Review of MJ Movie "This Is It"

Perhaps more aptly titled than I first thought, "This Is It" is probably not a release MJ would have approved had he lived but it is fascinating and enjoyable nonetheless. For a fan, it's a must see. I'm not sure viewers more casual in their MJ interest would appreciate it as much.

Let me start by saying what the movie is not - It's not a polished performance by any stretch. The songs are frequently stopped for revision and there are many times when he lays off the vocals to save his voice. Nor is it a "full dress rehearsal" as I'd read previously. No one is in stage costume and the only glimpse we get of MJ's stunning costume for "Billie Jean" is on the tailor's table. Still, even "street clothes" for MJ are slightly brilliant - it's not as if he's in sweatpants and t-shirt.

What the movie does offer is a chance to see MJ at work which is truly thrilling. He has an extremely detailed vision of precisely how the finished production will look and sound. Watching him work toward making this vision a reality is captivating. If you never appreciated the genius of MJ before, this movie makes it clear.

The main event of course is MJ's singing and dancing. Despite his extremely thin appearance, and contrary to rumors that he was a shell of his former self, his singing and dancing are total A-game. His voice sounds as good as ever and as I expected, he had reinvented himself in dance once again, with a style appropriate for a 50 year old man. There are fewer dramatic spins and throwing himself to his knees but more fancy footwork and he's absolutely no less amazing to watch than at any time past. There is no doubt, despite the jaw-dropping performances given by his dancers (who are half his age), MJ is the King.

In the end, seeing how vital and brilliant he was in the days leading up to his death, I couldn't help but feel an extra bit of sadness that he's gone. Had he appeared weak or half-hearted in any way, it might have made his death a bit easier to understand. But clearly, had he not surrounded himself with corrupt doctors and yes-men who ultimately yessed him to death, MJ would have been able to realize his vision, execute his scheduled performances and carry on with his family life for a good long time. But now, well - this is it.

MJ Movie Trailer

Since I think I've posted it everywhere else on the web already...

MJ Sighting

The first of what I presume will be many:

MJ News Tidbits

The LAPD and DEA continue their raids with glacial swiftness. Anyone who knows he's guilty would have had time to shred docs, compost the remains, fertilize a vegetable garden with the compost, and enjoy a crisp Summer salad with the produce while waiting for authorities to show up.

Interesting Egyptian bust comparison to MJ

Crikey - people are strange

Schmaternity

I'm going to try and keep track of these over time but alas, the task may prove too difficult.

Peeps who've tossed their hat in the ring for MJ's kids so far (I'm only including those who piped up and/or have taken legal action after MJ's death):

Claire Elisabeth Fields Cruise - claims to be bio Mom of all 3 kids, married to MJ and engaged to Prince's bio Dad. Also says MJ is not the bio Dad of any of the 3 kids but the two of them did have a kid together - Connor Cruise - which MJ gave to Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman because he didn't like the color of the baby's skin.

Mark Lester - played in Oliver as a kid, claims to be godfather of all 3 kids and bio Dad to Paris (via sperm donation)

Dr. Arnold Klein - MJ's dermatologist, says "to the best of my knowledge, I'm not the father" of Prince & Paris but did donate to a sperm bank once. Klein sent an attorney to kids' custody hearing but judge said he had no standing. (I'm hearing "I'll be bach" in my head.)

Nona Paris Lola Ankhesenamun Jackson - London Satanist, claims to be married to MJ and bio Mom of all 3 kids. She's been suing MJ for years over this but did continue her legal battle after his death so you gotta give her teh crazy props.

Billie Jean Jackson: another one who's been in it for the long haul, she's filed legal papers now claiming to be Blanket's mother. If memory serves, I'm pretty sure she's been claiming to be married to MJ for years and complaining to the courts that she gets arrested every time she goes to her "husband's" house.

MJ News Tidbits

MJ tribute shows canceled, dancers et al told they were retroactively "volunteering"

The Daily Beast looks at Propofol addiction

Various songs on YouTube claiming to be "new" - can't say if they are or aren't but here's one I heard today:

MJ News Tidbits

I troll the MJ "news" updates so you don't have to. How Public Service-y of me. Although I admit, I skip over 99% of what I read because it seems off-the-chain-speculative and/or irrelevant. Now for the "good" stuff:

A "gifted spiritual traveler" hooked up with MJ in the aether 2 days after his death for an interview. Luckily, that conversation is available for dl as a FREE e-book! (If anyone actually reads this, please do give me a summary.)

The LA Times has an interesting story naming names of Drs. associated with the death investigation. Among them, an ear, nose and throat specialist from NYC, David Slavit:

Slavit was chosen by an insurance company this spring to give Jackson a physical so promoter AEG Live could get coverage for the singer's comeback concerts.

Seems a bit of an odd choice for an insurance company looking to guarantee the overall health and fitness of a performer in L.A. At any rate the article indicates investigators are looking for any possible connections among MJ's many Drs.

Dr. Conrad Murray: XXX Evil

If<------That's IF - I'm just speculating here, as I am wont to do - If media reports to date are accurate, here's why I think Dr. Murray qualifies for the 'extra evil' award: MJ was dead, long dead, no hope for reviving him dead well before Dr. Murray called for Prince and security guards. (btw, why did the Dr. call for a 12 year old kid in this sitch? Shouldn't he have been dialing 911 or performing CPR or doing something useful?) And even though MJ was gone, Dr. Murray let the kids pray in the hallway for their Dad to be ok. Whatever else Dr. Murray may or may not be guilty of, that particular offense is so egregious to my mind, I am glad there's no chance I'll be called to any possible jury in the case.

Wouldn't You Like to be a Perper Too?

I love me some Dr. Perper. He is the doc who determined that Anna Nicole was killed by an overdose of prescription meds. He is telling E! News that he expects similar results in the MJ toxicology report which is supposed to be made public this week.

Where in the World is Dr. Conrad Murray?

Apparently the Feds raided Dr. Murray's clinic in Houston. Seems to me they are about 27 days late. Methinks someone in the DEA's Department of Gluing Shredded Documents Back Together is going to be getting overtime this week.

Or maybe they got lucky and found complete records:

June 24, 2009:

• Administered illegally obtained surgical anesthetic which I'm not qualified to give. Man, I do NOT know what I'm doing, ha ha.
• High School Musical DVD marathon tonight!

June 25th, 2009:

• Fell asleep watching High School Musical. Better check patient.
• Patient deceased - d'oh! How do you administer CPR thing?
• Note: Need to attend Red Cross refresher course

Really now, is that germane to the discussion?

Oh ABC, you snarky little network:

Jermaine Jackson also tearfully scolded the media for the intense scrutiny his brother's death and custody battle have undergone.
"Leave him alone. Stop the crazy names that they call him," the Gloved One's brother said.

You Can Find Out EVERYTHING on Yahoo Answers!

Which is so great:

Did the Illuminati frame Kobe Bryant? Like they murdered Michael Jackson?

Geraldo Rivera Interview w/MJ

From February 2005

Transcript

Videos:

Part 1 of 5

Part 2 of 5

Part 3 of 5

Part 4 of 5

Part 5 of 5

LAPD Foiled Again

From TMZ:

We're told the LAPD planned a third interview with Dr. Murray earlier in the week -- the doctor was interviewed the day Jackson died and again two days later.

Reps from the L.A. County Coroner's office planned to attend the third interview, but we're told Dr. Murray's lawyer called and said the doctor would not be speaking to the cops at this time.

And here's the best part. Our sources say the cops called the lawyer back and they were referred to the lawyer's lawyer who said Dr. Murray's lawyer would not be speaking to them!

Oh Snap!

Well played lawyer and lawyer's lawyer. You've won this round but the LAPD always gets their man. Actually - is there any way to bring in Scotland Yard?

Propofol Abuse

Interesting article from January 2009:

“Propofol is a drug that in a sense doesn’t get you high,” said Omar S. Manejwala, MD, associate medical director at the William J. Farley Center at Williamsburg Place, an addiction treatment clinic in Virginia that, like Talbott, also focuses on physicians. “It blocks out the world,”

In his experience, Dr. Manejwala said, nearly every propofol addict started injecting to overcome persistent insomnia. That aspect of the medication fits neatly with the link both Drs. Manejwala and Earley have observed between propofol abuse and a history of trauma. “One of the hallmark symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] is hyperarousal. Folks with PTSD want to block that out,” Dr. Manejwala said.

What’s puzzling, experts said, is the strength of the connection. “I don’t know of any other drug where the perceived incidence of trauma, particularly of sexual trauma [in abusers], is so high,” Dr. Manejwala said. “It’s really quite remarkable.”

The article also takes about mortality rates among abusers. Another bit I found interesting, in light of all the talk about "functioning addicts":

Unlike abusers of alcohol or most other substances, propofol addicts are unable to function on the job, said Paul Earley, MD, medical director of the Talbott Recovery Campus, an addiction rehabilitation facility in Atlanta that specializes in treating doctors and other healthcare providers.

MJ News Tidbits

24 seconds of an unreleased MJ song (bring on the years of "Milk and Honey" *ding*)

Read what Paul McCartney says says says about how his friendship with MJ ended

The Daily Beast has Rx dirt on Dr. Klein<-----shocking

Miko Brando, who told Larry King that MJ's drug use consisted of taking an occasional aspirin for a headache, was on GMA to further deny, deny, deny "speculate". Speaking of speculation, Billy thinks that Miko is Blanket's father. I hafta admit, I do see a resemblance.

My Anti-Christmas List of MJ Memorabilia

Things not to get me for Christmas. Or ever:

Baseball cards

Any of this "art"

Bullet proof vest

Anything Uri Geller is selling

And, not at any price:

The Beginning of the End?

Et tu Tito?

Brother Tito is talking to the Brit tabloids too:

Tito Jackson told yesterday how he and his brothers and sisters launched a military-style raid on Neverland to confront Michael over his addiction to painkillers.

Seems like the family was all deny, deny, deny when MJ was alive. Now they're selling their stories of conducting military-style raids to help MJ get off drugs. [Please provide photo of Jackson family in SWAT garb.]

Smells Like Reasonable Doubt

Potential defense strategy falls into the lap of Dr. Murray's attorney, courtesy of the FDA:

Now, some lots of propofol are being recalled for contamination.
Last night, the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration advised clinicians immediately to stop using propofol from two lots found to be tainted with elevated levels of endotoxin, a powerful toxin made by bacteria.

What a coinkydink gift from god.