Captain EO

[zipadeedoodah]

I'm really excited to see Captain EO at EPCOT on our September trip. I remember seeing this as a kid (a loooong time ago) lol :secret: Is this still a fun show after all these years? How are the special effects?

Also, are there plans to remove this anytime soon? If they do, I hope they replace it with something new. Honey I Shrunk the Audience never really thrilled me too much. I've been skipping it for YEARS already before they decided to put Captain EO back in.

[BhamWriter]

I love Captain EO. Does it hold up? In a retro sort of way, yes: it's quintessentially '80s! My oldest son (born in 1985) used to cover his ears because it was so loud. He went back after it reopened and loved it: he's into '80s stuff. My other son, not into the '80s, hates it. I consider it a "don't miss."

[MNNHFLTX]

You will probably get mixed reviews about Captain EO, but if you remember seeing it as a kid I think you will still get a kick out of it. In comparison to the high-tech effects of recent years, it does look dated, but I enjoy it for the nostalgia factor.

[puck292]

I was excited for my kids to see it last year (13,11) as I remembered it being great as a kid. My kids were LESS than impressed. Im sure others may disagree but I thought the effects were less than stellar and the story itself is pretty lame. Maybe just the fact the last time I saw it it was the best 3D I had ever seen. I guess we all get kinda jaded as we get older.

[Goofster]

It's dated and lame. A short engagement would have been fine. It's worn out its welcome and looks kind of silly now.

[PlutoPlanet]

I'm glad I saw it. My DD 15 was underwhelmed. The special effects look dated compared to what they can do today.

[CajunDisneyDad]

I guess it mainly depends on your impression of Michael Jackson. I mean he isnt going to win any academy awards for his performance here, but I rather enjoyed it because I was always a big fan of his music.

[medic9016]

it's dated and lame. A short engagement would have been fine. It's worn out its welcome and looks kind of silly now.

x2

[SBETigg]

It is dated and cheesy. But, if you remember it fondly, I think you will enjoy the revisit. I wouldn't rate it as "can't miss" but I didn't mind taking the time for it, either.

[zipadeedoodah]

Thanks everyone! I kind of figured it would seem very dated. But, yeah, I'll definitely check it out when we're there! :thumbsup:

[Scar]

I fell asleep.

[Pocahontas]

I also couldn't wait to see it again, because I remember loving it when it first came out. Unfortunately, it was so disappointing! It did not stand the 'test of time'. :( I really thought it would be fun seeing it again, but if I could have walked out without disturbing anyone I would have.

My husband (also saw it years ago) and 20 y/o daughter, both agree that it was lame and time not well spent.

Sorry.:(

[Dopey's Girl]

We had to leave about half way through because mom and I got the giggles. Once we start, we can't stop. It was just about the cheesiest thing I have seen in years. The non 3D effects were really hard to look at and holy moly was it loud. I think it's time for something new...

[disneynarula]

It's dated and lame. A short engagement would have been fine. It's worn out its welcome and looks kind of silly now.

Agreed! This seems like a fairly easy upgrade to me. The theater is there...just make a new movie.

[Main Street Jim]

Captain EO *rocks*! :) For me, it's a "can't miss"; it's soooo much better than HIStA. Took my wife to see it for the first time when it came back; she was like, "Ehh." :P Of course, she never got to see it the first time around, neither.

I give it two :thumbsup:!

[Ms. Mode]

It's dated and lame. A short engagement would have been fine. It's worn out its welcome and looks kind of silly now.

I have to agree, but my 21DD loves it! DH and I refused to see it again after the first go around.

[AllDisney]

It's very dated. I look forward to it be replaced:mickey:

[big blue and hairy]

It's dated and lame. A short engagement would have been fine. It's worn out its welcome and looks kind of silly now.
I liked it in a retro sort of way. It is wierd. But...it is still infinitely better than Sounds Dangerous. :sick:

:sulley:

[LandFan]

Anything is better than HISTA! It is kinda cool in a retro way but I do hope they are planning for something new soon. A couple of years is enough of a re-run.

[PirateLover]

I had not seen it previous to this recent run, and I am a pretty big MJ fan, but DH and I left the theater looking like this :scratch:

[Jared]

Given the choice, I'd rather sit through Stitch's Great Escape than watch Captain EO again. I know I'd rather sit on a bench anywhere in the park for an hour and just watch people than sit through Captain EO.

[Disney4us2]

We HAVE to see it every time we go to DL. It is a must for my DD. She bacame a big MJ fan since his death. Captain EO is a part of our routine. We will be sad when it is time for it's run to end. We can always see it thought, since I taped it. Shhhhh:secret:

[Kairi_7378]

The only thing that my husband said after EO was "Wow, that was LOUD." He remembered it from before, and we wanted to try it once as a family. I don't think that we'd go back again. HISTA was among my least favorite attractions.

[kakn7294]

DH and DD12 love it but DD16 and I hate it. We try to ride Journey as many times as possible while they are in Captain EO. We're up to 4 in a row.

[Super Ninja]

I don't really get people saying it looks cheesey. The sets were for one amazing. I like the use of practical effects. The main villainess has a ridiculously great costume design, reminiscent of H.R. Giger (Alien) as well as the alien planet. Francis Ford Copola did a good job with it, and the main song is great. If you can't really dig that, I honestly question your taste for music. Sure it's a bit corny plot wise, but does it even matter? I think the message is good too, it's about tolerance for differences between people. So yeah, I hope it stays for a long time. Definitely one of the best things about my last trip to Epcot.

[Main Street Jim]

I don't really get people saying it looks cheesey. The sets were for one amazing. I like the use of practical effects. The main villainess has a ridiculously great costume design, reminiscent of H.R. Giger (Alien) as well as the alien planet. Francis Ford Copola did a good job with it, and the main song is great. If you can't really dig that, I honestly question your taste for music. Sure it's a bit corny plot wise, but does it even matter? I think the message is good too, it's about tolerance for differences between people. So yeah, I hope it stays for a long time. Definitely one of the best things about my last trip to Epcot.

Some people just don't get it, huh? :) Me? I *loved* EO the first time around - and I *still* love it. Even my 22yo daughter, who saw it for her one and only time after it first came back, *loved* it. Then again, she's REALLY into cheesy '80s stuff anyways, even though she was born at the end of the *best decade ever* :P

[PeterPan]

I saw Captain EO just two months after it opened. We stood in the rain for 2 hours - the line stretched all the way over to The Living Seas! It was truly spectacular, considering no one had ever seen a theater literally come to life. Needless to say, we were anxious to see it again after HISTA went away. I must say, we were not really disappointed. Not really. I mean, YES it's dated! But it was great to see Michael again, from a time when he was, shall we say, more innocent. However, I doubt we will go back for multiple viewings. I don't think my family is alone in this assessment - now that we visited it again for the sake of nostalgia, we probably won't go back. At least for a couple of years, but it probably won't last that long.

[HackLaSalle]

I thoroughly enjoyed having Captain EO back. The music is awesome but when you have so many fantastic examples of really good 3D both in the local theme parks and in theatres, the technical flaws really shine through.

I kept taking off my glasses to see if something was wrong with my eyes or it was actually the 3-D. That being said, I would have never wandered back there if something hadn't replaced HISTA. But I agree with the majority it's time for something else.

[Fastpasssteve]

I like it for two reasons:

I like a bit of nostalgia.

AND

It is good to see Michael Jackson in his early days of stardom...before he was used up by the machine.

Additionally, the light-up sequined glove they sell at the kiosk outside the theatre is so much fun. We bought them and played with them in the hotel room for half the night!!! Ha!

[BelleBeauty]

We absolutely loved it on our last trip and saw it 3 or 4 times. My husband was very nostalgic since he saw it as a kid. He even bought the Captain EO t-shirt in the gift store...

[pianobabe]

I saw it as a kid and was excited to get to see it again. DH had never seen it. When we first saw it together, he loved it and I didn't. On the trips we have made since then, he makes a point to go see it and I go do something else.

[Altair]

If you can't really dig that, I honestly question your taste for music.

I don't think I can consider Michael Jackson or Pop music in general to be the apex of musical taste.:ack:

[Super Ninja]

I don't think I can consider Michael Jackson or Pop music in general to be the apex of musical taste.:ack:

Then what do you listen to, classical, maybe? Michael Jackson was pretty much the best at what he did. I don't really see how you can make much of an argument against his vocals or the construction of his tracks either. Those are the best selling albums of all time for a reason, the music is very good. He was also one of the best at dance routines, which is another reason why movie is good entertainment.

[MNNHFLTX]

Please, folks, let's not get into a debate about Michael Jackson. Everyone's entitled to their opinion about the attraction, whether the enjoy it or not--that is the point of this thread.

[texas211]

I thought it was horrible then, worse now when compared to other attractions.

Worse, now that Journey is even sadder, makes EO and the whole pavilion even worse.

[Super Ninja]

Well for me, it breathed new life into the pavilion. I saw the film twice on the same day. I would have seen it again if I had time. Definitely wasn't as excited to do things like Mission Space or what have you.

[TinkerbellT421]

I was so extremely excited to have the opportunity to see it. I loved it. Before arriving at Disney the year they reopened it after Michaels passing DBF had told me about Captain EO. Knowing I was and am a HUGE MJ fan DBF told me all about it cause he had seen it in it originally back in the 80's when it was first created and told me all about it. He knew I would enjoy it.

I personally went to see it in this frame of mind, is it kind of lame and silly? Yes, in a Michael Jackson/Disney sort of way, but I love lame and silly. Is it kind of blah compared to the type of technology available today? Absolutely. BUT is it worth seeing, and knowing that this is the original version from the 80's, when the type of technology used for it was the best at that time? Absolutely.

IMO it is atleast worth seeing, but I definitely wouldn't go in thinking it is the best work available currently. But, it "was" the best of it's availability at the time it was made.

[Super Ninja]

s it kind of blah compared to the type of technology available today?

Have to disagree. Practical effects always look more realistic than CGI. xd I think the boomerang effect on this has already started. Prometheus uses mostly practical effects and sets and saved money versus what it would have cost to use worse looking CGI that would have produced worse acting.

Obviously, Captain EO didn't have the biggest budget ever, but I still think everything looks pretty cool. The claymation segments were also really nice.

[dizneydeb22]

It's all a matter of taste. My son who is 12, has been into MJ for a few years now and he loved it! Even with the 'cheesy' special effects, remember, they were state of the art for it's time. Just look at the new Clash of the Titans compared to the old. I still love the old! There's no reason for debate...like a previous poster said, it's a matter of opinion. I myself giggled at the plot and special effects, but still enjoyed it.
And everyone has different tastes in music, and just in general...that's what makes the world go round. Respect is key. I hope it stays at least until August! I want one of those t-shirts!:mickey:

[ronandjulie]

I guess it's easier for Disney to bring back something old rather than actually create something new. Sad. The entire Journey area is almost as big of a waste of space as the Wonders of Life pavillion or the Odyssey restaurant.

[ransam]

I saw it w/ my friend, and my sister. All 3 of us are MJ fans. For me it was ok. My sister really wanted to see it bad, and she didn't like it. My friend who is the #1 MJ fan in the wrold didn't even like it.
we all agreed that for when it was made was probably very good. But the story was kind of lame. and even the song was a very ordinary song by MJ standards.

[RBrooksC]

It was fine for what it was... a re-release in honor of the passing of Michael Jackson. However, That happened quite a while ago and now it is just as tired as HISTA. Actually, I would say even more tired due to the film itself.

The last time we were in Disney, we decided not to see this and we didn't miss it. Actually, I miss not riding the train around WDW more than I miss seeing this film.

There is enough in Epcot that missing this isn't a big deal.

[Stu29573]

I was really looking forward to seeing it, as I had not when it was first showing (for whatever reason). After the show my wife an I were both "meh."

I bet if I HAD seen it in its first run I might have enjoyed it, but I serioulsy enjoyed HISTA better...which isn't a glowing endorsement of that attraction either.

Once was enough. We need a new movie.

[LVT]

Hey, what's wrong with HISTA> I liked it.

[MNNHFLTX]

Obviously, Captain EO didn't have the biggest budget ever, but I still think everything looks pretty cool.It's all relative. Captain EO's final cost was over 23 million dollars, which made it one of the most expensive films (per minute) at that time.

[MOJoe]

Like the original poster, i had seen EO decades ago, loved it then, and was happy it had been brought back. I also have been skipping Honey for years. It is by far the weakest of the 3D shows, and just didn't interest me anymore.

Whether or not you are a MJ fan, which i am not. Or for that matter a John Cleese fan, which i am. The only question that matters is, which is the better film?

I have to go with Captain EO. Yes, it looks dated. And it's not as spectacular as it remembered. But i will see it again when we go back to Epcot. Instead of passing the Imagination Pavilion on the way to World Showcase.

That said, hopefully Disney is working on a new attraction. This move can only be a temporary fix. I just don't see EO having the fan base to keep the theatre humming. There is only so much time before EO begins to suffer the same fate as Honey.
Hurry Disney. Hurry.

[Super Ninja]

It's fine because Michael Jackson is relevant again as in selling ridiculous amounts of music recently. It's also a stand alone story that is unique to Epcot.

The Honey I Shrunk the Kids franchise is pretty much a forgotten cultural artifact at this point. No one cares about the movies anymore nor the TV show. It didn't have the staying power of other film franchises, because people don't care to go back and watch them again. On the other hand, Thriller, Bad, etc. still remain some of the most listened to albums.

So the reason why the replacement was made was obvious.