No one has any apology to make about this wonderful documentary, least of all Kenny Ortega. When I heard he intended to take "rehearsal" footage of the "This Is It" tour and market it as a film, I assumed it was an attempt to recoup the investment made in the project. Who could have guessed that this film would stand on its own and also enter the echelons of the "best" documentaries about rock music ever made? No less, Michael Jackson reveals more about himself in this footage than we've ever seen before. It's his premiere moment on film, and I would guess he would not have wanted it shown only because we see—for the first time—Jackson without a mask. I won't attempt to characterize this complicated, insanely talented, person, but basically he's painfully shy. And he excelled at one of the most public vocations there is: performing.

What's interesting about the footage is that it exists at all. But since concerts today use video projection for the large venues where they play, it was natural to include the cameras during the rehearsal period. And it's riveting! Nothing is ever less than compelling in large part due to the level of talent in all quarters. The dancers, the musicians, the back-up singers, sets, costumes…it's a parade of the best of the best. While Jackson is the center of all of this, if you don't care for him, there's plenty of other things to look at and enjoy.

Any sadness is brought by the viewer. There's not one nod to Jackson's demise or when it occurs. He looks thin, but even in a rehearsal mode, he's electrifying, and I think that's why the film works. We're not at some huge arena (for which the concert was conceived) with 10,000 screaming fans. And rather than missing that electricity, we get intimate performances of familiar Jackson material. But it's re-imagined and you never know what's coming next.

An alert: there is footage throughout the final credit sequence and after the credits end. And if you can, see it in a DP theater...for the sound alone. An amazing experience!

When Michael Jackson died, he left behind him numerous debts and the whole cost of a planned and prepared-for tour. So the obvious thing would be for the bean counters to hash together some rehearsal footage of Jackson performing behind the scenes, call it a film, and rush it out to cinemas shortly after the superstar's death in order to cash in on the media furore surrounding his death.

The result is disappointing to those of us who are fans of genuine documentary films that are assembled, edited and directed with care and attention. This is a mish-mash of stuff that just about gets by generated on the goodwill accrued by Jackson. I consider myself a fan of the musician, and I admit there's a certain thrill from watching him going through all of the old classics one more time. So, as a film this is hopeless, but fans will lap it up anyway for the chance to see the final footage of the man before his untimely death.

It's the spring of 2009 and Michael Jackson is organizing a new concert. However on June 25th and 8 days from traveling to London to begin final dress rehearsals, he is found dead. The movie starts on April 15 with interviews with the dancers. It goes back to the dance auditions, the planning, the construction and most importantly Michael Jackson performing in rehearsals. What's missing is some in-depth interviews with Jackson. He's the only person that truly matters. It's nice to see the young dancers get emotional but it's Jackson that is historically important. Jackson does speak as he directs everybody. He is sharp and on the ball. His performances are always present. It is interesting that he's always in charge. It's basically behind-the-scene footage and it's good on those terms. This is for the fans and there are plenty fans around. The other missing element is post-Jackson. It would be compelling to have everybody's reaction to his death. Although I understand the idea of this as positive memory.