THIS IS IT! (oh yes it is!)

THIS IS IT is the Michael Jackson documentary that was supposed to be a limited engagement, but has had an extended theatrical release due to great audience attendance. On its opening weekend (10/28/09) it ranked #1 making $23,234,394 (box office mojo). Domestically, the major documentary made $59,348,197 and worldwide $188,475,839 as of this writing (box office mojo). Clearly, the King of Pop reigned at the box office.

Overall if you are a MJ fan, you MUST see this film. It shows a behind the scenes look of the superstar. We see the rehearsal process plus some of the dress rehearsal numbers. You can totally tell how the show would take us to new heights as an audience. The special effects were gonna be huge. The sets? Even bigger. MJ never did things small and his "final curtain call" would have been no different.

All the major hits are in (Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, Man in the Mirror, Smooth Criminal). The only two noticeably missing songs are Bad and We are the World. Bad is a particular loss since the original music video was so amazing with its leather and choreography (directed by Martin Scorsese). Then the We are the World song is sadly absent. The song was one of the highlights of MJ's philanthropic career as it benefitted poor in the US and Africa. Plus, it united the music industry together, under the quiet conductor, the King of Pop.

While the dancing is incredible and MJ clearly kept up (and showed up) those 20-somethings, the best part of the documentary is seeing Michael's personality. We saw him laughing, playing and having a good time with his dancers, producers, and musicians: his friends. For once, we saw him relaxed, confident, and...more human?...while not on stage. We see him laughing and joking around when the producer makes him try out the cherry-picker for safety. His child-like playfulness is so enigmatic. Then the music begins and he is a different person altogether. He's a superstar.

Yet, the most poignant moment in the documentary that sums up his entire being is the moment when his head is lowered, fedora covering his eyes, and the spotlight encases him as the darkness around him falls away. And then. He smirks.