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Thriller 40th Anniversary

Just finished it, and it’s definitely a mixed bag.

The handling of the unseen footage was great. Nelson doesn’t dangle it in front of your face for all of two seconds; he offers extended glances, all of which were superb. The production values and editing were also top notch; it felt like money was spent getting this thing put together.

Still, it’s not perfect. As always, the contemporary talking heads were overused and extraneous. They should have been saved for a prologue or epilogue, if at all. The direction was all over the place; we shift from a chronological timeline to random interjections from Polo G, BTS, and TikTok (which, again, emphasize that there should’ve been a segment dedicated solely to the album’s enduring influence and popularity). Also, I understand that it’s simply impossible to obtain the source footage for every single clip… but could we do better than YouTube rips? At least one literally had a watermark in the top corner, lmfao.

Overall, I’d rank this above Spike’s documentaries in damn near every category. It’s a good starting point for newcomers, and there’s enough new material to at least keep the longtime fans interested. But when you’re memorializing the best-selling album in world history, “it’s good” ain’t gonna fully cut it.

I’d give it a 6.5/10. If more docs are in the cards, I hope a completely new director gets a shot.
 
wonderouzmj said:
Not saying that i don't agree but why do you feel it's better than off the wall?
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I don't really know to be honest mate, the talking heads felt more appropriate and I think it focused on the time period more. Although Off The Wall did touch on more of the album than Thriller 40. Both are trounced by Bad 25.
 
Honestly I liked this more than I thought I would. I wish they'd remove the TikTok part and instead talked more about other songs, especially Human Nature and The Lady In My Life. Though they did talk about Human Nature it was kind of brief, they didn't get into its creation process a lot and most of what they said was basically how it replaced Carousel on the album. The highlights of the documentary for me was the B.T.S footage of Beat It and the studio footage of The Girl Is Mine. I give the documentary a 7/10.

And also did anyone else find it funny when John Branca was talking about the E.T storybook album they showed a picture of him when he was younger as if the documentary was about himself? I chuckled at that lol.
 
I'm gonna watch it now 9 day trial ~ first look- ...excited! beyond belief... !
John estate this is my gratitude !🚰🥂
🍻
 
AlwaysThere said:
I will say, having now seen the studio footage of “The Girl Is Mine,” I’m even more bitter that they didn’t cut together a quick music video for the fortieth anniversary of the single. That brief moment where MJ and McCartney were harmonizing was wild. I kept replaying it.
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Stop complaining! We've been blessed with a lyrics video for wbss.🤣
 
BAD25 and Off The Wall doc is available on Apple TV - do anyone know if Thriller40 will be available on Apple TV for purchase?

I can not find it anywhere from Denmark.
 
AlwaysThere said:
I will say, having now seen the studio footage of “The Girl Is Mine,” I’m even more bitter that they didn’t cut together a quick music video for the fortieth anniversary of the single. That brief moment where MJ and McCartney were harmonizing was wild. I kept replaying it.
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Probably my highlight of the doc as well mate. Something I never thought I'd see
 
Loved the new footage and Michael´s own words. But there was too much insignifcant reminiscent ramble from people that weren´t that important to MJs career and did not contribute anything, really. I liked Misty Copeland and Usher, though.

I wish they had talked more about Michael´s creativity, his work in process in his mind and in the studio. We all know he was madly driven to succeed, but I am missing some magic pixie dust here :) I think the docu would have benefitted from this for us fans AND casual viewers.
 
i hated it.

3/10.
snippets of unseen 4k tour footage and some behind the scenes stuff were the only good parts.
i had already enough within the first 2mins because of randoms talking too much (will.i.am talking bs) and this doesnt stop later on.

they are sitting on 4k tour footage and won't release it. same goes for the behind the scenes footage for the album itself (studio footage).
shame on the estate and this senile branca.
 
Victory tour footage was stunning. BTS & studio stuff were interesting. Everything else was, as expected, quite boring.

thb, Anthony Marineli with his "Stories in the Room" shorts and Marcos Cabota with "Sonic Fantasy" have done a way better job with their limited resources.
 
Salami said:
Slag off Mark Ronson all you like but his parts were amongst the best because he talked about the little bits in the music that make it special. Same for will.i.am actually.
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Nothing against Ronson, but I had no interest in hearing why a random musician likes the percussion in “Startin’ Somethin’.” If you wanna show me Paulinho da Costa chatting about how he and MJ arranged it, that would be extraordinary. But just throwing on a superstar producer to say “hey I really dig how this was done,” to me, is the definition of superfluous. Same with every single other current celebrity that appeared.

Again, I feel they should’ve been saved for an epilogue that covered the album’s ongoing importance and influence.
 
I'm watching the film now; I think I'm gonna go live feedback, disect it a bit at a time:

Why do we need a J5 highlight? Everybody knows this part of the story. Idk, I feel like we can skip this, even as a context thing. It's like watching Peter Parker's uncle die.

An OTW Era montage is cool, but, again, we have a whole, documentary for it. I like seeing Young MJ and Teen MJ.

Brooke Shields appearing bothers me more than Branca. Who invited her back?

I kinda hear @Victorious now. OTW winning only an R&B Award is pretty bombastic. I understand MJ outgrowing all of this.

I'm hearing MJ talking right now, these soundbites are pretty perfect. Is this all from the 80s, some of it sounds like the 90s?

A Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Immortal Remix Sample? Lol.

The cinematography is pretty good. Solid for a documentary.

Jam & Lewis, appreciate hearing from them actually.

Bruce Swedien shout out, that's nice.

Greg Phillinganes looks great. Reminds me of my IT teacher though.

BABY BE MINE SYNTHESIZER.

Synclavier is a cool instrument.

P.Y.T. Guitar Riff from Paul Jackson Jr.

This is super technical to my perspective. They're spending a lotta time talking about this behind the scenes work, but in the way MJ talked about. He didn't like to give a seminar. It feels, magical.

The Girl is Mine has an amazing bass sample. I love it.

Vintage footage of TGIM. Let's go.

First Profanity, let's go!!
 
Continued:
Mister_Jay_Tee said:
I'm watching the film now; I think I'm gonna go live feedback, disect it a bit at a time:

Why do we need a J5 highlight? Everybody knows this part of the story. Idk, I feel like we can skip this, even as a context thing. It's like watching Peter Parker's uncle die.

An OTW Era montage is cool, but, again, we have a whole, documentary for it. I like seeing Young MJ and Teen MJ.

Brooke Shields appearing bothers me more than Branca. Who invited her back?

I kinda hear @Victorious now. OTW winning only an R&B Award is pretty bombastic. I understand MJ outgrowing all of this.

I'm hearing MJ talking right now, these soundbites are pretty perfect. Is this all from the 80s, some of it sounds like the 90s?

A Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Immortal Remix Sample? Lol.

The cinematography is pretty good. Solid for a documentary.

Jam & Lewis, appreciate hearing from them actually.

Bruce Swedien shout out, that's nice.

Greg Phillinganes looks great. Reminds me of my IT teacher though.

BABY BE MINE SYNTHESIZER.

Synclavier is a cool instrument.

P.Y.T. Guitar Riff from Paul Jackson Jr.

This is super technical to my perspective. They're spending a lotta time talking about this behind the scenes work, but in the way MJ talked about. He didn't like to give a seminar. It feels, magical.

The Girl is Mine has an amazing bass sample. I love it.

Vintage footage of TGIM. Let's go.

First Profanity, let's go!!
Click to expand...

Paul McCartney would have been a big deal. That's funny. I was just thinking the other day how MJ got with Paul, not George or John. He wanted pop and that's what he did.

The Behind the Scenes footage, let's GO!!!!!

The bridge is the best part of TGIM.

What is that song MJ is riffing to in the studio while they talk about MJ being a pop artist or R&B artist? Sounds like Stevie Wonder. Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

MJ With a Beatles will always be a stroke of creative genius, doesn't matter if you like the song or not.

The Beat It Acapella Demo. Still good.

I was also thinking the other day, the album, Thriller 40, should've done a better job of letting you HEAR the behind the scenes creative process. That way this film can focus on the impact and MJs essence. That's one way to do it.

WBSS Demo.

Mark Ronson talking about it's OTW DNA, great point.
 
Mister_Jay_Tee said:
Continued:


Paul McCartney would have been a big deal. That's funny. I was just thinking the other day how MJ got with Paul, not George or John. He wanted pop and that's what he did.

The Behind the Scenes footage, let's GO!!!!!

The bridge is the best part of TGIM.

What is that song MJ is riffing to in the studio while they talk about MJ being a pop artist or R&B artist? Sounds like Stevie Wonder. Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

MJ With a Beatles will always be a stroke of creative genius, doesn't matter if you like the song or not.

The Beat It Acapella Demo. Still good.

I was also thinking the other day, the album, Thriller 40, should've done a better job of letting you HEAR the behind the scenes creative process. That way this film can focus on the impact and MJs essence. That's one way to do it.

WBSS Demo.

Mark Ronson talking about it's OTW DNA, great point.
Click to expand...
Continuing:

Vintage Studio Footage. Honestly this could be it's own Ongoing Series. Just start posting it on YouTube.

DJ WBSS Riff, good point. You can do the same with DSTYGE, Billie Jean, tons of MJ's Grooves.

I just thought of that, before Invincible, WBSS was a song where MJ didn't sing his own background vocals, not counting the Jacksons. And it doesn't take away at all.

Mary J Blige, alright, that's enough.

I think I'll stop now and just keep watching. I'll do a follow up review at the end.

Grainy BJ footage, no HD, blast it.
 
AlwaysThere said:
Nothing against Ronson, but I had no interest in hearing why a random musician likes the percussion in “Startin’ Somethin’.” If you wanna show me Paulinho da Costa chatting about how he and MJ arranged it, that would be extraordinary. But just throwing on a superstar producer to say “hey I really dig how this was done,” to me, is the definition of superfluous. Same with every single other current celebrity that appeared.

Again, I feel they should’ve been saved for an epilogue that covered the album’s ongoing importance and influence.
Click to expand...
I get that, but it’s about Thriller. Why do I care about TikTok or Brooke Shields or BTS or the Victory tour? Mark’s comments were about the music and music only.
 
This documentary really made me appreciate Beat It, it’s always been top 10 for me but it really is that song that crosses over genre and generation. I’ve met countless people who don’t like Michael Jackson but no one who dislikes that song. He knew what he was doing with that one.
 
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