments during other performances when his vocals are so on the money he sounds better than he ever did. The second moment that got to me was when he sang the Jackson Five's I'll Be There. That's a song he's been singing for 40 years yet he still injected the emotion, singing it like it was his very first time.

I went with Bear and he really had to be dragged along. He's never 'got' Michael Jackson, never been a fan of his music. As the credits rolled I asked him "So, what did you think?"

"That was hands down, the best musical I have ever seen!" He didn't want to leave, he said he was enjoying the end credit songs. I'm glad we stayed because right afterwards there's a few extra scenes that were worth waiting for.

Whether you appreciate MJ or not - go see this movie. Above all it's a film about triumph, resurrection and most importantly, truth.

http://xxx-lad.blogspot.com/

WaterInYourBath said:

All respect to opinion and all but, that bit mentioning P...other way round...by light years. Mj sure did rock it in this movie dance wise for his age, probably a little more than Madonna but, P...not a chance. That guy was lightning on the last two big tours, Musicology and o2, totally untouchable and as many british press said, the greatest performance to land in Britain, especially shocking at that age. Made me knackered just watching and yet, he STILL constantly performs completely live! Last one being a few days ago which lasted 3 hours (the setlist makes me knackered just reading it) and urged one reviewer to tick some Mj fans off.

Anyway, i wanted to hold off my thoughts on the movie until things die off but, that, i needed to address!

xlad said:

Nice review. I mean, I'm a jaded fan myself and can't begin to describe how awesome I thought it was.

Oprah said she thought it was Oscar-worthy. Tito said he, Randy, Janet, Rebbie LaToya and Katherine thought it was too soon and have not seen it. Tito looked like he was going to cry through the whole interview but it was nice to see Jackie smiling.

I'm glad it's getting a positive reception.
[Edited 10/28/09 16:55pm]

WetDream said:

This year. I'm referring to the present, THIS YEAR, 2009. Not last year, not 2007, or any years before that. I've seen all of them perform THIS YEAR, and Michael was the most youthful. I don't want to debate. This is about Michael Jackson.

Go see it is all I can say.

It's a good way of saying good bye to me.

Rorywan said:

First of all, the Smooth Criminal 3d sequences will BLOW your mind.
You think you've seen it all but you haven't. Those scenes alone,
the stuff shown on the previews and A LOT not, are some of the reasons
I want the DVD now.

As for seeing Michael during the trial...it was spooky for me to say I am so glad I was there, for both, to support my hero and also to see him in person.
It was probably the hardest time of Michael's entire life, and each day, he walked in the room, confident as ever. He smiled. The courtroom every morning had a lottery, and I was lucky enough to always get in the 3 days I was in California, and got to see him every day - all day for those 3 days.

A few vague memories from Santa Maria:
You always knew he was coming into the courtroom because his mom would arrive first and she would tell everyone good morning. Everyone would always respond, "Good Morning Mrs. Jackson." She would smile and sit down graciously. (Michael got his humble ways from someone, now we know who. Was there ever a doubt?) Then Michael would walk in. My 3 days there, during late May, he was very much coherent. No sunglasses in the courtroom or anything. Red armband on his suit and all. Rocking style like only MJ could. I remember the first time I saw him in person, I turned to the person sitting next to me in the courtroom. (a fellow fan who I met outside the courtroom lottery), and said, "Michael is coming!" and I had this feeling like a little kid about to meet Santa, or better yet, Superman! This was my childhood (and adulthood) hero walking in the door. He walked in, nodded to a few people, and took his seat. I had a close view of him. He was very alert. Then during courtroom breaks, he would walk to a private area to meet with his family members, and Frank DiLeo, and talk. As he would do that, each day, us fans would catch on quickly to Michael's routine, so we'd try to leave the courtroom early and go wait in the Hallway - so we could be near him, as opposed to being in that yucky courtroom with Sneddon and Diane Diamond. The court rules were fans could NOT acknowledge Michael, or even smile at him, unless he initiated it first. We also weren't allowed to wear any Michael Jackson clothes or clothes that resembled his, because it might influence the jury somehow. Each day on his way to his break, he would stop, and just look at us. Who knows if he grasped we were fans, or he might have thought, "What the fuck are these fools doing here starring at me?" Either way, he would stop, and just look at us, then walk on his way.

I remember the day Chris Tucker and Jay Leno were there, my friend from back home also got into the courtroom, and mentioned to me, "Dude, I sat right next to Jay Leno while he was waiting to testify. Did you see him?" and I remembered thinking, "How can you care about some tv host, when MICHAEL FUCKING JACKSON is in the same room as you?!? Hello?!?" Anyway, needless to say when Chris Tucker walked in, he acknowledged Michael, hugged him, and hugged his Mom (if I remember right) and sat down. He cracked several jokes that even Michael laughed at.

I also remember one day, Sneddon walked in, and I gave him a dirty look. He gave me a dirty look back. I also remember, one day Diane Diamond walking to her seat, and I tripped her. She looked back at me and I smiled. She just turned around. I realize, with Michael's passing, she probably got some of the hate that should have been directed at Sneddon, but my logic was, MJ put Sneddon in his place with "D.S." and the fans put Diane Diamond in her place, by making her life in 2005 rough.

I also remember meeting Frank DiLeo. He took time to chat with every fan who approached him. He asked me how long I had been a fan, how I heard about Michael, smiled, saying things like "Michael would be so glad you are here," To say he is sincere is only the start. He truly cared about MJ. Not many people were there for Michael during that time, but he was. I'm so glad he was a part of MJ's life during Michael's final days. It makes me sad though wondering what could have been of their renewed partnership.

It is my understanding that during late June, leading up to the verdict, Michael was really drugged up. As much as I wanted to stay until the verdict, I'm kind of glad the last time I saw him in person, he was at least alert. I'd hate to think of him as being in some drugged up rut.

Back on topic, "This Is It" was also thrilling to simply see Michael in his element, smiling, dancing, clearly enjoying himself, and erasing all these tragic stories about him as of late.
[Edited 10/28/09 16:40pm]

This Is It earns $3.1m in 1 night

NEW YORK - ACCORDING to studio estimates, late-night screenings of Michael Jackson's This Is It have earned US$2.2 million (S$3.1 million) at the North America box office.

Distributor Sony calls those results 'unprecedented' for a Tuesday in October.

The film chronicles Jackson's concert preparations for what would have been 50 comeback concerts in London.

'his Is It opened in 99 countries and expanded its release on Wednesday. Sony has already called Wednesday box office numbers 'explosive' and says matinees alone have doubled Tuesday night's haul.

The film show Jackson preparing for a marathon concert stand in London that never happened.

The pop star died in June at age 50. His death has been ruled a homicide.

http://www.straitstimes.c...47775.html

bboy87 said:

Great review bboy87, I kept thinking as the credits rolled, if MJ had passed earlier in the year, we wouldn't even have this to remember him by.

Rest in Peace - what a showman, what a legend.

mynameisnotsusan said:

I'm kinda feeling like that, too.

I watched it now I quite liked it.

We have to think about ONE REALLY important thing: I guess MJ was never giving 100%. Neither singing or dancing.

The rehearsals were there for becoming synchrone with the others and stuff.

He justified several times that his singing is not up to par because he has to take care for it.

Plus he never wears the real costumes.

I think the show could have been really great and stuff.

But it would not have been the mega-innovative thing everyone talked about. The songs are updated, the backdrops and stuff..

But a giant spider or truck aren't the most innovative things ever.

In fact I think, MJ could have done so much better. A show a la Madonna would have been cool, with several sections, and some interludes with the dancers.

"Shake Your Body" could have worked really well as just an interlude with the dancers showing off, without any MJ.

From someone like MJ you expect certain songs, but is there a need to perform WBSS and Jam every time?
Those two songs are not his biggest essentials.

He sang Speechless for a few bars. This would have been much cooler than IJCSLY for the 1000st time.

So, really innovative would have been giving the fans the essentials with their famous choreographies (BJ, Beat It, Thriller, TWYMMF, Smooth Criminal - none of them should be changed much) the biggies (Earth Song, Black Or White etc.) and add some oddities.
I would have been for I Can't Help It, Speechless, Baby Be Mine, P.Y.T.... why not sth like that?

As always with MJ people tend to overreact and hype things up a little more than necessary.

JackieBlue said:

Oh wow That would be great if it did get recognized by the Academy Awards.

It was amazing! Yall need to check it out! I only wish that they had finished! It would have blew my mind to see this production live or even on dvd totally finished!

Reading all of these reviews makes me so excited and I won't see it until Friday

graecophilos said:

Rumor has it that he was going to be doing different songs every now and then (I doubt we'd get PYT or I Can't Help It, but songs like Dirty Diana, Off The Wall, etc. sound feasible) and also have guest stars from time to time.

I also heard the band and backup vocalists had to know several songs from the catalog that were not rehearsed or performed live.
[Edited 10/28/09 18:58pm]

I suppose I was open as I entered the theatre. I didn't know what to expect.
Would I be sad? Would I cry? Would it be like a concert? Would it make me happy?

I was thrilled with it. I am an MJ fan, but I don't like everything or anything. I think the concert shows would have been spectacular. As far as I was concerned, the rehearsals were the bare bones of the production and it was great. I could visualize how it could have been. I didn't expect MJ to give it his all as far as singing or dancing and I certainly didn't expect him to wear the costumes. When he did sing, I thought his voice was in top form. He appeared much stronger than I expected. He was on top of it all. I didn't suffer a moment of sadness, I found myself smiling and applauding throughout the entire performance.

Though it was a rehearsal and the crew the only audience, it felt like a performance. THIS IS IT the movie, was the best idea yet. Kenny Ortega and everyone else did an outstanding job putting that whole thing together. I loved how they treated MJ with supreme respect (Kenny Ortega was awesome with MJ) and, of course, MJ knew just how to handle everyone with utmost respect and graciousness and love. Attributes that I have always admired about him.

Prior to the show beginning, various people spoke of their experiences at MJ concerts and the camaraderie was so great. MJ was still bringing people together. I'm going again with my friend, tomorrow. And, I can't wait for the DVD so I can stop and rewind like everybody else.

RONNYRON said:

I second that emotion!!!

I'm watching The View and Sherry's review is the same as Oprah's, that it should be nominated in a category for the Oscars, wow.

Fandango is probably going to think I am some kind of movie junkie or something My cousin just called,and asked if I could get her a ticket for tomorrow night.. So tomorrow night My Mom,2 sisters,2 nephews,aunt,uncle,cousin,and I are all going to see Michael.

bboy87 said:

The above quote (and Whitney's grimace) in reference to why Blu-ray has more content than DVD will have regarding the THIS IS IT release.
[Edited 10/28/09 19:45pm]