- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Video Codec: AVC/MPEG-4
- Resolution: 1080p/24
- Audio Codec: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles: English, English SDH
- Region: A
- Rating: PG
- Discs: 1
- Studio: Sony Pictures
- Release Date: January 26, 2010
- List Price: $39.95[amazon-product align=”right”]B002UD56I6[/amazon-product]
Purchase Michael Jackson’s this is It on Blu-ray at CD Universe
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Overall
[Rating:4/5]
The Film
[Rating:4.5/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3.5/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
More Screen Captures (14 Total)
(Screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG thus are meant as a general representation of the content and do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
The Film
[Rating:4.5/5]
Everyone knows all the tabloid headlines associated with Michael Jackson, so there is really no need to rehash any o that for the purposes of this review. As a film, Michael Jackson’s This is It can be viewed be viewed from a number of angles. One can choose to look upon it as a crass attempt to cash in on the man’s death, a loving tribute to a performer gone before his time, or simply the last remaining performance footage of one of the undeniably electrifying performers of our time.
Far from the madding crowds, the incidents and accusations, the ever-present tabloid headlines, there was Michael Jackson the performer and musician, and This is It distills Jackson down to that riveting performer of yesteryear in footage captured during his rehearsals for what was to be a 50-night stay at London’s O2 arena. This is Michael Jackson in is element, free from the burdens of the outside world, at ease onstage, even without a large crowd to cheer him on — as long as there’s music, Michael Jackson is on cruise control. That’s not to say he doesn’t put in effort in these performances, rather that his natural talent takes over and obviously puts him at ease. Even when he protests at one point that he must save his voice, he still can’t help letting loose with a few vocal pyrotechnics, just to please the few dancers watching on.
Working through some of his biggest hits, such as “Beat It,” “Smooth Criminal,” and, of course, “Billie Jean,” This is It shows Jackson not only as the consummate performer, but also how dedicated he was to honing his performances, making them as good as possible for the fans, in other words, he was a perfectionist when t came to his music.
Watching This is It is both entertaining and eerie. When MJ finishes a rollicking live rendition of “Smooth Criminal” or “Billie Jean” and it ends not in applause, but in silence, it is difficult not to think of what could have been had he lived on and completed his shows at the O2. Sadly, this footage that he left behind will have to suffice, it’s fortunate for us that what he left behind was so good.
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Although the majority of This is It was captured in high definition and it appears on this Blu-ray in a 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 encoding of its 1.78:1 aspect ratio, there is a fare amount of standard definition footage interspersed throughout the film as well that is of a much lesser quality. That being said, the HD material is pretty top notch, with very little in the way of video noise, no motion artifacts to speak of, and good color reproduction. Detail is sharp, blacks are deep, and contrast levels are good for a concert film,
Audio Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack is big, spacious and dynamic with deep, tight low frequencies, easy highs, and good instrumental balance. Vocals are clean and crystal clear. There’s an abundance of ambient information in the surround channels and the overall mix is very encompassing.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3.5/5]
There’s no shortage of supplements on This is It. The disc is authored with Sony’s interactive BD-Live powered MovieIQ feature, which allows viewers to playback the main feature and access information on performers featured in the film, organize custom play lists, and more.
The supplements provided on this release are:
- Thriller Vignette with 5.1 Audio (1.78:1; 1080p/24; Dolby Digital 5.1; 0:03.51) — This newly filmed vignette was to be played on a giant LCD screen preceding the live performance of “Thriller” in concert.
- Smooth Criminal Vignette with 5.1 Audio (1.33:1; 1080p/24; Black and White, Dolby Digital 5.1) — This new vignette featuring Michael Jackson and classic footage of Humphrey Bogart was to be played before the live performance of “Smooth Criminal” in concert.
Making Smooth Criminal (1.78:1; 1080p/24; 0:11.08) — Behind-the-scenes for the making of the new “Smooth Criminal” vignette, with interview segments with director Kenny Ortega and the other filmmakers. - Staging the Return (1.78:1; 1080p/24) — These two featurettes find the filmmakers discussing the preparations in the lead up to what was to be Michael Jackson’s 50-night stay at London’s O2 Arena.
- MovieIQ
- BD-Live — Additional Sony trailers and more.
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:4/5]
This may or may not truly be “it” as far as Michael Jackson footage and releases go, but This is It is classic MJ entertainment and a fitting epitaph for the man and his music. Recommended.
Purchase Michael Jackson’s this is It on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
