Thursday, October 29, 2009

Fans hail jackson concert movie

Michael Jackson's concert documentary, This Is It, has been warmly received by the late singer's fans after its worldwide premiere.

The movie was pieced together from 100 hours of footage shot at rehearsals for the star's ill-fated comeback shows.

Fan Darryn Wade, in Los Angeles, said: "Judging by that film, it would have been the best show of all time."

But Kasian Daley, 17, at the London premiere, said: "It's an easy way for them to make money off his name."

And Mustapha Duggash, 18, from Nigeria, also at the London screening, said: "I believe it's a nice tribute but the main motivation is the money."

Jackson's brothers attended the screening in Los Angeles and simultaneous premieres were held in 18 other cities. At that premiere, fan Ed Rahmen said the movie proved the concerts at London's O2 Arena would have been "the best thing he had ever done".

"It was like a film on stage. It was better than any of his early stuff. It was Jackson brought to this time and age."

Neda Allin added: "You can see he was a bit ill, or he didn't look right, but the movie was brilliant."

David Montalvo, who saw the film in New York, said: "I loved seeing him in action again. It's like you were able to see Michael again for the last time, so it was a good chance to say goodbye to him."

Marilyn Morrison, also in New York, said the footage was "excellent".

Monday, October 26, 2009

Madonna opens new malawi school


Pop star Madonna has marked the start of construction at the girls school she is building in Malawi.

The 51-year-old cut a ribbon and planted a tree at the groundbreaking ceremony at the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls.

The star's four children including David, 4, and Mercy, 3 - whom Madonna adopted from the country - were also present at the event.

It is thought construction of the $15m (£9.2m) academy will take two years.

"Growing up in a privileged life, I took education for granted, but coming to Malawi has taught me a lot of things and learnt to appreciate what life gives," Madonna said.

The singer added she wanted to give opportunities to underprivileged young girls.

"I realized how much they deserve to be educated and so for me the best thing I could do was to build a school, a unique school that will create future female leaders, scientists, lawyers and doctors.

"If this school is successful it will be used as a model to replicate it in other countries," she said.