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RATING:  
When the credits began to roll for 'This is It", the cinema audience around me broke into warm applause. I was surprised but not shocked.
If you hope 'This Is It' will be a full-length music video - it is not. If you expect a documentary - this is not it, as well.
‘This is It’ is simply, a tasteful look at the person who was Michael Jackson.
While this movie will no doubt cement Jackson’s appeal to die-hard fans, it also sets in motion some re-thinking on the part of those who only saw the late 50-year-old in the light of 'Wacko Jacko' with songs that were as memorable as his wardrobe and off-stage anctics.
The movie by Kenny Ortega, the man who was also behind Jackson’s ‘This is It’ concert series that was to open weeks before the musician’s sudden death, opened to much hype in the US on 28 October.
Surprisingly, in Singapore the movie opened at various cinemas without even a whimper.
Heading to Lido’s Digital theatre, I was surprised to find no snaking queues and a good number of seats vacant in the large cinema hall.
A quick check on cinema bookings later didn’t return many sold-out sessions either, which may be a good thing as you’ll be able to take your pick of days, times and seats.
‘This is It’ runs just over an hour and a half, and is just right in pace so you won’t be left agonising for the credits to come on, neither will you be saying “This is it?!?”
It comes with a PG rating, but for a star who was dragged through charges of child molest and other sordid claims, this is a rather kid-friendly movie except for the crotch-grabbing dance moves.
The only problem with bringing kids to this movie is they might start singing along, which was what happened to me.
With so much attention centred on Jackson in life as well as death, I was surprised that Kenny Ortega decided not to start strong with the King of Pop bursting on the screen.
Instead, he chose to move almost chronologically, starting with different people either excitedly talking or blubbering tearfully, on how much they wanted to be one of the dancers chosen to share the stage with Jackson during his concert, and Ortega himself describing a space suit that opens on stage to reveal Jackson.
It’s only after that, that we see Jackson performing on stage with ‘Wanna Be Starting Something’ presumably the opening song for his concert.
Fortunately, that silly, confusing start is quickly left behind as the movie picks up pace and stays mainly with Jackson and his concert.
This visuals you see in ‘This is It’ are the same footage of Jackson just before his death that news stations played repeatedly when it was released along with questions on the condition of his health as he prepared for the sell-out concert.
There were claims that the footage showed a tired Jackson.
On the big-screen, and in digital, which by the way is the best way to catch this film, it is easy to scrutinize every detail.
Yes, Michael Jackson did seem tired at some points.
But then again, it’s important to remember the context.
During one point of the movie, Jackson remarked to his producers that he was saving his voice and didn’t want to be pushing at 100 percent during the rehearsal.
This, as a theatre expert who accompanied me to the movie pointed out, is absolutely right for any performer, and could also be the reason why some misconstrued that Jackson was ‘tired’ while preparing for his concert.
In addition, having seen the entire movie which is based on raw footage from about three different rehearsals, it is hard to say whether the occasional shots of a puffed-out Jackson is really the result of his age and health, or the repeated takes on stage.
It's hard not to feel tired for Jackson judging from the energy put in for the stage run-throughs.
Watching him move it's hard to imagine that he was 50-years-old as Jackson was as lithe as an 18-year-old when dancing, which he often did in ‘This is It’.
Jackson also jumps up and down repeatedly as part of the performance for one of his songs and in another, lies on stage to kick his legs furiously in the air.
Amazingly, he did a re-take for one of these without appearing near-exhaustion after overruling the production crew who told Jackson he needn’t re-do the routine which didn’t go right in terms of timing.
That was one side of Jackson which came through clearly in this movie – a creative entertainer who was meticulous of his work.
As one of his crew pointed out in one of the few short interviews scattered throughout the movie, Jackson knew each note and beat of his music, so everyone working with him had to be on their toes and giving the best of their best.
It was clear through the footage that the hand-picked crew were among the best and like Jackson, director Ortega made sure that their effort didn't go ignored in the film, giving brief glimpses into their preparations and work away from Jackson.
We also get to see how Jackson worked with the singers,musicians and dancers around him, sharing his stage in spite of his mega-star status.
“It’s your time to shine” he said at one point of the rehearsal to Australian-born Orianthi Panagaris, the stunningly attractive and talented lead guitarist whom Jackson worked for a screaming guitar solo in "Black or White".
We also see a very personable Jackson giving directions to back-up singer Judith Hill in their duet "I Just Can't Stop Loving You".
It’s easy to appreciate ‘This Is It’ for the rare, behind-the-scenes glimpses that flow seamlessly between songs and Jackson’s directions to his team, complete with an amazingly gentle chide, “with L.O.V.E” as the entertainer puts it, when things don’t work.
At the same time, you sense the love and respect of the crew, whether it's the dancers who play audience to Jackson at some parts of the rehearsal or Ortega discussing props and sets, and nagging Jackson when he gleefully ‘flies' in a cherry-picker.
Through the movie you also get a glimpse of what would have been a phenomenal concert, from the costumes being sewn, to the stage ‘extras’ like aerial dancers who seem to have muscles in the most amazing places and the 3D effects.
Lest you think this is a boring chronology, let me assure you that there are songs aplenty as the concert was to feature, as Jackson had said, all the songs fans loved.
For starters, you get to hear Jackson’s latest song “This Is It”.
You also get a run of his Motown hits and monster chart-busters such as “Thriller”, “Billie Jean”, "They Don't Really Care About Us", "The Way You Make Me Feel" … you name and it’ll most likely be there.
There's also Jackson singing acapella and what was to my ears, the best rendition yet of “I’ll Be There”, which Jackson ended quite poignantly with a dedication to his brothers and mother.
Kenny Ortega who transformed the concert he was putting together with Jackson into this Sony movie, also made it a point to place the number one hit “Earth Song” together with what turned out to be the longest Jackson speech in the archives.
Oddly, a good portion of the speech was laid over other visuals and you don’t see Jackson speaking about his passion for conservation.
Still, you get the message that saving the planet is important, along with the need for people to change their ways, as Jackson had tried to convey in his song “Man in the Mirror”.
There are some who say this film, taken from over 100 hours of rehearsal footage shot between March and June 2009, is nothing more than a cheap exploitation of Jackson and the frenzy over his death.
I thought so too, until I saw the movie.
In spite having the music of Michael Jackson woven into the timeline of my own life, I was never a Jackson fan.
After “This Is It”, I am still not a fan. But there is a new and genuine appreciation for the work and entertainer who was, Michael Jackson.
- CNA/sf
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