Michael Jackson and This Is It
November 1, 2009 by Barbara Jacoby
Filed under Creating Happiness
I have never been a Michael Jackson “fan” and I am not really very familiar with his music. However, my husband purchased tickets for the movie over a month ago when they first went on sale and I was really rather curious to see it. Earlier this week I spoke with people who had seen it and people who knew others who had seen it and I heard how great it was but when I asked what it was about, I kept hearing that I would have to see it for myself to understand.
This is not a movie that you go to see but rather an experience that you have. Before the movie started, there were young people yelling and cheering, “Yay, Michael” and I expected that this may very well continue throughout the movie. After all, it was a Friday night. But once, the movie started, it got really quiet and pretty much stayed that way except for an occasional bit of laughter and the light applause that happened at the end of some of the songs. Other than that, you could tell that the audience was completely wrapped up in moment.
Knowing that this movie was made from rehearsal footage took away any expectations that I had regarding the hugeness that I expected from what would have been the actual stage performance. Yet for me, It took on a hugeness in its own way because it became all about Michael Jackson, not only as a performer but also as a person, and it captures the essence of the man. You didn’t care about the clothes that he was wearing or the special effects that were not there or the fact that the songs were not performed from start to finish in a polished way. It was no wonder that people weren’t able to describe the movie. I can’t either but I will tell you that I walked away with an understanding of Michael Jackson that could never have been achieved in any other arena except knowing him as a personal friend.
This movie is wrapped around pure, raw emotion and love and caring about what you are doing, not only emitting from Michael but also from every single one of the cast and crew of the show. Michael truly lived his music, wrapped himself around every word and note and made it so very special. It was the emotion that resulted that had everyone else on the set becoming completely drawn in which then drew in all of the audience members. Everyone was held captive in the moment and stayed that way throughout the entire experience.
I would highly recommend this movie to anyone. You don’t have to be a Michael Jackson fan to appreciate it. This piece is an experience to be felt on so many different levels. You will get to know Michael Jackson in a way that you would never have been able to do so by attending a concert with thousands of other screaming fans while being so far away from the stage. Seeing him on screen in a larger than life setting allows you to feel what he was feeling, to understand from where he was pulling each beat of the music and to appreciate not only the talent of this man but also his very essence. Despite everything that I have seen or heard in the press about Michael Jackson in the past, I will never view him again in any other light than what I brought away from that movie. He was unique, caring, loving, vibrant and exquisite in the way that he viewed the world and shared his very essence with all of us. What a treasure!
As always, I love your comments.
I loved the movie and I wasn’t a huge MJ fan either. You describe it beautifully. It really made me realize what a tragic loss it was.
I know exactly what you mean. I, too. realized the great loss we all suffered but not until after he had already died. Thank you for sharing.
some say that a star shines the brightest, just before it burns out. these last ten concerts were going to be michael’s last great shine, and they didn’t let him have that, not even that. this movie was one of the most beautiful and incredible and inspiring things i ever saw, it shows the kindest, most pure-hearted and talented performer of the 20th century in action, as long as we keep him in our hearts and in our minds, he will never die.
What a great assessment! Thank you so very much for sharing.
I just walked out of the movie & u said what I was feeling. Words can not express the experience of the movie. What he was thinking and feeling made u laugh, sing, & even cry. I am a MJ fan & preferred 2 see the good in him, this movie showed the world just how good of a person he truely was.
Wasn’t that awesome? What a tribute to the man and his music!
I could not have said it any better than you did, in fact, I was going to blog about it, and still may do so. I am taking my nieces to see it tomorrow, which means I get to see it again. I waited until the very end even though people were leaving during the credits. The theater wasn’t full but then again it was Halloween night. I waited until the end of “This is It”, the song and I began to clap all by myself, it didn’t take long for others to join in but was short lived. I didn’t care if anyone clapped, I just felt the need to applaud Michael, and the cast and crew. It was awesome. I am glad you blogged about it.
Thanks!
Rose
Thank you so much for sharing your experience here. I can tell that you were obviously moved by the same things as me. I am glad that you are taking others to see it as I will not be able to forget this experience, this man and this movie anytime soon and I know that others who see it will feel the same way. We also stayed to the very end unlike many others who missed out on that one final moment that sealed the deal. I can picture your applauding and know exactly why you did so.
Great review Barbara! I had no idea what the movie would be about. I was a fan of his when I was younger. And I love his music. All of that was tainted over the years though. I am interested to see this movie now that you’ve shared your view with us. I haven’t heard of anybody around here that has seen the movie. I guess being in California, there might be a little more interest than here in Texas. I’ll try to conjure up a fan to go along with me. Thanks again for sharing!! Beautifully done!
Thanks so much for your kind words. It was such a unique experience that I just felt like I had to share while there was still an opportunity to see this movie in the theaters. I am not sure that it would have the same impact on DVD but I also wanted people to know that even if they were not fans of him or his music, there is something offered here that you might never experience again.
very well said.
Thank you. I know from your comment that you know exactly what I felt and saw and experienced as you obviously felt the same way.