Michael Jackson Moonwalker Laserdisc (NTSC) (Laserdisc Format - NOT DVD)

My favourite film

If I were to take a trip back to my childhood, the aptly-named "Moonwalker", the brainchild of Michael Jackson, would be one of the prominent stops. Even back when I wasn't necessarily an MJ fan (I am now), this movie captured my imagination. Rather than a whole, cohesive movie, it's a collection of mini-films, for the most part well-woven together. The first part is a performance of "Man in the Mirror". The second is a retrospective on Michael Jackson's career, with clips from his music videos and performances from his early career to his "Bad" days (which is the era when the movie was made, and it shows). The third is a re-enactment of the "Bad" video by a younger counterpart of the cast. The fourth part is a mini-movie which features Michael Jackson escaping from maniacal fans and press by racing a motorcycle as a rabbit-man and eventually doing a dance duel with him (you really need to see it to believe it). The fifth is a video for "Leave Me Alone", and the sixth and final part is a noir/sci-fi film where Michael and three young kids on the streets who have befriended him try to escape a drug lord (Joe Pesci) who wants Michael's head after the latter discovers his plans to get all kids addicted to drugs."Moonwalker" never made it to theatres in the US (it did, however, in Europe and South America), but that didn't stop the VHS release to be sold in over 800,000 copies within a year of the movie's release. It is a truly engrossing trip through the imagination of the legendary musician/entertainer. While many musicians have tried their hands at filmmaking and only succeeded at showing that they have no talent at it, Michael Jackson surprises. Not only does he show that he has as much feel for staging and visual storytelling as he has for music, he manages to make this movie his own, weaving into both the collage and story some truly imaginative moments.Take the second part of the movie, where we sort of hit the "present". The "Bad" video is reenacted by younger actors, in a truly hilarious but nonetheless competent spectacle. After that, Michael Jackson emerges onto the 'streets' of Hollywood and is hounded by an assortment of stark-raving-mad, claymated fans and press. An attempt by a humoured Michael to escape his chasers ensues, but as he finds out, trying to hide out in Hollywood studios (especially when you're Michael Jackson) is about as easy as hiding the punch at a banquet.But his way out of this situation is possibly my favourite part of the movie. Disguising himself as a leather-clad rabbit man, he manages to escape the studios on a bicycle, which transforms into a motorcycle. At this point "Speed Demon" kicks in as the rabbit-man drives at breakneck speed down the highway, ocean and sky. And still the relentless fans and media are hot on Michael's tail, his disguise not fooling them. This all makes up a truly stunning piece of claymation, both excellently-paced and delicious to behold. Driving out into the desert, Michael takes off his disguise only to have the rabbit disguise reanimate itself, and the two do the best dance duel I've ever seen. It's especially stunning to see the claymated rabbit dance like MJ, and Will Vinton and co (who were responsible for the claymation segment, while Michael himself is live-action) truly deserve an applause for this as well as Michael.Following is the video for "Leave Me Alone", a truly imaginative, satirical portrait of the mass hysteria the media attribute to Michael. Michael humorously visualises this as an amusement park constructed on top of him, while a miniature version of him goes through a has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed tour, frequented by lots of dogs in suits. This video may feel like a filler but its imagination and vision more than make up for it.This is when the 'movie' itself begins. My favourite part is when Michael steps into a 30s-style club and "Smooth Criminal" kicks in, resulting in a truly artistic music-video sequence, climaxing in the middle, when the music dies and the club-goers chant, for almost a minute, before the music kicks back in. I won't spoil the rest of the movie for you, but these are my favourite parts.If you are a Michael Jackson fan then this belongs in your collection for sure. Whether or not you are a fan, if you want to see a really imaginative, creative journey through Michael Jackons's musical mindscape, I can also recommend this. One thing is for sure; the tag couldn't be more correct. This truly IS a movie like no other.

Ok, first I have to say that I didn't really know what to expect from this DVD since neither the Amazon description nor the video case gave a lot of information on the content. So thank you to the reviewers who helped me decide to buy this!Chronologically:I was disappointed by the montage beginning of this video, wondering if that's what the entire DVD would be. Personally, I don't much like performance clips stuck together. The presentation of 'Man in the Mirror' is not my taste, I'd rather see Michael singing the entire song from beginning to end - head to toe in one concert, without the interference of so many audience shots. That said, it's a great song.Then came the compilation of Michael over the decades. I'd seen most of it before but it was still good. Except for the glitter effect "enhancements", which were distracting and unnecessary in my opinion.Then...Wow...some talented kids - the 'Badder' video is at times funny and enjoyable throughout! And, all the better if you have seen 'Bad' first.'Speed Demon' is a lot of fun. It is so nice to see Michael smiling and having fun with it too. A lot of wonderful head shots in this one.It is great to see him speak out creatively in his own defence and confront the rediculous tabloid headlines that so many people still believe in 'Leave Me Alone'.Then comes his absolute masterpiece, a work of pure genius! I had never seen the entire 'Smooth Criminal' video, only the short version. That alone makes the DVD worth having! The cast, crew and special effects, it must have cost a fortune to produce...I thought as I was watching it. But it's Michael Jackson's performance that has you riveted to your seat...or inching closer to the screen in awe of this supremely talented man.Then as he leaves the kids behind, including Sean Lennon, it glides smoothly into a stage performance of Lennon and McCartney's 'Come Together'.Even during the credits he's giving you more.All in all a fab video!Rest in Peace Michael Joseph Jackson, you are sorely missed...

Person it was bought for is a fan who enjoys it very much.

FANTASTIC

Absolutely love this film 🎥

Great film. Great sound track.

A little outdated now but a reminder of so many great songs

Gut

En castellano, para todo fan del gran Michael Jackson

Film strepitoso sotto tutti i punti di vista.

Jammer dat er geen Nederlandse ondertiteling aanwezig, maar voor de rest is de film Smooth (Criminal)...

I have been a huge Michael Jackson fan all of my life. It was so great to finally have the Moonwalker "short film" on DVD.I finally got to watch the full version of Smooth Criminal, and enjoyed all of the dancing.This is a "must buy" for all Michael fans.