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ShareMumbai: The MJ mania continues. After four months of outpouring and grief all over the world, the King of Pop Michael Jackson continues to make news.
MJ's This Is It will release world wide today in cinemas for two weeks only. The movie will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London's O2 Arena.
In raw and candid detail, Michael Jackson's This Is It captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his final show.
Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jackson's creative partner and the director of the stage show, is also directing the film, which is being produced by Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware. John Branca and John McClain are the executive producers.
Eager to watch the movie, model Anchal Kumar says, "I'm very excited. He is a legend, a pop icon and my favourite artist. I don't think I will miss it for anything and I'm really looking forward to the release of his movie."
Actor Karnvir Bohra says, "I have grown up listening to his music and I'm obviously looking forward to the release of This Is It. It showcases MJ as a person and not just as an artist. I have a MJ jacket which I picked up from one of my trips abroad which I intend to wear when I go to watch the movie."
Aware about the mixed reactions received worldwide, actor Prashant Raj says, "I think it's great that the last few days of such an icon have been recorded. But at the same time, it's a shame as to how the corporate groups are marketing the event, which kills the spirit of the cause. No wonder it has infuriated the sentiments of people all across the globe."
Chronicling the months from March through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the private estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than 100 behind-the-scenes footage shots, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show.
There are protests in London, as well as there are online protests by fans of MJ that have launched a campaign to boycott his film. The online protest - called 'This is not It', is being supported by thousands of people, who claim that the film features the singer's deteriorating health and the stress of the planned 50 London shows leading up to his death in June has been edited to maximise profits.
However, closer home, the enthusiasm regarding the movie still prevails. Model Deepti Gujral says, "It's going to be pretty amazing to watch how the King of Pop was preparing himself for the show. Obviously, his death came as a surprise and we didn't expect his untimely death. I was looking forward to seeing his performance and I will definitely go and watch the movie."
Web designer, Salil Ravat too is eager to catch the film. "Despitethe controversies I'm eager to watch the film and hoping to see it in the first week itself."
This Is It, uses more than 100 hours of unseen footage of Jackson rehearsing for his concert comeback, is the first since the singer died on June 25. The eagerly awaited
documentary makes its premieretoday, screening simultaneously in 18 countries before going on a limited two-week release.
