Michael Joseph Jackson’s untimely death on June 25, 2009 shocked the world. The world’s greatest entertainer had died and far too soon at that. MJ still had work to complete. There was the long rumored new album to launch his “comeback,” which I was anticipating. There was the record-setting 50 sold out shows in London, which he was to perform at the O2 arena. MJ seemed to be laying the groundwork for re-entry into the public music scene again. No one was more excited by this than I was – a loyal fan who’d been following his career since the age of six.

As a child, I had two huge musical influences that played a huge role in my life – Prince & The Revolution and Michael Jackson. MJ’s music first connected with me as a child with his Motown 25 performance. I remember being bedazzled with his performance of “Billie Jean” and of course, the moonwalk. After that performance, I became a fan for life, and I always stayed loyal to him. My faith in MJ as a human being, entertainer, and musical genius never wavered. Where many doubted he could perform the 50 This Is It shows, I never did. After viewing the This Is It film on opening day, it only reaffirmed what I always believed – that MJ still had it.

Note: Some portions of this review contain excerpts from my Twitter film review of This Is It.

When the beginning credits for This Is It rolled, you could feel the reverence, respect, and calm in the crowd. Never felt anything like it.

I actually saw This Is It twice before writing my review. At both showings, I was very much aware that I was amongst MJ fans. For both showings, there was such a respectful tone in the audience, and I really could feel the love and yes, even somberness of the others in the theater. It was definitely an interesting in-theater experience, which I will describe in further detail later.

I could feel the emotion welling up in me within the first two minutes of This Is It. Then the music started, and I was smiling big time!

After the beginning credits rolled, I had a moment where I wondered if the film was going to be sad. The footage of MJ’s background dancers expressing their love and gratitude was touching. To say that the dancers were appreciative of being chosen was an understatement. It was a great way to open up the film, but it also made me a bit emotional. Fortunately, director Kenny Ortega brought the mood up very quickly by cutting to MJ’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Within the first few notes of the music, I was wearing a huge smile on my face and head bopping with many other fans in the theater.

This Is It gave me the urge to break out my MJ moves right there in the aisle. Seriously. I was definitely head boppin a lot during the film. For whatever reason, MJ’s music really connected with me in a different way when I watched This Is It. I was really into it.

I’m not one of those people who have the urge to dance when viewing dance/concert films; however, This Is It definitely tempted me to do just that. Obviously, I wasn’t the only one who had that same urge. I watched the audience at both screenings, and many were waving their hands to the music and just “feeling it” as much as I was. There were moments where I was expecting other fans to break out their MJ moves in the aisle as well.

Maybe it was the Dolby Surround Sound. Maybe it was the love amongst the audience for MJ. Or perhaps I just have to “blame it on the boogie,” but the music sounded extra good to me. MJ’s new touring band really had his songs nailed down, and I appreciated their attention to detail (guided by MJ of course). I personally wouldn’t have minded if Sony laced MJ’s recorded vocals on top of the touring band’s live performance of his songs. That would be an album worth adding to my collection for sure. The music sounded just that good to me.

For all of the performances, I was recalling all of the MJ choreography and doing it in my head right along with Michael and the dancers.

As a child, I took professional dance classes and thought I would grow up to become a dancer one day. Since I was a MJ fan, I studied his moves as a dancer and learned many of them – “Thriller,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “Billie Jean,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” etc. Although I hadn’t done much of the choreography in a while, it’s not something I really forgot. I recognized the familiar steps when MJ preformed his signature songs, and I was right there with him (in my head) doing the choreography.

While I watched MJ with his dancers, I noticed he wasn’t extending himself at rehearsals at times; nevertheless, he still had the smooth moves. When he was going full throttle on the dancing, MJ was keeping up with his 20-year-old background dancers with ease. I can only hope I’ll be able to move like that when I turn 50.

As I watched This Is It, I studied MJ. He was a bit smaller than normal, but this man was healthy and vibrant. He still had it!

I couldn’t help but watch for signs that would indicate if something wrong with MJ while he performed. I saw nothing wrong with him, other than him being smaller than I remembered. Everything I saw in the rehearsal footage leads me to believe MJ could have indeed pulled off all 50 concerts without any problems. Of course, I never doubted that he could.

If you didn’t know before, This Is It showed you that MJ was a musical genius! This man’s musicology was amazing. Mad respect for that.

Some scenes I really enjoyed watching involved MJ’s interactions with his touring band. Unsurprisingly, MJ was very involved in how his music sounded and how it would be presented to his fans. As his music director Michael Bearden said, MJ knew his music better than anyone did. That was evident when MJ was working with Bearden on the presentation of the music and challenging lead guitarist, Orianthi Panagaris, to hit certain high notes on her guitar that he sang. MJ would relay exactly how he wanted the music to sound. Not only that, but MJ said something in This Is It that should be the golden standard of all bands and touring bands. MJ informed Bearden during a rehearsal that he wanted his music to sound like how he recorded it. When I heard that, I said, “Thank you!” aloud. MJ wanted his fans to hear his music like the records, and I have a deep appreciation for him caring that we did hear it that way. Other touring bands have played songs for the artist they backed, and I sometimes had no clue what the song was until the artist starting singing it. In other instances, some touring bands were close to how the music sounded but not like the artist’s records. MJ was indeed a perfectionist who cared about the tiniest attention to detail in the music. He wanted it right, not just for himself but also for the fans.

Additionally, I noted there were times when the music just oozed through his soul. It was during those moments when MJ couldn’t help but break out into dance moves when guiding his music director on finely tuned touches he wanted in the music. This man felt his music within every fiber of his being. You could just see it when you watched him. MJ wasn’t shy about expressing how much his music ran through his blood. The spontaneous singing and dancing during the rehearsals clearly showed the love he had for his music. As a fan, I found that extremely enjoyable to experience.

I will note one standout in This Is It and that’s MJ’s female guitarist: Orianthi Panagaris. She was fire! Just as awesome as Jennifer Batten.

Shortly after MJ passed away, I caught a short clip of him performing next to a blonde female guitarist. For a second, I thought MJ had brought back Jennifer Batten, his former lead guitarist for the Bad, Dangerous, and HIStory tours. However, I later learned that it wasn’t Batten but a new face named Orianthi Panagaris. Before the film premiered, I had done a bit of research on Orianthi. I knew she’d played for Carrie Underwood at the 51^st annual Grammy Awards. I also had heard a bit of her guitar playing, and I was quite impressed. Still, I mostly stayed away from too many clips of Orianthi’s guitar playing because I wanted to hear her shine in This Is It. And my goodness, shine, did she ever! I knew that like Batten before her, Orianthi played the “Beat It” solo when auditioning for MJ’s touring band. The “Beat It” solo was one moment that I was looking forward to since I know exactly how it’s supposed to sound. When Orianthi started playing the “Beat It” solo, I couldn’t help but be wowed. When she was done playing, I glanced at my youngest brother (who saw the film with me), and he was wearing that same expression of astonishment. She was just as amazing of a guitar player as Batten – both whom is head and shoulders above many of their male counterparts. From that moment forward in This Is It, I kept my eye on Orianthi, even drifting away from MJ at times to study her. She had this cool, funky swagger as a player that I just enjoyed watching, especially during “Black or White.” Similar to my admiration of Batten, I became a fan of Orianthi’s very impressive guitar work.

As for MJ himself, you saw a different side of the icon that you’ve never seen before. He was funny, charming, humble, and into the music.

Over the years, I’d heard MJ’s former backup dancers, background singers, and touring band express their sentiments about the icon. To them, he wasn’t just an icon; MJ was very much a human being. When I watched This Is It, I saw exactly what the people who worked with him saw. The “icon barrier” was down while MJ was rehearsing, and I truly got a peek into the beautiful soul this man had. MJ was patient with his touring band when they made mistakes, and he often ended his “constructive criticism” (more like a gentle please fix this) with a “God bless you” or “that’s with L.O.V.E.” I was touched hearing him say that, so I can only imagine how his touring band felt when he punctuated his “constructive criticism” with loving words at the end.

When he wasn’t being humble and caring towards his band and crew, MJ was quite the charmer and often humorous. I watched him during a couple of songs – “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” and “The Way You Make Me Feel” – and he was being quite charming towards his female leads. It was there in the way he smiled, moved, and interacted with them on stage. Additionally, I noticed something else during these interactions with his female leads. There have been longstanding rumors that MJ wasn’t really into women (never believed that) and was even perhaps asexual (ridiculous). When I watched MJ and his female leads, I felt he was being a bit flirty (in addition to humorous and charming) when they were rehearsing. Of course, I’ve seen MJ interact with female leads dozens of times in videos and concert footage; however, this was different. I felt like MJ was being his true, everyday self during the This Is It rehearsals. He definitely wasn’t wearing that “King of Pop” persona that he presented to the public. He was just being a flirtatious, charming, and humorous man with his female leads. He also expressed that sense of humor and charm with the band and crew. I found that most interesting to see because it definitely gave me a glimpse into the man, not the musical legend.

This Is It is rehearsals. Anyone who has ever been a musician (me) and dancer (me, too), then you know it’s not polished like a full show. Nevertheless, This Is It gave you an awesome look behind the magic of MJ’s show. It is one of the best concert films I’ve ever seen.

I knew what to expect when I watched This Is It – rehearsals. I knew that I wasn’t going to see MJ at full throttle the entire time. From what I understand, he was told to conserve his voice (something he stated in the film), so there were moments where he didn’t sing during songs. There were also times where he wasn’t dancing during songs, but I knew he would have been had it been the actual concert. Still, I knew these are the kind of things that occur in rehearsals. I felt This Is It was an honest look at how rehearsals run prior to the actual concert. This Is It is not something similar to the Live Concert in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour concert film. As a result, viewers should have the expectation that rehearsals and concerts are different entities.

I have seen several concert films throughout the years. This Is It achieves a standard that other concert films should aim towards in the future. Director Kenny Ortega did an outstanding job editing the footage together to create This Is It. Ortega gave me a glimpse of sound checks, a behind the scenes look at the visual effects/footage for the concert, and interviews with many personalities who were a part of This Is It. Other than one brief clip of “MJ mania” at the beginning, Ortega kept the film very intimate.

The visuals for MJ’s This Is It concert series were stunning. He was going to put on a bloody fantastic show. You could see it.

MJ and Ortega crafted some pretty remarkable ideas and visuals for the This Is It concert series. They were really pushing the boundaries in terms of spectacle. There really was a Hollywood production touch to the new footage shot for “Thriller,” “Smooth Criminal,” and other songs. It was going to be an astonishing experience for fans that would have been fortunate to see it. It would have been well worth the money to see these MJ shows.

This Is It did put me on an emotional roller coaster. I felt joy, sadness, anger (at an irresponsible doctor), and humor.

I was a bit worried how This Is It would make me feel when I watched it. I didn’t want to be sad when I saw him, and I was concerned I would be. I have stayed away from a lot of MJ footage since he died, which includes the memorial that I can’t bear to watch. Many of MJ’s videos, interviews, and concert footage was entirely too painful to watch early on, and it still brings a touch of pain to my heart when I see footage now. Fortunately, I didn’t have that many moments of sadness during This Is It. While I did swing like a pendulum between certain emotions, I would have to say I felt joy and humor the most. I also would experience a touch of anger at the doctor who is allegedly responsible for MJ’s death. When I watched MJ in This Is It, he was so alive and vibrant, and it made me angry that the incandescent fire in the physical form of MJ is dead. His death still makes no sense to me, and after watching This Is It, I really felt that he was gone far too soon. As I stated previously, MJ still had work to complete.

I have to say I held up well until “Man in the Mirror” in This Is It. I have not been able to listen to that song since MJ died. When MJ performed “Man in the Mirror” in This Is It, I was crying. For me, MJ was one of two of the most important music icons to me.

MJ’s performance of “Man in the Mirror” was the one truly saddening moment for me during This Is It. I knew the song was going to be in the film, and I thought I would be prepared for it. I thought I would be able to get through it without crying but I couldn’t. When I watched him perform “Man in the Mirror” and sing it with passion, it just got to me emotionally. The tears flowed silently the both times I saw This Is It during “Man in the Mirror.” I had that gut clenching moment where I knew there was never going to be another human being like MJ. I knew there was no one who was going to touch the legacy of artistry, music, and creative genius that MJ left behind.

After This Is It ended, the audience clapped, and no one moved during the credits. People stayed to finish watching more footage. Awesome.

I have been to the theater often enough to know that the majority of people leave as soon as the credits roll. No one did during the two times I saw This Is It in theaters. Once again, I knew I was amongst fans, and like me, they wanted to see every drop of MJ footage. Watching This Is It with other fans was truly an amazing experience for me. It is the best in-theater experience I’ve ever had…hands down. If you have the opportunity to see This Is It in theaters and you’re a fan, please do so. For me, there was no other film experience like it.

If you are a MJ fan, I highly recommend you see This Is It. I’m seeing it at least twice more. I want more. It’s an A+!

To add onto this, I just want to say that This Is It is definitely one of my favorite films of 2009. I’m aware that Sony will submit it for Academy Awards consideration. I think it should be an Academy Award nominee, and I’m not just saying that simply because I’m a major MJ fan. The film was well crafted in its entirety. Director Kenny Ortega put his heart and soul into constructing this film. Not only did he give the fans a wonderful experience, but I also believe he gave non-fans an appreciation for MJ’s humanity and showmanship. It really was a beautiful work of art, and I applaud Ortega’s efforts in giving the fans something wonderful to remember MJ by – a performer, artist, and genius…a human being.

Even though I have focused my efforts in one artistic field, I am a multi-artistic person. I have dabbled in several artistic areas that include dance, drawing, painting, music, writing, and graphics/web design. Out of those areas, I would say I was most skilled and talented in dance, music, and naturally, writing. Of course, not all artists cross over into different areas, but even if you’re artist working in just one field, there are common yet cool things that link all artists together.

1. You Have an Excuse to be a Perfectionist

If you’re an artist and anything like me, you seek perfection with your work. You concern yourself with the most minute details; cringe (and obsess over it) when you let a mistake slip out to the masses; and you just don’t know when to quit, even if it was “good enough” four hours or four days ago.

In your eternal quest for perfection, you also probably have a tendency to push yourself hard. It’s about the quality – no matter how long it takes and what you have to give up seeking it. Therefore, you lose sleep. You forget to eat. You miss phone calls and/or ignore them altogether. You wave off anyone who drops in on you while you’re in your creative zone. It’s all about your work during that moment, and nothing else matters until you achieve…less than perfection (even though you sure tried for perfection). Hey, not everyone can be in the Collective and connect to the hive mind.

2. Your Creative Streak Hits You at the Oddest Moments

I get creative ideas in weird places and during unexpected activities. I have sat through entire meetings with half of my concentration on what others are saying while the other half is mentally storyboarding ideas for a novel, a blog post, or anything else I’m writing. I can be standing in an elevator, reading the safety notice when an idea sparks. The same thing has occurred in countless of other places: while I’m watching a movie, while I’m grocery shopping, and while I’m in the drive thru supporting my Starbucks tea-drinking habit.

I can be sleeping in the still of the night and will wake up suddenly with ideas I have to write down. In addition, as I’m waking up and opening my eyes, I experience my most creative moments on Saturday mornings. Sometimes I just lie there and let my mind explore and put things together. I have no idea why I am most creative when I’m waking up on Saturdays, but that’s just the way it is for me.

Finally, I have actually been conversing with friends and/or family when they have said something that struck a creative spark. I literally ask them to pause in mid conversation so I can write down an idea or portions of dialogue that suddenly sprung to mind. Most of the time, they end up shaking their heads and shrugging their shoulders, realizing that it’s just the “kooky artist” in me that does strange stuff like that.

3. You Empathize with Other Artists Who Experience a Creative Block

No matter what kind of artist you are, you relate to other artists who struggle with a creative block. It happens to every artist during his or her creative lifetime. As an artist with experience under your belt, you know what it’s like when you have a creative block. You’re probably moody – ranging anywhere from anger to sadness – at any moment of the day while you’re blocked. You stress about it, especially if you’re under a deadline to deliver. You worry if you’re block is temporary or permanent. As a result, you know how it feels to have a block for days or even years, so you naturally relate and empathize with other artists who are going through their creative block.

4. You Have an Excuse to be Weird

Hey, I’ve always known I was weird growing up as a kid. I didn’t look weird appearance-wise. In fact, I looked perfectly “normal,” but I knew that there was something different about me on the inside. I just instinctively felt that I wasn’t like most other people. Many artists are a bit different (like geniuses are different) and have weird personality quirks. What are my quirks? Hmmm, let me count the ways.

People can hold an entire conversation with me but I don’t “hear” anything they say if my mind is engaged in other things (mostly creative pursuits). It’s not unusual for me to ask them to repeat whatever they’ve been saying for 10-20 minutes, but oddly enough, I don’t have this problem when I’m at the job. On a typical day, I also don’t verbally communicate for hours during the day, which is mostly when I’m at work. When I do talk, I only feel the need to communicate verbally when I have something to say; otherwise, I don’t waste the (verbal) words. Finally, I’m anti-social and I like it. That doesn’t mean I’m a completely unsocial person; I am just very selective on who I open up myself with.

(Oh, and I’m weird, not crazy. There is a difference.)

5. You Can Be a Grouch to Others & Blame it On Your “Artistic Nature”

You rant and you rave. You sometimes drive others around you nutty with your Shrek-like attitude. Even though I believe artists by nature are passionate people, sometimes you have to admit to yourself that your grouchiness has nothing to do with your artistic ways.

As nice as I am, when I get grouchy and/or pushed to a certain limit, I can say (or text) some things that cut. There can be other things going on in my life that’s making me grouchy, and when I’m grouchy, I sometimes spread the “joy” because I don’t want to be alone in my misery. In my experience, I don’t think it’s a conscious thing to make others suffer with me. I’m mainly seeking empathy, and perhaps on a subconscious level, if you’re not suffering a little with me, then you can’t relate to what I’m feeling. Of course, I finally snap out of my funk, realize I was bringing the theater of pain to others, and blame it on my “artistic nature.” The funny thing is, most of the time, that’s a good enough excuse for the other person.

What a lovely thing, being an artist!