This Is It (2009)

So yeah...

Let's just say this was my general vibe during the screening:

😢

Content-wise, it’s touching, inspiring, charming, pretty powerful, endlessly musical, and for the die-hard fans, it might actually be pretty devastating.

I don't even have the energy right now to go on about what a massive shame it is that those concerts in New York didn't happen. Such a total bust 😢.

The way Michael Jackson holds himself is impressive; the choreography absolutely kills; and the stage production is top-tier.

But the best part is really his musicianship and how sophisticated he is. Just listen to how he expresses himself when he's explaining things or giving directions during the rehearsals.

And so on.

There it is.

I have one major issue when it comes to tours like the ones Michael Jackson used to put on. To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of having music blasted directly at me. playback (Well, maybe not to that extreme). Personally, I think just watching the film is plenty. You end up paying about 10 to 15 times less, you don't walk away feeling ripped off, and the audio quality is solid—it sounds like a studio recording. 😉 ... Do you think there's a better way to say that?

ruggedmarlin15 said:I have one major issue when it comes to tours like the ones Michael Jackson used to put on. To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of having music blasted directly at me. playback (Well, maybe not to that extreme). Personally, I think just watching the film is plenty. You end up paying about 10 to 15 times less, you don't walk away feeling ripped off, and the audio quality is solid—it sounds like a studio recording. 😉 ... Do you think there's a better way to say that?

We have no way of knowing how much playback was actually being used, if any at all, but from what I've seen during the Dangerous Tour Rehearsal, you can clearly hear him singing.

Honestly, I wouldn't say it was lip-synced at all—quite the opposite, really. If he worked that hard during the Dangerous Tour Rehearsal, I can't even imagine how he killed it live. Sure, maybe some tiny parts were playback, but only during those rare moments when the dancing was most intense... just my take, though—correct me if I'm wrong. :P
I mean, it’s gotta be insanely tough to dance and sing for two hours straight while giving that much energy and love to the crowd—not to mention the way he treated his dancers, the band, and the crew during rehearsals! Michael Jackson... 😍
The tour concepts are incredible—the set, the choreography, everything is just way beyond expectations. It's a shame we don't get the actual tour, but hey, at least we have the movie. 😢
It fascinated me how much effort he poured into this; he wanted every single detail to be perfect. Truly beautiful. 😍 He would never ever scream at someone for messing up—he’d just calmly explain his vision and how it should look, always reminding everyone he does it out of love, in such an innocent, sincere way. 🙂
Bottom line: the movie is amazing. A friend and I actually cried through a good chunk of it, and we're already planning to see it again. Just go watch it. 🙂

electricskipper86 said:Honestly, I wouldn't say it was lip-synced at all—quite the opposite, really. If he worked that hard during the Dangerous Tour Rehearsal, I can't even imagine how he killed it live. Sure, maybe some tiny parts were playback, but only during those rare moments when the dancing was most intense... just my take, though—correct me if I'm wrong. :P
I mean, it’s gotta be insanely tough to dance and sing for two hours straight while giving that much energy and love to the crowd—not to mention the way he treated his dancers, the band, and the crew during rehearsals! Michael Jackson... 😍
The tour concepts are incredible—the set, the choreography, everything is just way beyond expectations. It's a shame we don't get the actual tour, but hey, at least we have the movie. 😢
It fascinated me how much effort he poured into this; he wanted every single detail to be perfect. Truly beautiful. 😍 He would never ever scream at someone for messing up—he’d just calmly explain his vision and how it should look, always reminding everyone he does it out of love, in such an innocent, sincere way. 🙂
Bottom line: the movie is amazing. A friend and I actually cried through a good chunk of it, and we're already planning to see it again. Just go watch it. 🙂

Just because they used a backing track during one rehearsal doesn't mean that's how every single rehearsal went or how the actual concert functioned, since you don't always have to test everything all at once 🙂.

He’s got that vibe where he sings a bit and then acts like, "Hey, understand me, I'm just saving my voice right now," and I'm just sitting there thinking, like, how can you even be saving your voice when you barely started singing? 🙂

driftingeagle27 said:Just because they used a backing track during one rehearsal doesn't mean that's how every single rehearsal went or how the actual concert functioned, since you don't always have to test everything all at once 🙂.

He’s got that vibe where he sings a bit and then acts like, "Hey, understand me, I'm just saving my voice right now," and I'm just sitting there thinking, like, how can you even be saving your voice when you barely started singing? 🙂

Spot on! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

ruggedmarlin15 said:I have one major issue when it comes to tours like the ones Michael Jackson used to put on. To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of having music blasted directly at me. playback (Well, maybe not to that extreme). Personally, I think just watching the film is plenty. You end up paying about 10 to 15 times less, you don't walk away feeling ripped off, and the audio quality is solid—it sounds like a studio recording. 😉 ... Do you think there's a better way to say that?

He actually only used playback for "Jam" and "TDCAU." If I recall correctly, there was some playback during "Earth Song," but that vocal was taken from a demo recording, so they were likely just testing how it would sound with different variations. Everything else was live. That was particularly important to me because he relied on playback during the HIStory tour. These new recordings are fantastic. There are also those "Dangerous Tour Rehearsal" clips, but this version is superior. I especially love the intros for songs like "Smooth Criminal" (that segment with Gilda is breathtaking), followed by "Earth Song," and naturally, "Thriller."
But beyond the music, what truly stands out is that Jackson was a genuinely wonderful human being. I believe it is rare to find stars who remain so humble and down-to-earth, treating people with such genuine respect.
And his musical intuition? Simply unparalleled. He knows exactly where every note belongs. He is perfect, and my admiration for him only grows; I have been a true fan for a long time. I think I need to experience this a few more times to let it all sink in.

I’m heading out tonight!! I am beyond excited!! I'll be sure to report back with my thoughts after the show!!

The film is absolutely fantastic for the fans, mainly because it features so much music throughout the runtime.👍

It is truly remarkable how Michael Jackson still possesses those incredible moves and how perfectly everyone knows their parts... simply flawless!

Those who watched it without being true devotees mentioned finding it a bit dull, as they were expecting more behind-the-scenes action—more chatting with the dancers, the singers, and so on...

It honestly feels like you were right there at a Michael Jackson Dangerous Tour Rehearsal, which was wonderful for me (especially since I was actually one of those people who bought tickets for the concert that ended up being canceled):-)

An absolute Epic fail at the premiere: this one guy imitating Michael Jackson was just terrible.😂
The founder of an American fan club gave such a pathetic, overly sentimental speech that the entire audience couldn't help but laugh. It felt as if Michael Jackson were lying in a casket right in front of her while she spoke... and then, to top it all off, she sent him a message in English saying, 'If you are there...'🤣

I'm heading out today 😍
I seriously can't wait!

Btw does anyone happen to have the link for that Michael Jackson fan forum over in the States?

http://forum.mj-thevoice.com/

Honestly, that forum just isn't my scene. I am a member over at Unknown, and let me tell you, it is hands down the best community on the planet! The people there are absolutely wonderful, and the entire site is organized so perfectly.

So, I finally made it out to the theater tonight, and let me tell you—that movie was absolutely phenomenal!!! There’s this incredible warmth radiating from the screen that you just can't put into words; I honestly can't recommend it enough to anyone looking for something special!! My only real gripe? The theater was practically empty... there were maybe 15 of us in the whole room!! (Movieplex)

Larry Cruz51 said:The film is absolutely fantastic for the fans, mainly because it features so much music throughout the runtime.👍

It is truly remarkable how Michael Jackson still possesses those incredible moves and how perfectly everyone knows their parts... simply flawless!

Those who watched it without being true devotees mentioned finding it a bit dull, as they were expecting more behind-the-scenes action—more chatting with the dancers, the singers, and so on...

It honestly feels like you were right there at a Michael Jackson Dangerous Tour Rehearsal, which was wonderful for me (especially since I was actually one of those people who bought tickets for the concert that ended up being canceled):-)

An absolute Epic fail at the premiere: this one guy imitating Michael Jackson was just terrible.😂
The founder of an American fan club gave such a pathetic, overly sentimental speech that the entire audience couldn't help but laugh. It felt as if Michael Jackson were lying in a casket right in front of her while she spoke... and then, to top it all off, she sent him a message in English saying, 'If you are there...'🤣

Where did you catch the premiere? 😳

ruggedmarlin15 said:I have one major issue when it comes to tours like the ones Michael Jackson used to put on. To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of having music blasted directly at me. playback (Well, maybe not to that extreme). Personally, I think just watching the film is plenty. You end up paying about 10 to 15 times less, you don't walk away feeling ripped off, and the audio quality is solid—it sounds like a studio recording. 😉 ... Do you think there's a better way to say that?

You just can't compare that to seeing a performance live. I've been to a Michael Jackson concert twice—once in 1992 in Vienna and again in 1997 in Basel—so I know exactly what I'm talking about. A show like that stays with you for a lifetime.

Kimberly Mitchell42 said:You just can't compare that to seeing a performance live. I've been to a Michael Jackson concert twice—once in 1992 in Vienna and again in 1997 in Basel—so I know exactly what I'm talking about. A show like that stays with you for a lifetime.

Sorry, but I stand by what I wrote. Everything else is great—the dancing, the production, all of it—but when I go to a concert, I want to hear the songs live. When I hear they're using playback, sorry... Michael Jackson used playback quite often, though I'm not entirely sure why (aside from how demanding the choreography is). Everything else is top-notch, no argument there.

ruggedmarlin15 As requested by ruggedmarlin15:
Michael Jackson performed quite extensively during that era—it’s hard to even wrap your head around the sheer scale of his touring schedule. Playback? Honestly, isn't that just a bit much? It feels like we're losing the soul of the performance when everything is so polished—so perfectly timed to a pre-recorded track that it leaves zero room for the magic of the moment. Where is the grit? Where is the raw energy that makes a live show worth the ticket price? It’s a slippery slope from "enhancing" a sound to essentially performing a high-budget music video in front of a live crowd. Does anyone else feel like we're trading authenticity for perfection?...though I can't quite wrap my head around why.

I’m not quite sure where you got the idea that Michael Jackson relied all that much on playback during his performances—is there any actual evidence for that?😕

If you really want to know why, here’s my take—the shows usually run about 90 minutes, and everything is meticulously choreographed. Every single movement, every second counts. Michael Jackson was constantly in motion—hitting those intense dance sequences, jumping, singing... just think about the sheer level of concentration required to sustain that for an hour and a half without missing a beat. And in the middle of all that chaos, he’s expected to deliver flawless vocals? What are the odds of that actually happening? You’d practically need to be a robot. Honestly, I don't buy the idea that there was excessive playback involved—it would only happen if there were absolutely no other way to make the show work.

electricskipper86 said:Where did you catch the premiere? 😳

Downtown Chicago, hanging out with some folks from Ford and Boeing...🤣😁

driftingeagle27 said:So yeah...

Let's just say this was my general vibe during the screening:

😢

Content-wise, it’s touching, inspiring, charming, pretty powerful, endlessly musical, and for the die-hard fans, it might actually be pretty devastating.

I don't even have the energy right now to go on about what a massive shame it is that those concerts in New York didn't happen. Such a total bust 😢.

The way Michael Jackson holds himself is impressive; the choreography absolutely kills; and the stage production is top-tier.

But the best part is really his musicianship and how sophisticated he is. Just listen to how he expresses himself when he's explaining things or giving directions during the rehearsals.

And so on.

There it is.

You were lucky to get to see the movie. For me, obviously, there's still no film available since I live in a tiny rural town, but oh well. I searched the internet to download it, but all I can find are cam versions, and I really don't want to watch something like that in such poor quality.
I saw the trailer and I was simply breathless—of course, it brought everything back to June 25th because I'm a huge fan and I've just adored him since the first time I heard him when I was two years old.

I can't wait to watch the film, even though I believe I'll end up looking like a sobbing mess after two hours of weeping... 🙄

Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. 🙂

Michael Jackson was in perfect health. HERE is a clip of him saying things that certain people took issue with—partly because he recorded a track aimed at them:
They don't care about us

Kimberly Mitchell42 said:

ruggedmarlin15 As requested by ruggedmarlin15:
Michael Jackson performed quite extensively during that era—it’s hard to even wrap your head around the sheer scale of his touring schedule. Playback? Honestly, isn't that just a bit much? It feels like we're losing the soul of the performance when everything is so polished—so perfectly timed to a pre-recorded track that it leaves zero room for the magic of the moment. Where is the grit? Where is the raw energy that makes a live show worth the ticket price? It’s a slippery slope from "enhancing" a sound to essentially performing a high-budget music video in front of a live crowd. Does anyone else feel like we're trading authenticity for perfection?...though I can't quite wrap my head around why.

I’m not quite sure where you got the idea that Michael Jackson relied all that much on playback during his performances—is there any actual evidence for that?😕

If you really want to know why, here’s my take—the shows usually run about 90 minutes, and everything is meticulously choreographed. Every single movement, every second counts. Michael Jackson was constantly in motion—hitting those intense dance sequences, jumping, singing... just think about the sheer level of concentration required to sustain that for an hour and a half without missing a beat. And in the middle of all that chaos, he’s expected to deliver flawless vocals? What are the odds of that actually happening? You’d practically need to be a robot. Honestly, I don't buy the idea that there was excessive playback involved—it would only happen if there were absolutely no other way to make the show work.

Eyes: Google
YouTube.
And if I’m being honest, I think I would have preferred it if he hadn't sung quite so much on... playback.

If you ask me, there’s a good reason for it. On average, a concert lasts about 90 minutes, and everything is meticulously planned—every single movement in every second is choreographed. Michael Jackson was constantly in motion, performing intense dance routines, jumping around, and singing all at once. Just think about the level of concentration required to sustain that for an hour and a half without making a mistake. And on top of all that chaos, he's supposed to deliver flawless vocals? Honestly, the odds of that happening perfectly every time seem slim. You’d almost have to be a robot to pull that off. At the end of the day, I really don't buy the idea that he relied heavily on playback; that would only happen if there was absolutely no other way to make the show work.

You’re clearly a true fan. First off, you’re expressing massive doubt about the facts—because let’s be honest, Michael Jackson just doesn't do things that way, right? And then, even if we assume it's true, the arguments you bring up don't really hold water. By the way, Madonna doesn't even use it. playback It’s nowhere near what Michael Jackson used to do. He had that ability to dance and sing at the same time. And just to be clear, I'm not some die-hard Madonna fan or anything like that. Not at all.
To me, a concert is all about the audio and visual experience. Honestly, I don't really care if the performer hits a wrong note or two—that’s actually part of the charm of seeing someone live. If I wanted to hear the polished studio version, I’d just stay home and listen to the album. I think we should probably stop dragging this out; it's clearly an Epic fail to keep debating it. Off topicAnyway, everyone, enjoy the movie. I'm really hoping they include some re-recorded tracks or maybe even some unreleased songs. (By the way, if anyone happens to have a high-quality MP3 of the French version of I Just Can't Stop Loving You, I'd really appreciate it.)