Michael Jackson’s This Is It
SPHE
Release Date: February 22, 2010
DVD DP: 13.61
Blu-ray DP: 17.01
At the box office, “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” is the most successful concert film ever made. Now, it is coming to DVD and Bluray in extras-packed special editions courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
One of the year’s biggest movie releases is a film that wasn’t even planned 12 months ago. “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” is an enthralling backstage look at the preparations for what would have been Jackson’s triumphant return to the stage in summer 2009.
The film has already become the highest grossing concert film of all time, taking nearly £10 million at the UK box office, and now is set to be one of 2010’s biggest DVD and Blu-ray sellers.
The film focuses on the rehearsals for the tour, with Jackson performing some of his classic songs with his band, and the intricate choreography that the King Of Pop and show director Kenny Ortega were developing for the dancers. Among the songs are the likes of “Billy Jean”, “Earth Song”, “Black Or White” and of course “Thriller”. Covering a three month period, the film was constructed from more than 100 hours of footage.
Jackson fans will be delighted by the sheer amount of bonus material on the DVD and Bluray of “Michael Jackson’s This Is It”, taking viewers way beyond the theatrical experience.
There are two new documentaries —“Staging The Return: Beyond The Show” and “Staging The Return: The Adventure Begins” — that detail every step of the show’s production from development to rehearsal. There are also a series of illuminating featurettes including “The Gloved One”, focusing on the show’s costumes, “Memories Of Michael”, in which cast and crew pay moving tribute to Jackson’s legacy, and “Auditions: Searching For The World’s Best Dancers”, spotlighting the search for the show’s talented backup dancers.
Also included exclusively on the European release is the never-before-seen additional featurette “The Unfinished Rehearsals” in which Ortega and production designer Michael Cotten reveal two show-stopping concepts for the show that never made it to the big screen.
The Blu-ray edition goes even further, including complete versions of the “Thriller” and “Smooth Criminal” segments. “Smooth Criminal” sees Michael seamlessly sharing the screen with some of the most famous movie stars of all time, while “Thriller” updates his classic 1983 music video with a whole new cast of zombies, ghosts and ghouls.
The Blu-ray also showcases the popular movieIQ feature, allowing fans to access trivia about the film while it is playing, as well as adding their favourite Michael Jackson songs to an emailable “This Is It” playlist.
Finally, there is an additional featurette on the show’s choreography, a photo gallery of images from the rehearsals, and an exclusive 24 page in-pack booklet.
Marketing
SPHE is supporting “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” with a massive terrestrial and satellite TV campaign.
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