![A costume worn by Michael Jackson in the movie, "Captain EO," was on display at the 2009 D23 Expo.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/hash/e5/51/e55174fbde63de876897ccc721902147.jpg "A costume worn by Michael Jackson in the movie, "Captain EO," was on display at the 2009 D23 Expo.")
Michael Jackson's Captain EO, the 17-minute film made exclusively for Disney's Theme Parks, is returning for a limited engagement to Disneyland in California in February 2010. It was announced on December 18 that this revolutionary 3-D film, which cost an estimated $30 million to make, would finally be shown to audiences again after a 12-year absence.
Although it is billed as a 3-D film, Captain EO is really a 4-D film, utilizing not only spectacular 3-D effects requiring the viewer to where 3-D glasses, but also external in-theater effects including lasers shot over audience members' heads and effects such as smoke and stars coming out of the ceiling and walls. According to Wikipedia, at the time it was the most expensive film ever produced on a per-minute basis, averaging out at $1.76 million per minute.
The film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and executive produced by George Lucas. The film stars Michael Jackson as Captain EO, the leader of an alien spaceship crew. Captain EO and his crew face destruction from the evil "Supreme Leader" played by Angelica Huston. The film, which could be considered a music video, features two Jackson songs, "Another Part of Me" which later appeared on the Bad album, and "We Are Here to Change the World", which finally appeared on the 2004 compilation, Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection.
The film premiered at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida on September 12, 1986. It debuted six days later at Disneyland and ran continuously through April 1997. Captain EO played in the 500-seat Magic Eye Theater in Disneyland's Tomorrowland. To celebrate the premiere at Disneyland, the park remained open for 36 hours continually and attendees received a souvenier t-shirt. Captain EO was also shown at Disney Parks in Japan and France.
Disneyland reports that “Honey I Shrunk The Audience” will be closing sometime in the next few weeks to make way for Captain EO’s return.
Related articles:
Chinese resort to open Michael Jackson memorabilia shrine featuring rhinestone glove (VIDEO)
Michael Jackson to follow Elvis Presley and The Beatles with new Cirque du Soleil show? (VIDEO)
Inside Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch (slideshow)
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Comments
I bought a DVD of this short film, but I can't wait to experience it in 4-D. MJ rocks.
Sounds like a fascinating film, thanks for the article Trina. On a fun note I wrote an article on the sexiest accent in the world. See which country won and where the Americans stood: http:(forward slash twice)www(dot)examiner(dot)com/examiner/x-29076-SF-World-Travel-Examiner~y2009m12d21-Traveling-to-find-the-worlds-sexiest-accent-how-does-yours-compare#
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