I have such mixed feelings here. As a not-particularly Michael Jackson fan, but as someone who nonetheless quick likes a moderate amount of the music and some of the dancing here, a fair amount of Moonwalker holds my attention. In particular I like nearly everything about the Smooth Criminal sequence.
And that, perhaps, is the problem. That sequence - notwithstanding its downright demented plot - does have a narrative structure, and comprises a good third of a feature film on its own. I find myself wishing that they had found a way to integrate the other musical sequences into the same narrative rather than have them as standalones, tied together with (effectively) little bits of string. Each one succeeds well enough, I suppose (although I never did care for the little kids version of Bad), but I got the whiff of something rather better in my nostrils, and it was something of a disappointment when it turned out to be just a collection of videos.
And that, perhaps, is the problem. That sequence - notwithstanding its downright demented plot - does have a narrative structure, and comprises a good third of a feature film on its own. I find myself wishing that they had found a way to integrate the other musical sequences into the same narrative rather than have them as standalones, tied together with (effectively) little bits of string. Each one succeeds well enough, I suppose (although I never did care for the little kids version of Bad), but I got the whiff of something rather better in my nostrils, and it was something of a disappointment when it turned out to be just a collection of videos.