Keely's Korner

MICHAEL JACKSON’S “THIS IS IT” (MY REVIEW)
(10/29/09)
I saw his movie last night and I LOVED it!!  This movie shows how unbelievably great Michael was as an enetertainer.  He was such a perfectionist and it shows throughout the entire movie.  Although this movie is for the fans, it gives an eye opener to everyone else as to what it is like to actually put on a concert, especially one done by Michael Jackson.

Going to a Michael Jackson concert is not just a concert, it’s an EVENT.  Watching him is like MAGIC!!  You escape from your everyday world into something that is so incredible that you can’t keep your eyes off of him.  I’ve seen Michael get in a cherry picker crane and move across an audience (which he does again in this movie) that you feel you can reach out and touch him.  I’ve seen him do some incredible magic tricks at his concerts.  I remember one time in which he was on one side of the stage and in less than a nanosecond he was on the other side of the stage singing and dancing.  To this day, I still don’t know how he did it.  In fact, I  just recently learned how he does the lean in “Smooth Criminal”.  I’ve also seen this man put on a jet pack and fly out of a stadium.  Seriously – who does that??  With that being said, he always tries to top himself.  For this movie, you see him bring in 3-D effects which I have never seen anyone else do in concert. I can only imagine what it would have been like to some of these segments in 3-D, especially “Thriller”.

Michael was the type of entertainer that learned from the great legends of the past and made things into his own.  When he dances you see elements of James Brown and Fred Astaire.   He even incorporates moves from “West Side Story” (one of his favorite movies) into several dance steps.  For example he even uses clips of Rita Hayworth from “Gilda” (1946) and uses it for segment for “Smooth Criminal”.  Halloween was his favorite holiday and when you see “Thriller” (which was based on seeing “An American Werewolf on London”) (1981) , he updates it as if you were seeing it for the first time.

For someone who was 50 years old, he was still an amazing dancer.  Even when he wasn’t fully giving his all in rehearsals people would stop just to watch him because he was so mesmerizing.  You see him wanting to get everything perfect. Even when he is being critical with Michael Beardon (Musical Director) or Kenny Ortega,  he does it with love and he’s incredibly funny.  He meticulous when it comes to his music.  He knows every note and will rehearse until it is done correctly. 

Michael is the reason why I don’t pay to see too many people in concert (getting free tickets is another story).  It’s one thing just to see people sing & dance but Michael gives you your money’s worth.  After seeing this, I hope artists will want to bring their “A” game if they are going to charge ridiculous prices to see them in concert.   I did cry towards the end of the movie because I knew that I would never be able to see him live and in person again.  I am so grateful that I got the chance to meet him several times.  Michael wanted to be the best and to give his all in everything that he did.  He also wanted his crew to give their all and be the best that they could be too.  He believed everyone should have their time to “shine”.  This is the reason why he  is the “King Of Pop”.

Stay until the very end of the movie (after the credits) because you will see extra clips of him.

“THIS IS IT” GROSSES $2.2 MILLION ON OPENING DAY
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010507.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

ZALDY SHOWS OFF “THIS IS IT” WARDROBE FOR MICHAEL JACKSON
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lxarTRjqH4

MEET THE TEAM BEHIND “THIS IS IT”
http://www.accesshollywood.com/meet-the-team-behind-michael-jacksons-this-is-it-magic_video_1169033

KENNY ORTEGA TALKS ABOUT THE PREMIERE
http://www.accesshollywood.com/kenny-ortega-on-finally-premiering-this-is-it-i-feel-satisfied_video_1170400