Difference between revisions of "Captain EO"

Revision as of 18:19, 16 March 2012

Captain EO is an attraction located in the Imagination! pavilion in Epcot.

Attraction History

Captain EO got it's beginning when Michael Jackson's adviser, David Geffen called Disney. The pop singer was coming off the blockbuster album, Thriller and Geffen though that Jackson (a huge Disney fan) should make a movie for the company. Geffen called his longtime friend and the head of the Disney Studio, Jeffrey Katzenberg and pitched his idea. Although Disney was interested in the the idea, Katzenberg and Michael Eisner asked Jackson if he would make a movie/music video for Disneyland. Imagineer Rick Rothschild then drew up three different story lines. Both he and Jackson picked the same one to do: Captain EO.

As part of his agreement to do the attraction however, Jackson insisted that either George Lucas or Steven Spielberg be involved in the project. Since George Lucas was already working with Disney to create Star Tours, he was brought in to work on the movie. Joining him, was director Francis Ford Coppola, actress Angelica Houston and Rusty Lemorande (who wrote the screenplay with Lucas). Famed composer James Horner, wrote the score for the film, and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro worked the lighting and photography. Jackson also wrote two new songs for the attraction, "We Are Here To Change the World" and "Another Part of Me". The movie was shot in 3D, and in-theater effects were used to enhance guests experience. Because of these effects, many consider Captain EO to be the first 4D movie ever created.

On July, 6 1994, following a decrease in both the film and Jackson's popularity, Captain EO was replaced by a new 4D film, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. MTV showed the film (in regular 2D) on June 26, 1996, the only known time the film was shown outside of the Disney Parks. On July 2, 2010, following the death of Michael Jackson, the film returned to Epcot. It replaced Honey, I Shrunk the Audience almost exactly 16 years after it closed. Although the film has returned, many of the in-theater effects were removed when Honey, I Shrunk the Audience was built.

Attraction Plot

In the movie Captain EO leads his rag-tag team through space, trying to save the universe.

Preshow

The preshow for the current incarnation of the attraction, consists of the made for TV special "The Making of Captain EO". The documentary was directed by Muffett Kaufman and hosted by Whoopi Goldberg. The film show interviews with cast, crew and producers of the film.

Main Film

Captain EO begins with a male narrator setting the scene. He tells guests:

"The cosmos: a universe of good and evil where a small group struggles to bring freedom to the countless worlds of despair; a rag-tag band led by the infamous Captain EO."

A two headed alien pilot is then shown talking to itself. One head is name Idey while the other is named Odey. The two discuss how the planet they are approaching does not look dangerous, and informs guests that they are looking for a homing beacon. They then tell Hooter (a small elephant looking elephant) that they have almost arrived. Hooter and a robot named Major Domo, tell the pilots not to get too close or they will trip an intruder alert. Just as Idey and Odey are saying they "won't blow it", the intruder alarm goes off. As the two try to blame Hooter for their mistake, Captain EO (Michael Jackson)rises up on a platform and tells them they are "going in". Major Domo tells the captain that their ship is not condition to fight, when Captain EO replies:

Hooter! Listen! The Command considers us a bunch of losers. But we're gonna do it right this time, 'cause we're the best. We don't we'll be drummed out of the corps.

All the members of his crew then assure them that they will not fail, but Idey and Odey inform them that an enemy patrol ship is flying by. Although Captain EO initially tries to out run them,

References

http://www.intercot.com/edc/Imagination/eo.html