Curious: MJ Movie

dreamalotmp

So, when I've told some of my friends that I loved 'This Is It' (MJ movie), they had very strong negative reactions. Basically, they don't want to see him 'dying in front of their eyes.' I am curious... what do you ladies think? As for my opinion (since I saw it yesterday)... I will say that I didn't think it was a tragic filmmaking at all. It was really wonderful to see Michael Jackson's talent on full blast. It was seriously amazing to see how talented he was even then. He was of course sick in many ways, but the movie wasn't about that and I appreciated it for what it was... footage of his rehearsal for a concert that he really wanted and that would have been amazing. Anyhoo... I am curious. What do you think about the movie or going to see the movie?

hey_its_jenn

When I first heard about the movie, I figured I would wait to see it on DVD.  But I've heard such good things about it this past weekend, I might make DH go to the theater with me to see it.

JennyBee1018

I am really glad that you liked it Molly, and find it strange that your friends have such weird reactions. I think it was meant to be a marketing piece for him (before he died) since he was going to start touring again. I probably won't see it in the theatres (Who I am kidding - it probably won't ever come to the movies here!), but I may netflix it. It's weird, I grew up listening to MJ, but I don't have a strong urge to go see this movie....so at this point, not going to see it.

AP910

Embarrassed to admit it, but I can't wait to see it!

KimWard

I probably won't make the effort to see it, just b/c I'm not interested enough. If someone asked me to go with them, or DH wanted to see it, I would. (I don't generally love going to the movies anyway, though. Shocking, I know.)I was talking to a friend who was watching it online yesterday (yes, illegally) and she said it was really good. I don't look at it as "dying in front of your eyes."

dreamalotmp

See, AP, that is what I don't get.. you shouldn't be embarassed to want to see it. Why embarassed? (Again.. totally just curious JBee - I didn't have a strong urge either... Mike was the driving force behind us getting tickets. But MAN am I glad I saw it.

JennyBee1018

M - I see the Smooth Criminal video on a daily basis here (seriously - the polish MTV plays it all the time) and that is a great indication of his talent, lol. We'll see, you know how stubborn I can be about movies. Is Mike a big MJ fan? Kim - Why don't you like movies? Just curious :-)

LaFemmeRousse

Sounds like I might be in the minority here, but I'm not a big MJ fan, so I have no desire to see this movie.  From what I've heard about the show that this footage was taken from, MJ felt sick all the time and he was embarrassed that he was frail and his dancing wasn't like it used to be.  He was worried about how the show would go, and apparently told a bunch of people that he had to do it to make money to assuage some of his financial difficulties.I obviously haven't seen the movie so I'm not sure how in line what was portrayed is with any of this information/rumors.  Did he seem happy?  Was he able to dance and move around a lot?  I've heard that he comes across as a little weird but happy and energetic, which seems at odds with the background information I've heard from other sources.  I don't necessarily have issue with the creation of the movie, though- as one of my fave bloggers put it, "you can hardly condemn anyone for commodifying a commodity."

Er&JerLem

I think that seems to be an odd reaction to it.  I wouldn't see it as watching him die.However, I personally have no interest in it.  Yes, he was a great talent.  But I can't get past the things he did to just focus on that.  And I'm not a fan of his later work anyway - just old stuff.

dreamalotmp

Yeah, who knows why it was made or what MJ would have thought of it, but the film explained that all of the footage was stock fottage for review by MJ and the production crew for the concert. Not for any profit. I did think that he was frail looking, but his voice was AMAZINGLY clear and strong. His dance moves weren't as strong, but he was rehearsing. That is what it looked like to me.. He was conserving his energy for the real thing. He made jokes and smiled a lot. It surprised me how normal he seemed. It actually made me feel happy about that being the last images of him in my head... not the ones of him in an ambulance before he died. I grew up with his music, so it probs means more to me, but then again.. I didn't care to see the movie that much (JBee - yeah, Mike is a huge fan). It just surprised me how little I thought about his illnesses or his issues when I watched the film. I am sure that he was sick and that he forgot lines and all of that, but this celebrated the large amount of time that he spent rehearsing and seemed on top of it.

LaFemmeRousse

Molly, your reaction to it (that it was nice to have this be your last image of him) seems like a feeling that a lot of people have shared.  Everyone I know who has seen the film seems to have really enjoyed it.

elishanb

I'm very exited to see this movie.I was and still am a huge fan of MJ. I'm not embarassed at all to say I cried a little when I heard he died. And I sat on my couch and watched the whole funeral service. Maybe it's super lame, maybe not, but his music has a little memory for me for nearly everything. It's just always been there. It's comparable to those that were around when Elvis first hit it big, and then when he passed. Sure he wasn't as controversal but he was loved just as much.It drives me insane that a lot of my friends have made the choice to bash him no matter what, even now that he's dead. Sometimes you just have to "You know what? His musci truly was something to celebrate." And leave it at that.Sorry about the WOT

dreamalotmp

E - I'm WOTing all over the place about this, it seems. :P So, WOT away!  

JennyBee1018

M - I absolutely grew up listening to MJ's music too. I very fondly remember listening to Thriller in my friend's bedroom with the lights out and being scared!! Not to mention all his other albums! I guess I don't have anyone (i.e. DH) that really wants to see it, so if I do, it will be Netflix. Again, I am glad you enjoyed it and felt it showed him in a good light and all the talent that he still possessed.

dreamalotmp

Oh, and I counted five people wearing single sparkly gloves, 1 wearing a thriller jacket, and 1 wearing a General-type jacket...  So, there was that. :P

elishanb

If anyone saw my FB pics from the costume party I had a few weeks back my friend (and BM) dressed up as MJ. It was a killer costume. However, that jacket that she wore was not bought for costume reasons, she rocks that thing when we're just hanging out. Because of my love for MJ all of my BM's poke fun at me all the time (well except the one with the jacket, she loves it) So as part of there gifts they are all getting a single sparkling glove for a few of our pics together.

dicer2

I guess I don't care to see the movie in a theater because I was never really a huge MJ fan.  (I was really into Tiffany and Debbie Gibson when I was young, while I remember my cousin liking MJ.)  DH isn't a fan of his music so we'll both probably pass.

KimWard

Kim - Why don't you like movies? Just curious :-) I never said I don't like movies- I just don't love going to the theater to see them like most people. I don't know, I guess I'm cheap- most of the time there's nothing I want to see so bad to spend $10. I don't mind going to the theater, I just never want to go badly enough to actually go, if that makes any sense.

dreamalotmp

E - I lurve you. I can't wait to see your pics with the sparkly gloves.

JennyBee1018

Oops, I phrased it wrong Kim. I meant to say why don't you like going to the theatre. Well everyone has their preferences. I have a friend who does not like the theatre because she is way more comfortable at home watching movies, and can pause if she needs to take a break, etc. So it happens! Personally, I lurve the theatre! And the Waterfront theatre in Pgh had cheap shows for 5 bucks, so we always went in the afternoon on weekends for a cheap film.

elishanb

Aw Molly I lurve you too I think the pic of the sparkling gloves with their smokin hot black dresses are going to be quite awesome if I do say so myself.

AP910

Sorry I'm late on responding, but I'm embarrassed by HOW MUCH I really do want to see it-- b/c I LOVE MJ and I don't typically get excited about celebrities or music. (My FI likes to laugh at me and made me promise him popcorn, soda AND candy if he accompanies me.) His music was just very influential at certain points of my life, and I'm afraid I'll get a little too engrossed in the movie.

missizz

I've heard good things.  I have mixed feelings.  I want to see it but am not the biggest MJ fan and agree that choices he's made in his life shouldn't be overlooked because he's dead. 

dreamalotmp

AP, don't be embarassed at all. Many people were fans of his for many reasons. He may have been loony, but so are a lot of celebrities (i.e. Brit Brit, Joaquin, um... didn't Elvis get a little wackadoo there at the end?) and we still like or love them because of their talent or what they mean to us for some reason. So, go and enjoy it. And get your FI some candy - although I bet he is gonna say that he enjoyed it.

elishanb

I bet if we look hard enough all celebs are a little more what was it "wackadoo" then the average person, that's why they stay in the spotlight so long. Not saying that MJ did all the right things, but just that not everyone in the celeb world ever does.

AP910

I'll at least get him some popcorn, but I'm sure he'll never 'fess up to enjoying it! All I ask is that he allow me to play Billie Jean at the reception!

daveys_baby

I don't plan to see it in theaters, I agree that their reaction was weird.  I haven't gotten the impression from previews (and please correct me if I'm wrong) but MJ isn't aware that he's dying.  It's not like Farrah's film about her battle with cancer, MJ doesn't know that his death is imminent like FF did.  There have been dozens of celebs in the past that you just knew were going to die early deaths...and yet we still watched their movies, and watch them in retrospect without thinking much of it.

dreamalotmp

No, I don't think that he had any indication that he was going to die. Not more tha any other day that he took tons of meds in dangerous doses.     There is no mention of his death at all. Which was nice for once. There is apparently a group of people from the crew that don't support the film  at thisisntit.com. I am sure there is truth to each side. Always is.

dreamalotmp

Oops. That website doesn't work. Huh. It was something like that.