This Is It, the film documenting Michael Jackson's final performances as he rehearsed for his sold-out concert stint at England's O2 Arena, is "candid, honest, raw and real," the film's director, Kenny Ortega, told The Today Show on Thursday.

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Ortega said reports that anything showing the dying King of Pop in a negative light would be edited out of the film are false, based on that none of the pundits have actually seen the movie.

VIDEO: Watch the trailer for This Is It

He explained why footage shot of Jackson's backup singers and dancers learning the news of the Thriller singer's death was left on the cutting room floor.

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"We stayed away from that, we stayed away from that," Ortega said. "This is really a celebration of Michael as a master of his craft, entertainer of entertainers and we stayed away from that part of the story.”

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Jackson died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest June 25 in Los Angeles; investigators have ruled the death a homicide, yet haven’t charged anyone in connection with it.

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This Is It hits theatres Oct. 28 for a limited, two-week run.

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