Michael Jackson's This Is It: Wow

I have never been the biggest fan of Michael Jackson. I'm not saying that I dislike his work- don't get me wrong. His music is just not what I listen to on a regular basis. But when my mom asked if I would go see This Is It with her, I was ready to see if it lived up the hype. Honestly, I was expecting to be let down, bombarded with images of ambulances and mourning fans.

So I was completely unprepared for the experience.

There was no morbidity, no dark foreboding, no hysterics. There was nothing but a celebration of the music and the dancing of an unparalleled performer. The film speaks for itself; it is at once a tragic reminder of what we have lost and an uplifting musical experience.

The very beginning of the film interviewed all the dancers who had come from far and wide to audition- every one of them cried or choked up. Then there was footage from the auditions themselves, which Michael Jackson watched himself, hand-picking the best of the best. It was like watching A Chorus Line. It was very effective.

The songs performed were the greatest hits of Michael Jackson's career. The film features footage of dance rehearsals, Jackson working on the technical aspects of the music with the musicians, and the technical crew working on the overall production. Some of the songs, such as "Smooth Criminal" and "Thriller," also including the rehearsal and filming of videos to play along with the stage performance (and the incorporation of Michael Jackson into classic films like The Big Sleep is not something to be missed, fans). Plus you get to watch Michael Jackson, actually singing and dancing with lots of flashy costumes and neat pyrotechnics.

On that note, I could actually hear the audience audibly reacting to the dance sequences. They were amazing. And here's the thing about them- there were several young, flexible, ripped dancers on stage and none of them could touch the performance of Michael Jackson. The man was 50 years old! It was the most amazing thing to see all these incredibly talented people onstage, but to have him just blowing them out of the water. And he looked like he was really enjoying himself.

There were some moments that really got to me. Watching Jackson interact with the dancers and the musicians and the production crew, you saw a Jackson who was never portrayed in the media. He was kind, always polite even when critical, always complementary. It was great. He wasn't diva-like at all, which was really refreshing. And he was totally committed to the music and the quality of the performance. There were several times when he stopped the music to tweak, saying "It's ok, this is why we rehearse." I've worked with many musicians who were less understanding and more tempermental.

As I've already said, the dance sequences were spectacular. It's the main reason why people are going to see the movie. But when he slowed it down, when the dancers cleared the stage and it was just Michael and the vocalists and musicians, it was really emotional. He said a few times that he was trying to save his voice, but that didn't affect the emotional intensity of the performances. He sang the Jackson Five's memorable piece "I'll Be There." The female vocalist joined him on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," and in the end, they fed off each other's energy and riffed gospel style. Afterward, Jackson smiled and said "don't make me sing out like that, I'm trying to conserve my voice." It was touching. Some of the last footage in the film showed the entire production crew holding hands, being addressed by director Kenny Ortega and Michael Jackson, who said "There's nothing to be nervous about. We want to take them places that they've never seen before. We want to show them talent like they've never seen before." And that's what he delivered.

My absolute favorite moment of the film was near the beginning, after the extended sequence of "They Don't Care About Us." The song had just ended, Jackson and the dancers were holding their poses for applause, and the lights faded out with a little light left on Jackson. After a moment and right before the cut, he smiled. It was the smile of an artist who had put a lot of himself into his work was pleased with the result. It was an emotionally satisfying moment.

The film is a documentary that was filmed for Michael Jackson's personal library. It chronicles the rehearsal process of a new concert he was scheduled to perform shortly after his untimely death. Beside describing why the film was put together, there is no mention of his death. The film is a tribute to his last great work, and it makes the audience grateful that we have it. Amid all the grisly details of his death and some of the aspects of his life, it reminds of the great talent that has been lost and all that he left us. And it's a whole lot of fun to watch.

For performers, musicians, and dancers, this is a must-see.