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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 30, 2009

Michael Jackson documentary a hot ticket


TGIF Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

"Michael Jackson's This Is It"is screening worldwide for just 16 days.

Columbia Pictures

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

People waited in line Tuesday for the first showing of the film at Ward Theatres.

ANDREW SHIMABUKU | The Honolulu Advertiser

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'MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT'

PG, for suggestive choreography and scary images

111 minutes

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The limited engagement of "Michael Jackson'sThis Is It" has made it a hot sell in theaters both locally and throughout the world.

The movie, chronicling the King of Pop's preparations for 50 planned concerts before his untimely death in June, opened Tuesday and is screening worldwide for just 16 days.

It's showing on O'ahu at all theaters except Kδhala and created a buzz this week, said Rachel Gibson, promotions and events manager for Consolidated Theatres.

"We're getting tons of calls from people asking if tickets are still available and where can they see it," Gibson said Wednesday. "The thing about this one is it's not just drawing out the moviegoers; it's drawing out fans of Michael Jackson. It's all ages, too — young, old. It runs the gamut, and so far, everyone I've talked to seems really happy with it."

Gibson said tickets at most theaters remain available and can be purchased at consolidatedtheatres.com. You can also get tickets and show times at fandango.com.

According to box office reports, "Michael Jackson'sThis Is It" took in $2.2 million in North American screenings during a soft opening on Tuesday night.

The movie is a documentary filled with excerpts of more than 100 hours of footage of Jackson preparing for the London concert tour he never got to give.

"This Is It" played simultaneously in more than 90 countries yesterday, and Jeff Bock, a box-office analyst with Exhibitor Relations Co., told Bloomberg News earlier this week the movie could top $400 million worldwide.

Domestically, the top-grossing concert on record is "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert," which The Associated Press reported had a $31.1 million opening weekend last year, and pulled in $65.3 million domestically.

For the most part, "This Is It" is garnering positive reviews from critics. Here's what some of the top movie critics have said aboutthe movie:

"Watching Jackson pop, lock, rock, writhe, thrust and clutch his crotch, even at 50 percent, leaves a feeling of woe: This show really would have been major."

— Wesley Morris,Boston Globe

"It's a bouncy, engaging, slightly revealing and at times downright moving portrait of Jackson, sweating to his own oldies at 50, prepping a 'comeback' he never got to make."

— Roger Moore, Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel

"A fascinating and surprisingly intimate look behind the scenes of the King of Pop at the top of his game."

— Scott A. Mantz,Access Hollywood

"Michael Jackson wanted it to be the greatest show on earth. And judging from the countless scenes in 'This Is It' of Jackson reconnecting with the artistry that made him one of pop's essential icons, his moves as fluid as the day he introduced the moonwalk on that legendary Motown special, there can be no doubt that had he lived, that string of 50 dates in London would have been just that."

— Ed Masley,The Arizona Republic

"It's fascinating, often in ways the people behind it might not have intended. It's shiny and slick and scary and cynical, and it's an epic portrait of all the contradictions in American celebrity culture and one of American culture's biggest celebrities."

— James Rocchi, MSN Movies

"'This Is It' is Jackson's moment to shine. For two hours, he's alive and kicking it."

— Carrie RickeyPhiladelphia Inquirer