Comments on: ‘This is It’ – MJ’s swan song and dance http://whatwouldtotowatch.com/2009/10/28/this-is-it-mjs-swan-song-and-dance/ Movie reviews from award-winning journalist Christian Toto Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:55:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Debi Davis http://whatwouldtotowatch.com/2009/10/28/this-is-it-mjs-swan-song-and-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-28671 Debi Davis Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:51:29 +0000 http://whatwouldtotowatch.com/?p=4597#comment-28671 I was thankful that this production avoided any focus on the negativity that marked MJ's life. Besides highlighting (without exaggerating) his incredible talent, "This Is It" did a great job of depicting the respect and admiration that followed this artist. You only mention "his fellow dancers" one time in your review, but I was moved by the relationship he seemed to have with these people. Every single one of them was obviously inspired by Michael. I got the impression they would do anything for him. It's hard to imagine the grief . . . and then the disappointment they experienced after coming so close to being part of what was to be his comeback. I was thankful that this production avoided any focus on the negativity that marked MJ’s life. Besides highlighting (without exaggerating) his incredible talent, “This Is It” did a great job of depicting the respect and admiration that followed this artist.

You only mention “his fellow dancers” one time in your review, but I was moved by the relationship he seemed to have with these people. Every single one of them was obviously inspired by Michael. I got the impression they would do anything for him. It’s hard to imagine the grief . . . and then the disappointment they experienced after coming so close to being part of what was to be his comeback.

]]> By: cftoto http://whatwouldtotowatch.com/2009/10/28/this-is-it-mjs-swan-song-and-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-23165 cftoto Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:12:09 +0000 http://whatwouldtotowatch.com/?p=4597#comment-23165 Great point, JJ. In addition to everything you've posted I've heard that Jones is also a heckuva nice fellow. He came up huge, for example, when comic Artie Lange went through his coke problem (according to Lange's recent memoir). Great point, JJ. In addition to everything you’ve posted I’ve heard that Jones is also a heckuva nice fellow. He came up huge, for example, when comic Artie Lange went through his coke problem (according to Lange’s recent memoir).

]]> By: JJ http://whatwouldtotowatch.com/2009/10/28/this-is-it-mjs-swan-song-and-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-23163 JJ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:56:16 +0000 http://whatwouldtotowatch.com/?p=4597#comment-23163 That last line was supposed to be a P.S. :) That last line was supposed to be a P.S. :)

]]> By: JJ http://whatwouldtotowatch.com/2009/10/28/this-is-it-mjs-swan-song-and-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-23162 JJ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:55:46 +0000 http://whatwouldtotowatch.com/?p=4597#comment-23162 No doubt about it, Michael Jackson was a talented vocalist and dancer -- a true entertainer with a unique charisma. However, when it comes to "those timeless tracks fuse R&B pulses with pop melodies in a way that has yet to be duplicated," "Thriller"and "Off the Wall" producer Quincy Jones deserves a huge share of the credit for MJ's best work. Q is tremendously underrated by the general public, but he's among the very top tier of our country's most talented musicians. He's the all-time most nominated Grammy artist, with a total of 76 nominations and 26 awards. He's also received an Emmy Award and seven Oscar nominations, conducted and arranged for Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, and performed with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton. This guy has more talent (and common sense, integrity, and intelligence) than the entire Jackson family. So many media mention MJ's most successful and timeless works without mentioning Q's massive contributions to creating the music (and to managing an eccentric musician like MJ like in the studio, no small feat); it just seems wrong to me. I like that Quincy took the chance to emphasize that he and MJ made history TOGETHER (my emphasis, not his) in this tribute to MJ in the LA Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/06/quincy-jones-on-michael-jackson-we-owned-the-80s-and-our-souls-would-be-connected-forever.html JJ I hope he got some props in the movie. No doubt about it, Michael Jackson was a talented vocalist and dancer — a true entertainer with a unique charisma. However, when it comes to “those timeless tracks fuse R&B pulses with pop melodies in a way that has yet to be duplicated,” “Thriller”and “Off the Wall” producer Quincy Jones deserves a huge share of the credit for MJ’s best work. Q is tremendously underrated by the general public, but he’s among the very top tier of our country’s most talented musicians. He’s the all-time most nominated Grammy artist, with a total of 76 nominations and 26 awards. He’s also received an Emmy Award and seven Oscar nominations, conducted and arranged for Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, and performed with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton. This guy has more talent (and common sense, integrity, and intelligence) than the entire Jackson family. So many media mention MJ’s most successful and timeless works without mentioning Q’s massive contributions to creating the music (and to managing an eccentric musician like MJ like in the studio, no small feat); it just seems wrong to me.

I like that Quincy took the chance to emphasize that he and MJ made history TOGETHER (my emphasis, not his) in this tribute to MJ in the LA Times:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/06/quincy-jones-on-michael-jackson-we-owned-the-80s-and-our-souls-would-be-connected-forever.html

JJ

I hope he got some props in the movie.

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