"Michael Jackson's This Is It" premiered to high praise from fans who applauded at each number as though they were at a concert and marveled as the singer stepped nimbly through his moonwalk and other signature moves.
Jackson, 50 when he died last June, kept pace with backup dancers half his age during rehearsals for such hits as "Thriller," "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "Human Nature." The film was shot as Jackson prepared for a http://bloglines.com/blog/bardavonas marathon concert stand in London that never happened.
"He looked better than he did when he was 30," said Jessica Childs, a 21-year-old aspiring dancer who caught the Los Angeles premiere. "His voice stood out."
Four of Jackson's brothers - Jermaine, Marlon, Tito and Jackie - attended, saying afterward that seeing their brother on film filled them with love and pride.
"It's amazing to see him up there doing his thing," Jackie Jackson said. "To see him up there doing his performance like that has brought a lot of tears to my eyes, sitting there watching him. Because I love him so much. That's why I keep this with me at all times in my pocket. It's a little token of him," he said, pulling out a white-glove key-ring fashioned after one of his brother's best-known accessories.
"It was closure for me," said Marlon Jackson. "And it was a moment where I just felt his spirit inside of me. And that made me feel good."
Performances in the film included a medley of Jackson 5 hits the singer originally performed with his siblings.
Most of the material was intended for Jackson's private use, but it now serves as the last bow of a performer who ruled the pop charts in the 1980s and later retired to a reclusive life amid allegations of child molestation.
The mood at simultaneous premieres around the world Tuesday and Wednesday was tearful yet celebratory. At the Los Angeles premiere near the arena where much of the rehearsal footage was shot, "This Is It" director and longtime Jackson collaborator Kenny Ortega introduced the film to the audience, calling it the "last sacred documentation of our leader and our friend."
"It was touching. Well done. It was beautiful," said Casey Gosh, 24, who was invited to the premiere by a friend. "It told his story. You really felt like you knew him. It was his final performance."
"I loved seeing him in action again," said David Montalvo, who saw "This Is It" in New York City. "It's like you were able to see Michael again for the last time, so it was a good chance to say goodbye to him."
The footage revealed just how elaborate and demanding Jackson's comeback run of 50 planned concerts last July would have been. One segment showed how Jackson would have made a grand stage entrance inside a mechanical spider. Another, intended as a 3-D film accompaniment on "Thriller," featured an expansive graveyard set.
"We thought it was excellent. The concert we never saw," said Marilyn Morrison, who also saw the film in New York. "Just seeing all the moves, his original moves, just seeing him doing them again. Just wonderful."
Early reaction from critics was equally positive. Matt Soergel of The Florida Times of Jacksonville calls it an "exuberant, astonishingly entertaining concert film." "Looks like the world has missed one helluva concert," writes Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter.
And Nekesa Mumbi Moody of The Associated Press said, "The amazing performances Jackson delivers in this film are not a result of camera magic, but Jackson's own."
The film already was getting repeat business. Gina Meconi and a friend attended the Los Angeles premiere then went to one of the first public screenings at the new adjacent Regal theatre.
"I had tickets for this anyway, so I said let's go see it again," Meconi said. "It was awesome. I loved it. I thought it was going to be sadder, but it wasn't sad at all."
Elizabeth Gonzales slept outside overnight to buy tickets to see the film at the Regal. Wearing a fedora, a spangled glove and a red leather jac"Michael Jackson's This Is It" premiered to high praise from fans who applauded at... more
In the this episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show, Brett Erlich and Ellen Fox lead ensemble reviews of "Michael Jackson's This is It," "The House of the Devil," and "Gentlemen Broncos," Ellen celebrates "This Is It" by breaking down the Top 5 Worst Actor/Musicians and Brett takes us out to the ball game with his new song, "Last Second Plays."
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
The Rotten Tomatoes Show stops by the AFI Film Festival to ask... What's Your Favorite Dance Scene in a Movie?
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
For more about movies from Current: http://current.com/moviesThe Rotten Tomatoes Show stops by the AFI Film Festival to ask... What's Your Favorite... more
Brett Erlich and Ellen Fox join forces with bloggers, comedians, students and citizen critics to review "Michael Jackson's This Is It."
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
For more about movies from Current: http://current.com/moviesBrett Erlich and Ellen Fox join forces with bloggers, comedians, students and citizen... more
Producer, Director, Choreographer Mr. Kenny Ortega(of This Is It, High School Musical & various other projects) spoke at the AFI seminar sponsored by the Entertainment Weekly Lounge at the Roosevelt Hotel on Monday Nov 2nd. He had some great inspirational stories to share with the audience.Producer, Director, Choreographer Mr. Kenny Ortega(of This Is It, High School Musical... more
Kenny Ortega, the directory of the Michael Jackson documentary This Is It, has spoken out about speculation the film might be nominated for an Academy Award.Kenny Ortega, the directory of the Michael Jackson documentary This Is It, has spoken... more
Director Kenny Ortega is hanging up his dancing shoes. Ortega announced this weekend he would be pulling out of the Paramount remake of Footloose, starring Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford and Dancing With the Stars pro Julianne Hough.Director Kenny Ortega is hanging up his dancing shoes. Ortega announced this weekend... more
It didn't take long but Sony have purchased the rights to make the biopic of Jackon's life.
Kenny Ortega, the man behind the High School Musical phenomena has been tapped to direct since he was filming all of the footage anyway. Originally intended to be a behind the scenes special, they are now looking at upgrading it from that to a full fledged film complete with 3D
Do you think this has come a bit quick?It didn't take long but Sony have purchased the rights to make the biopic of Jackon's... more
