ROTTEN TOMATOES: Critics Consensus: This Is It Is Certified Fresh

Critics Consensus: This Is It Is Certified Fresh

Plus, Boondock Saints sins, and The House of the Devil chills.

by Tim Ryan | October 29, 2009

This week at the movies brings only one wide release: the hotly-anticipated performance documentary Michael Jackson's This Is It, which captures the King of Pop in rehearsals for what was to be a comeback tour. What do the critics have to say?

80%

Michael Jackson's This Is It

Before its release, it was difficult to escape the notion that Michael Jackson's This Is It was little more than a cynical cash-grab -- an attempt to strike at the wallets of the great star's fans after his death precluded a potentially lucrative concert tour. Such concerns may have been unwarranted, however; now that the film's actually here, the critics say it's an intriguing portrait of the artist at work, and a reminder of Jackson's protean talents, as well as a farewell gift to fans. High School Musical helmer Kenny Ortega crafted this feature from more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage for Jackson's comeback tour. The pundits say that if the Certified Fresh This Is It is short on revelations, it's got plenty of electrifying performances, and it provides an interesting look at the King of Pop's working methods.

Also opening this week in limited release:

Skin, starring Sophie Okonedo and Sam Neill in the based-on-a-true-story of a black woman raised by white parents in Apartheid-era South Africa, is at 89 percent.
The House of the Devil, a throwback to 1980s-style horror flicks about a coed babysitter who gets in over her head, is at 84 percent.
Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, Troy Duffy's follow-up to the 2000 cult hit starring Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus, is at 25 percent.
Jared Hess' Gentlemen Broncos, about a creative writing novice whose story is ripped off by a famous sci-fi author, is at 13 percent.

Finally, props to Chris89 for coming the closest to guessing Saw IV's 45 percent Tomatometer.

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(1-20 of 47 posts) | Reply

AntonChigurh writes:
on Oct 29 2009 05:25 PM

My *** this is it. Michael Jackson is dead and more popular than ever, he gives new meaning to the phrase "underground music scene".

(Reply to this)

Bruce S. writes:
on Oct 29 2009 05:43 PM

This is awesome. going to see it tommorrow. MJ FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Oct 29 2009 06:04 PM

Okay, I can already see what's gonna happen here. There are gonna be people who say MJ is the worse thing since Hitler, and other people who say he's the best thing since Jesus. And both sides are wrong.

Fans@: MJ was a odd man. Just accept it. An odd, strange, man. But, if you like his music, great. (I personally don't care for it.) Enjoy the film. He had a huge influence on the world of music, and should be remembered for that.

Haters@: MJ was a odd man. You have accepted it. He was messed up. But are you judging him by his music? If not, then you're out of order. Yes he had some issues in his personal life, but you shouldn't judge a celebrity by their personal life, because they entertain us through music, television, movies, w/e. If you don't wanna see his movie, don't see it. But don't rip it a part because of the stars personal issues.

Me, I won't see it. And as many have pointed out, this is just MJ coming back as something marketable, plus I just don't care for his music as I mentioned. But trust me, the Internet will light up with haters and fans all weekend, debating about the man. JUST WATCH!

(Reply to this)

woundedmakers writes:
on Oct 29 2009 07:42 PM

I think its both funny and sad that if Jackson were still alive the movie would have easily been "rotten". Before he died it was "cool" to hate Michael Jackson. Now that he's dead, its "cool" to like him. All of these news channels running their "tribute to the king of pop" specials are the same channels who were running "Wacko Jacko" headlines before he croaked. The media is so disgustingly predictable, but you bandwagoners don't mind do ya?!

...and for the record, I'm not a Jackson hater or fan (although I do dig some of his music....and yes I liked it before he died.)

(Reply to this)

Mr. Bo Ziffer writes:
on Oct 29 2009 07:43 PM

I have mixed feelings about this movie. I don't really care for MJ's music, but I do find it very sad that this was going to be his triumphant return, and just died. At least the fans get to see what kind of performer he truly was, even so unknowingly close to death.

(Reply to this)

Zeke H. writes:
on Oct 29 2009 07:50 PM

I'm probably the only person in the world who doesn't care for Michael Jack sons death.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Oct 29 2009 07:51 PM

In reply to this comment (#2557089)
Yeah, the media is really ****** up with his reception. But that's TV for ya.

(Reply to this)

Zeke H. writes:
on Oct 29 2009 07:51 PM

*Jacksons

(Reply to this)

woundedmakers writes:
on Oct 29 2009 07:52 PM

In reply to this comment (#2557068)

"But trust me, the Internet will light up with haters and fans all weekend, debating about the man. JUST WATCH! "

Gee whiz, how could you have possibly predicted something like that?! Isn't the Internet always lit up with haters and fans debating? I know this site is.

(Reply to this)

GFP Sr writes:
on Oct 29 2009 08:07 PM

Yeah the media is so predictable. Not beating a dead horse (no pun intended) and further shaming a recently deceased man, they chose to celebrate his body of work that was loved by literally a billion people and musically defined several decades.

Damn you, media.

(Reply to this)

THECOWBELLHASSPOKEN writes:
on Oct 29 2009 08:25 PM

In reply to this comment (#2557053)
You mean posthmous. im sure mainstream america isnt ready for tech nine and overly emotional indie rock bands.

(Reply to this)

The.Watcher writes:
on Oct 29 2009 08:52 PM

Couldn't care for This is it less. I was a MJ fan when I was like 13, not now though. I don't believe what the media said about him and the kids, but I'm not gonna go pay money and act like a fan now that he's dead either.

Boondock Saints 2 though, that I wanna see. I really liked the first one, which was a love-it-or-hate-it movie, but mostly I liked Willem Dafoe's performance.
It was captivating.
Hopefully the 10 year hiatus means that the movie will at least be on the 1st one's level.

(Reply to this)

chewie louie writes:
on Oct 29 2009 09:00 PM

In reply to this comment (#2557068)
People don't hate him because he was odd, or because they didn't like his music. People, at least sane ones, hate him because he was a pedophile.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Oct 29 2009 09:05 PM

In reply to this comment (#2557122)
You didn't read what I wrote. I said don't judge his work by his personal life. But you just ignored that. And how many different ways could say "pedophile" without actually saying it! "Issues", "Odd", "Strange", all meant the same thing, and I shouldn't have to spell it out. Like I said. He's messed up. But no celebrity should be jusged by their personal life.

(Reply to this)

ni d. writes:
on Oct 29 2009 09:23 PM

In reply to this comment (#2557090)
yeah,i agree with you.

(Reply to this)

Betsy M. writes:
on Oct 29 2009 09:41 PM

Just saw the movie. Very entertaining, inspiring, and emotionally moving. Gives insight into who Michael Jackson was, especially as an entertainer. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

(Reply to this)

DanielthePhantasm XIX writes:
on Oct 29 2009 10:11 PM

i liked his music before he died so im not seeing the movie because of this all of a sudden like for him

(Reply to this)

BLaCKWoLF2009 writes:
on Oct 29 2009 10:26 PM

MJ fan before the controversy and his tragic death, will remain so long after words. And to any geniuses who have said that it is has become 'cool' to like MJs music now that he has died, I would like to ask you where have you guys been for the last few decades? The last time I checked, The Jackson 5 were popular & MJ was even more popular than he is now years before the conception of the 'This Is It' concerts.

So please dont be idiotic by saying you wont be watching this because there is a 'sudden like for him'. Even if he hasnt been around, his music still has and has influenced a large amount of what the music industry tends to spew out these days..

(Reply to this)

Japes P. writes:
on Oct 30 2009 12:12 AM

Why waste your money on MJ's this is it when you can see a truly entertaining movie like ZOMBIELAND. There was always something about MJ that creeped me out.

(Reply to this)

Japes P. writes:
on Oct 30 2009 12:13 AM

Why waste your money on MJ's this is it when you can see a truly entertaining movie like ZOMBIELAND. There was always something about MJ that creeped me out.

(Reply to this)

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