So here it is. I may be one of the few people in the entire free world who was never a fan of Michael Jackson. When the entire world went into paroxysms of shock and grief at his death, my own reaction was pretty flat. Sure, I was surprised: the man was only 50 years old, after all. On the other hand, his life had for so many years been so unbelievably…well, weird, basically…that I couldn’t muster anything much more than just puzzlement at anything involving him. And then all kinds of further weirdness ensued in the wake of his death; I’m talking about the funeral arrangements, the family members, the children, the milk of amnesia…and I just gave up thinking about the whole situation at all.
But on Sunday my husband and I decided to take our kids to see the movie everyone’s been talking about: Michael Jackson’s This Is It. Because…well basically because it was the only family-rated movie playing in our local theatre that they hadn’t already seen.
Well, one thing I discovered right off – I may have thought I wasn’t a Michael Jackson fan, but evidently I am (was? have been?). Let’s just put it this way: someone who doesn’t like MJ wouldn’t have spent the entire 2 hours 6 minutes bopping in her chair and singing along to every song with a big fat grin plastered all over her face. I LOVED this movie. Loved.
It was so interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look at how a massive concert experience like this is put together, and for a die-hard So You Think You Can Dance fan, I got a real kick out of seeing producer/director (and sometime SYTYCD guest-judge) Kenny Ortega in action. And can we talk for a moment about the dancers? They were amazing. And the kick-ass girl guitarist? And the backup vocalists? It was amazing.
And MJ himself was surprisingly normal. Well, his clothes weren’t, and nor were some of his hand gestures (not obscene, just…weird). But he himself was modest, soft-spoken, kind. Oh, make no mistakes: he had a very specific vision and if it wasn’t being achieved he would stop everything and make that clear, but he was – gracious – about it. “Stop, stop, stop!” he’d say. “That’s not right, it needs to be higher/faster/slower/funkier”; and he’d work with them – patiently – until they got it just right. When they apologized, he repeatedly responded, “that’s all right…that’s why we rehearse.” And the people he worked with on that concert loved him. That much was clear.
And of course there was the music, which I was able to see I really did like after all. And then the dancing: seeing a montage like this, you can really see the amazing influence MJ has had on every aspect of pop music.
All of which is to say: this movie is only playing for two weeks, and I for one recommend that you do whatever you can not to miss it.
Kath, i went to see it after reading your review and love love loved it.! I actually just posted my own review, i was so inspired and had to write down my feelings.
As an older mom, I have watched Michael Jackson grow up before my eyes. I have watched the media eat him alive and have rarely believed what I read or heard about him. And while I don’t own any of his music, I was very curious about how he would be protrayed in yet another media piece. What came across to me was pleasing. Yes Kath, I too saw a man of kindness (I loved how he prefaced a criticism using the words “…with love…”) and sincerity. He was a perfectionist of the best kind and it was clear to me that at all times his focus was on his fans wanting so much to create something outstanding for them. The movie did not disappoint.
My husband and I also saw this move (sans enfants) and we LOVED it too. Niether of us were huge MJ fans before. But the movie really shows what a vision he had for this concert, how he was into every aspect of it and that he was working harder than almost anyone else – amazing!
Jen: yes, those songs certainly implanted themselves in my subconscious. Who knew I liked them that much though? Either I was very taken by the nostalgia, or I did always like MJ and just pretended I didn’t…
GAWD, the MJ B-Day party. Had forgotten about that one!
Laura: The kids did both get a bit fidgety; 2hrs is long for them! They were familiar with a good deal of MJ’s music going in and enjoyed many parts of it, though, and now talk about how much they loved it, and want to download a bunch of his songs. The 9 year-old was better than the 6 year-old, although she still turned to me more than once saying, “when can we go home?”
Still and all: I say bring the kids if they like Michael Jackson.
I am a bit stunned to read this review coming from you, Kath! I am thinking of bringing my 8 year old son to see this, as he seems to really like MJ’s music. Please tell me, what did your kids think? Were they bored?
I remember the party! We used the pause button a lot on that Thriller movie. LOL. I probably won’t see this until it’s out on DVD though.
Going tomorrow. Can’t wait! You say you weren’t a fan but remember when I was 12 and you were 14 and we had to share the stereo? We did MJ first and then either Ziggy Stardust (aka David Bowie) or Billy Idol. I never thought I was a fan of either of them but I can sing EVERY word to their 80’s hits!
Can NOT wait!
Remember my Michael Jackson themed birthday party?!