So the main segment of Moonwalker (1988) was Smooth Criminal. The highlight of Michael's acting in that was when he was being chased through the streets by the evil drug lord Joe Pesci. He managed to express suspense and fear and the feeling of being hunted.

In my opinion, the low light of Michael's acting was when he was trying to look upset, like when he and the little girl discover Joe Pesci's evil plan ("This can't be true") and when Michael is captured and hears little Katie screaming and being hit by Pesci.

BTW, when Michael says to Joe Pesci , "Let her go!", it was an unusually deep voice for him. I first mistaken him for Joe Pesci.

I think he told ya!

He's a dancer, not an actor!

nayroo2002 said:

I once fired up the bong and found myself liking the bits where he turns into a supercar, a transformer then an imperial shuttle.

luv2tha99s said:

A straight-to-video movie ...

I saw it in the movie theatre?

BIGJAYRAFFAS said:

luv2tha99s said:

A straight-to-video movie ...

I saw it in the movie theatre?

Me too. Twice. Had to see Come together again.

BIGJAYRAFFAS said:

RJOrion said:

BIGJAYRAFFAS said:

I saw it in the movie theatre?

My Condolences...you're most likely eligible for a complete refund, plus a free lifetime supply of popcorn, coca-cola, goobers and raisinets.

If you'd watched it as what it was, an overlong music video, it was fun. But, I get it, selfabsorbed, snobs don't like fun.

ShellyMcG said:

Today I learned Michael Jackson was in a movie

More than one.

luv2tha99s said:

A straight-to-video movie ...

I saw it in the cinema in London in 1988. It was released theatrically in Europe and S America (not sure about the rest of the world outside N America).

It grossed $67m ($173m in today's money) on a $22m budget, according to Wikipedia, with sales of 0.8m in the US market.

leecaldon said:

ShellyMcG said:

leecaldon said:

More than one.

I remember his cameo in one of the Men In Black movies but I never knew he was the lead in a movie before.

He was also co-lead with Diana Ross in 1978's musical movie The Wiz (based on the The Wizard of Oz), which also starred Richard Pryor. The movie was not a major hit, grossing $21m ($98m in today's money) and not particularly well-received, despite having the talent of Sidney Lumet as director and Joel Schumacher as writer.

But MJ got great reviews and, crucially for the rest of his career, Quincy Jones was musical director and their working relationship started.

leecaldon said:

ShellyMcG said:

leecaldon said: I remember his cameo in one of the Men In Black movies but I never knew he was the lead in a movie before.

He was also co-lead with Diana Ross in 1978's musical movie The Wiz (based on the The Wizard of Oz), which also starred Richard Pryor. The movie was not a major hit, grossing $21m ($98m in today's money) and not particularly well-received, despite having the talent of Sidney Lumet as director and Joel Schumacher as writer.

But MJ got great reviews and, crucially for the rest of his career, Quincy Jones was musical director and their working relationship started.

It did become somewhat of a cult classic though.

leecaldon said:

ShellyMcG said:

leecaldon said:

He was also co-lead with Diana Ross in 1978's musical movie The Wiz (based on the The Wizard of Oz), which also starred Richard Pryor. The movie was not a major hit, grossing $21m ($98m in today's money) and not particularly well-received, despite having the talent of Sidney Lumet as director and Joel Schumacher as writer.

But MJ got great reviews and, crucially for the rest of his career, Quincy Jones was musical director and their working relationship started.

Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Richard Pryor(!) were all in a movie together?? That's so random. How have I never heard of that. I have to see this. I don't even care if it's terrible, it's worth watching for that cast alone

It's worth a watch but it's a very odd movie. Oz recast as New York. The yellow brick road duet between Ross and MJ is wonderful though, from the art direction, MJ's scarecrow moves, and the song itself.

I'm an MJ fan and can confirm Moonwalker is indeed shit. I'm also a Prince fan and might just rate Graffit Bridge more. And that is really shit too. It's like choosing between diarrhea or constipation.

Marrk said:

I'm an MJ fan and can confirm Moonwalker is indeed shit. I'm also a Prince fan and might just rate Graffit Bridge more. And that is really shit too. It's like choosing between diarrhea or constipation.

What exactly is shit?? Man in the mirror? Leave me alone? Smooth criminal? Come together? Speed demon? The career retrospective that for me, at the time, featured some stuff I hadn't seen before? Again, if you watch it as an overlong music video is fun. If you expect a regular movie, that's on you.

PatrickS77 said:

ShellyMcG said:

PatrickS77 said:

What exactly is shit?? Man in the mirror? Leave me alone? Smooth criminal? Come together? Speed demon? The career retrospective that for me, at the time, featured some stuff I hadn't seen before? Again, if you watch it as an overlong music video is fun. If you expect a regular movie, that's on you.

My expectations are set . Mind you, I don't like Man In The Mirror or Come Together but if it's just a big compilation of musical numbers then it can't be that bad.

Well, it's half and half. Roughly the first half is a compilation of musical numbers and the second half is the very longform music video for Smooth criminal.

PatrickS77 said:

ShellyMcG said:

PatrickS77 said:

Well, it's half and half. Roughly the first half is a compilation of musical numbers and the second half is the very longform music video for Smooth criminal.

Smooth Criminal is a great song so I'll take an extended version of that any day.

Well, it's the song plus a story around it.

PatrickS77 said:

ShellyMcG said:

PatrickS77 said:

Well, it's the song plus a story around it.

Is it just the 10 minute "official video" for the song that's on YouTube?

Yes. Plus a story around it. That whole segment is called Smooth criminal.