Scarecrow suggests: Like 'This Is It'? Try other Michael Jackson films, videos

In the months since Michael Jackson's sudden death, we've spent a lot of time rewatching his phenomenal library of music videos. Our favorite collection is "History: Video Greatest Hits," comprised of classics such as "Billie Jean," "Black or White" and "Thriller." It also includes the little-seen 18-minute version of the "Bad" video, directed by Martin Scorsese. In it we see Jackson clash with neighborhood hoodlums before he begins the classic subway-station dance-off.

While many of us never dreamed we'd see Michael Jackson play live, "Michael Jackson: Live in Bucharest," a concert film shot during his stop in Romania on 1992's "Dangerous" tour, makes us realize just how incredible an experience it would have been.

He exudes energy through 17 songs, paying homage to the classic outfits and dances of his videos in songs like "Beat It," "Smooth Criminal" (where he executes the gravity-defying lean move) and "Billie Jean" (where he dons the iconic jeweled glove and black fedora for a moonwalk across the stage reminiscent of his history-making performance at the "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" television special).

Interspersed throughout the songs are shots of the vast and adoring crowd, complete with close-ups of tear-stained faces and the occasional fainter. The most outrageous moment comes at the finale, when Michael takes off on a jet pack, flying over the crowd's fervor.

We also enjoyed "Michael Jackson: Live in Japan," a concert from 1985's "Bad" tour. Keep an eye out for backup singer Sheryl Crow on several songs.

For more unforgettable live performances, there's Madonna's "Ciao Italia: Live from Italy" from the 1988 "Who's That Girl" tour, and Prince's "Rave Un2 The Year 2000" and "Live at The Aladdin — Las Vegas" from 2003. There's also the consummate concert film, the Talking Heads' "Stop Making Sense," shot over three nights in 1983 at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood by future "The Silence of the Lambs" director Jonathan Demme.

"This Is It" was directed by Kenny Ortega, whose previous directorial credits include the 1992 musical "Newsies" (starring a young Christian Bale) and the "High School Musical" movies. He also served as choreographer for many films; he's responsible for the scene in which Duckie dances around the record store to Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness" in "Pretty in Pink"; the slow Southern stylings of "Shag"; the rambunctious parade in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"; and the signature pelvic gyrations in "Dirty Dancing."

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