CherubimII
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Review of Capt. EO from a Cal St. Fullerton Univ. Student
Review: Captain EO
By Danielle Flint
Published: April 07, 2010
Photo by Adrian Gaitan/For the Daily Titan
If you haven’t already heard, the King of Pop is back on the big 3-D screen at the happiest place on earth. Michael Jackson stars as Captain EO in a 17-minute film with the same name, reclaiming the theater sandwiched between Space Mountain and Star Tours. Captain EO was a big hit in the ’80s, but waned in popularity as Jackson became less and less relevant. It was finally replaced with Honey, I Shrunk the Audience in 1998.
Its return sparked a wave of nostalgia amongst avid Jackson and Disney fans alike, and it was no surprise when they flocked to the Magic Eye Theater for opening day. Having only acquired the ability for long-term memory in 1994 and no interest in 3-D movies until 2000, I was unable to see Captain EO during its heyday. I, like many curious members of my generation, was eager to catch a glimpse of the cause of all the hubbub.
So, cutting to the chase – is Captain EO worth a side trip during your meticulously-planned day at Disneyland?
Yes.
However, I wouldn’t recommend an immediate journey to the rattling and bouncing theater, nor would I recommend more than one viewing for the rest of your adult life – once is enough, trust me.
Once you pass the gift shop window filled with “Captain EO” printed T-shirts (only $26.95!), you might find yourself face-to-face with a less than ideal wait time. I managed to slip in with a pair of goofy plastic glasses right as the doors opened and found a seat near the back, but don’t expect such a lucky break when you’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 300 of your closest friends. A woman whose job could easily be replaced by a recording welcomed the audience to the show, the crowd screamed and the room went dark.
What happened next is still hazy. I won’t give away all of the super sweet graphics (a rotating asteroid made of paper mache ominously floating toward my face was the most notable), but I will mention that it was hard to contain my laughter throughout most of it. Glowing rainbows flying out of MJ’s T-shirt and turning trash
monsters into attractive background dancers with feathered hair, a puppet-elephant-marshmallow ruining absolutely everything, and a robot with a mustache cloud my memory when I try to recall most of the film. The audience participation was the icing on the deliciously bad cake. I doubt Lady Gaga gets the sort of reception MJ did when his jerry-curled head popped onto the screen for the first time.
I was more impressed with the score during the film. “We Are Here to Change the World” had me tapping my toe against the sticky floor as the entire theater bopped along with the music.
The story was lacking, and the acting was sub-par at best, but that shouldn’t deter you from seeing Captain EO.
Michael Jackson’s 3-D debut is less about quality of storytelling and more about experience. There wasn’t a single person leaving the theater with a frown on their face, and, though reasons varied, (a nostalgic return to childhood, smug amusement or genuine enjoyment), no one was disappointed. Disney may be milking this cash cow for all he’s worth, but at least they’re doing it with a classic; I can’t wait to show my kids.
I’ll end this with the kind words a father shared with his young daughter when she asked if Captain EO might scare her:
“No, sweetie. The only scary thing to come out of the ’80s was Ronald Reagan.”
http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?...eview-captain-eo/&linkname=Review: Captain EO
http://www.dailytitan.com/2010/04/07/review-captain-eo/http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?...eview-captain-eo/&linkname=Review: Captain EO
Review: Captain EO
By Danielle Flint
Published: April 07, 2010
Photo by Adrian Gaitan/For the Daily TitanIf you haven’t already heard, the King of Pop is back on the big 3-D screen at the happiest place on earth. Michael Jackson stars as Captain EO in a 17-minute film with the same name, reclaiming the theater sandwiched between Space Mountain and Star Tours. Captain EO was a big hit in the ’80s, but waned in popularity as Jackson became less and less relevant. It was finally replaced with Honey, I Shrunk the Audience in 1998.
Its return sparked a wave of nostalgia amongst avid Jackson and Disney fans alike, and it was no surprise when they flocked to the Magic Eye Theater for opening day. Having only acquired the ability for long-term memory in 1994 and no interest in 3-D movies until 2000, I was unable to see Captain EO during its heyday. I, like many curious members of my generation, was eager to catch a glimpse of the cause of all the hubbub.
So, cutting to the chase – is Captain EO worth a side trip during your meticulously-planned day at Disneyland?
Yes.
However, I wouldn’t recommend an immediate journey to the rattling and bouncing theater, nor would I recommend more than one viewing for the rest of your adult life – once is enough, trust me.
Once you pass the gift shop window filled with “Captain EO” printed T-shirts (only $26.95!), you might find yourself face-to-face with a less than ideal wait time. I managed to slip in with a pair of goofy plastic glasses right as the doors opened and found a seat near the back, but don’t expect such a lucky break when you’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 300 of your closest friends. A woman whose job could easily be replaced by a recording welcomed the audience to the show, the crowd screamed and the room went dark.
What happened next is still hazy. I won’t give away all of the super sweet graphics (a rotating asteroid made of paper mache ominously floating toward my face was the most notable), but I will mention that it was hard to contain my laughter throughout most of it. Glowing rainbows flying out of MJ’s T-shirt and turning trash
monsters into attractive background dancers with feathered hair, a puppet-elephant-marshmallow ruining absolutely everything, and a robot with a mustache cloud my memory when I try to recall most of the film. The audience participation was the icing on the deliciously bad cake. I doubt Lady Gaga gets the sort of reception MJ did when his jerry-curled head popped onto the screen for the first time.
I was more impressed with the score during the film. “We Are Here to Change the World” had me tapping my toe against the sticky floor as the entire theater bopped along with the music.
The story was lacking, and the acting was sub-par at best, but that shouldn’t deter you from seeing Captain EO.
Michael Jackson’s 3-D debut is less about quality of storytelling and more about experience. There wasn’t a single person leaving the theater with a frown on their face, and, though reasons varied, (a nostalgic return to childhood, smug amusement or genuine enjoyment), no one was disappointed. Disney may be milking this cash cow for all he’s worth, but at least they’re doing it with a classic; I can’t wait to show my kids.
I’ll end this with the kind words a father shared with his young daughter when she asked if Captain EO might scare her:
“No, sweetie. The only scary thing to come out of the ’80s was Ronald Reagan.”
http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?...eview-captain-eo/&linkname=Review: Captain EO
http://www.dailytitan.com/2010/04/07/review-captain-eo/http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?...eview-captain-eo/&linkname=Review: Captain EO
:hysterical:
