Square One (2019) Poster

(I) (2019)

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6/10
Very informative and convincing
nyss111-808-76893010 September 2020
But the production quality was horrendous. It was hard to ignore the distracting music and jarring editing, but I suppose the budget was small.
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6/10
Too many "10" star reviews to be believable
filmmadman25 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The film sheds light on new information and shows that there were greedy people involved and false accusations but it has many problems.

The interviewees speak as though things are fact when most of what they say is still their "version" of the story. There are very long-winded explanations of events that are sometimes just from what somewhat supposedly 'said' to them.

And there are virtually no victims actually interviews for the film!! Except one relative of Jackson over a controversial (not really) photo shoot.

The end of the film mentions a 'fact' that all pedofiles have an average of 250 victims and that is preposterous. Then compared that nugget to the fact that MJ only had 5...not buying that comparison.

The use of 2:35 widescreen framing for a film full of interviews and stock footage isn't appropriate and amateur. That's saved for sweeping epics and landscape and action films for a reason.

The editing is bad (Too many long-winded interviews with not enough cutaways) and the music choices are awkward, sometimes sloppily edited and sometimes corny.

To see so many 10 star reviews and 'this should get an Emmy" and "the best indie film of the year" should tell you that there are a lot of fans and or fake reviews trying to prop this film up. And the professional film critics stayed away from this one in high numbers. Or Saw it and didn't Want write a review for it...

Leaving Neverland looks and sounds better and professional on every level. Whether you believe the second hand stories told in this film or the first hand victim interviews of Leaving Neverland is up to you.

One of these films could be slanted towards greed/money and the other towards fan devotion / temporary fame.

You pick.
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8/10
Brilliant! Truthful! Well Researched!
sarah_smiles-871417 October 2019
This documentary is a real eye opener! What people did to Michael Jackson is appalling. I recommend this to everyone, brilliant documentary.
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9/10
Good information and full of facts.
dopeyles5 October 2019
I'm always very cautious on Jackson documentaries. But this one is different.... containing actual government facts and information, I found this fascinating and captivating. A lot of information that isn't published by the press. But on searching is easy to prove.

Accurate and impressive

Unlike other documentaries, this one is informative and very interesting. 9/10
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10/10
Heartbreaking. I'm devastated for Michael Jackson.
hatethejess-369011 October 2019
As an American, realizing how long I have been brainwashed in regards to an innocent man is depressing. Michael Jackson was lynched in the court of public opinion. Square One may be his saving grace for his living relatives.
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10/10
Spectacular film all around!
lanevalleylv4 October 2019
I have tried many times to explain the '93 case to people and how/why MJ is far from guilty, but it is hard for me to do so because of so many details. This film PERFECTLY explains, and in a very simple manner that is easy to understand, the '93 trial and everything that anyone would need to know about the case, and with that, the 2005 case that follows. I was very impressed with the timeline and making of the film, along with the credible people interviewed; it made it an extremely convincing film as to why MJ is innocent! Highly recommend!
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7/10
An important piece of the Jackson puzzle
eddie_baggins9 December 2019
Readily available to watch for free on Youtube, debut filmmaker Danny Wu has crafted a significant piece of the Michael Jackson puzzle, as he shines a light on the seemingly ill-intended allegations of abuse that were aimed at the pop superstar, allegations that followed him until the day he died in what was a sad end to a bright and illustrious career.

Square One goes all the way back to 1993 as the first and very public accusations against Jackson were made by the Chandler family, who alleged that Jackson, at his infamous Neverland Ranch, abused their child Jordan in a series of pre-planned and devious attacks.

Wu has assembled a vast array of Jackson acquaintances, reporters, lawyers, experts and every day citizens to take us back to this time and place, helping ensure that we begin to question more recent and high-profile documentaries that would have us believe that the case against Michael was a clear cut one.

Without being able to ever truly know who is in the right and who is in the wrong, Wu paints a picture of the king of pop that begins to showcase an extremely misunderstood man, who at the end of the day was living a bizarre public life of constant scrutiny and pressure that overshadowed his attempts to be a kind and giving adult.

It's hard to believe just how open and welcoming Jackson was to so many outsiders at the peak of his music life, something that would never happen in today's social media and paparazzi climate and sadly for Jackson, his family and his legacy, it appears as though his insistence on being a friend to many cost him dearly, as those that saw a way to financially benefit from him begin to strike.

Wu's film may lack polish and scope but his strong investigation work and even unearthing of previously unseen documents and character testimonies builds for a strong case for Jackson being nothing more than a victim, where many would have us believe his an out and out monster.

Final Say -

A must-watch for Jackson fans and a great counter against many other Jackson doco's that sit firmly in the against department, Square One is an engaging and insightful Youtube documentary that suggests Wu is a talent to keep a very close eye on.

3 1/2 two story bedrooms out of 5
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10/10
Finally a documentary based on facts
florenasnowden5 October 2019
You want the truth about Michael Jackson, THIS IS IT!
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6/10
This Evidence Can No Longer Be Ignored Michael Jackson Brilliant Documentary
teresagordon-651406 October 2019
As I waited patently yesterday for this documentary to upload, I browsed around several media sources and gave a look at some videos that were good but they just did not drive home their message on Michael Jackson's innocence. I am here to tell you, Danny Wu's Square One, nailed it! If there ever was doubt of Michael's innocence, there is no doubt now that Michael Jackson was the victim. Danny Wu and his crew carefully and without prejudice, layout out charges and age old accusations against Michael from the first 1993 accuser and then carefully reveals that each accuser after that was driven by greed and woefully bad parenting. This is a must see documentary.
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1/10
Secondary sources presented as facts
vivicka21 September 2020
Clearly the high ratings for this 'documentary' have come from Michael fans and does not speak to the quality of this movie. 89 mins of hearsay and speculation from secondary sources.
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10/10
Excellent!!
stephtat5 October 2019
Very well done documentary detailing the first (extortion) case against Michael Jackson.
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2/10
Be warned: Don't believe the reviews!
Yassinehilte23 January 2021
The people who gave this documentary 10 stars are clearly MJ fans feeling the need to tell everybody that they think MJ is innocent. Whether he is innocent or not, this documentary was very poorly made and it is rated way too high.
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9/10
Clear, factual, easy to digest: well done!
barbiersophie-027215 October 2019
This new documentary brilliantly manages to present everything you need to know about the Michael Jackson allegations in a very accessible and digestible way. Seing all those facts explained clearly puts in evidence how those stories has been distorted in the last 20+ years, and it is time to open our eyes to what have been done - and is still done - to this man.
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10/10
An Essential Watch
VPAdvocacy6 October 2019
The media has systematically and robustly orchestrated a narrative around Michael Jackson that is directly rebutted by primary evidence. Michael Jackson is a case study for analysing the "free press" and whether a powerful industry like the media should be free and unaccountable for knowingly publishing false information to millions of people around the world.

This documentary brings court documents and evidence to life in a way that I have never seen before. The documentary is also a product of the "free press" who have been free to leave this evidence gathering dust for decades. I hope people watch this with an open mind and begin to understand that they are being lied to by an industry that shapes our views, values and society.
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10/10
Well researched, well made documentary
ghan-997026 October 2019
People behind this documentary truly deserve praises. First, people participating in this project did not get paid. They only want the truth out. And the director did an awesome job researching into MJ's first allegation that started everything and all the background information that wasn't shared by media. I found myself very angry and sad while watching it, about the fact that Michael Jackson was put through such an humiliating ordeal and emotional pain (his voice in that video statement broke my heart). I recommend this documentary to anyone who cares about truth and justice.
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10/10
Eye Opening and Factual.
KatFran1016 October 2019
One of the best documentaries I've seen about the 1993 allegations against Michael Jackson. This doc by Danny Wu is very factual and he makes the timelines of the allegations very easy to follow. You will understand right away that Michael Jackson was a victim of extortion and he has the evidence to back it up. Whether you believe that Michael was guilty or not, this film is a must watch.
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1/10
Propaganda
patrickhinds-7752512 August 2020
Pure corporate propaganda designed to protect the highly profitable Jackson estate. He was a musical genius, but we need to accept what else he was
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10/10
Outstanding
bennettpropertiesbennett6 October 2019
What a great documentary I knew about the 1993 allegations but I never knew to what extent other people where involved in it. Danny Wu has done such a good job putting this together on his own and with his own limited budget. Too bad the media won't talk about this as everyone knows the media are not interested in the truth as they always say that truth doesn't sell.
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Facts are the real Treasury
Condemnation without investigation is the height of ignorance. - Albert Einstein
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1/10
One sided
mattellis-048977 June 2020
This is such a one sided view on the facts and only tries to discriminate the boys family. Just because MJ picked disfuntioning families doesn't mean he was innocent of the crimes he committed. The adult greed in all this should not discourage from the fact that MJ Was a sexually predator who picked on the weak and innocent. This story isn't telling the child's side just the adults. We've heard the child's side in there voice and I will make my mind up from there point of view. He made great music but that does not make him a great person.
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10/10
Truth
darvon-732265 October 2019
A very well put together documentary about the truth of the 1993 allegations. If you ever really wanted to know what REALLY happened, then watch this movie.
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10/10
The Truth Has Risen.
pheebes796 October 2019
Such a brilliantly executed documentary on how the Chandler's falsely accused Michael Jackson, with brilliant testimonies. This just proves that the rest of the accusers are LIERS, too. Michael Jackson was always innocent & the attempt to bring him down is shown, here. The media need to pay attention to this and then apologise for the decades of slander. Please watch. I can't recommend this enough.
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9/10
Informative documentary on 1994 settlement by Michael Jackson
bhavyav-sridhar6 October 2019
The facts and the information provided in this documentary is not at all new to any true MJ fan as the fandom is well versed about all this. Danny Wu, the director became a fan in the researching process and made this zero budget documentary to help anyone understand why Michael Jackson settled the civil case back in 1994 and how that never ever meant that MJ was guilty. Jordan Chandler (the first accuser) being used by his own father, Victor guitterez and NAMBLA's association with the accuser's father, extortion scheme..etc is all very well put together.
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10/10
Confirmation, the real truth
xslavetotherhythmx6 October 2019
This Danny Wu has created this incredible new documentary about the first allegations against Michael Jackson. Most of us already know this story but for those that still have doubts or don't believe it I suggest to watch this! This really sheds a good light on how things actually went, this shows how far they are willing to go for money and to destroy a man's reputation and good name.

This documentary not only shows to those that don't believe that MJ is innocent, it shows actually how damn much innocent he is, and that "Money" is the red line in all the stories!

#MJInnocent #MJSquareOne
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1/10
Unwatchable
marcus-191-2120625 June 2020
Don't believe the reviews here, this is a really badly made documentary.
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