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While everyone else talks about Michael Jackson’s preeminent talent and legendary milestones of music history, I like talking about the lesser known endeavors that are yet pretty grandiose.
He already made zombie history with the “Thriller” video. But did you know about his foray into science fiction just a few years later? It took the form of a short, 17-minute 3D movie called Captain EO which you could only see at Disney theme parks back in 1986 and thereabouts. Now you can see it on Youtube (see below).
The entire production was certainly geared to succeed by virtue of its chief players: It was directed by Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, etc.), executive-produced by George Lucas (Star Wars), scored by James Horner (Titanic), and starred actress Anjelica Huston as the villain. And, of course, Michael Jackson, who played the titular character and wrote two songs.
All right, so the plot is goofy, but it does have some very satisfying elements. In summary: The universe is in despair, so the “infamous” Captain EO leads his “ragtag” crew of muppetlike critters and robots on a last-ditch mission to save it with a clever musical stratagem. They fly their spaceship to a planet of machinery (which bears superficial resemblance to the Death Star) to the lair of a tyrannical queen known only as the Supreme Leader, where they int
end to deliver to her a "gift." When they crash land on her planet, are captured and brought before her, Captain EO is sentenced to 100 years of torture. But Michae…that is, EO unleashes his bardic talents, battles the Supreme Leader’s whip-wielding minions, and converts the lot of them into beings of light and beauty with the power of love and music. (I wonder that Jon Anderson of Yes didn't write the screenplay.)
It is really cheesy. The song (“We Are Here To Change the World”) and “Beat It”-style choreography that Captain EO uses to save the day seem like a Michael Jackson parody. But if you’re a Michael fan, you’ll love it. It's vintage Jackson, including his signature falsetto-shouts and even a little bit of moonwalking. Well, why not? It's Outer Space!
The special effects are pretty good for 1986. If you like '80s fantasy/sci-fi movies like Legend, Labyrinth, or Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (think Tina Turner’s character of Auntie Entity), you’ll enjoy Captain EO. I certainly did when I saw it at Disneyland as a kid and watching it again today it’s just about what I remembered. In truth, the movie is meant for theme park-visiting families—not jaded adults critiquing it from home computers!
The acting isn’t great. Michael Jackson is an incredible performer, but I suppose he’s allowed to be deficient in this one area. The Supreme Leader, to me, is by far the best part of the film. Years before Star Trek introduced the Borg Queen, Anjelica Huston portrayed this spider-like mistress of machine and metal, whose lower half is merely a nest of writhing wires that allow her to drift about. When Captain EO transforms her with his music-blasts into a colorful, dress-wearing woman at the end, I was a little sad. Why couldn’t she be allowed to keep her appearance? Why does everything benevolent have to look bright and cheery? Oh well. The costuming and the sets alone are amazing.
Captain EO is just one more imaginative work of art that Michael Jackson left his inimitable mark upon.
For more info: Michael Jackson’s Thriller remembered
More coverage on the death of Michael Jackson.
Comments
I remember as a kid that Captain EO was by far my favorite Disneyland attraction. A 3D film in the 80s costing 30 mil was huge. 3D films are just now starting to become popular. Captain EO is an incredible experiance and I would pay to see it in Disneyland again. Please bring back Captain EO Disneyland!
Captain EO is back! I don't know for how long so you should go now!
Wow. The first part is way more Star Wars than I'd remembered. In so many ways! I mean, that's so obviously the Millennium Falcon landing on the Death Star. Hooter, that little blue elephant guy who later plays keyboards in EO's band is quite obviously an analogue of Max Rebo from Jabba the Hutt's court band. Ah, the '80s. I also like how the Supreme Leader* also becomes mute once EO turns her..."good" or...whatever.
And it was quite a surprise to hear "Another Part of Me" for the second song. I figured it was a couple of no-name songs, but that was was big in its own right, also being from Bad.
*Also, it's curious that the baddie here is called "Supreme Leader" and accuses EO of being an infidel. Curious, indeed.
I'd forgotten about Captain EO.
I'm most nostalgic for his audiobook rendition of E.T. I had it on vinyl, and I think I wore it out as a kid.
I have 2 Captain EO promotional posters from Disney World, I wonder if they are worth anything.
"*Also, it's curious that the baddie here is called "Supreme Leader" and accuses EO of being an infidel. Curious, indeed."
Yes, quite.
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