Michael Jackson's'This is It'

Chamari SENANAYAKE

The biggest star on the planet has come to Sri Lanka in his final farewell tour around the world. Michael Jackson's movie 'This is it' made out of his final days footage of dancing rehearsals, interviews and very intimate chats and jokes has become the biggest hit worldwide. This Is It led the U.S box-office competition with an estimated $21.3 million Friday to Sunday, and upped its five-day worldwide haul to $101 million. And now it is showing at Liberty Cinema for a limited time.

According to Sony, the film's $101 million take is already a new worldwide record for a concert movie. This Is It cleared the old record, held by Best of Both Worlds, match, by nearly $30 million.. and counting.

Tour rehearsals

From March through June 2009, Michael Jackson had a crew shoot his tour rehearsals for his sold out London concerts. And no one ever thought it would become the final documentation of his life. Well known director Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) was brought on by Michael Jackson's London tour organizers as a creative collaborator for the live show. But in the wake of the singer's death, Ortega was asked to make a movie out of more than 100 hours of film of a concert-that never happened, and in a mere four months.

In year 2009 the biggest star that ever lived on this planet died. And while millions watched the memorial on television, This Is It feels like the proper way to be blown away by Jackson's unforgettable moves and incredible voice and finally say goodbye to an incredibly talented human being.

Jackson at 50 years old still seemed invincible onstage, the only way audiences could reconnect with him is to put some of his brilliance aside, and allow the more exacting and refreshingly funny side of Jackson to be revealed.

Famous celebrities

We see him connecting well with his back up dancers, joking with the band members and directing the concert the way he wants it with the director of the Tour. He talks freely, and always politely, which makes his fans love him more.

Jackson has no aggressiveness like some famous celebrities and he continuously dances like a machine without showing any exhaustion. Throughout the running time we're treated to many of the classics, but 'Smooth Criminal,' 'Billie Jean' and 'Human Nature' are the standouts.

Stage designers

We hear the tour director's voice in the background and sometimes he steps on to the stage to share a joke with Michael. Then we hear a little bit from stage designers, technicians, wardrobe section and band members, and they all seemed mesmerized by Michael Jackson, the person.

While some of the footage is in HD, a portion of it was shot in standard definition. The mixing of media only heightens how striking the singer was. No matter the format, even in low-res video, you can't take your eyes off him.

He truly seems like a force of nature with every signature move and with some new moves. And you get blown away by seeing all the efforts and fine details that are put in to every song, with costs of millions of dollars. At one stage, they even created a cemetery for 'Thriller', rolling fire balls, a giant mechanical spider and a building like structure for 'Way you make me Feel'. Then you realize, there is no other concert like this on planet earth.

Earth Song

During a rehearsals we get a few glimpses into the lives of this small band of performers, for them the chance to work with Michael was all they ever wanted. And for once, there are no cynical double takes. Like those dancers and musicians, the entire experience of This Is It is genuine. That's something many of us haven't felt with Jackson in far too long.

With a beautiful background video Michael talks emotionally over the rehearsal of the 'Earth Song', how he is saddened by clearance of rain forests, and neglecting of environment war and children's suffering, the issues he has worked hard to bring the world's attention to.

Positive comments

Many many stars turned up at the premier of 'This is it' and they all had positive comments and emotions flowing. The legendary actor dame Elizabeth Taylor had this to say about the movie 'You owe it to yourselves and your loved ones to see this again and again, memorize it and say it to yourselves 'I saw genius in my lifetime'. Unbelievable it may be, Michael Jackson was no ordinary 50 year old, nor was he sick or weak; he dances like a energetic teenager and always keeps his cool even outside the stage. This makes anyone think 'why the hell did this world lose this genius so soon?'.