My Thumb Sideways: MIchael Jackson: This Is It

Starring: Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson
Co-Starring: Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson

First off, I'm not a HUGE Michael Jackson fan. I really like most of his faster tempo pop songs but don't care for the longer, slower ballads. Unfortunately for me, it seemed that most of This Is It was focused around these slower songs.

The movie is a documentary featuring the low-production-value rehearsal footage for MJ's "This Is It" shows in London. Filmed at the Staples Center in L.A., it chronicles the details required to put on a huge production. What we see is monotonous, boring, and uninspiring. We never get the payoff of the final versions of the production numbers. No final dress rehearsals with costumes, pyrotechnics, or glitz and glamour. The songs are never sung from start to finish.

I think they are promoting this movie a bit like Truth or Dare but it isn't like that at all. In that we see Madonna behind the scenes but we also get some character development of the dancers and then see the live performance. Imagine going to see A Chrous Line without the final One number.

What I Liked
• You get to see how much work and practice goes into these huge productions and why ticket prices are so high.
• MJ practices everything and I was amazed that all of the dance steps are developed and practiced. They are not freestyle.
• It was good to see him again.

What I Didn't Like
• Most of the featured songs are ballads that they practice over and over. And over.
• He's still wearing the tape on his fingers.
• No final, full production songs for the payoff.
• There was no moonwalk, even during the Billie Jean rehearsals.

What I Learned
• As his production crew said after his death, you can see that he is very skinny but isn't in danger of physical exhaustion. I'm more convinced that his death was an accidental overdose of a combination of sleep aides.

This movie gets my thumb sideways. You'll love it if you're a hard core Michael Jackson fan who can't get enough of listening to his CDs from start to finish. I thought it was boring.

Dancing Tributes To Michael Jackson

American Version: Dancing With The Stars


British Version: Strictly Come Dancing

City of Angels To Pay For Jackson's Funeral Security

I couldn't agree more:

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is trying to quell the escalating debate over who should pick up the estimated $1.4 million tab for police, traffic control and other services related to Michael Jackson's memorial service.

Villaraigosa, who was vacationing in South Africa a week ago when more than 17,000 fans flocked to downtown Los Angeles to watch the public memorial, asserted Monday that the city will pay. He said he will not ask the Jackson family or AEG Live, the owner of the Staples Center where the event was held, to help the city recoup its expenses, and he lambasted a city Web site set up to request donations.

"This is a world-class city, and we provide fire and police protection, period," Villaraigosa said during his first public appearance since returning from his weeklong trip. "The idea that we would charge the family for a funeral is nonsensical.

How much revenue did he generate for the city and state? Probably billions! His income and property taxes. Taxes on show tickets. The jobs he created in the entertainment industry and all of their income taxes. Hell, just the sales taxes collected on the Thriller CDs alone!

I'm Going To Scream...

...if one more person calls that child "Blanket." I mean, he's Prince Michael Jackson II. It's not his fault his dumbass father named him the same as the first son. A little George Foreman-esque, don't ya think? But you never hear any of the Foreman boys called Blanket. Or Towel. Or Crockpot.

Can you imagine the damage to the kid's self esteem? "Hi, this is Prince. This is Paris. And this is, ummmm, Blanket."

And what about Debbie Rowe? "Oh, I'll take the first two because I was their birth vessel, but that other one isn't mine. Throw his ass on the laundry heap of life." Ugh.

What kills me is that they all say it with a straight face! Get Brooke Shields up there yakking about crescent moons and shit, then goes on about Blanket.

I have to keep telling myself, "Yes, indeed, everyone except me may just be crazy."

BTW, could Paris have been any more wonderful? So sweet.

Hunk-A-Lot Hump Day: Michael Jackson

Sorry, boys and girls, I just couldn't resist after the most recent photos appeared. Take the journey with me, will you?

Would You Pay To See MJ?

Michael Jackson is "reviewing and evaluating" proposals to perform in Vegas. After a period of globe-trotting, Jackson is currently living in Las Vegas.

Back in the day I probably would have shelled out big cash. Now I wouldn't go if it were free.

Would you pay to see him? How much?
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