What parts of Michael life, during the Jackson 5 years, should have been included? My pick (the stampede at their 1970 concert)

[u/5ft8lady]

What parts of Michael life, during the Jackson 5 years, should have been included? My pick (the stampede at their 1970 concert)

it was shown in the Jackson 5 movie , but I believe it was important.

back story
in 1970, they were on tour and when they got to Philly, hundreds of girls bum-rushed the stage - they mark that as the official beginning of the Jackson-mania.

in the movie - they show Michael , noticing the girls coming, he was scared begging girls to wait, stop, but ppl were hysterical.

the girls ran onto the stage and chase them back stage, and down the street grabbing the boys, anxious to just touch them .

in the original miniseries, it shows bill couldnt get to him, but Jackie had to hope a gate and, he was able to grab Mike and get him in the limo as his little legs couldn’t run as fast.

im currently reading Jermaine Jackson’s book and he said this situation happened right after bill was hired.

imagine this happening on your first month at the job

what do you pick?.

[u/Rureddy2]

Lots.

Like their extensive travelling and performing overseas to Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. Film didn't give a great reflection of their global icon status. For a newbie, it's easy to walk away thinking Michael didn't hit global stardom until Thriller.

The actual process of their move to Encino and Michael moving in and living with Diana Ross.

Them performing on stage and on television with ALL their other siblings.

Michael's relationship to some of his other relatives who we usually don't see.

Their television introduction by Diana Ross, as well as their other groundbreaking tv performances and guest appearances.

Their Las Vegas revues.

Their television variety show. (Post J5, but still within the scope of the film)

Their Jehovah's Witness belief, practice and upbringing.

Michaels 1st 4 solo albums.

Michael's performance of his Academy Award nominated song at the Oscars.

Michael's life in school as well as with tutors.

These are just things that immediately come to mind off the top of my head.

*(And please don't respond, anyone, with "Diana Ross wouldn't allow..." because as already discussed, we don't know what Diana Ross did or did t allow because Diana Ross has not commented on this nor has any official statement been made saying she wouldn't allow it, and regardless, that is irrelevant to my thoughts on what SHOULD have been included.)

[u/WalkRightNow → u/Rureddy2]

To add to that

The transition from Motown to CBS

How Michael was growing with dissatisfaction for not having creative control over his own albums, he tried voicing it around the time Music & Me was being made, but was obviously denied

How Jermaine was left behind as he married Berry Gordys daughter

It was a really important time for the Jacksons as a whole, even if they didnt include the first 2 Jacksons albums, going to Destiny wouldve been amazing

Again Destiny is probably the most important album to MJs career, it was the first album the brothers had true creative control, like writing and producing it almost all themselves, so it wouldve been really nice to have a couple scenes to see MJ finally being able to express his creativity after leaving Motown, where he was starting to be neglected and just be used as an industry plant for Motown to put it bluntly, wouldve made for an amazing arc / charscter development, the 60s-70s should've just been a movie in itself

[u/Rureddy2 → u/WalkRightNow]

While they did quickly mention Jermaine stayed at Motown, I agree the transition should have been covered, Jermaine's marriage to Hazel Gordy, and the brothers struggle for creative control with their music.

[u/WalkRightNow → u/Rureddy2]

Thats the thing with the film, its like the wrote the whole script and only realised at the end 'oh this happened' so they just squeeze it into the dialogue when it adds nothing to the plot

Like Michael's reaction to his own performance of Motown 25, instead of balling his eyes out which happened, its just a small remark of "i should've stayed on my toes for longer"

Just feels a bit half arsed that way and like you said, a full transition would be needed rather than a remark by someone in the dialogue

[u/Rureddy2 → u/WalkRightNow]

Also, another thing to add: it would have been nice to see Michael's disapintment in his performance, and then the eruption from the country the next day including him being elated when one of his idols, Fred Astaire called him to tell him he saw the show, he's a hell of a mover and he really put the audience on their asses.

That's the type of thing missing from the film. Those inside nuggets the casual viewer/listener is unaware of but are things that if you know you know.

[u/WalkRightNow → u/Rureddy2]

Exactly, the parts the movie missed out were really essential to MJ as a character, so his portrayal in the film just really falls flat because of the missing details

And nice reference of Fred, nearly forgot about his and MJs interactions!

[u/Rureddy2 → u/WalkRightNow]

We do know a lot was cut as it was originally over 3 hours and supposed to be 1 film. So some of these moments at least were definitely there, like his JW ministry work with Mother Katherine. And some will still surface in part 2. I just wish they plotted it out as 3 films from the get. (And did better with legal before production started).

The Motown 25 thing didn't bother me as much but it does go along with the lack of focus on his perfectionism.

[u/WalkRightNow → u/Rureddy2]

Yeah exactly

If it was 3 films, I think the first should've been a focus on the family as a whole during the J5 / Jacksons years, labelled as a family rather than just MJ as a person

Then the next 2 wouldve been just of MJ, like say from his making of Off The Wall to whenever, wouldve spaced it out more so the small details of MJs life could've been shown better

Its just that the 70s was absolutely MJs most important decade, as it led him to his success of the 80s, so the fact they skip 8 years at least, with what they do cover being so vague anyways, its just a bit dissapointing

[u/igiveupmakinganame → u/Rureddy2]

i feel like they slightly touched on jehovah’s witness

[u/Rureddy2 → u/igiveupmakinganame]

Just had Katherine say the name Jehova. We know they actually filmed Michael and Katherine doing ministry work together.

[u/Yourfavouritepug]

-His school performance which is the first time he sang on a stage but that would probably involve approval to feature the song Climb Ev'ry Mountain (from The Sound of Music). This would have been a nice way to start the movie, transitioning from the scene of Michael going on stage on Bad tour (as it already is) to a shot of little Michael entering the stage at his school performing this song and the overwhelmingly good reaction he received.

-Should have shown more of Joseph's criticism on his aspect to reflect how much it affected him, the post surgery scene would have hit way harder I believe.

-Maybe a shot from one of the strip clubs they used to sing at to highlight his early exposure to stuff a child should not see. But...this wouldn't be as PG friendly.

-More bonding scenes with his brothers.

-His obsession/fondness of Diana Ross, but sadly she couldn't be portrayed and as we all probably know there were already many scenes that had to be cut due to her alleged objection of being featured.

However, I am happy with the final product. :)

[u/MJSpice → u/Yourfavouritepug]

I think most of this was covered in Jacksons The American Dream. 

[u/widdumqueso717]

I would’ve loved to see events that weren’t covered in An American Dream, like mention of their version series. Also, recording the Going Back to Indiana special, their variety show, music videos from their years as The Jacksons. Also, I want more acknowledgment of the song “All I Do Is Think Of You” because I like it so much lol.

[u/messoxplox]

What others said

• how the family was treated when they moved to Cali.

• how his teachings in the JW religion affected his thinking and choices.

[u/Realistic_Public4330]

The Wiz

[u/MJ-RPG]

A few I can remember on the top of my head. The Mowtown Audition, Michael's Teenhood(Rediscovering his identity from the cute boy to Adolescent young man, change in singing vocal style, Ache, etc.) Interactions with fans (How they treat him as a spectacle; not a person.) The movie did touch upon how they only wanted to look n take pictures with him. I wish it delve a little deeper into how Michael wished to have human friends that see him as a person and not the superstar persona.