I have never done a review on here yet, so here goes. My friend, Lynette Czirr Jones, came to visit me yesterday. Her husband, Gary, had to pass through Riverton yesterday on business and dropped her off for the day. We had a great time catching up. We still finish each others sentences and laugh a lot and really enjoyed being together. Anyway, she called me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I was going to be around on the 29th and told me about the possibility of her coming up. She said, " ...and guess WHAT?!...The new Michael Jackson movie is coming out on the 28th, so wouldn't it just be right if we saw it together?" We talked about how fitting and perfect it would be because of our long history with Michael. I'll fill you in a bit. Michael's career was at the pinnacle during our Senior year of High School. Thriller came out and he was on top. We LOVED him and spent a lot of time trying our best, but really quite unsuccessfully, to copy some of his moves. Our favorite song was "Wanna Be Startin' Something". Maybe five years ago she came up to visit one summer with her kids and we got on the Michael Jackson subject with our children. Possible because Kyle had been recently in his "phase" which you guys probably remember. My kids preceded telling her kids how much they liked MJ and the Jackson 5 (probably our favorite trip CD for the car ever!) We watched the collection of Michael's music videos with her kids and they were fascinated and quickly were converted to the MJ fan club. By the way, this was probably during the worst time for Michael as his personal life was being dragged through the mud with his trial and everything. Needless to say, it wasn't very popular being a fan as a middle schooler/high schooler, but our children were proud to claim their love for him and they have defended him against ridicule of close-minded classmates for a long time. We have mailed videos back and forth so our kids could see them.
Anyway, those are some of the reasons we felt that it would be so great to see it together. We knew all the stars would have to align for this to work out. The movie had to be in our little Riverton theater (yay, it was!), the weather had to cooperate (weather was super lame on their way up, but they made it), and other things which could come up. But, we were lucky and found ourselves in the theater excited for the movie, but not knowing that much about it, nor what to expect. (Didn't do too much research and hadn't seen too much promotion).
We were not disappointed! It was really good. It is basically a documentary type movie of footage from the This Is It Tour rehearsals. The footage was intended to be for Michael's personal library and archives. It shows a very much alive Michael in good health and in good shape physically. It was rehearsal footage, so it showed him holding back a little, but sometimes he just couldn't resist being him. Some amazing moves! It showed his sweet, cute, funny side, but most of all it showed how much of a perfectionist he was and a true genius. He knows what he wanted, how he wanted it, and he wanted it the best it could be. It showed the respect that all who worked on the show had for him. He was in charge! He hired professionals to direct, etc., but they all knew that ultimately it was Michael who was the boss and they respected that. But, he was gentle and kind and loves everyone. The backup dancers were AMAZING. But we noticed that even though they were awesome and performing all out, you still couldn't help watching Michael do his thing, at about 1/2 capacity. My very favorite segment was the military type dancing sequence with "Bad". It's so cool. The musicians were great, too. Especially his lead guitarist. She is from Australia and only 24. She's adorable and incredible! So sad that he had to die, especially just 8 days before leaving for London to put on this incredible concert tour! So many heartbroken and disappointed people. The amount of people, time and work involved in this tour, not to mention the money, is too much to comprehend. The sets and special effects were incredible. Matt, I think you would really like to see some of the behind the scenes production stuff. I'm glad we went and I think you guys would all enjoy it. It's definitely worth seeing. I think it might even change some people's opinions about him. I hope so!
24 comments:
Nice post, Amy. Interesting was your families history of M.J. Glad you liked the movie and had fun with Lynette.
Glad you liked it, I'm excited to see it. Glad you had fun!
By the way, I am still so sad that he died. It sucks.
Oh and another thing, what's with the blog updates not showing up lately? I have updated mine twice since the one it shows. Am I doing something wrong or is it just not working?
I'm excited to see this film. Sue, Em, Dan, Ben and I are all trying to see it together next week.
Good to know it's good! We need to clamp down a time guys! If we do it Thursday, I might be a little nutty since I have another dentist appointment that day. Heehee.......
That could make it even more fun! Thursday is ok for me, that's my first day on the job which should go until about 4:00. I have to be there at 7:30 the next morning so I would prefer a fairly early show. Friday would be better. Monday or Tuesday would be good for me too.
Oh, I'm so glad you're all going to go see it! Haley, the movie makes it even more sad that he died. You just sit there thinking, "Dang! Why? Lame!"
Monday is out for me, but I'm up for anything any of the other days next week except Saturday (Hope and I are going to the So You Think You Can Dance concert that night)...
Great to hear it is so cool, Mose. Thanks! Fun to be reminded about Lynette. I definitely remember her from when you were in high school.
Have you guys seen the Potty Training picture on Awkward Family Photos site? What the bip? I can't for the life of me figure out how anyone proposed that they take that picture!
Rob and I did see that and pondered on the situation that led to the idea of taking that picture. It can't be good. What the bip indeed.
We did enjoy In Good Hands an awful lot.
In Good Hands is totally strange, I agree. The one above it about the guy with jazz hands cracked me up. The caption was totally right on...
Amazing film! What a gift to the world, too. Perfect for those of us who love and appreciate his talent and just want to see him do what he does best. A rare glimpse, too as all you ever really hear about MJ is the weird. Some highlights for me: the military-style dance they did about 15 minutes in. So cool! I loved the version of 'The Way You Make Me Feel' too. It was just so amazing to see him dance (even if it was at about 50% effort during rehearsals). Em and I were commenting on how great the back-up dancers were as 'extensions of Michael', but found that you could not take your eyes off him! It is clear that he was just made to do what he does. It seems effortless. Like breathing. I liked how kind and patient, yet totally in charge he is in his productions. It's obvious that he loved his crew and they loved him and felt what an honor it was to be chosen to work with him. It just showed his sweet and funny and totally professional side all throughout. Don't miss it, people. It's only playing for another week.
Well, Cat, Ben, Em and Rob and I all saw this last night in American Fork. We didn't have time to stick around and deconstruct it afterward, so I thought I'd start here.
I REALLY enjoyed it and found myself choking up quite often, renewed sorrow at the loss of this amazing talent but even more so beautiful soul. He really was about doing good in the world, spreading love and joy, saving the planet, uniting people with music and moving them to act. Obviously he was a flawed messenger but aren't we all? Anyway, despite all the craziness, I'm deeply inspired by his essential goodness, which this movie again makes so easy to see.
As for this film, all I can say is "WOW! What a show this concert would have been!" Insane all that they had planned and how much work went into it, and all the talent working on it. As Amy said, amazing dancers and musicians, but then add onto it all the film and set and lighting and sound crews, etc. And what professionalism from everyone! They all were SO amazingly focussed, instantly starting in the right spots when they'd run through something again, and everyone seeming to intuit what others were saying. Neat to see a team so together on a single goal.
As for Michael, he didn't look ill at all. Thin but seemingly fine. It's hard to imagaine him home begging for drugs to make him sleep when you see how professonal and giving he was in rehearsals. And as Amy said, perfectionist. What struck me also was his ability to see how to create even more powerful "moments," suggesting different cues for lighting and when music starts, etc., that will be even more dramatic and impactful.
My favorite parts were (along with Amy) the military dancing in They Don't Care About Us and the familiar choreography parts of Bad, Thriller, and some others (wish there was some moonwalking in Billie Jean--kind of one minor one but he was obviously saving himself for actual performances). I loved the Jackson 5 section (still much of it my favorites of his many hits) and then just the parts where he's singing in his beautiful voice minus all the spectacle. I also loved the times when they'd turn the camera on the crew and dancers simply watching him in action. What an amazing experience they all were priviledged to be part of.
Definitely a DVD to own in the future (and to see again a time or two before this theatre run ends)!
I saw it again on Halloween night with Scott, Kyle, Matt & B and loved seeing it again. I don't think I'd ever get tired of it. I agree with every single thing you said, Dan. That concert would have been amazing! We only saw a glimpse of it. Glad you guys liked it! Kelly and Annie want to learn the "Beat It" dance. It's maybe even better than "Thriller" and might be easier to learn. So cool!
Mom and I saw it last night. Totally a WOW! Love it all and at the risk of being redundant, agree with all Dan said and Amy and Cath also. I changed my attitude (mind) a bit regarding Michael. I never doubted his talent and now I appreciate it more than ever. The flipping of his hands and fingers was different. He had just a natural ability to move his legs, arms and body. Just standing there talking he was jerking his arms and head. He was a sweet soul. I too, am confused as how much energy he showed at the rehursals and then would go home and let that quack doctor hook him up to an I.V. and pour drugs into him. Most lame. I too, kept looking for a moonwalk during Billy Jean.
I really think that this movie will change a lot of people's opinion of Michael, if they give it a chance. Has anyone else heard that this movie won't be available on DVD? I think that would be stupid. If they need money in his estate, I would think this would help a little!
I've only heard that it won't be available on DVD before Christmas. I haven't heard at all that there were no plans for a DVD. My guess is that they are just going all out with special features, etc., to make it an even more unbelievable DVD.
I bought the This Is It album on iTunes. It is getting bad reviews as it is mostly just remastered versions of the ones we saw in the film, but there are some "demos" at the end, and the demo of new harmonies for the chorus of Bad is really great. Anyway, I'm glad I downloaded the album and got the digital book of it, etc. I actually didn't already have a bunch of his classic tunes but now do!
Oh yeah, I actually like the song This is It, and getting the album was the only way to get that song. The album has a regular version of it and also one recorded with the full backing of an orchestra. Love it!
It was probably just a rumor one of my kids told me that it wasn't coming out on DVD. I will totally own it!
I could ditto everything that was said about this which would cut down my review. I was so glad I went and enjoyed it immensely. What's funny about how Cat said that we commented about how good the back up dancers were, but Micheal out shined them, Rob turned to me not 3 minutes later and said the exact same thing! They had to be the best of the best, yet MJ was just on a different planet from them. Dancing just oozed out of his pores, it is amazing to see. Rob told me on the way home that Joe Jackson has stirred up controversy saying that half the time it was a body double in the movie- well, there is no chance, anyone can move like your son Joe, there is no way one could believe that was anyone other then Micheal.
As an added bonus to round out the pleasure of seeing that movie on Tuesday, on Wednesday Chris and Jimmy reviewed it and I got to listen to that, which made me very happy (those are the guys that do my favorite movie review podcast -Scene/Unseen). By the way Sue, do you still listen to that? Because their dvd picks this week were concert movies and Chris picked "Stop Making Sense" and I thought of you.
I don't understand at all the motivation for that rumor Joe started about the body-double thing. I totally forgot I had heard about that right before we saw it. There's no way. Joe's just a jerk.
Luckily they have extended the theatrical release of this movie, because Cam and I still haven't seen it! Hopefully we will get to it this weekend. I did hear the Chris and Jimmy review and it made me want to see it even more after hearing Chris gush about it. And for some reason, I knew Stop Making Sense was going to be Chris' choice. And when he mentioned it was released in 1983, I knew I was right. And I totally would have emailed in with that as my choice, but I was a couple of weeks behind in listening to their podcast, so I missed the deadline.
I too heard that Joe Jackson is saying that most of the movie is a body double. I have no idea why he would say that, except like Cat said, he is just a jerk.
And as for rumors about it not ever going to DVD, all I can say is never listen to rumors like that. Studios will start rumors like that so they can get more butts in the seats. They figure rumors like that will get people who normally wait for stuff to come out on DVD, will go see it in the theater. It just doesn't make business sense to not put the movie out on DVD. Why would you not want to make more money? Especially on a movie like This Is It, that didn't cost very much to make. It was never meant to be in the theater, it was filmed for Michael's personal archive.
Anyway, I hate rumors like that because it is just the studios manipulating us!
I just got home from seeing it finally! I loved it! Everyone has pretty much made the comments I would make on how talented he is and his dancers and musicians. I also just loved seeing Michael being kind of playful and funny. I loved it when he was in the cherry picker and the director told him it would go much higher than that and Michael says "why would you tell me that?". I also liked at the very end when they were talking about Man in the Mirror and they were joking about how flight attendants point to the exits and Michael says "I love it when they do that" and then he does the exit points. He is just amazing and so good to his crew and seeing this movie just makes his death all the more tragic. He certainly didn't look like someone who was going to die in a couple of weeks.
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