ironhorse_iv
Singer Michael Jackson's death in 2009 was indeed tragic, however, it still didn't magically absolve all the controversy & weirdness surrounding him. Nor does it, excuse him, for how awful, nonsensical this movie is. Rather than featuring one continuous narrative, the film is a collection of distorted fast cutting random theme short vignettes about Michael Jackson; with several of them being long-form music videos from Jackson's Bad album. Because of this choice in direction, I have to question, the people who made this movie's ability as filmmakers. This movie is so confusing and nearly unwatchable. It's an acid trip movie that's easier to hear, than see. I really don't get, what happening! One minute, the film has Michael Jackson trying to escape from grossest stop motion paparazzi in a rabbit mascot costume, the next minute, it has him, turning into a robot spaceship battling a drug-dealer named Frankie Lideo AKA Mr. Big, played by Joe Pesci. For a movie that has anti-drug message, it really does felt like this film was made by people on drugs. Also, this movie doesn't really doesn't make Jackson, look good. He looks like a lunatic for the most part, who has no clue, what's he talking about. Lots of contradictions. Some good examples is how he sings about telling people to leave him alone; only for later, to sing about having people be together and work out in harmony. Even, his famous songs don't add up. I like how he's singing about world peace in a live performance of "Man in the Mirror" at Wembley Stadium; while featuring a montage of clips of pacifist leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Jesus Christ, and other historical figures; only to be singing later, about finding a bloodstained carpet and an unconscious body with 'Smooth Criminal', while shooting off, a tommy gun at the villains. Don't get me wrong, I like both songs, and music videos, but it give off, mixed messages for the audience, especially the children that look up to him. In my opinion, why couldn't this film, just establish that we're just watching a bunch of new music videos. It would have been stronger and more memorable. Why did we need, all those confusing mucho jumbo retrospective sequences!? It just shows the same old crap that would show up in later segments, like the Claymation, the transformers, and Gilliam's style moving cutouts from antique photographs. Plus, the songs while covering the early years from the Jackson 5 was nice to hear, again; felt wasn't needed. After all, this movie was market to promote Jackson's newest album at the time, 'Bad'. So, why didn't they use more songs from the album like "Liberian Girl' or 'Another Part of Me', than old Jackson 5 hits!? Those songs rarely got feature in any music video. Another thing, that was bizarre about 'Moonwalker', was the kidz bop version of 'Bad' with Brandon Quintin Adams. I get that, it's a parody, but the comedy seem oddly place, seeing how it came out after the retrospective sequences. Are we the audience, supposedly to find Michael Jackson's career, as a joke!? Were, we supposed to laugh on how bad, the music video 'bad' was!? I don't get it. I thought, they wanted us to buy that album! It's seem so out of the blue. Honestly, if I can be truthful. The only good thing to come out of this movie, was, the 'Smooth Criminal' sequence that was influence by the movie, 1953's 'The Band Wagon'. A great homage to the works of Fred Astaire, even if it was kinda ruin by the weird interlude silence moaning interpretive dance in the middle. It looks like everybody at Club 30's, was having a giant stroke. Nevertheless, at least, it was better than the 'Alien Ant Farm' version. I don't see Dryden Mitchell trying to do anti-gravity lean, anywhere in that music video. Anyways, every other sequence in 'Moonwalker' seem pretty much below standards, because how much, annoying the vacuum of praise for Michael Jackson, is. We get it, he's incredibly talent, but he's not Jesus. He was heavily flawed human being with a man child complex. Please stop acting like he is the Messiah; and stop rubbing it, in our faces that he's better than us, when he clearly, wasn't. For a man, that mocks the media for unnecessarily sensationalized his life; he does help feed that BS that the world circle around him. Because of this, I really couldn't stand watching this strange ego trip of a movie. Overall: Michael Jackson is a smooth criminal, but his movie was nowhere near that. It was rough.
Irishchatter
I just wanted to check this out because when I was on YouTube yesterday, I was watching the SEGA video game based on the movie. The video game was tried out by teens and how they reacted. So at the end of the video, I found out that there was a movie that existed and I was dying to check it out since I love Michael Jackson!Anyways I thought the movie was quite good, I love dancing and embarrassingly singing the words out loud to his songs. I have to admit for starters, the rest of the movie was kinda unusual because it was quick with different scenarios with his music. However, my favorite scene would be definitely "Smooth Criminal"! Well duhh, I suppose everyone loved it since it is such a great song of all time! I know the song was over 40 minutes and the original is normally 10 minutes, I wonder if the song was just based only on the movie or was it separate? I tried researching and it seemed to be confusing! Ah well, it doesn't matter, that won't put me off with this song, it is too awesome to ignore!The ending gave me chills with "The Moon is Walking". It was such a great idea to show the men singing away, I wish all movies would do that in their end credits. Michael Jackson was such a great performer and it's depressing that he is not with us today. RIP King of Pop 💟
Steve Pulaski
Besides from the seeing the new "This Is It" and saying Im a huge Michael Jackson fan, I thought I would prove it and see a movie he actually did back in his time. "Moonwalker" breaks all rules, laws, and scripts in the film making history. It's completed in a phenomenal fashion all leading up to the highlight of the film. A triumph comic-book texture short entitled "Smooth Criminal" which Ill discuss later.Besides being subject to jokes and media, we need to remember that back in the 80s everyone was into Michael Jackson. So having a movie on him titled by his dance that only a handful knew, Moonwalker. The film is what you would call, a montage of Jackson clips, so Ill have to do separate paragraphs to sort these out so I don't do block writing entirely. Though I may combine some since some are very short.The movie opens with Michael Jackson singing "Main In the Mirror" at a live concert. He is covered in sweat and singing his heart out just to please his fans. Then it cuts to a kaleidoscopic view of MJ's career leading up till 1988. We see early clips of The Jacksons 5. From "ABC" to "Beat It", it's all there.Then we get a short clip of "Bad", entitled "Badder". The kids are amazingly talented, doing back flips, front flips, everything while lip syncing key point of the MJ song. It was sort of unnecessary having this on the tape seeing as I didn't want to see kids sing one of my favorite songs. Sure they were lip syncing, but I would like to see my one of my favorite songs sung by the artist. Not pre "Kidz Bop" it up.Followed by, my favorite of the film, "Speed Demon" which is MJ being bombarded by his fans who are claymation figures. The scene, is overall colorful and very upbeat. MJ acts natural, as if he has done this before (which he probably has). Overall, this is the best thing on the tape, so far."Leave Me Alone" is a heartfelt crowdpleaser, showing MJ dancing in front of a crowd, announcing to everyone who can hear him to, well, leave him alone. It's a catchy tune that is definitely and underrated portion of the film.The next clip, is the main course, and the point of this whole film extravaganza. It is Michael Jackson, playing a superhero trying to stop Mr. Big (Joe Pesci) from drug-dealing crime boss with an army of henchmen. Michael Jackson, at the same time, is protecting Katie, Zeke, and Sean three homeless kids who spy on MJ. After escaping Mr. Big's clutches, MJ goes into the club and begins dancing to "Smooth Criminal" while defeating Big's henchman. Thats all you can say without giving anything away. It is a real standout from the movie and the dance choreography is stunning. Michael is probably the at his most lively stage yet, and not putting himself or dancers into any grueling treatment.Then the last two segments are minor, though serve a purpose. "Come Together" isn't the greatest thing to come out of the tape. It is a little long, but still not awful. "Come Together" is a song originally written and sung by The Beatles being sung by Jackson here. In my opinion it should have stayed sung by The Beatles."The Moon is Walking" and the music video of "Smooth Criminal" closes this heartfelt film. My only complaint is that this movie is unsure of what it wants to be. First, it wants to be a documentary, then it wants to be a compilation of music videos and music clips. It jumps around and at points is confused. But for the most part, "Moonwalker" is a sensational movie that is sure too please MJ's fans.
