Captain EO (1986)

This is a sci-fi short that was shown at Disneyland, starring Michael Jackson as Captain EO, who and his space crew are on a mission to save the world from the Supreme Leader (Angelica Huston) by giving her a song and dance.This movie short is a like a longer-than-usual music video, with some pretty neat special 3D effects; when I was in the theater, I thought I got the lucky seat when Huston's long fingernails were reaching out at me.Overall, it was a so-so attraction. It wasn't too exciting, just lots of loud music and classic 80s dance styles with dark scenes and somewhat cool special effects.Grade C+

Horrible excuse for a "movie" (mostly just an extended music video). What's wrong with it: 1. It proved what a terrible actor MJ was.2. Effects were mediocre even for the time when it was made. Terrible stop motion effects when the robot turned into the drum set. Terrible green/blue screen effects: When the orange gerbil flies around you can see where the puppeteers hand goes in it's backside.3. Puppets and creature costumes you'd expect to see in a cheapo Sid and Marty Kroft Saturday morning kids TV show (like Liddsville). 4. Group dance routine that looks like a lame retread of Thriller and Bad.5. The same group of recycled MJ dance moves he used in EVERY music video: thrusts crotch, wiggles fingers, does some "walk like an Egyptian" move, grabs crotch, moonwalks, repeat, etc.6. Completely forgettable song.Absolutely nothing original. The only entertaining part is when a character exclaims "Captain, there's something weird out there!" and I'm thinking "What, something even weirder than Michael Jackson?"

While the 3D effects were thrilling for 1986 this film does not hold up well thru time. Since its heyday we have seen many 3D movies that have better effects and do not have the distinction of having dated music. This was not just a movie. There were several site specific effects during the show that cannot be duplicated if this were ever to be released on DVD. Such as lasers shooting over the heads of the theatergoers, searchlights in the audience and smoke. The effects are terrible by 2006 standards. Michael Jackson is terrible and unconvincing as a space captain. The creatures look like toys and the costumes are dated. So much so that during the climax... the big scene... the huge production number... you'd swear it was Xanadu. The story is thin. Even though this tops out at a little over 17 minutes it seems they story is stretched to fill that time. Oh Francis why did you do this? Best to let this one fade away.

Captain EO was the greatest attraction I'd seen in my life up to that time. As a matter of fact, it's still the greatest. I love theme parks and I've seen a lot of attractions. Spiderman at Universal comes close.I was in my twenties when EO was released and the film made me feel like a big kid. I wasn't too concerned about the plot and the acting as much as the effects, music and dancing. I got everything I bargained for and then some. I was sad to see it go. If they ever brought it back, I'd be first in line to see it!All I know is it was an attraction that I could feel. Captain EO was a trend setter. It ran as a 3D attraction, but it was more like a 4D. There was smoke and lasers to go with the 3D effects. I experienced Captain EO at least 20 times and every single time, there was roaring applause at the end.Great!