ctober 30. 2009

Michael Jackson's documentary film "This Is It" has opened to moderate sales, thus far, in a swan song that has one wondering if this is what the singer would have wanted.

His last work that he will be remembered by, is now essentially a rehearsal video that is not even the finished product. It's hardly what an entertainer would call their best, as it is a behind the scenes view. A fly on the wall feature.

What makes it worse is Jackson looked so emaciated, skeletal and strained with his skin sporting an almost gray hue. It showcased a Jackson deep in thought, preparing for his big comeback that was cut short. It was an incomplete thought.

An unfinished, unpolished product, for a man that was a musical perfectionist, wanting to get everything just so. I do not think this is how he would want to be remembered, as a man that time, tragedy and temptation got the better of. This was not it, pardon the pun.

$20.1 million is it for 'This Is It'

October 29, 2009 | 10:54 am - Sony's unusual Wednesday launch for its Michael Jackson movie "This Is It" yielded decidedly mixed results.

The documentary sold $20.1-million worth of tickets around the world, with $7.4 million coming from the U.S. and Canada and $12.7 million from 97 foreign countries.

The United Kingdom was the biggest foreign market for "This Is It," bringing $1.9 million. France was next with $1.4 million, followed by Japan with $1.2 million, German with $1.1 million, and China with $730,000.

A small amount of the total came from night-time shows in the Western United States on Tuesday starting at 9 PM Pacific, but the vast majority is from screenings on Wednesday.

Opening movies worldwide on a Wednesday outside of summer of the holidays is extremely rare. On that basis, Sony can claim a solid launch when measured against any comparable films.

However, given the huge amounts of hype surrounding the movie and the $60 million Sony spent to make the movie, outside of its marketing costs, the opening is none too impressive...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com