The Unofficial Captain EO Fan Site

"Captain Eo Tribute" opens at Disneyland!

February 23, 2010

Fans lined up early for the return of Captain Eo. There was a sense of anticipation and excitement in the air. Many who remembered the original run returned for some nostalgia and return to a time when Michael Jackson was at the peak of his career. For others, this was the first time to experience this attraction with Michael at the top of his game, and in 3D. Michael shines just as he did in 1986. This tribute run of Captain Eo reminds us why he is the king of pop and of his efforts to entertain in new and exciting ways.

It's been nearly 24 years since the opening of Captain Eo but that has not tarnished the magic of his performance. Sure, Michael was not the consummate actor, but you can't deny the genuine enthusiasm and earnest attempt to give Captain Eo some life. But this is not why we are here. We are here to see Michael sing and dance his way to our hearts. This is what he did best and this is what he does with Captain Eo.

With the help of George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola and an army of craftsmen and technicians, Captain Eo made his appearance in September of 1986. At the time of it's production, it was the most expensive movie (per minute) ever made.

Certainly there was and has been demand for a return of Captain Eo. Was anyone over the age of 6 impressed with HONEY I SHRUNK THE AUDIENCE? But the timing of Captain Eo's return brings into question the motives behind his re-emergence. Surely it will boost attendance and appease the fans while increasing the bottom line, but lets not forget how quickly they dropped Captain Eo when Michael became a magnet for accusations and bad press.

Perhaps in haste to capitalize on Michael Jackson's demise and boost attendance, the return of the Captain didn't get quite the attention he deserved. Although the film is presented in roughly the same manner it was 23 years ago, it could have been much better.

The theater's appearance was in great shape. It looks as if they spiffed it up a bit for the new run. A new bright ,shiny marquee and recent paint job had you feeling the return of the king was getting the royal treatment.

The lights dimmed and Captain Eo reemerges to applause and cheers. For some, it is the return of an old friend, to others, an introduction to a new friend who brings the gift of music to save us from darkness.

Impressive for its time, the film itself has not stood up as well.

When you go from watching AVATAR to Captain Eo you realize just how much filmmaking has evolved. The effects are dated and the print quality reinforces the fact we are watching an old movie. The print suffered from a lack of contrast, somewhat muted colors as well as some very light print scratches and dust. The crosstalk between the left and right images from the dual 3D projectors was greater than it should have been. Focus was soft, giving us a less than razor sharp image that 70mm film can provide. It appears that the image is slightly larger than was originally projected. That would account for the addition of a support beam that runs across the upper left corner of the image and sides that seem slightly clipped. All of these minor issues add up to a less than perfect visual experience.

One thing I remember about the show was how well the sound was recorded, mixed and reproduced. (Being a sound engineer in the movie business for years I'm rather keen on these things). In an age before widespread use of digital sound in theatres, this was one of the most impressive aspects of Captain Eo. Missing from the return was the kicking tight bass and overall balance. Like the visual side, it could have been better.

Some of the interactive effects are present, but not all. They have incorporated the moving theater effect from HONEY I SHRUNK THE AUDIENCE to the point of annoyance. Pointed use of the effect would have been really great. But it was overused, er, abused and only served to distract. Somebody from WDI call me! I would like to know what you were thinking and to discuss how to make it better.

Now I know everyone is operating within a budget, and bringing back the film was an uncertain proposition. So if cutting corners to bring back Captain Eo was necessary, so be it. But the Captain Eo tribute deserved just a little more attention to the finer details. A remastered, up to date presentation would have greater legs and a potentially longer run giving the film a timeless rather than outdated feel.

It was nice to see they had some t-shirts, sweatshirts, buttons and posters available to those who wanted to take home a souvenir.

It is great to experience Captain Eo again. As a fan driven attraction, It will play as long as they come to see it. Like the art house screenings of ROCKY HORROR PICTUR SHOW, this too could be one of Disneyland's long term assets if handled with care.

At some point in the future, the decision to pull Captain Eo will again resurface. Pulling the plug completely should never be an option. It should not be consigned to a vault far from the public. Next time there is a decision to pull it from exhibition in the parks, it should be made available in some other form. For as long as there is a screen and a pair of 3D glasses, there will always be a new audience. There will never be another Michael Jackson, but there will always be Captain Eo.



Captain Eo returns to Disneyland! Captain EO is a big budget 3D, 70mm, Sci-Fi, fantasy, musical movie attraction that played at Disney Parks. It was produced by George Lucas, Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and stars Michael Jackson (at the peak of his career) and Angelica Houston. At the time of its production, it was the most expensive movie (per minute) ever made. Run Dates: Epcot: 9/12/86-7/6/94 Disneyland: 9/18/86-4/7/97 2/23/10-present DL Tokyo: 3/20/87-9/96 DL Paris: 4/12/92-8/17/98 MTV: 6/26/96 For more detailed info:	"Captain Eo Tribute" opens at Disneyland! February 23, 2010 Fans lined up early for the return of Captain Eo. There was a sense of anticipation and excitement in the air. Many who remembered the original run returned for some nostalgia and return to a time when Michael Jackson was at the peak of his career. For others, this was the first time to experience this attraction with Michael at the top of his game, and in 3D. Michael shines just as he did in 1986. This tribute run of Captain Eo reminds us why he is the king of pop and of his efforts to entertain in new and exciting ways. It's been nearly 24 years since the opening of Captain Eo but that has not tarnished the magic of his performance. Sure, Michael was not the consummate actor, but you can't deny the genuine enthusiasm and earnest attempt to give Captain Eo some life. But this is not why we are here. We are here to see Michael sing and dance his way to our hearts. This is what he did best and this is what he does with Captain Eo. With the help of George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola and an army of craftsmen and technicians, Captain Eo made his appearance in September of 1986. At the time of it's production, it was the most expensive movie (per minute) ever made. Certainly there was and has been demand for a return of Captain Eo. Was anyone over the age of 6 impressed with HONEY I SHRUNK THE AUDIENCE? But the timing of Captain Eo's return brings into question the motives behind his re-emergence. Surely it will boost attendance and appease the fans while increasing the bottom line, but lets not forget how quickly they dropped Captain Eo when Michael became a magnet for accusations and bad press. Perhaps in haste to capitalize on Michael Jackson's demise and boost attendance, the return of the Captain didn't get quite the attention he deserved. Although the film is presented in roughly the same manner it was 23 years ago, it could have been much better. The theater's appearance was in great shape. It looks as if they spiffed it up a bit for the new run. A new bright ,shiny marquee and recent paint job had you feeling the return of the king was getting the royal treatment. The lights dimmed and Captain Eo reemerges to applause and cheers. For some, it is the return of an old friend, to others, an introduction to a new friend who brings the gift of music to save us from darkness. Impressive for its time, the film itself has not stood up as well. When you go from watching AVATAR to Captain Eo you realize just how much filmmaking has evolved. The effects are dated and the print quality reinforces the fact we are watching an old movie. The print suffered from a lack of contrast, somewhat muted colors as well as some very light print scratches and dust. The crosstalk between the left and right images from the dual 3D projectors was greater than it should have been. Focus was soft, giving us a less than razor sharp image that 70mm film can provide. It appears that the image is slightly larger than was originally projected. That would account for the addition of a support beam that runs across the upper left corner of the image and sides that seem slightly clipped. All of these minor issues add up to a less than perfect visual experience. One thing I remember about the show was how well the sound was recorded, mixed and reproduced. (Being a sound engineer in the movie business for years I'm rather keen on these things). In an age before widespread use of digital sound in theatres, this was one of the most impressive aspects of Captain Eo. Missing from the return was the kicking tight bass and overall balance. Like the visual side, it could have been better. Some of the interactive effects are present, but not all. They have incorporated the moving theater effect from HONEY I SHRUNK THE AUDIENCE to the point of annoyance. Pointed use of the effect would have been really great. But it was overused, er, abused and only served to distract. Somebody from WDI call me! I would like to know what you were thinking and to discuss how to make it better. Now I know everyone is operating within a budget, and bringing back the film was an uncertain proposition. So if cutting corners to bring back Captain Eo was necessary, so be it. But the Captain Eo tribute deserved just a little more attention to the finer details. A remastered, up to date presentation would have greater legs and a potentially longer run giving the film a timeless rather than outdated feel. It was nice to see they had some t-shirts, sweatshirts, buttons and posters available to those who wanted to take home a souvenir. It is great to experience Captain Eo again. As a fan driven attraction, It will play as long as they come to see it. Like the art house screenings of ROCKY HORROR PICTUR SHOW, this too could be one of Disneyland's long term assets if handled with care. At some point in the future, the decision to pull Captain Eo will again resurface. Pulling the plug completely should never be an option. It should not be consigned to a vault far from the public. Next time there is a decision to pull it from exhibition in the parks, it should be made available in some other form. For as long as there is a screen and a pair of 3D glasses, there will always be a new audience. There will never be another Michael Jackson, but there will always be Captain Eo. Michael Joseph Jackson August 29, 1958 -June 25, 2009 Remembering the music and moments he gave us. Remembering Captain Eo - MTV Movie Blogs Until Captain Eo is released on DVD or BluRay it can be seen on YouTube. Links are provided below. Captain Eo - Part 1 Captain Eo - Part 2 Scenes from the Captain Eo Premier at Disneyland Check out IMDB for Captain Eo! Check out Wikipedia for Captain Eo! Check out Captain Eo at Yesterland!	By mid-afternoon on opening day the wait was less than 20 minutes long. Expect longer waits during peak times. The 3D glasses are the same as they were in 1986 except that they are yellow instead of the original purple. Angelica Houston as the Supreme Leader Captain Eo is sent to give the gift of music. The triple threat Michael, Francis and George. Minor annoyances include this clipped corner, old print, weak sound and an over used motion effect. The Official Michael Jackson Website www.mjjsource.com Complete News Source for everything Disney www.mickeynews.com MICHAEL JACKSON HIStory