Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Since I am revisiting my Michael Jackson DVDs, I thought I would share my opinions on Dangerous: The Short Films. This DVD of Michael Jackson videos can be purchased on-line or at retail stores (anywhere that carries music videos) and ranges from $8 to $20 , depending on where you purchase it. It was released on DVD in 2001 and runs for 112 minutes. The only bonus feature is a Discography, but there are enough behind the scenes clips on this DVD to make up for lack of bonus features. It also has a feature where subtitles can be turned ON or OFF, and there is a chaptering section which makes it easier to jump to the video I most want to watch, depending on my mood at the time.

The footage on this DVD is as follows:


(Brace Yourself: This is the exact same Brace Yourself seen on both History 1 & 2 DVDs. It is mostly footage of all his fans from various countries with a few quick shots of him on stage at his various concerts during the Dangerous tour.)

Black or White: This section starts off with the controversy behind the video when it was first released (The "Panther Version") It begins by stating that on November 4, 1991, Black or White was broadcast simultaneously in 27 countries with an estimated audience of 500 million people (the largest audience to ever view a music video). and that the reaction was unanticipated. Then it shows various news clips about the "uproar" in several countries. The controversy was mostly about how in the (what is now called) "Panther scene" he went around breaking glass that had offensive racist sayings written on them, and he did quite a bit of dancing where he couldn't keep his hands off of himself. I think it mostly bothered people because kids all over would be viewing it and Michael Jackson was such a popular figure that people were afraid kids may emulate his behavior in the video. And so, it was eventually cut.

Finally, the video starts, showing Michael dancing with different people of different cultures while singing about "If you're thinkin' about bein' my baby, it don't matter if you're black or white". It's a song that is supposed to point the middle finger at racism. This is the full length Panther Version and so it includes the "controversial clip" where Michael changes from a panther to himself. He dances around quite a lot before destroying the windows that contain words such as "KKK rules" (and worse). But, if you are a bit uncomfortable with seeing (or, your kiddo seeing) Michael do his "grabbing of the nether-region" dance move, you may want to police this part of the DVD, because there is A LOT of that going on (more so than usual). Myself, I don't mind it...but, just a note for you parents out there.

At the end, there's a bit of "making of" scenes and it shows the filming of Michael dancing with the different groups of people and it's really neat to see because they explain how Michael started doing a few of the ethnic moves, but then incorporated his own style into it. There's Michael playing basketball with Macaulay Culkin, they (directors) explain how they did the morphing, and more. It's worth seeing. If anything, just to see Michael kidding around and pulling a few pranks with Culkin.

Heal the World, The Super Bowl Performance: This starts off with an awards (Grammy) show where Janet Jackson presents Michael with an award (The Grammy Legend Award) . She begins to talk about some of the things he has done while showing clips of him helping kids (with contacts, influence, and putting his money where his mouth is), several of his concerts and videos, the Motown 25th performance, and etc. When Michael gets on stage, it is really touching the things that Janet says to him. And Michael's speech (and his starter joke) is both funny, then sad as he talks about how his childhood was taken away from him.

And finally, we get the 1993 Super bowl Performance which was incredible (though, not the full performance, only the Heal the World segment). Others (mostly kids) are singing refrains from Heal the World as the audience all hold up colored pieces of paper which together creates images in the stands of drawings of children. Then, Michael and eventually (has to be) a couple hundred (or more) kids and adults all sing "Heal the World". It ends with a giant Earth shaped balloon and fireworks. This is not one of his most popular songs because we've already had Bad, Thriller, (and etc.) and this is a song that is more "cause-worthy" (and actually was, for his Heal the World Foundation). I love this song though and I find it very moving. It may be because I'm a woman, and it may be because I loved this side of Michael the most (the humanitarian), but I thought this was a great performance and one that should be immortalized on film, as it rightly was.

Remember the Time: This short film also starts with behind the scenes clips. The very best bit is a clip with Eddie Murphy. A hawk next to him takes off and he gets up and runs, gets embarrassed, and tries to explain his running "There's two ways to react. You can run or be still. Iman was being still. I'm from Brooklyn, so I ran". Worth seeing, definitely, and there are quite a few more.

Finally, we get the music video/short film, which features Eddie Murphy, Iman, and Magic Johnson. Iman is the Egyptian Queen, Murphy the Pharaoh. Michael Jackson comes in to entertain her, but apparently he and the Queen had a past relationship because he sings to her about "remembering when they fell in love". Check out Eddie Murphy's humorous reaction! I don't "love" this song but I do like it and the short is pretty good as well. I'm all for any video that shows Michael dancing, and in this one there is a bit of it.
 

Will You Be There: This is yet another song of his that I really adore. The video is set on stage at one of the Dangerous concerts. It does go to other clips that show fans from various concerts and outside of what I assumed to be his hotel, and there is, of course, the huge choir that sang background to this song as well. There is also a good bit of dancing on the stage once the song gets more than halfway through. but it's a little more artsy than usual. This song performed, I always thought it to be superbly unique in that it features a child signing (sign language) everything he is saying at the end, and then there's always the angel that swoops down and enfolds him in her wings at the end. I'm not a gospel music fan, but after this song, I was really hoping he would have released a gospel CD. If you're not familiar with it, it's a song that is calling out for being lifted up (perhaps by a Higher Power), and being cared for and loved. It's a really pretty song.

 In the Closet: This is the video he did with Naomi Campbell. The beginning, like the other videos, shows a lot of behind the scenes clips (mostly of Michael goofing off and of filming), before we get to the video. I love this song, and the video is one I've never skipped over, as well. The only thing I laugh slightly about is in the song where he knows she "wants it", she knows she "wants it", but Michael keeps saying "Dare Me" . (Why?....you two are grownups). But, the video is cool. Naomi grinds a lot, even has singing parts (is gorgeous), and Michael dances around her and against her while singing. It may turn off some people because this is the stage in his life where he was what I like to call "beautiful Michael"; the point where he didn't have the most masculine features. But, I enjoy the video, especially the "dancing in the doorway" where he is a silhouette. He was so very fluid.

 Gone Too Soon: This song and video is about teen AIDS casualty Ryan White. Michael sings Gone Too Soon in the background (he is not in the video singing. It shows him once or twice with Ryan, as well at as his funeral) while clips of Ryan White make up the entirety of the video. I do not care for the sound of the song (super slow, a bit like Ben), but, coupled with the video it is so very sad and touching.

 Jam: This is a video with Michael Jordan, and it has extras like Kris Kross and Heavy D as well. This video also starts out with behind the scenes that are worth viewing because of Michael Jordan's commentaries about working with him. It is fairly humorous. The song seems to be about how things have changed (the world, people's attitudes, etc) and that we should just live each day like our last. It's a bit of a confusing video, because he is dancing around while Michael Jordan plays basketball, and he pelts ovut verses like this gem:

"she prays to God, to Buddha, then she sings a Talmud song...Confusions contradict the self, Do we know right from wrong"

Nothing seems to go together. But, I tell you what...he dances his heart out in this video, and it is so funny to see him playing basketball with Michael Jordan but even funnier when Michael Jordan tries to dance along with Michael Jackson. Their interaction alone makes this video worth viewing (well, so are M Jackson's dance moves).

 Heal the World: This is the short film that starts with Michael's speech about how we need to help the world and about his foundation. He mentions that he wrote this song to help bring global harmony. It then goes to the short of the children in the orphanage and the children that are around armed soldiers as Michael sings about "healing the world" and "making it a better place" for our children (as well as the rest of us). It's a touching song and the video is just as moving.

 Give In To Me: This is a favorite Michael Jackson song of mine, although this is not my favorite version. It features Slash (Guns & Roses, among others) on guitar and I think this video version is still cool because it still has the smokey wind vents (on stage) that blow out onto Michael and Slash when he starts the higher chorus of "Love is a feeling...Quench my desire...Give It when I want it...Taking me Higher..." (also while Slash starts wailing on the guitar). I wish Michael would have done more songs and videos like this because he really had a great sound against a guitar. He and the guitar blended perfectly. And Slash, he was pretty professional because it's so easy for guitar to drown out the lead, especially in this song. But, he let Michael take the lead and didn't showboat, even when right next to him. They were perfection together, and this video is the best on the DVD.

 I'll Be There: Not listed on the DVD cover, but between the previous song and the next is a mini video that features Michael Jackson on piano in an empty room and he starts singing a few lines of "I'll Be There" (from his J5 days). Suddenly, a younger version of Michael (a kid play-acting the part) comes in the room and starts singing (in younger Michael's voice) the song. Grown Michael starts to join him and they sing together. It's not the entire song and is only a few bars but it's such a great video. Photos and video clips of a younger Michael scan through in sections while they sing. It's just a shame it wasn't longer.

Who Is It: I enjoy this song more than the short film, but it's Michael singing about his girl, who is a bit of a floozy. In the short he's on a type of quest to find out "Who Is It" that she's running around with. It's not a cheesy low-budget type of video/short. I take it she's some type of high dollar call girl, he's apparently wealthy because he has a driver and a helicopter and it runs like a movie. There is a storyline, but you have to separate the song from the video in some places.

Dangerous: Oddly enough, this is not the performance of the song itself. If you want that, you'll have to buy History Volume II and catch it during the MTV performance. Dangerous plays in the background while this is just clips showing his fans, pieces of concert footage, and giving you an idea of all the areas he performed during his tour. At least there are video clips of Micheal though, behind the stage, on a balcony, and doing a few moves on stage. I love the song though (singing about a girl who's "dangerous", a girl who was persuasive enough to mess up his relationship.)

This video is worth getting for the behind the scenes footage alone. There are several great (to me) songs on here with just as great videos to match. Even during the end credits the song "Why You Wanna Trip On Me" (and check out small scenes from his Pepsi "Dreams" commercial that play during) is playing which is another one I like because he sings about all of the things going on in the world from starvation and wars to drugs, yet we just "wanna trip on" him. (just the song, during the credits) For the Michael Jackson fans out there, this video is another must-have. It's also another example of him having something for everyone. There are uplifting songs on here, as well as Pop for the fans of those type of songs, and even one that borders on Rock. I can't give this DVD anything but the highest rating.



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Other Films You May Enjoy:

Michael Jackson Video Greatest Hits History
Michael Jackson History on Film Volume II
Michael Jackson Number Ones
Michael Jackson Live in Bucharest (Concert)
Michael Jackson Live in Japan (Concert)
Michael Jackson Moonwalker (VHS)
Michael Jackson's This Is It 

CDs:
Michael Jackson Number Ones
Michael Jackson This Is It

Books:

The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation 
Moonwalk by Michael Jackson

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older