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George Lucas' and Michael Jackson's weird sci-fi movie lives again
Fans of a certain age may recall that George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Jackson, Avatar composer James Horner and Disney once collaborated on one of the weirdest 3-D sci-fi movies of all time: Captain EO, which was perhaps the first hybrid of film and in-theater effects in a theme park attraction (it played in Disneyland).
Well, it's back, now that Jackson's reputation has been resurrected in the wake of his untimely death, the official Disney Parks Web site reports:
Twenty-three years ago, at the height of his phenomenal entertainment career, Michael Jackson joined forces with Disney to create "Captain EO," a groundbreaking 17-minute 3D film experience.We are excited to confirm that the classic musical spectacular that thrilled Disneyland park guests from 1986 - 1997, will return for an exclusive, limited engagement at Disneyland park beginning in February 2010!
The film, which will screen in the Tomorrowland theater currently occupied by the aging Honey I Shrunk the Audience movie, is notable for featuring Anjelica Huston as a heavily made-up space witch. Lucas executive-produced and Coppola directed; Horner wrote some of the music; and the film features two original Jackson songs.
The return of Captain EO is apparently the result of a fan campaign after Jackson's death. Not clear whether the film will be restored or enhanced or if it will appear in other Disney theme parks subsequently, but stay tuned. (You can get a grainy YouTube taste of it below.)
By Rob at 2:57 PM ON 12/18/09
Interesting. I'd like to see this again, although I primarily remembering it for being a little weird.
A few quick editing notes:
* I'm pretty sure it was never a ride. It was an attraction in a theater.
* Tomorrowland, not Tommorowland.
* Maybe it's this computer's antiquated browser, but I'm not seeing any YouTube video.
By cogadh at 3:07 PM ON 12/18/09
Oh my, was that Max Rebo from Jabba the Hutt's band in the video!?
By Tuxedomask at 3:18 PM ON 12/18/09
But what about a showing in Orlando?
By tati at 3:28 PM ON 12/18/09
More like a family campaign to capitalize on MJ's death.
The amount of projects that the family and their hangers-on have their fingers in, is staggering. MJ must be rolling over in his grave at the thought of the pseudoreality show that the family is involved with on A&E. Total opposite of the privacy he craved so much.
By chris at 3:56 PM ON 12/18/09
Yes this was an attraction. I went to it when I was very little, it was similar to the Muppet 4D show. But very cool at the time. We went the month it came out and waited in line for over 2 hours just to see the 18 min. movie.
By antodav at 4:53 PM ON 12/18/09
I was too young to remember this, but now that it's coming back I definitely want to check it out. Speaking of sci-fi movies starring MJ though, why the hell haven't they released Moonwalker on DVD and Blu-Ray yet? Especially in the wake of MJ's death, and this being the film's 20th anniversary—that needs to happen, ASAP.
By wren at 6:53 PM ON 12/18/09
I saw this movie at Epic Center in 1986!! It was 3-D and awesome. I'm not going back though. I'm still bitter with Disney for tearing down the GE Carousel of Progress. R.I.P. Carousel!!
By tuxedomask at 9:16 PM ON 12/18/09
Carousel of Progress is still open. It's at Magic Kingdom's tomorrow land not at EPCOT.
By lfhlaw at 10:17 PM ON 12/18/09
@tuxedomask...When it was first released,it was shown in Epcot Center way back when in the land of imagination back in 1986. I believe that was what WREN was referring to.
Now they are preparing the print i suppose to show at Disneyland. Don't know why they wouldn't show it at the Epcot imagination land again along with the other 3D show if they still have it.
By @malusman at 10:28 PM ON 12/18/09
Nice to see that 20 years later, Lucas still didn't realize that space ships don't need sails.
And Captain EO's power was what, exactly? Turning the Borg into gay homeless people? Turning a futuristic space city into ancient Greece (because that was truly the best period in human history)?
By rqojgn at 10:30 PM ON 12/18/09
He had the power of music. Unfortunately he wasn't in Macross so it just meant shooting FABULOUS rays and baddies.
By rtavi at 11:00 PM ON 12/18/09
OMG its worse than theStar Wars Christmas special! This must be where Lucas' down hill slide started that endend up with The Phantom Menace.Lame Lame Lame i could only stand to watch 3/4 of it and that required the willpower of a completest who wants to see every sf film ever made.
Jesus fix the captcha!
By toolslave at 11:20 PM ON 12/18/09
I haven't been to Disneyland in about 7 years but I'm definitely going back for this. I remember the anticipation of waiting for the next showing to start when I was a kid.
By demoncat at 3:27 PM ON 12/19/09
always thought captain EO proved why some genius minds should not be combined and was a head of its time. plus thought that is where george Lucas mind started to crack due to trying to combine his genius with Michel's a force not ment to be plus Disney no doubt will make the thing a dvd exclusive
By Deborah Ffrench at 4:13 AM ON 12/20/09
Yes, yes, yes!
By Michael_GR at 11:12 AM ON 12/20/09
Wow... that's like Star Wars meets the Muppets... head on... what a train wreck this is. If fans of MJ really care about his legacy they should campaign to have every copy of this atrocity burned.
By Ayzen at 2:45 AM ON 12/21/09
I've been in the Tommorowland theatre maybe once a decade since the 80's. They need to tear it down and create a new ride already!
By drunkenpoet at 9:04 AM ON 12/21/09
I remember watching this at Epcot when it came out... Or am I mistaken?
By GAVAL at 11:43 AM ON 12/21/09
Ya know, back on ST:TNG I was baffled on "The Best of Both Worlds" when they were modifying the deflector dish to try to take out the Borg. Even then I knew the best weapon for fighting Borg was Captain Eo's Fabulous Beam. WHY, SHELBY?! WHY NOT THE FRAKING FABULOUS BEAM?! *mourns those lost at Wolf 359*
G
By MUADIB at 6:24 PM ON 12/21/09
i KNOW THIS IS GOING TO PISS OFF PEOPLE WITH BLINDERS ON IN RELATION TO JACKSON BUT CONSIDERING HIS ...WELL....ALLEGED (ONLY ALLEGED IN A COURT OF LAW) PROCLIVITIES .DOES ANYONE HAVEAPROBLEM WITH A "CHILD FREINDLY" PARK BRING BACK A "WAY TO CHILD FREINDLY" INDAVIDUAL TO SIAD PARK?
By CJH1980 at 10:42 AM ON 12/22/09
This is awesome news!!! I remember seeing Captain EO when I first went to Disney World/EPCOT when I was 8. I look forward to going and seeing it again. It was towards the back of EPCOT over by the The Living Sea and where the Exxon dinosaur ride was....if my memory is right
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CJH1980:
This is awesome news!!! I remember seeing Captain EO when I first went to Disney World/EPCOT when I was 8. I look f...More »