Captain EO returns

[sleepydog5]

A few posters might have mistakenly intimated that HISTA is being replaced by EO. Actually, it's temporarily being closed for refurbishment not replacement. I'm not naive enough to think HISTA couldn't be replaced but that's not what the PR says.

As for one's disdain or enjoyment of MJ, that's a totally personal taste, and like opinions, everyone has his own. I saw EO in DL back in the mid- to late 80s and enjoyed it more for the music than the 3D effect. One can successfully argue that 3D has come a long way since then and that EO's effects might be dated. But, one would be ignoring the fact that MJ, from his childhood through at least his early adult years, was the ultimate entertainer with imminently singable, memorable songs. If EO is there come December, I'll definitely get in line.

[DizneyRox]

From the release:

...
“Captain EO” will be presented multiple times daily at the Imagination pavilion at Epcot. It will replace “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” which is planned to return at an undetermined date.

[Imagineer1981]

I didn't get to EPCOT for the first time until much after the Captain EO production was long gone. However, thanks to advertising, school promos and T.V. as a child of the 80's Captain E.O was pretty much equated with EPCOT in my mind. I have seen a very blurry version of EO on you tube about 2 years ago. I think it fits with the genre of movies back then. My guess is that in the days when it was new it felt like other Disney-esque flicks that I was wild about at the time like "Flight of the Navigator" or "Max and Me" with a little "The Wiz" or "Tron" thrown in to boot. A movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola (God Father right?!? - not that I was allowed to see this film as a kid of course) & produced by George Lucas (Star Wars was real big then remember, LOL).

Anywho, Michael Jackson was a pretty big deal then too in the opinion of the "Pepsi Generation" and there was no pre-knowledge of the choices he would eventually make in life.

Given all this back history, I'd sit through a viewing of Captain EO if just for the fact that it is in a Disney Park and it reminds me of my 80's childhood (even though I never experienced it personally as a child).

BTW - I've never been a MJ fan, but I have quite a few friends who were fans of him back when that was "cool" and they are excited to have the chance to view the film as it was originally intended or to see something that they saw years ago as a child. Besides I betcha Imagineering is working on something "better" when this phase has had it's run.

I agree. My DW is a GIANT MJ fan and she cannot wait to see this again, for the memories. In fact we own it on DVD and I will say that it is, in my opinion, bad...but it was great for its time. I think that its a nice way though to bridge a gap between the end of HISTA and its eventual replacement. By using EO for about a year, they buy themselves more time to develop something new.

[WEDTOPIA]

I know a lot of people think that HISTA is way past it's shelf life , but I never liked Captain Eo and found it less than entertaining. If Disney is going to go retro , I'd rather see Magic Journeys again. It was much more charming. I think this is a " cash-in " to take advantage of MJ's post mortem popularity ( al a Elvis ). What the Imagination pavilion really needs is a total makeover to bring it back to the future.

[Tink1]

I know a lot of people think that HISTA is way past it's shelf life , but I never liked Captain Eo and found it less than entertaining. If Disney is going to go retro , I'd rather see Magic Journeys again. It was much more charming. I think this is a " cash-in " to take advantage of MJ's post mortem popularity ( al a Elvis ). What the Imagination pavilion really needs is a total makeover to bring it back to the future.

Would LOVE to see Magic Journeys again!

Nanc

[FIRSTBORNWONDER]

I think it's great to bring back Captain Eo. I was one of the lucky ones to see it before it was pulled. I can't wait to see it again and introduce my children to the show when we go down in November. He was the most talented human being I've never known. No one can ever take that away from him.

[FamilyBand1]

Wow, not the reaction I thought I would see in the discussion for this topic. He's certainly a strange one but he's still one of the best entertainers of all time.

I loved this attraction as a kid. I hope like crazy it's still open the 2nd week of November.

Not surprised at all. I posted a question about it coming to EPCOT after they brought it to DL and the thread had to be deleted by the moderator because of the ugly comments.
I'm glad it's back. Sounds like they're putting in a retro store outside the show, too. 80's EPCOT is back.

[ILoveLegos]

I'm glad it's back. Sounds like they're putting in a retro store outside the show, too. 80's EPCOT is back.

I definitely have to check that out!
Ahhh my memories of the 80's: Rubix Cubes, Slap Braclets and DeLoreans (um, I wonder what the 80's retro Disney Store will stock?).

[NotaGeek]

I was really excited to see EO on my last trip to DLR in March -- I was pretty disappointed though. I remembered it being WAY cooler and the retro-fit of just having a floor that vibrated to the beat just made me sleepy.

I get why Disney did it, I just don't think that this "classic" is relevant any longer.

[honeybear]

I CAN'T WAIT! I have ALWAYS been a fan of Captain EO! I was so sad when it left.

[Tekneek]

I am excited about it returning, for however long it may be around. My wife and I just might make a special one-day trip down to take it in.

The glad-it's-gone and wish-this-hadn't-returned type posts are probably the only things I have disliked about Intercot over the years. I tend to ignore them now, but I never really understood the motivation behind them.

[dream6]

Apparently I saw this when I was little according to my parents, and I was less than impressed. But I was so young that I don't remember it at all, so I have to admit I'm kind of excited to have the chance to see a piece of '80s Epcot.

[TracyL]

The best thing about Disney is that it has something for everyone. I liked Captain EO and look forward to seeing a 70mm print with a remastered soundtrack. (Relatively cheap to bring this one back, yes, but not free -- even under Eisner they understood that a retread had to be "plussed" somehow.)

Bizarrely enough, I've never seen HISTA, and never really had any inclination to do so. Looks like I may miss it entirely if they do end up creating something else for the post-EO era.

As for MJ, well, history is going to remember "Thriller" for a lot longer than it remembers the middle-aged weirdo. People don't dwell on the old, fat, drugged Elvis, and they won't dwell on the bleached, nose-jobbed Michael. Like it or not, the guy was an absolute genius and a masterful entertainer, and EO was a spectacular example of his talent. Sure, it's dated, but so is every video ever shown on MTV, yet people still watch VH1 Classic. To each his own, I say -- if we were all the same, all but one of us would be redundant!

[Jeany031]

I love Captain EO I can't wait to see it again on Dec 2010! I hope!

[DaisylovesDonald]

Very interesting thread! And much like this thread, DH and I are torn about Captain EO as well. I was a MEGA MJ fan in the 80s and never got to see Captain EO in its heyday. I am very much looking forward to getting a second chance at seeing it! DH would rather sit in the hot sun than partake in the movie. To be honest, I think I would rather see it alone and enjoy the nostalgia!

[Priority Four]

We saw Captain EO on our honeymoon in 1988. I'd go check it out once if I had time to kill. A limited run would be OK, but a new permanant replacement for HISTA would be great.

[Humphrey]

Not a big fan of MJ, but I will go back to see it. Mostly just to see if I can spot the roll of black gaffer's (duct) tape that was inadvertently left on the dance floor. It wasn't spotted until the final edit of the film. There was discussion about bringing everyone back to reshoot that segment. But the expense and trouble was deemed to not be worth it. I have had friends that have seen it, but I will still be looking.

[Altair]

Mostly just to see if I can spot the roll of black gaffer's (duct) tape that was inadvertently left on the dance floor. It wasn't spotted until the final edit of the film.

You can watch the entire show on YouTube. This is at 1:41 in part 1, but is just looks like part of the set to me. No one could have missed it. It's right in the middle.

[Jeany031]

I can't wait!

[Japangurlangel]

I cant wait till I am able to go on it I remember going on it as a child like three times!!! I loved micheal and I am sad to see him go but he will live on forever as the greatest and truly the king. I can say I will def. spend a large amount of my time in line. Micheal was my hero and I cant wait to see it again.