Flashing lights, glittering outfits and screaming crowds fill the stadium as Michael Jackson performs his song “Bad,” as if he were playing it for the first time. The new hit biopic “Michael” follows the life and rise to fame of Michael Jackson, widely regarded as one of the greatest pop artists of all time with more than 500 million records sold worldwide according to the Guinness World Records.

The biopic shows Michael Jackson’s struggles with living up to his father’s expectations and the grueling practice sessions he and his four brothers would face daily. Eventually, their hard work paid off and the Jackson 5 entered the public eye, earning No. 1 on America’s Billboard Hot 100 for their song “ABC.” From there, Michael Jackson’s life became a series of performances, interviews and signing events, gaining popularity with each show.

Overall, the movie does a great job of recreating some of Michael Jackson’s most famous moments, such as the moonwalk and the “Thriller” music video. Each performance has viewers on the edge of their seats and tapping along to the beat. Jafaar Jackson, actor for Michael Jackson and Jackson’s actual nephew, effectively portrayed the essence of the singer.

However, there are some serious problems with the movie’s refusal to show anything besides his polished persona. “Michael” stops in the year 1988, completely cutting out his serious pedophilia scandal. Additionally, the filmmakers mainly cut out Michael Jackson’s skin bleaching and numerous plastic surgeries, except for one scene where he gets nose surgery and someone compliments him on it afterwards. These missing scenes make the movie come across as too scared to show what his life was actually like, removing the mistakes and problems that changed him. The movie shows a highlight reel of Michael Jackson’s life, opting to focus more on his flashiest moments rather than look deeply at the issues that plagued his life.

So, should you watch “Michael?” If you want a fun movie to tap your feet to and relive Michael Jackson’s golden days, then go for it. But if you are looking for a movie that shows what Michael Jackson was really like behind the spotlight, then maybe “Michael” isn’t for you.

Sonja Dziegielewska can be reached at [email protected].