Michael Jackson: Black or White

I can still remember when Michael Jackson videos were hyped more than the Olympics; seemed every half hour or so MTV would give you a minute-by-minute countdown as to when the next one would premiere.

But then came "Black or White" which, while still partially good, showed a darker side of the singer that even "Thriller" didn't touch.

It starts out innocently enough, with a "Dennis the Menace"-type scene where Culkin's dad (Wendt) shouts at him to turn down his stereo, to which the kid replies by dragging some humongous speakers downstairs, hooking up his guitar and blasting dad through the roof of the house. His mom (Peggy Lipton) is cool but stern ("Your father's going to be very upset when he comes down").

Then the real video begins, with Jackson singing and dancing with different races in different countries (Africa, Russia, India, etc.) about racial equality and prejudice. Then the music ends as different people are shown lip-synching to Jackson's music, each head morphing into the other to show equality between people. It's effective and the message makes it through.

BUT, then comes the end of the video, where a black panther is seen slinking out of the studio and into the dark city streets outside. The panther morphs into Jackson, sporting an arm cast(?), who proceeds to jump onto an abandoned vehicle, smash it up with a crowbar and masturbate(!) atop it. After this is done, he jumps down from the car roof, morphs back into the panther, slinks away and is gone.

Just what was THAT supposed to signify? I couldn't ponder a guess but it all but destroys the goodwill beforehand and muddies up the equality sung about earlier.

Later showings of the video excised the last part of "Black or White" after many angry calls and letters, nowadays, that's likely the only version of Michael's video you're likely to see.

It's just as well, with all the "press" Michael's gotten lately, he doesn't need anything else hanging over his head.

Five stars, for a mostly good video, courtesy of Michael's talents and John Landis' direction.

Face it, Michael - the "Thriller" is gone....

I like this music video because it is one of my favorite songs and the choreography is great. Michael Jackson is one of my favorite singers and he is the best. Hope Michael has cool music videos coming up because he is the coolest singer on earth and he is THE KING OF POP!

I remember, I was like 7 years old when this came out. I've been a Michael Jackson fan since I could crawl. So naturally my mom and I watched this together when it was first aired on ABC. When the ending of Michael's solo dance came, I looked at my mom and she had this look of shock on her face. I didn't get why. I now watch the video and get it.

Although "Black or White" isn't one of my favorite MJ songs, it was a very creative video. I will admit that. And it was one heck of a risk for Michael. I give him a lot of props for what he has done. So, for the famous "Black or White"...

9/10

Aggressive ignorance of mass-media and of so-called "critics" will never let them appreciate a deeper-than-plain books, music, cinemas and videos.

In the Black Or White minifilm, short-sighted tabloid-like critics were able to see only "masturbation" (which actually was only in their ill minds) and "violence".

But this video has the deepest symbolism I have seen in a film ever.

It called Black Or White. The whole film is about. It is about good Or bad, light Or darkness, happiness of communication between people Or despair of loneliness, peace Or aggression, nations unity Or rage and so on.

Every frame of the last, Panther, sequence is a symbol. The water, the wind, the dance, the mimic poses symbolize many things.

Absolute quality and art of costumes, light, photography, special effects.

The idea, scenario, choreography, text and music by Michael Jackson.

Denis Raphael Solyahoff, analytic contents provider for MJFCs' SCREAM International Project >

Wow. oh wow. This video is phenomenal to say the least. It has everything you want from an MJ video. It has dancing, great beat, singing, an important message and even Bart Simpson. This is a classic that will never be forgotten.