Michael Jackson's This Is It
I approached this film with low expectations. First of all, I'm not a Michael Jackson fan. I appreciate his talent - particularly his solo work during the 1980s - but I certainly don't idolise the man. Secondly, I was incredibly cynical about this movie. It smacked of a cheap cash-in following the artist's tragic death. Rehearsal footage cobbled together with some backstage interviews? That's the kind of stuff that ends up on a DVD in the special features section!
Once again, I was proved wrong. Despite being overlong and a bit gushy (it seems everyone loves MJ), this is actually an entertaining glimpse at what would have been an amazing live spectacle at the O2.
Jackson comes across as a talented singer and dancer, a complete perfectionist and an affable bloke. You can also see how fragile he was: it's clear he's in physical pain during many of the rehearsals. Had he lived, how on earth would he have managed 50 live shows?
The choreography, set design and video back-projection for many of the routines is stunning. Yes, after the first hour, the film becomes a bit repetitive, but I can understand why director Kenny Ortega didn't take a 'less is more' approach and included every single minute of footage. This is a movie for Jackson's loyal fans - and they'll love it.
