Captain EO is back at Epcot!
On July 2nd 2010 Captain EO reopened in the Imagination pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida. I remember first seeing this 3-D film over twenty years ago. For those of you who have never seen or heard of Captain EO, it stars Michael Jackson as “Captain EO” and is a musical space-fantasy film which lasts approximately seventeen minutes. Anjelica Huston also appears in the film.
Captain EO first opened in 1986 and lasted until 1994 when it was replaced by “Honey I Shrunk the Audience”. Having re-opened to excellent reviews at the Disneyland park in California, the Disney bosses decided to show it again in Orlando, Florida for a limited time only. It is also being shown in Tokyo and Paris.
After the death of Michael Jackson last year, Captain EO became very popular again on the internet. Fans had already been petitioning Disney to bring back the film but it wasn’t until after Michael’s death that the Disney officials decided to return the attraction to the parks.
First shown in 1986 the film was a joint venture between the Walt Disney Company and George Lucas and was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was reported to have cost $30 million. Jackson stars in the title role as the commander of a starship. He and his crew must deliver a message to the Supreme Leader of an evil planet (played by Anjelica Huston). The message takes the form of a lavish song and dance number. The film features two of Michael’s songs “We are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me”.
When the film was first released, audiences were astounded by the special effects and the cutting edge technology. The singing and dancing is amazing but I do wonder whether the actual film will have stood the test of time, especially when there are films such as James Cameron’s Avatar around now.
However, if you are a fan of Michael Jackson, and are visiting Epcot it is certainly worth going to see. Michael was an outstanding performer and this is him in his prime. All indications are that Captain EO is going to be a success for a second time around and that audiences are larger than for Honey, I Shrunk the Audience in its later years. I know for a fact that I will definitely be in the queue if it is still showing when we next visit Florida.
On July 2nd 2010 Captain EO reopened in the Imagination pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida. I remember first seeing this 3-D film over twenty years ago. For those of you who have never seen or heard of Captain EO, it stars Michael Jackson as “Captain EO” and is a musical space-fantasy film which lasts approximately seventeen minutes. Anjelica Huston also appears in the film.
Captain EO first opened in 1986 and lasted until 1994 when it was replaced by “Honey I Shrunk the Audience”. Having re-opened to excellent reviews at the Disneyland park in California, the Disney bosses decided to show it again in Orlando, Florida for a limited time only. It is also being shown in Tokyo and Paris.
After the death of Michael Jackson last year, Captain EO became very popular again on the internet. Fans had already been petitioning Disney to bring back the film but it wasn’t until after Michael’s death that the Disney officials decided to return the attraction to the parks.
First shown in 1986 the film was a joint venture between the Walt Disney Company and George Lucas and was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was reported to have cost $30 million. Jackson stars in the title role as the commander of a starship. He and his crew must deliver a message to the Supreme Leader of an evil planet (played by Anjelica Huston). The message takes the form of a lavish song and dance number. The film features two of Michael’s songs “We are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me”.
When the film was first released, audiences were astounded by the special effects and the cutting edge technology. The singing and dancing is amazing but I do wonder whether the actual film will have stood the test of time, especially when there are films such as James Cameron’s Avatar around now.
However, if you are a fan of Michael Jackson, and are visiting Epcot it is certainly worth going to see. Michael was an outstanding performer and this is him in his prime. All indications are that Captain EO is going to be a success for a second time around and that audiences are larger than for Honey, I Shrunk the Audience in its later years. I know for a fact that I will definitely be in the queue if it is still showing when we next visit Florida.