If you think that you saw everything in your life , watch this movie . Lynch and Cronenberg have nothing on Michael Jackson. The cover doesn't lie – It is truly a movie like no other . Well , not quite movie . It's more like a one big music video. It is even called after Jackson's famous dance.
"Moonwalker" starts with Michael Jackson performing live "Man in the mirror" . This part shows you the mass hysteria from MJ fans. It also shows that unlike many pop artists Jackson actually had some message to say – change yourself , change the world. One could say it's pretentious to think that a simple song will change the world , yet I think that MJ deserves some praise for his ambition. After that we have a retro perspective of Jackson's career – from Jackson 5 to the release of "Bad" album in 1988 , when Jackson was at peek of his career. We see a clips of live performances , music videos and some colorful animation.
The retro perspective ends with "Badder" – a parody of Jackson's video "Bad" with kids instead of singers. It turns into short story about Jackson running away from his crazy fans. It's probably the most interesting part of the movie . It's done in clay motion and seems like it's inspired by "Who framed Roger Rabbit ?" . The whole segment is basically one big cartoon set to the "Speed demon" song . It moves at crazy speed , but if you lucky enough you will see Steven Spielberg , Sylvester Stallone , Pee Wee Herman and Tina Turner parodies as well. This part ends with dance contest between Jackson and Spike , who is rabbit. It's quite funny part of "Moonwalker" – "I asked for bad guy and they send me Michael Jackson ?!".
"Leave me alone" , one of Jackson's best videos appear as some sort of interlude. It's a satire on paparazzi and very colorful circus video. After "LMA" and 35 minutes of the movie already gone finally we something that resembles a mini movie. It's a story how Jackson has to save three homeless kids (and the world from evil drug dealer Mr. Big (played by Joe "Goodfellas" Pesci). The story here is too serious , so cheesy , so absurd , so laughable just like Pesci's haircut . Jackson is portrayed as superhero with magic powers. I don't want to spoil anything , but inside that story there is a expanded section of "Smooth criminal". Movie ends with Jackson performing "Come together" – his cover version of The Beatles song.
As you can see this movie is truly a bizarre one. There is no real plot and the whole movie follows dream-like logic. It's colorful , fast and completely empty (with the exception of "drugs are bad"). It's more like one big commercial and ego trip. Even "Flashdance" has more coherent plot. If I saw this at cinema , I would probably be disappointed. It was a hot on VHS as I remember (I have a copy of this movie on VHS at home).
It was based on Jackson's original idea and I guess nobody went against it. Too bad , because with more humor , clay motion and less ego trip this could work . The whole "Speed demon" section shows as that this movie could work as family entertainment . If only they expanded that idea The non-fans of MJ shouldn't watch this . The casual fans also might be disappointed . The die-hard will love it. I give it 4/10.
"Moonwalker" starts with Michael Jackson performing live "Man in the mirror" . This part shows you the mass hysteria from MJ fans. It also shows that unlike many pop artists Jackson actually had some message to say – change yourself , change the world. One could say it's pretentious to think that a simple song will change the world , yet I think that MJ deserves some praise for his ambition. After that we have a retro perspective of Jackson's career – from Jackson 5 to the release of "Bad" album in 1988 , when Jackson was at peek of his career. We see a clips of live performances , music videos and some colorful animation.
The retro perspective ends with "Badder" – a parody of Jackson's video "Bad" with kids instead of singers. It turns into short story about Jackson running away from his crazy fans. It's probably the most interesting part of the movie . It's done in clay motion and seems like it's inspired by "Who framed Roger Rabbit ?" . The whole segment is basically one big cartoon set to the "Speed demon" song . It moves at crazy speed , but if you lucky enough you will see Steven Spielberg , Sylvester Stallone , Pee Wee Herman and Tina Turner parodies as well. This part ends with dance contest between Jackson and Spike , who is rabbit. It's quite funny part of "Moonwalker" – "I asked for bad guy and they send me Michael Jackson ?!".
"Leave me alone" , one of Jackson's best videos appear as some sort of interlude. It's a satire on paparazzi and very colorful circus video. After "LMA" and 35 minutes of the movie already gone finally we something that resembles a mini movie. It's a story how Jackson has to save three homeless kids (and the world from evil drug dealer Mr. Big (played by Joe "Goodfellas" Pesci). The story here is too serious , so cheesy , so absurd , so laughable just like Pesci's haircut . Jackson is portrayed as superhero with magic powers. I don't want to spoil anything , but inside that story there is a expanded section of "Smooth criminal". Movie ends with Jackson performing "Come together" – his cover version of The Beatles song.
As you can see this movie is truly a bizarre one. There is no real plot and the whole movie follows dream-like logic. It's colorful , fast and completely empty (with the exception of "drugs are bad"). It's more like one big commercial and ego trip. Even "Flashdance" has more coherent plot. If I saw this at cinema , I would probably be disappointed. It was a hot on VHS as I remember (I have a copy of this movie on VHS at home).
It was based on Jackson's original idea and I guess nobody went against it. Too bad , because with more humor , clay motion and less ego trip this could work . The whole "Speed demon" section shows as that this movie could work as family entertainment . If only they expanded that idea The non-fans of MJ shouldn't watch this . The casual fans also might be disappointed . The die-hard will love it. I give it 4/10.