The Jackson Five

Considering this movie was produced by two people who actually lived through the story (Jermaine Jackson and Suzanne DePasse). This movie could of been A LOT better. It was almost completely in accurate. The number of mistakes and contradictions in this movie are insane. It makes you think, why didn't Jermaine or Suzanne didn't say "hey this isn't how this happened." My belief is that money was more important than the truth. There was only one thing that could of took up for all the mistakes in the movie and that's if they did the Goin' Back To Indiana Special. That concert was one of the most important of all the concerts and they left it out. In conclusion, if you don't know the details of the Jackson 5, and you really like this movie than don't learn it. Because knowing the facts will make you hate this film.

This movie is terrific. The Director lets the story unfold without resorting to histrionics. The different boys playing Michael are all wonderful and evoke the charm that made the real 10 year old into a star. Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs does wonderful work portraying a man that many have vilified without adding his own judgment.

Special mention should be made to the choreography: Michael Peters does an excellent job of recreating the signature moves of the Jackson 5, and the scene with Jackie Wilson subtly suggests many of the steps that a real-life Michael Jackson uses.

I enjoy this movie and can't wait to see it again.

The selfish part of me appreciates what Joe Jackson did, whereas the compassionate part of me despises what he did. What was it he did you ask? Created the Jackson 5 and by extension of that Michael Jackson.

"The Jacksons: An American Dream" is about Joe Jackson's dream. When he met Katherine in 1945 he expressed to her that he had a dream of being big in boxing and/or music and move to California. He wasn't able to achieve that by his own musical talents, but he was able to achieve it through the talents of his sons. Unfortunately, he drove them like a dog sledder in the final leg of the Iditarod. On the more forgiving end of the scale, he was too demanding and robbed his kids of a childhood. On the less forgiving end of the scale, he was an abusive monster. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle and of course it's all a matter of perspective.

This mini-series is a must see for any Jackson 5 or Michael Jackson fan. My earliest pop music memories are of Michael Jackson. He was the entire musical universe to me as a kid. There was no one that could even come near him. He was the sun and every other performer was just a planet orbiting around his brilliance. "The Jacksons" let us in on the creation process of the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson. Angela Bassett was terrific as Katherine Jackson and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs was equally awesome as Joe Jackson. After those two consistent characters, the other actors chosen were excellent likenesses. "The Jacksons" is a well done docudrama that was absolutely necessary.

The problem here isn't the subject matter. Au contraire, the saga of the Jacksons' journey from Gary, Indiana to mega pop stars is an engrossing and revealing rags-to-riches story. The trouble, as is often the case with made-for-TV movies, is the execution: slipshod art direction, cheesy soundtrack('60s-style songs that sound too '90s), rough editing and script continuity. The Jacksons' story deserves better than this.

I like all biographies, and I really love the Jacksons, I thought Wylie Draper (the guy that played the older Michael Jackson) looked a little like the real one, I'm sorry that we lost him, he was a good actor. Jason Weaver's acting gave Wylie something to work with, and he succeeded in Alex Burrell's (Michael Jackson from age 6-9) version of Michael. I didn't know at first that Jermaine's son was playing him, he looks exactly like his dad, but I think the guy who came after Jermaine Jr. really ruined it as far as portraying Jermaine is concerned, but his "overacting" worked in some scenes like with Hazel Gordy at the airport and talking with her in the hotel room and also talking with his dad.

I like the music, that's my favorite part, I'm gonna buy this movie, it's worth it.