"This Is It" provides chance to see Michael Jackson's final performance

Everyone has a memory about Michael Jackson's story. Whether you grew up with the releases of the King of Pop's legendary dance moves, followed the media's excessive coverage of his personal life, supported one of his many charities, or just blasted his music in the car with friends, each one of our memories reflects the impact Michael's showmanship had on the world. Fortunately for us, we have one more chance to take part in an important chapter of Michael's life, to watch him wear the outrageous outfits, perform the unique dance moves, and talk to his fans and friends in that soft, familiar voice. This Is It provides an inspiring, yet heartbreaking, look at Michael's final days as he prepared to prove to the world that at 50 years old, he could still achieve what would have been the greatest concert in history. Hesitant followers of Michael, however, might not be sure if the frail-looking pop star could still pull off the Thriller dance, or even moonwalk across the stage as well as he used to. Would Michael be physically able to perform a series of 50 intense concerts, and deliver as if he were still at the peak of his career? Did he still have it? After watching only the first song rehearsal of the This Is It tour, there was no denying. Michael still had it, and he was ready to prove it on stage all over again. The film felt more like watching a concert from the front row than anything else, but it also presented the audience with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of all aspects of tour preparation. From dance tryouts to shooting new videos that would introduce Michael's songs, director and tour manager Kenny Ortega (yes, the High School Musical guy) really held nothing back. This Is It began by showing clips of interviews with Michael's back up dancers, who Ortega called "an extension of Michael himself." If the excitement in the voices of the dancers didn't express it clear enough, this tour would be something big. But for those more interested in what the This Is It concert would have looked like as a whole, the film delivered this exact experience. Clips from separate song rehearsals were pieced together to portray the performance of one entire song after song, giving off the feeling of an actual concert. Of course, snippets of Michael's ideas and preparation for these rehearsals were sprinkled thoughtfully between these songs, but how could you not appreciate a look into the humor and musical thought process of the King of Pop? This Is It constantly reminded the audience just how extravagant Michael's concert phenomenon would have been. If the choreography failed to dazzle viewers, the technology utilized to enrich the concert would have certainly done it. For example, the performance would have commenced with a massive "Light Man," a kind of movie-screen covered body that portrayed clips of important news pieces, eventually piecing together images that completed a full figure of Michael. The technology used in "They Don't Care About Us" proved to be one of the most impressive moments of the concert. Using a green screen, the bodies of about eight of Michael's back up dancers were duplicated over and over again, enough to form a force of futuristic soldier-dancers. And "Thriller" would no doubt have been a song to remember. True to Michael's epic, horror-themed music video, the zombie-like dance was performed in front of another new film clip, this time in 3D. Creatures of the night would take over the screen as aged-looking puppets of dead brides and grooms flew though the audience. Add in a cherry picker ("This is monumental; Michael is back on the cherry picker!" Ortega shouted), toaster-popping trap doors, a gigantic bulldozer, scientifically-crafted costumes, fire and fireworks, and you have an ounce of the energy present in the This Is It performance. One of the most gratifying aspects of the film came in the form of Michael simply being himself. Whether you've always loved Michael's quirky antics, or just found them plain questionable, This Is It shows Michael completely in his element. If one harmony wasn't perfect, if the timing of a guitar solo wasn't quite right, or if he wasn't ready for the intro to a new song yet, Michael was on it. "It has to simmer," he explained during a music rehearsal of "The Way You Make Me Feel." Though Michael admitted several times that he should be saving his voice, or if there was a sense that he might be holding back during certain dance routines, there was never a moment when the King of Pop harnessed his desire to sing or move during every song. "We are a family," he told his partners in performance, explaining that they were bringing love back into the world. And similar to how Michael always ended his conversations with good vibes, attaching "I love you's" or reminding crew that they were in it for the "L-O-V-E", This Is It leaves you with a satisfying appreciation for and understanding of Michael's hard work and contribution to the entertainment world.

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