Number Ones

The very basic packaging tells you that this is a no frills DVD. Many of MJ's best videos are presented and that is all you get. No fancy menu or insert. No live performances, interviews, commercials or still gallery. Nothing. Not even a discography. This doesn't cut it in this day and age of DVD. The videos are great, but this is hardly a difinitive collection. Expecially since all of these (save "You Rock My World") are already available on other discs. And why do video collections keep getting released with shortened or re-edited videos? We want the FULL original video ok! Is that too much to ask?

It's hard to go wrong with an MJ music video and these are all great. But this DVD could have (and should have) been definitie. Instead it's just yet another collection of videos collectors already have.


Three great videos boost an otherwise redundant collection.   November 24, 2004
D. Mok (Los Angeles, CA)
129 out of 131 found this review helpful

If you were like me and already owned the two DVDs of HIStory (Video Greatest Hits - HIStory and HIStory on Film - Volume II), you were probably disdainful when this Number Ones DVD got released. Almost everything on Number Ones was already presented in the HIStory DVDs.

So is there buying incentive? At bargain-bin prices, yes, because on this DVD you will find three Michael Jackson videos that range from good to fantastic, and they're not available on DVD outside of here.

"Man in the Mirror" was a flat-out ballsy move on Jackson's part, to use only grainy stock footage and not a single shot of himself to make a video of one of his greatest hits of that time ("Man" was one of two singles from Bad that had two weeks at #1, not one). The song itself is a classic, thanks to one of Quincy Jones' best productions, a soul-stirring rhythm track, and Siedah Garrett's poetic, visionary lyrics, but coupled with the video's images of a world in turmoil, it's magic. This style actually spawned another classic music video years later with Soul Asylum's "Runaway Train", but Jackson was there first.

"Dirty Diana" holds a special place for me because it's one of the very few Jackson performance videos. Many people don't like the song, but I like it just fine, and Jackson and guitarist Steve Stevens were on fire in the stage show. This video made you realize that Jackson's touring band simply kicked ass.

There's one more curio: The short, sped-up version of "Smooth Criminal" intended as a broadcast alternative. This was the first version of this classic video I ever saw, and while it doesn't convey the stunning choreography and art direction of the full version, it is a masterpiece from the editing standpoint. If you want to do speed cutting, this is the way to do it, and at many points they even managed to sync up Jackson's hyper-sped-up footage to the tempo of the track, no small feat. Unfortunately, both this video and "Dirty Diana" seem to lack for a good master source; both videos feature substantial film scratches and look far less pristine than the rest of the official videos.

There's just one more video on here not available on other DVDs, and that's "You Rock My World". The song blows, and so does the video -- an expensive, self-indulgent piece whose only point of interest is its guest stars Chris Tucker, Michael Madsen and Billy Drago (Nitti in The Untouchables). I'm not surprised this video was directed by Paul Hunter, the same man who had made Bulletproof Monk an unwatchable mess, because "You Rock My World" is your typical modern video with too much concept and not enough substance -- the choreography is messy, Jackson himself looks ridiculous (as he always does when he tries to act), and all the guest stars are wasted when they could've been given a chances to really colour the video with their personalities. Even "Liberian Girl" (available on HIStory on Film Volume II) was better.

I got this DVD from the bargain bin, so from my end, it was still worth it just for the three videos I mentioned. If you don't own either HIStory DVDs, I'd still recommend you get them rather than Number Ones, because the HIStory DVDs are a more comprehensive collection of Jackson's videos, and it's on those that you'll find the classic full version of "Smooth Criminal". Number Ones is for the casual viewer who wants to pay less to get most of Jackson's videos. If that's your preference, then this DVD will serve just fine. I'm still waiting for them to put Moonwalker out on DVD, though. That live version of "Come Together" and the hilarious "Bad" spoof "Badder" (featuring kids playing the punk roles!) are still only available on Moonwalker, and it's about time they resurfaced.


Well I Feel Ripped Off!   August 24, 2008
James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia)
74 out of 74 found this review helpful

I'm not criticising Michael Jackson here, and the fact that there are no commentaries on these film clips or interviews with Michael, he probably has no idea this con job of a DVD collection was even released.

The whole problem and feeling that I was ripped off comes from the fact that they do not mention on the packaging anywhere and especially with the track listing, that these film clips on here are either not the versions played on TV in the 80s etc, or if they are, they have been severely edited with huge chunks cut away. There's a few still in their original version including his (and music's) greatest film clip of all time Thriller. What's going on with the rest though? If they need room get rid of the fillers like Blood on the Dance Floor (a song so bad even Michael stuggles to dance to it and spends most of the film clip sitting on a chair).

They should have listed the tracks that aren't the real or full versions with brackets such as with Smooth Criminal (crappy low budget doesn't resemble in any way the one you remember version) Bad (shorter starts half way though actual film clip), Black and White (controversial vandalism of car, panther turning into scenes not included) etc If they were honest and did this only the hardcore Michael Jackson fans who already have the other longer film clip versions would buy this so they have these alternative versions. The rest of the public who expect the same version they saw on their TV screens back inthe 80s and so forth wouldn't feel ripped off. Everyone would be happy!

Of course if the record company actually did that they'd make less money, but that would have been the moral thing to do.

If you can get this for $2 or something and you don't plan on getting other Jackson DVDs it's worth getting for Thriller then its worth getting. The sheer rehearsals and shooting takes it would have taken to make that masterpiece with all the zombies choreography exactly in line, leaving the ground at the same time etc is phenomenal. DVD tracks are in chronological order of his career but you know even the menu screen is pretty average. With no features it might as well have been a video, there's no advantage except skipping to the track you want instead of fast forwarding.

Yeah you probably want to give this a miss, don't get ripped off!



Critical review   January 1, 2004
A friend (Australia)
42 out of 47 found this review helpful

This is going to be the most critical review I will ever do of Michael Jackson. "Number Ones" was Ok, but it could have been so much better.

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough: A bit better than the video for "Rock With You" but not that great.
*

Rock With You: Basically just Michael singing in front of laser lights.
*

Billie Jean: This is a good one. Michael is being followed by a secret agent, who is trying to prove he slept with "Billie Jean". Whatever Michael touches lights up. Interesting.
****

Beat It: This is good too, like all the videos (rather, short films) from the album Thriller. Michael is lying on his bed, telling you about these 2 gangs who are out to get him. Then he goes out and unites the 2 gangs, they are all dancing together in the end.
*****

Thriller: This is the original, full-length Thriller. And it's great, even by today's standards. Excellent use of all-real special effects (no computers used). Thriller is basically a mock-horror film, lots of zombies and stuff.
*****

Bad: This is not the full-length Bad. I don't know why, but this DVD shortens/speeds up a lot of Michael's best short film, and it's really annoying. Well anyway, even though Bad is short, it's cool. Great choreography.
***

The Way You Make Me Feel: Ok, Michael basically is chasing a girl.
**

Man In The Mirror: Doesn't actually show Michael, instead it shows policticans, famine and war victims, Mother Theresa, you get the point. It has a nice message, but I don't think it was a good choice for this DVD, which was meant to be chowcasing Michael's talents.
*

Smooth Criminal: This is NOT the original Smooth Criminal. Instead of the original, they sped up all the dancing and added snippets from the movie "Moonwalker". Although I was disappointed about this, I still liked this one. It was kind of scary. But I don't know why they didn't use the full version. *****

Dirty Diana: Alright, but nothing to write home about. Michael is at a concert singing about "Dirty Diana", a groupie.
**

Black or White: Argh! They shortened Black or White! Damn it, damn it. It only shows the first half, ends after the girls turn into boys, before the panther bit. I'm annoyed, but it's still good.
****

You Are Not Alone: I have never seen the original for this, but there is apparently meant to be a bit where Michael has wings. This isn't on the DVD. You can see Lisa Marie Presley in this one. It's quite nice.

***

Earth Song: Probably my favourite on this DVD, it's so cool. Michael is sad because the forest was burnt, and it keeps flashing back-and-forth from him and other people who have had bad thing happening to them. At the end, you see this person who has been shot open his eyes. Then everything reversed and the world is good again.
*****

Blood On The Dance Floor: This is just one version of Blood on the Dance Floor. I can't say I really like the video, but it's a good song.
**

You Rock My World: This is nice. Erm, I don't know how to explain it, but it ends in a fire and features Chris Tucker, from Rush Hour Two.
****

Overall, I was disappointed with this. Don't get me wrong, I like the videos, but they left out so much. What they should have left out was: *Rock With You
*Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
-Both were just a bit dull, and Michael has so many better videos than these.

*The Way You Make Me Feel
*Dirty Diana
-Both get boring very quickly.

*Man in the Mirror
-Doesn't even show Michael.

Also, they should have had the full-length Bad, Smooth Criminal, Black or White (and You Are Not Alone?). Also, a different version of Blood on the Dance Floor.

To make this really good, I think they could have included some more stuff from HIStory (especially Scream and They Don't Care About Us) and Dangerous (In the Closet, Heal the World?), as most of his newer videos are better than the older stuff. They should definitely have had Ghosts, his best short film.


It's Michael Jackson, I had to give it 5 stars   February 1, 2004
JUSTIN M BIXLER (Baltimore, MD)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

...but this is not Michael's best DVD. There are no behind the scenes, making of the video extras, and many of the videos have bee overly edited.

Noticibly absent is the controversial "panther" part at the end of "Black or white" when Michael breaks car windows, grabs his croch (ALOT) and turns into a black panther. THIS IS THE BEST PART OF THE VIDEO! It showcases some of Michael's best footwork and dance moves. (you can see it on "Dangerous: The Short Films" and "HIStory on Film, Volume I."

Fortunately "Thriller" is the full version (how can you cut the greatest short film of all time?-- YOU CAN'T!)

"Smooth Criminal" video sucks! That's right it SUCKS! It's not the amazing dance sequence seen in "Moonwalker" where Michael dances, in my opioion, his best EVER in a short film. But it is a slow motion, weird, cut-up, sequence of shots from the entire 40 minute "Smooth Criminal" video seen in "Moonwalker." Trust me, I am Michael Jackson's biggest fan, and its no good.

Also, I wish they would have put the "Moonwalker" version of "Man in the Mirror." Instead they have the mainstream one, a collection of inspirational real-life footage; its good, but I like to see Michael perform with all the passion he does in the "Moonwalker" version.

The only videos I'd say are missing are "Jam," "They Don't Care About Us" and "Remember the Time." But all the other MAJOR videos are in there. (You can see these on Michael's other DVD's.)

I am so happy, they put "Dirty Diana" and "Rock My World" in this DVD, as you can't see them on any other Michael Jackson DVD. And they are SPECTACULAR videos. "Rock my world" features Chris Tucker and Marlon Brando and Michael does some realy cool dance moves. "Dirty Diana" is a powerful video replicating a live performance. Personally, I had only been able to see these videos a couple of times, when they came on MTV and VH1. Now I can watch again and again.

You will definitly LOVE this DVD as it has all (or most of) the Number One hit Videos.

I think "Dangerous the Short Films" and "HIStory Continues: Past Present Future, Volume II" are better collections of Michael's short films.

Michael Jackson is still the King of Pop, and so it gets 5 stars.