Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory

Even though I would never say that I was/am much of a fan of the late Michael Jackson, I certainly would agree with many that he sure was something of a dynamic entertainer who definitely put a lot of himself into his live performances.

Out of these 10 music-videos of Jackson's (that span from the years between 1979-1992), I can only say that I liked less than half of them.

To me, it was clearly Michael Jackson's videos from the earlier part of his career that impressed me the most.

Unfortunately for Jackson - It appeared that in a number of his latter music-videos he was striving way too hard to be perceived by his adoring fans as some sort of a tough-guy/lady's man. But, as was so obvious, Jackson's looks (due to cosmetic-surgery overload) were just too frail and girlish for him to pull this off convincingly.

I thought that this was a gift for all of Michael Jackson's fans. And if you are one, all I have to say is: Get this video. Believe me when I say that you won't be disappointed.

That's all. This movie deserves more, but all you can say is it is awesome.

9/10

HIStory is a great video which looks at the video clips that made Michael Jackson the legendary artist that he is. However, you are better off getting Michael Jackson's HIStory Volume II (1997), which is over 30 mins longer than this video and contains newer footage. But if you're into Michael Jackson's pre-1991 music, then this is the one for you.

Out of these 10, Michael Jackson, music videos that were presented in this 90-minute DVD - 3 of my very favourites were "Rock With You", "Billy Jean" and "The Way You Make Me Feel". As well, the 3-minute "Brace Yourself!" opening segment (before Jackson's videos were played), which contained an excerpt from composer Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana", certainly was something of an adrenaline-rush which helped to earn this DVD its 6-star rating from me.

The one thing that I especially liked about the "Rock With You" video (which came from Michael's first solo venture, 1979's Off The Wall) was that it was a very plain and simple presentation featuring a 21-year-old Michael on his own without all of the elaborate choreography (that borrowed so heavily from the movie "West Side Story") which seemed to dominate far too many of his later music-videos.

Yes. I'll gladly admit that I'm not much of a Michael Jackson fan. But, with that said - After watching these 10 music videos, I can definitely understand Jackson's vast appeal and popularity.

As a high-energy entertainer and pop music icon, Michael Jackson certainly had something of a special gift. And, as was clearly evident in a number of these music videos, when this dude was good, he was, indeed, nothing short of being sensational.

Aggressive ignorance of mass-media and of so-called "critics" will never let them appreciate a deeper-than-plain books, music, cinemas and videos.

In the HIStory minifilm, short-sighted tabloid-like critics were able to see only "fascism" (which actually was only in their ill minds) and "self-puffing".

But this video is one of the most symbolic I have ever seen.

It called HIStory. The whole film is about. It is about appeal and prediction of the global win of mankind through the music and joy. "We have erected this monument as the sign of power of music, love and unity of all nations around the world", say the headers, which people carry behind marching Michael Jackson.

Well, critics are not aware of Esperanto, the international language, specially created for easy communication between people of different countries and nations. So they were unable to comprehend the sense of headers inscriptions and completely misunderstood the whole idea of the film.

Absolute quality and art of costumes, light, photography, special effects.

The idea and scenario by Michael Jackson.

Denis Raphael Solyahoff, analytic contents provider for MJFCs' SCREAM International Project