Captain EO

Captain EO

Captain EO (alternately, Captain Eo) is a 3- D formerly shown at EPCOT. I was 12 at the time of it's release, and as many girls of the 1980's- I was CRAZY aboput Micheal Jackson. I HAD to see it, and see it I did. I was lucky to visit EPCOT during it's inaugural year of 1982 and remember well how I sat on the floor to view the movie (nope- no seating at all! You sat or stood.) and how I had these crazy purple glasses that we all had to wear. LOL!

The film stars Michael Jackson. It was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, executive-produced by George Lucas, choreographed by Jeffrey Hornaday, photographed by Vittorio Storaro, produced by Rusty Lemorande, and written by Lemorande, Lucas and Coppola. The score was written by James Horner, and featured two songs ("We Are Here to Change the World" and "Another Part of Me") by Michael Jackson. The Supreme Leader was played by Anjelica Huston.

The movie tells the story of Captain EO and the ragtag crew of his spaceship on a mission to deliver a gift to a wicked alien queen, the Supreme Leader, on her home world of rotting, twisted metal and steaming vents. Captain EO's alien crew consists of his small flying sidekick Fuzzball, the double-headed navigator and pilot Idee and Odee, robotic security officer Major Domo, a small robot Minor Domo (who fits like a module into Major Domo), and the clumsy elephant-like shipmate Hooter (Tony Cox) who always manages to blunder the crew's missions.

Upon arriving on the planet, the crew is captured and sentenced to be tortured. Before being sent away, EO tells the Queen that he sees the beauty hidden within her, and that he brings her the key to unlock it: his song.

The two robot members of the crew transform into music instruments and the crew members begin to play the various instruments. As Hooter runs toward his instrument, he trips over EO's cape and breaks his instrument, stopping the music. The spell broken, the Queen orders her guards to capture Captain EO and his crew.

Hooter manages to repair his instrument and sends out a blast of music, providing EO with the power to throw off the guards. He uses his power to transform the dark hulking guards into agile dancers who fall into step behind him for a dance number. As EO presses forward toward the Supreme Leader she unleashes her Whip Warriors, two cybernetic defenders each with a whip and shield that can deflect EO's power.

The others all run away leaving Captain EO to fight the whip warriors alone. EO is trapped by a closing gate and is preparing for a last stand as both the whip warriors draw their whips back for a final blow. Fuzzball drops his instrument and speedily flies over to tie the two whips together, causing the whip warriors to be thrown off balance giving EO an opportunity to transform them as well. With no further obstacles, EO uses his power to transform the Queen into a beautiful woman, her lair into a peaceful Greek temple and the planet into a verdant paradise.

A celebration breaks out as EO and his crew triumphantly exit and fly off into space.

Captain EO made full use of its 3-D effects. The action on the screen extended into the audience, including lasers, laser impacts, smoke effects, and starfields that filled the theater. These effects resulted in the seventeen-minute film costing an estimated $17 to $30 million dollars to produce. At the time it was the most expensive film ever produced on a per-minute basis.

Two new songs appeared in the film. The first, "Another Part of Me", later appeared on Jackson's hugely successful Bad album.

"We Are Here To Change The World", which was not officially released until 2004 as part of Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection. Soul/R&B singer Deniece Williams covered the song on her As Good As It Gets album (1988).^[1]

In the movie we see the blue elephantine creature Hooter play the keyboard. This is very reminiscent of George Lucas' Star Wars character Max Rebo who plays keyboard in Jabba's Palace.

It has been rumored that there might be a limited return of Captain EO to the Disney Theme parks as part of a "retro" look into the history of the parks. As well, rumors have circulated for some time of a home DVD release of Captain EO. Both seem very unlikely as there have been disputes in the past between Jackson and Disney over the use of his likeness (according to Disney staff at the theme parks) as well as contractual agreements that would have to take place between Disney and LucasFilm. Such a return would undoubtably be successful and draw massive attendance numbers, but also controversial considering Jackson's past legal problems. Bootleg DVD's taken from a BETA transfer as well as a direct transfer from the right projector film (3D requires two projectors) can also be found for sale online. Much of the effect of the film is lost however, as the movie is intended for 3D viewing in the custom theatres that housed the special effects.

Now- experience it for yourself and tell me what YOU think:

ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter!

The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (often abbreviated Alien Encounter) is a former Tomorrowland "theater-in-the-round" attraction in the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. It was one of my favorite attractions! It was a darkly humorous science-fiction experience that used binaural sound to achieve many of its effects- and yes, it scared the pee out of most kids (and some adults!).

A warning outside the attraction's entrance alerted guests that it was very intense; parents were recommended to not bring small children into the attraction. They were WARNED!!!!!!

It opened briefly for previews on December 16, 1994 on the site of the former Mission to Mars attraction, but was ordered closed for retooling by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner in January 1995. It opened officially on June 20, 1995 as part of the New Tomorrowland and closed permanently on October 12, 2003. It was replaced by Stitch's Great Escape!, which uses much of the same technology and set pieces.

While the attraction was short-lived, it developed a cult following among Disney fans. Some praised it for its sophisticated tone, a sharp contrast to a lot of the attractions at Disney's theme parks. It was like an adult escape within the attraction. Many people who love Disneyquest also know that there is an Alien Encounter interactive attraction in that building that opened at the same time. If you have not played that- it is fun!

The Ride Went Like This:

Guests are ushered into the "Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center" for a demonstration of new technology from an alien corporation known as X-S Tech. The company's chairman, L.C. Clench (Jeffrey Jones), sets the attraction's subtly sinister tone with a welcome that includes his corporate philosophy — If something can't be done with X-S [excess], then it shouldn't be done at all.

Next, guests proceed into a second area where an X-S robot known as the Simulated Intelligence Robotics (Tim Curry), or S.I.R. for short, demonstrates the company's "practically painless" teleportation technology using a cute little alien named Skippy. The creature's charred and disoriented appearance after being teleported a short distance across the room suggests that the technology is flawed.

Finally, guests are seated in harnesses within a circular chamber surrounding a teleportation tube. Clench and two X-S Tech employees, Spinlok (Kevin Pollak) and Dr. Femus (Kathy Najimy), communicate "live" from across the galaxy via video screens. Initially, a single guest is to be teleported out of the chamber for a meeting with Clench. Instead, Clench is "seized" by inspiration and decides to have himself teleported into the chamber to meet the entire group.

Clench's impatience and the change of plans cause the teleportation signal to be diverted through an unknown planet. As a result, a towering winged, carnivorous alien is beamed into the tube by mistake and quickly escapes. A power outage plunges the chamber into total darkness as guests sit helplessly restrained by their seat harnesses.

During the portions of the attraction that take place in darkness, binaural sound effects suggest that the alien is moving through the chamber, menacing the guests and even devours a maintenance man. In-seat effects contribute to the illusion, with the alien appearing to be breathing and at one point licking the guests. Spatters of blood were simulated by the spraying of water.

With assistance from the two X-S Tech technicians, the ravenous alien is ultimately driven back into the broken teleportation device and destroyed. Guests are then released from their seats.

I bet you didn't know:

* The attraction's binaural sound effects were developed by Walt Disney Imagineering in collaboration with George Lucas.

* Tyra Banks played the female alien who greets guests in the first preshow video, although her lines were voiced by another actress.

* Tim Curry voiced the Audio-Animatronic robot S.I.R. (Simulated Intelligence Robotics) in the second preshow area. In the original version, the character was voiced by Phil Hartman.

* Some of the other events in pre-show included a "Mission to Mars: History or Hoax", Championship Pet Show, and The Walt Disney Company Pan Galactic Stock Holders Meeting with a holographic transmission from Lunar Disneyland - The Happiest Place Off Earth.

* According to Internet reports, the attraction was originally going to feature the title creature from the 1979 movie Alien, but it was decided that the character was too scary.However, the creature is featured in a scene from Alien as part of The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

* A game within the DisneyQuest indoor interactive theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort called Invasion! An ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter features some of the X-S Tech mythology, although its game play bears no resemblance to the Tomorrowland attraction.

* In honor of co-creator George Lucas, a brief image of Darth Vader could be seen while the guests were being "scanned".

* Although the attraction closed down on October 12, 2003, the small alien Skippy (who was used in the first demonstration) still resides in the preshow chamber of Stitch's Great Escape.
* The term X-S in the ride is a pun. (Living your life with excess.)

* The audio-animatronic robot S.I.R in the preshow uses the same animatronic body that was Mr Johnson / Tom Morrow in the former Flight To The Moon / Mission to Mars attraction.

Now Experience It for Yourself in this Video!