Michael Jackson's This Is It

The tagline for this movie: Like You've Never Seen Him Before. The final days of Micheal Jackson rehearsing for a series of comeback concerts in London, the behind-the-scenes footage of his stage rehearsals at The Forum and Staples Center will be drawn from hundreds of recorded hours. There are also interviews of those involved with the the sold-out show that never came to be.

Michael Jackson is shown to be the perfectionist that we all knew him to be as well as a generous boss and tough taskmaster with a playfulness that bordered on childish. Kenny Ortega is shown to be the director with an eye for what brings out Michael's strengths while still being open to his suggestions with a history that they both share from previous concert tours together. This film is what the DVD extras would have been like if the This Is It concert had taken place.

I would not call this a fitting tribute to Michael Jackson's music or memory, but I cannot fault the film as it is neither a concert film nor a full documentary on the last days of Micheal Jackson. We do not see Michael Jackson at his best since he is saving his voice and body for the actual performance, but what we do see is still above the standard of an average performer of his age. 

The time and money spent to create what we see before us only illuminate how incredible this concert would have been to behold live. The standout performances by lead guitarist Orianthi Panagaris, background vocalist Judith Hill and dancer Mekia Cox. I rate this movie a Rated D. It's something for the fans of MJ to treasure in their private DVD collection, like that underground copy of Captain EO.