So the Michael Jackson circus show still rages on after his death, with his body being wheeled out for morbid curiosity to be satisfied and for everyone to judge what his final shows would have been like, in the form of Michael Jackson’s This Is It.
Of course, for all those fans that idolise at the feet of a man who was so behind the times he wore white socks with black trousers, any review on the subject will be unheard. To them, there can’t possibly be any fault in a man whose chin resembles a granite worktop.
The problem with this isn’t so much Michael Jackson; it’s that This Is It trundles on – much like its star – at half speed. All his significant numbers are there – Smooth Criminal, Thriller, Earth Song – but all accompanied by Michael singing and dancing like a tribute act.
He was only rehearsing, though, and that is much of the problem of the film – it is just a rehearsal. We play through most of the songs from the set, with occasional breaks to hear Michael talk to people for a few minutes and then we are back into another number. It’s like a concert DVD, if the audience didn’t turn up to the concert, nobody bothered to get dressed and no one can really be arsed to be there.
Some of his enthusiasm and energy is impressive for a man of 50 and it isn’t the startling portrait of a withering figure crawling around the stage that many expected. Instead, he musters more energy than most people his age. In fact, the film does well to make a man who the media made out to be an alien life-form into someone vaguely constituting a human being.
This is another failure of the film and one of that was expected, considering nobody really wants to kick a man who was already 6ft down – the extreme level of sycophantic ass-sucking.
Nevertheless, this is mainly a celebration of a show that could have been and, as a document of that, it works in MJ’s favour, managing to show him as someone who still did have the moves. The main problem is also the plodding pace, which becomes repetitive and lumbering. It’s initially an interesting and entertaining insight into behind-the-scenes of the O2 show but, running at nearly two hours, it is more than excessive.
This Is It is one of the most overlong and comprehensive special feature we’ve seen on a disc. Unfortunately, like all special features, it works better as an accompaniment to a main feature than on its own. Michael Jackson’s swansong isn’t so much a testament to the man but just a sequence of rehearsals that aren’t very interesting once you get over the fact that – apart from his face – he wasn’t a complete freak of nature.
‘Spray Rating: 2/5
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
You can write a fair review and people will still read it. You don’t need to be so negative just to get attention.
I doubt you have even seen the film?
geez why so negative, it’s a great film. the wise remarks only work for so long.
Why spew such bile Mr Scarborough?
I personally loved this film. If you’re a Michael Jackson fan, you should see it! R.I.P MJ i love you more =)
You are right about the media making Michael out to be someone he
was not–
How about he was a supremely talented guy who was still willing
to give more, on stage and in message–even though he had every reason not to.
I am personally done with old, tired negativity and insults.
Great film, love you more Michael.
You can actually write something positive Mr Scarborough, and people will still read it.
Yes David, how dare you have an opinion. *rolls eyes*
‘This is it’ is a spectacle, but one that needs a horde of elated fans and the smattering of hands clapping to be pulled off, which is why it was bewilderingly charming at the cinema.
Dave might be a touch negative but he is also talking some sense, because as a DVD piece, the film is lackluster to say the best.
This is my educated opinion, like Dave had his, if you don’t agree then that’s fine, but at least have a better explanation for disagreeing than simply laying into the reviewer.
Why is so hard for people to understand that this is a satire blog?