Directed by Kenny Ortega
Where & When: Vista Theater, Los Angeles, CA. November 1, 2009, 7:00PM
I remember my father taking me and my sister to see the Jackson 5 in concert sometime in the early 70's when we were pre-teens. This was during the height of their fame as a group. My sister was a hardcore fan and I thought they were just okay but I was willing to go because I love going to concerts.
All I remember from the concert was the continuous high pitch screams from the beginning to the very end of this show. I could not hear a single song. To make matters worse, The concert was held in a large coliseum and we were sitting way back in the nose bleed section, so all I could see were fast moving flashes of light. This was long before the days of video screens at concerts. My sister really loved every moment. I looked at my father and could tell that he had enjoyed this show as much fun as I did.
Years later, I have a much greater appreciation for the talents of the entire Jackson family, particularly Michael. I have to admit I found the idea of "Michael Jackson's This Is It", a documentary on the making of an upcoming series of concerts that would have been held at London's O2 Arena, a little morbid so soon after Mr. Jackson's death. But I also have to admit I was very interested in seeing this film.
This documentary uses a collection of edited footage of the rehearsals for the planned comeback concerts. This footage was actually made for Jackson's personal use, to help him evaluate how the show was developing. After seeing this footage, I can say the show at this stage looked great and something I would loved to have seen. The concert, entitled "This Is It", was conceived by Jackson and Kenny Ortega, who directed this film as well.
The entire process of creating this concert is revealed from the design of the staging, the choreography and the auditions of the dancers and the final selections. Jackson, the ultimate perfectionist, would go over and over each number until it meets his exacting standards; we see how the elaborate video productions were created and how they would have looked during the concerts. Several of the singer's key band members offer nothing but glowing praise of Jackson and how he inspired them.
The film reveals how much work and man power is involved in creating such a massive stage show but we don't really find out too much about Jackson himself. We see glimpses of a shy, passive/aggressive yet professional performer who seems like a sweet person yet he clearly refuses to let anybody get too close.
I found "This Is It" to be sad for two different reasons: One is the most obvious in that we see what we lost in a extremely talented and unique entertainer. The other is more disturbing to me. I really saw how much Jackson had altered his face and the extent of the lightening of his skin tone. This was hardly new information to me but I guess watching him on the big screen for almost two hours just emphasized this further. It was made even more notable during a part of the concert rehearsals when he does a medley of his songs with the Jackson 5. On a video screen behind him while performing is the image of him performing as a child with his brothers looking -- well, quite different.
Jackson had a few of demons and psychological issues that played a major part in his feeling the need to alter himself in such a dramatic way. Yet it bothered me far more than I thought it would. It was extremely difficult to watch him at times and truly sadden me. You don't necessarily have to be any type of fan of Michael Jackson to enjoy "This Is It" but it will certainly leave a deeper impression upon you if you are.
All I remember from the concert was the continuous high pitch screams from the beginning to the very end of this show. I could not hear a single song. To make matters worse, The concert was held in a large coliseum and we were sitting way back in the nose bleed section, so all I could see were fast moving flashes of light. This was long before the days of video screens at concerts. My sister really loved every moment. I looked at my father and could tell that he had enjoyed this show as much fun as I did.
Years later, I have a much greater appreciation for the talents of the entire Jackson family, particularly Michael. I have to admit I found the idea of "Michael Jackson's This Is It", a documentary on the making of an upcoming series of concerts that would have been held at London's O2 Arena, a little morbid so soon after Mr. Jackson's death. But I also have to admit I was very interested in seeing this film.
This documentary uses a collection of edited footage of the rehearsals for the planned comeback concerts. This footage was actually made for Jackson's personal use, to help him evaluate how the show was developing. After seeing this footage, I can say the show at this stage looked great and something I would loved to have seen. The concert, entitled "This Is It", was conceived by Jackson and Kenny Ortega, who directed this film as well.
The entire process of creating this concert is revealed from the design of the staging, the choreography and the auditions of the dancers and the final selections. Jackson, the ultimate perfectionist, would go over and over each number until it meets his exacting standards; we see how the elaborate video productions were created and how they would have looked during the concerts. Several of the singer's key band members offer nothing but glowing praise of Jackson and how he inspired them.
The film reveals how much work and man power is involved in creating such a massive stage show but we don't really find out too much about Jackson himself. We see glimpses of a shy, passive/aggressive yet professional performer who seems like a sweet person yet he clearly refuses to let anybody get too close.
I found "This Is It" to be sad for two different reasons: One is the most obvious in that we see what we lost in a extremely talented and unique entertainer. The other is more disturbing to me. I really saw how much Jackson had altered his face and the extent of the lightening of his skin tone. This was hardly new information to me but I guess watching him on the big screen for almost two hours just emphasized this further. It was made even more notable during a part of the concert rehearsals when he does a medley of his songs with the Jackson 5. On a video screen behind him while performing is the image of him performing as a child with his brothers looking -- well, quite different.
Jackson had a few of demons and psychological issues that played a major part in his feeling the need to alter himself in such a dramatic way. Yet it bothered me far more than I thought it would. It was extremely difficult to watch him at times and truly sadden me. You don't necessarily have to be any type of fan of Michael Jackson to enjoy "This Is It" but it will certainly leave a deeper impression upon you if you are.
No comments:
Post a Comment