Popcorn Panel: 'This Is It'

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Michael Jackson fans rejoice! Your hero has come ... to the big screen! "This Is It" gives viewers an inside look into the preparations for MJ's would-be concert series. Not a traditional "movie" movie, this film is more like a documentary, from the camera movements and style to the brief interviews with the various people who worked with Michael. There are times that the film seems to lag, but the songs are, of course, awesome. This film just has that "epic" look and feel to it. Michael Jackson fans, and music lovers in general, will love this film. These people got "It" right.

John M. Whitney,

North Aurora resident

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Watching an artist hone his craft is a fascinating voyeuristic journey into a rare world, and when that artist is the King of Pop, the journey is also wildly entertaining. The "This Is It Tour" was certain to be a ground-breaking concert experience and the tragedy of the star's over-publicized demise is profoundly felt throughout this carefully edited documentary. Michael Jackson's genius makes the tabloid hysteria of the past virtually disappear. Director Kenny Ortega acts as an interpreter and wrangler as much as the show's producer, but the music still takes center stage.

Nicole Kotrba,

Naperville resident

Wait for the DVD

There's no doubt that Michael Jackson's death shocked the nation and the world. "This Is It" proves that Jackson was gearing for a comeback, which makes the matter even worse. The intimacy and tragedy of the subject make for an interesting, intriguing documentary; however, I find it difficult to believe that anyone but the most devout Jackson fan will rush to see this film in the theater, because frankly I don't see the need. With all the Michael Jackson tribute shows on TV, there's really no need to see this movie now. Wait for the DVD, or catch it on TV in the future. It's good, but another tribute isn't going to change the way we feel about his death anytime soon.

A.J. Jewison,

Bartlett resident