93%
14 Reviews
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the king, miss you forever
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/16/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Fascinating documentary on Michael Jackson's musical journey which led to the timeless classic "Off the Wall" in 1979. Fortunately, Spike Lee focuses on Michael Jackson's brilliance as musician and dancer, vividly described by great witnesses like Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Siedah Garrett, Gamble & Huff and sound engineer Bruce Swedien.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/22/23
Full Review
Audience Member
awesome bio-doc michael & I were the same age so we came up together it was gr8 going down memory lane viewing this doc
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/21/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Excellent documentary setting things straight about the genius of Michael Jackson, and his incredible professionalism. A delight to watch for those who admire this amazing artist. So much hard work, so many sacrifices and such unbelievable talent. Inspiring.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/26/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Journey from Motown to off the Wall is Spike Lee's second documentary following Michael Jackson's career with some of his more "less lauded" albums projects, in this case the creative arc he took with first the Jacksons straight out of Motown and the material that they did together, before connecting with mentor Quincy Jones on the Wiz which led him to the landmark Off the Wall album which was a huge hit and provided some great tracks at the tail end of disco and perfectly positioned him for success with Thriller. A lot of pop culture icons are brought into provide commentary on that period from Rosie Perez, the drummer from the Roots, Quincy Jones, Pharrell and Lee Daniels, and what tracks or moments, particularly how Michael was able to cross so many boundaries at that time, especially in pop culture and on the dance floor. Bad 25 is still my preferred doc since that was right at the height of my childhood and I have more connection to that album. Journey from motown to Off the Wall is a decent representation and insight to that period of Jacko's career which may have been over shadowed by other hits and controveries. Solid.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/01/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Michael before he became "Wacko Jacko."
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/19/23
Full Review
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Jason Bailey
Flavorwire
It's just plain bursting with joy - it's a documentary that feels like the music it's about.
May 3, 2016
Full Review
Joey Nolfi
Entertainment Weekly
Of course Jackson isn't here to discuss matters for himself, and Lee's documentary is, ultimately, enjoyably nostalgic, but says little more than what we already know.
Rated: B
Mar 2, 2016
Full Review
Guy Lodge
Variety
This bouncily entertaining doc may boast only a notch more formal ambition than a very well-assembled "Behind the Music" special, but is no less essential than Lee's first MJ opus, the excellent "Bad 25."
Feb 5, 2016
Full Review
Tony Macklin
tonymacklin.net
In a sense, it's a remembrance of things past for all of us.
Rated: 3.0/5
Mar 7, 2016
Full Review
Chris Bumbray
JoBlo's Movie Network
The second installment of Spike Lee's definitive chronicle of Michael Jackson's career. Hopefully all of MJ's albums will get the same treatment.
Rated: 8/10
Jan 31, 2016
Full Review
Michael Roffman
Consequence
Journey from Motown to Off the Wall is a friendly, warm, and inviting documentary that dances and shouts without ever shaking its body down to the ground.
Rated: C+
Jan 26, 2016
Full Review
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