That initial sense of mourning and celebration - when every car suddenly started blasting Jackson tunes once again, when the icon's albums once again skyrocketed to the top of the iTunes music store - has been replaced by talk of autopsies, prescription drug investigations, 24-hour cable news specials and a tug of war over his estate.

It's become, like so many things in Jackson's life, a freak show. And what's been lost is the music that made him king.

All of which is why I'm sort of excited for the spectacle that's about to unfold at movie theaters all across America next week.

With tickets already on sale - they've been on sale for weeks now - and with the warning that it's a two-week-only affair, "This Is It" could be the thing that sets the record straight once and for all.

At least that's what Sony's counting on; they shelled out tens of millions of dollars for the right to Jackson's recent rehearsal footage, convinced that there would be a hunger to see him dance and sing one last time - if even on the silver screen.

We have now all heard the rumors about pain killers, that allegedly aided a struggling Michael to perform his signature moves. And since the day of his sudden passing, those who were working with him have repeated the mantra: Just wait until you see the footage.

So starting Tuesday night, with the film's midnight screenings, there are multiple things at stake. Sony is wondering if it will make its money back, curious as to whether the public appetite for all things Michael Jackson remains at a fever pitch. The media, as well as some of those in the general public will buy tickets purely out of morbid curiosity, wondering just how an older and sicker Michael looked in his routine.

But for many fans, the tickets will be bought because they want to cheer on the King of Pop - one last time. They want to hear "Thriller" on the eve of Halloween. The want to feel the pulse of "Billie Jean." They want to see some of Jackson's newest moves, like "The Penguin," which has already become an online sensation.

There are millions of people who were ready to see the "This Is It" tour who just want to get a taste of what could have been - from medleys to dancers to pyrotechnics.

Just how compelling a cinematic experience this will be remains to be seen. This isn't really a concert documentary. It's an attempt to stitch together rehearsal footage, behind-the-scenes footage, and other recorded material, into a coherent two-hour event. Something that improvised is bound in parts to feel sloppy.

But then again, I don't think it has to be a good "movie." When people sit down to see "This Is It," they will want one thing: A glorious musical tribute to an insatiable performer. I'm sure that's what they'll get.

Together in movie theaters around the world, the legions of fans will be able to get beyond the gossip and rumors and to finally put Jackson's memory to rest as a man who died doing what he loved - waking up every day, ready to perform and determined to knock your socks off.

This isn't a movie; it's a synchronized global memorial, allowing Michael himself to have the final bow.