"This Is It," the documentary film chronicling Michael Jackson's preparation for what was to be his last major tour in London, proved to be a major event for anyone determined enough to attend the late night premiere screenings.

It's 11 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27 and walking into the theater, it seems like any other slow movie day. There were no lines, crowds or even the expected ticket hustler. As moviegoers trickled into the building, those attending the midnight premiere of "This Is It" are directed away from the rest of the theater's crowd to the very top floor. As you approached the 3rd floor, you realize why things downstairs were so calm and uneventful. To arrive at 11 p.m. for a 12:01 a.m. show time for the biggest entertainer to ever live means you're late! Clearview Chelsea Cinemas transformed their top floor into a Michael Jackson party. All the coming attraction posters featured Jackson's album covers. There was a red carpet, velvet rope and a DJ. A stage with microphones and a large video screen and karaoke allowed the boldest fans to perform for the hype crowd. When "Thriller" came on, attendees sprung into formation and executed the iconic choreography almost perfectly. The actual screening rooms hadn't even opened yet and everyone had already gotten their $12.50 worth. Hopefully theaters all across the country had similar experiences.

Then there is the actual movie. Musically, the film is a master class is true artistry. In a world where so many performers are created and controlled by “their people” and have no creative input over their shows, Michael shows firsthand what made him the best; his own influence. Michael was actively involved in every aspect of his production from choreography to video elements.  The opportunity to watch Jackson teach vocal parts, dissect the musicality of every instrument and make corrections was breathtaking. His voice was in amazing shape and sounded almost pitch perfect even when fooling around.

Honestly, “This Is It” is one of the most brilliant pieces of documentary filmmaking that you’ll ever see. Why? Because it wasn’t supposed to be.  We’ve seen many Michael Jackson “specials” where he hoped to give the world a “behind the scenes” glimpse of his “personal side.” Truthfully, many of those pieces were entertaining or at the very least, provocative.  But, they were made with the intention of public viewing and he performed knowing that we were watching.  The footage from “This Is It” is decidedly real and candid; intended for Jackson’s personal collection and it was obvious. Michael doesn’t put on for the cameras. He’s working and having fun. Had he known this would be made into a major motion picture, we might have gotten a totally different film.  Without giving too much away, there are moments when Michael Jackson speaks and cracks jokes that show the Michael we thought we knew wasn’t entirely real. For decades, Michael Jackson came off to the world as this mysterious and odd being that couldn’t be related to.  And yes, he was a musical genius and because of that was unique and extremely different from the average. However, you’ll leave the film realizing how very human Michael was. Perhaps, the most bittersweet revelation in the film is that Michael Jackson was indeed ready and capable of pulling off his comeback concerts.  We didn’t get to see the show full-out, but even a Michael Jackson rehearsal is still a 5 star performance.

Also make sure to tune into What The Flick for more on Michael Jackson's "This Is It."