“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” premiered to high praise from fans who applauded at each number as though they were at a concert and marveled as the singer stepped nimbly through his moonwalk and other signature moves.
Jackson, 50 when he died last June, kept pace with backup dancers half his age during rehearsals for such hits as “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and “Human Nature.” The film was shot as Jackson prepared for a marathon concert stand in London that never happened.
“He looked better than he did when he was 30,” said Jessica Childs, a 21-year-old aspiring dancer who caught the Los Angeles premiere. “His voice stood out.”
