Review of Michael Jackson's Movie Moonwalker
Two Decades of Singing and Dancing from the King of Pop
Jun 26, 2009
Named after Michael Jackson's signature dance move, Moonwalker (1988) opens with a performance of Man in the Mirror in front of a huge crowd of adoring fans. This song appeared on Jackson's seventh studio album Bad, released the year before. Although not as successful as Thriller, which is still the most successful album of all time, Bad did feature six US number one hits.
The next section of the movie is a montage of video clips and soundbites detailing Jackson’s rise to superstardom, from his early years in the Jackson 5 to his success as an award-winning solo artist. Clips of songs in this section include:
- ABC
- Blame It on the Boogie
- Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
- Beat It
- Thriller
- Billie Jean
- We Are the World
Films Within a Film
A video for the single Bad follows. In this version, however, children fill the lead roles in a parody of the original. This is one of the lighter moments in the movie. What comes next are a series of much darker mini films: the partially Claymation Speed Demon in which Jackson tries to escape crazed fans; Leave Me Alone, about the media’s invasion and coverage of Jackson's private life; and Smooth Criminal.
Written by Jackson himself, Smooth Criminal makes up the longest section of the movie and is a tale of good versus evil. In a series of action-packed but highly implausible chases and escapes, Jackson is able to save three children (including Sean Lennon, John Lennon’s son) from the clutches of the narcotics-wielding gangster Mr. Big. Along the way, he has time to sing an extended version of the single Smooth Criminal in a 1930s club.
The movie ends with an upbeat performance of the Beatles’ song Come Together, again in front of a live audience.
Two Decades of Artist’s Work
Watching Moonwalker is more like watching 90 minutes of MTV – with fantasy sequences thrown in to replace commercial breaks - than a movie. However, it is not without its entertainment value. The music clips were filmed between 1967 and 1987, providing a 20-year retrospective of some of Jackson’s best and best-known work. These clips are also a reminder of just how lithe and graceful a dancer he was and how charismatic a musical performer when he was at the top of his game.
Moonwalker is definitely one for fans, but following the singer’s untimely death at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009 it will no doubt receive renewed interest from those looking to relive some of the high points in the life of the prodigiously talented King of Pop.
Moonwalker is available on VHS and DVD on Amazon.com. It is directed by Jerry Kramer, with Jim Blashfield (Leave Me Alone) and Colin Chilvers (Smooth Criminal).
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