From Ricardo Montalban to Patrick Swayze, it’s been a tough year for celebrity deaths.

Perhaps the most shocking and untimely death of all was pop sensation Michael Jackson, who died suddenly in late June while preparing for a series of sold-out shows in London.

Now fans of the late singer get a chance to see Jackson in his final days with the new film “This Is It.”

Using footage from rehearsals, the film shows Jackson doing what he does best – singing and dancing. The film traces the process of this rather ambitious project, with performances of many of Jackson’s hits – ranging from “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” to “Billie Jean.”

Watching Jackson work with the band and director Kenny Ortega, I was struck by how meticulous he was with his craft. While Jackson at times didn’t go full throttle in these performances, you get a sense of why he electrified audiences and influenced so many artists.

The sheer scope of the production – which included Jackson being chased by Humphrey Bogart in a video vignette of “Smooth Criminal” and a 3-D reimagining of “Thriller” – is enough to appreciate Jackson the artist. And the music is still snappy and relevant, even though many of the songs are more than 20 years old.

Some may argue that “This Is It” is pretty soft – with no real insight into Jackson the man and very few behind-the-scenes moments. I can understand that sentiment, but I don’t think “This Is It” has any deep-layered purpose. This is a film designed to give fans one last chance to see the Jackson they knew and loved.

And on that level, “This Is It” succeeds – showing that Jackson still had it, even in his final moments.

DVD dandy of the week

This week’s dandy is the Pixar/Disney film “Up” (A), a delightful and touching experience that isn’t just one of the best films from the studio – it’s the one of best films in 2009.

“Up” tells the story of Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old who sets his sights on his lifelong dream – a trip to Paradise Falls in South America – by tying thousands of balloons to his house and floating to his destination.

Shortly after liftoff, Carl discovers he has an unwanted traveling companion – a young Wilderness Explorer named Russell (Jordan Nagai).

When a storm pushes Carl and Russell slightly off course, the duo begin to walk toward their intended destination, hoping to get the house to Paradise Falls before the balloons run out of helium.

There is plenty to like about “Up,” from its gorgeous look to its surprisingly touching story.

The opening 10 minutes are some of the best, and most emotional, sequences of any film in recent memory, and are just the beginning of a movie that manages to interject some laugh-out-loud moments with a rather tender backstory that tugs at the heart strings.

Ed Asner is very good as Carl, while Christopher Plummer does a nice job as Charles Muntz, Carl’s childhood idol who has remained in exile in his quest to find an exotic animal in the South American rain forest. (Muntz’s pack of talking dogs provides some of the biggest laughs in the movie).

There isn’t a wasted moment in “Up,” making it that rare film that transcends its genre and creates an experience that can be enjoyed by moviegoers of all ages.

“Up” is rated PG for some peril and action and will be available Tuesday.

— Sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton thinks it’s been a banner year for documentaries. To get thoughts on why or perhaps find out his instant thoughts on this weekend’s big releases, visit his blog at mcompton.wordpress.com or his Twitter page at twitter.com/mcompton428. You can also e-mail him at mcompton@bgdailynews.com.