The pale flesh of prodigious pop icon bearing boxed chin acicular nose whispy mane flowing over tinted-windshield eyes and pencil smile drawn lobe to lobe. Sportcoat grey and blue metallic sprawled over top crimson clustered button-down and vintage tommy-gun trousers. Spirit risen of Samhain lore, figure stares into blinding light like morning sunshine pouring over a mountainside; silhouette enveloped in white heat perspiration phlebotomize one last time. This, so they say, is It.

Of course, speculation is This is just the beginning. With confirmation of a plethora of footage from 1984 and beyond in addition to a collection of unreleased tracks rumored to be at least in the hundreds, the Michael Jackson Estate appears to be merely carrying out phase one of Operation: Deathype. In other words, get ready to enter the next decade of your lifetime with no shortage of posthumous Michael Jackson material. Who knows? We may even see a collaboration piece with the late(?) Tupac Shakur, who will be featured on a Death Row boxset due for release next month.

But I digress...

Directed by coreographer Kenny Ortega (Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, High School Musical), This Is It captures Jackson's return from the grave akin to the same zombie-like state we saw him relish some 25 years previous in the Thriller video. Claiming he was "emotionally devestated" by the premature release of the film, Ortega openly stated he felt it was "way too soon" to edit and release the compiled footage -- which was gathered in rehearsals that commenced between March and roughly May of 2009. Despite his initial objections, however, Ortega was quoted as saying, "When I looked at the footage it became apparent this wasn't about whether or not I wanted to do something: It was my responsibility".

Yes, in death just as in life, Michael Jackson and controversy are almost synonymous. Just two days before the premiere, Joe Jackson went on record accusing producers of using a body double throughout the movie. "This movie features body doubles, no doubt about it. I think people will tear this movie apart," Jackson said. Steve Elzer of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group indeed countered by saying "This report is pure garbage," and I'm taking Elzer's side on this one. While the introductory interviews consisting of tearful dancers explaining their lifelong dreams-come-true of working with Jackson appeared scripted at best, the notion of any falsity ends there.

At 50 years old and just weeks from an untimely death, MJ still had the moves and most of the voice. In fact, there was one instance in which he "beatboxes" Smooth Criminal which was pretty impressive. Dim parts, however, include poor vocalization of the Jackson 5 anthem (which appeared to be part of a medley of hits featuring an incredible '70-esque backdrop) "I Want You Back" where, in mounting frustration, he claims he can't hear anything. After regrouping, though, he doesn't seem to have any trouble belting out "the Love You Save" and "I'll Be There". Another instance of Michael's perceived diminishment of singing ability is showcased when singing a duet of "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", when his singing is a bit off-key. Nevertheless, these critiques should be taken with a grain of salt -- these are, after all, simply rehearsals.

Perhaps the most endearing quality of "This Is It" is witnessing the candid side of Jackson as opposed to those akward television interviews and paparazzi exploits. The film succeeds in making its primary focus the hands-on director and innovator that MJ truly was. There is no mistake about it, he is certainly the project leader of a crew consisting of several hundred collaborators. At times, you can't help but sense a certain amount of ego that often gets lost in media portrayal. It was almost refreshing, in fact, that the theater and musical aspects of the production take over any conjectures that one may have going into the film.

One thing is clear: the "This Is It" Tour spared no expense and in regard to production, had the makings to be among one of the biggest concert events to date. Stage sets featured extravagances such as magnificent green screens, robotics, pyrotechnics and a "cherry picker" which lifts MJ above the crowd, allowing him to dance overhead. The movie reminds the audience the magnitude of stardom MJ exemplified and why he is revered as one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

While, This may be It for now, it is only a matter of time before another wave of exploits is released -- at which point, there will surely be yet another wave of hype, another wave of cynics and another wave of die-hard fans clamoring for the Great Gloved One to one day rise from the pumpkin patch he thinks is the most sincere.

Until then, though, we have this surprisingly entertaining pop-doc to fall back on.