It’s time to learn the “Thriller” dance and brush up on your moonwalk because “This is It,” is your last chance to see Michael Jackson showcasing his talent.

    When Jackson unexpectedly died in June, he was preparing to give what he called his final curtain call. He was rehearsing for 40 sold out concerts in London’s O2 Arena.

    Preparations and rehearsals of the concert were filmed for Jackson’s personal video collection. After Jackson’s untimely death, Kenny Ortega, director of Jackson’s show, decided to make the tapes, which were never intended for release, into a movie for the fans.

    “Michael Jackson’s This is It” showcases the production of what was to be Jackson’s final performances. Many of Jackson’s most notable hits are pieced together with different rehearsal performances to show what the final product was supposed to look like. “This is It” covers every process of putting together Jackson’s concert including dancer auditions, music rehearsals and production of video segments that were supposed to play behind Jackson while he performed. These segments are also mixed in with the performances to give the audience a feel for what the concert was supposed to look like.

    In the movie Jackson shows that he was very much in control with the creative process and entire show. He made the majority of decisions surrounding the band and lights with the point of his hand.

    Even though he hasn’t performed in over a decade Jackson shows that he still had what it took to be a great performer. His voice is reminiscent of when he was at the height of his popularity. His dancing was still on point and he showed no signs of a man in his final days.

    “This is It” covers all of Jackson’s hits from “Thriller” all the way to “Human Nature.” Jackson even did snippets of Jackson 5 songs.

    While Jackson still does a great job of performing it should be noted that the movie consists of rehearsal footage, which can be seen at some points when Jackson doesn’t sing to preserve his voice or looks like he is still figuring out what steps he wants to take.

    “Michael Jackson’s This is It” captures a great image of an artist that was loved by millions and reminds people why they fell in love with him.

John Adams can be reached at [email protected]