Michael Jackson was to make one of the biggest comebacks the music world had ever seen. Slated for 50 shows from July 2009 up until March 2010, tickets were sold out almost instantly. Unfortunately, his death in June pulled the plug on what would have been a fantastic musical performance.

Michael Jackson’s This Is It is the result of raw footage captured during the rehearsal stages of the concert. What would have been private footage for the King of Pop’s personal records, has been turned into a feature length concert film, showcasing everything that went on behind the scenes during rehearsals.

The film opens with testimonials from some of the backup dancers and how honored they are to be working with Michael. It’s an eerie look at how things could have been, with them saying how big an opportunity it was to work with him, etc. They are all quite moving.

The rest of the film focuses on Michael rehearsing, both on and off the stage. The look and dedication of Michael is extremely different from the secluded and dazed man we’ve seen in the media these past few years. He’s energetic, funny, and passionate about everything he does; being involved in every aspect of the concert.

This Is It would have been one hell of a concert, reinventing how we watch musicians on stage. Utilizing the newest technology, the show would have been a spectacle to look at. People popping up from below the floor, astounding animatronics, and the latest in CGI effects to coincide with what’s happening on stage are all just some of the features shown. Granted, some of the videos were a little extreme, such as the one for Thriller, and didn’t exactly fit the concert motif. Being just the rehearsals, we’ll never know the full extent of what it would have been.

Whether or not you’re a Michael Jackson fan, you can’t help but appreciate this film. It does drag on towards the end, but by that time, you’ve already been dazzled by his performance. If you have the opportunity to see it, take it.