pchris@inuxc.UUCP (Philip Fair) (12/29/83)
Over the Christmas weekend, I read an article about Michael Jackson. It was an excerpt from a forthcoming autobiography. A couple items surfaced that I hadn't heard before concerning the Jackson Five's origin and Michael's current "look". The "official" (per Motown Records) version of the group's origin has Diana Ross discovering them in a benefit performance in Gary, Indiana (on which the Supremes also appeared). However, another Motown group, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, were on the bill, and, according to the group's father/manager, Bobby Taylor had the most to do with getting the Jacksons their big Motown break. Also, it seems that Michael had some cosmetic surgery done before his first big solo album, "Off The Wall". His features were subtly changed to reflect less of his ""negroid" heritage and more of a "european" (or white--my translation) visage. His nose is thinner and less rounded, and his eyes are more pointed. All this makes his features more striking and more mainstream, I suppose. Now for my comments on the "Thriller" video. At 14 1/2 minutes, this is certainly the most expensive one (to make) yet. I can't remember the exact figures for the production costs of both "Billie Jean" and "Beat It", but they probably ran close to a million collectively. First class crew all the way, with John Landis of "Animal House" and "American Werewolf in London" fame and Jon Peters, choreographer of "Flashdance", standing out. I understand we're seeing the video now, so close to the end of the year in order to qualify it for Oscar competition in the Short Film category. This video is establishing another precedent in that it is the first one to charge MTV for showing it. Before this one, all videos were provided free of charge as are records to radio stations. After all, videos were meant to promote record sales. Showtime is supposed to have Pay-TV's exclusive showing rights until the end of 1984, but MTV will continue to show the video and will start showing the documentary concerning its production in January. Can anybody who's seen the video answer this question: Is there any significance to the last line spoken onscreen in the "Thriller" movie (in which Michael turns into a werewolf onscreen), "See you next Wednesday"?
perelgut@utcsrgv.UUCP (Stephen Perelgut) (12/31/83)
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RE: last line
I video-recorded the public-TV broadcast of Thriller since I wasn't
around when it was broadcast. There was no such line on my broadcast.
Hmmmm.
General Comment:
The music in Thriller was typical Michael Jackson. Good if you like it.
However, the dance wasn't even a close approximation of the quality in
"Beat It" or "Billie Jean". The special effects from the movie can be
seen in "An American Werewolf in London" or the TV show "Manimal" any
time. Nothing special. The girl screams well. And frequently.
I am looking forward to more "feature" rock videos with stories, but
in my opinion, Thriller was a bore.
Dance: 5
Looks: 6
Sound: 6
In other words, nothing special.
--
Stephen Perelgut Computer Systems Research Group University of Toronto
Usenet: {linus, ihnp4, allegra, decvax, floyd}!utcsrgv!perelgutsdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) (01/01/84)
I absolutely agree that "Thriller" is an over-hyped, addle-brained rock video. John Landis rehashes "American Werewolf" one more time, without any more wit or intelligence than the original (read, less than none.) The sight of Michael Jackson turning a bunch of zombies into a Broadway Chorus Line is only slightly less ridiculous than the set up in "Beat It" (which was done better 20 years ago in West Side Story.) -- /Steve Dyer decvax!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca
smq@hlhop.UUCP (Steven M. Queriolo) (01/04/84)
The line "See you next Wednesday." is easy to miss (I did the first time). Listen to the voices on the screen while the picture is showing Michael's girl leaving the theater and Michael is eating his popcorn. There are two voices on the screen, presumably citizens that encountered the werewolf (Sp?). One of them asks the other what the wolf had said. Quizically, the second responds: "See you next Wednesday." My only guess is that it is the movie michael telling his new 'steady' that he will see *her* next wednesday. Any other ideas? -- Steven M. Queriolo AT&T Bell Labs, Short Hills hlhop!smq
mancuso@psuvax.UUCP (01/13/84)
The reference "see you next Wednesday" sounded to me like an
invitation to see the next part of the movie--remember the old
serials? Flash Gordon? Buck Rogers? They always seemed to end with
the hero in trouble, and the closing $64 question, Will (generic hero name)
escape the evil clutches of (generic villain name)? Will (generic fair maiden
name) be forced to marry...(etc)... For the answers, come back next week to
see episode N+1 of (generic serial name)!!!!
Well, it made sense to me, anyway.
:*: Pat Mancuso
:*: Penn State University
:*: {burdvax, allegra}!psuvax!mancuso
PS I can't stand the video. Michael Jackson should be put feet-first into
a paper shredder--verrrry slooowly.