Captain Eo?

[Tropical Wilds]

Can anyone tell me why Disney decided to start showing Captain EO at WDW again recently?

I get that it used to be a show that was popular but since then, Jackson has gone from popular superstar to a known child molesting pervert who was known to take seriously large amount of drugs and was finally killed by his "doctor".

Why on earth is a show celebrating his life considered to be suitable in a theme park frequented mainly by children? Looking online very few people seem even the slightest bit concerned about it, am i missing something here?

I've seen Captain Eo 9 times in the parks, countless times via YouTube and each time, it was about a guy in a bizarre ship with an even stranger crew going to a planet to sing to Angelica Huston. Nothing about celebrating his life... Unless his life is way more epic than was ever reported.

In seriousness though, I love Captain Eo, and I get what it's about. I'm very happy Disney brought it back... I never got to see it during it's first run (it closed months before I made it to EPCOT for my first trip). I'm a child of the 80's and that show takes me right back to a time that I remember very, very fondly. And the movie, it's not about the best special effects, cutting edge technology, nor is it designed to be a theater experience on par with Avatar. It's just the revival of a movie done by a man that, when he passed, really affected a lot of people. And, believe it or not, when the movie first came out it was an absolute sensation not only what it was in terms of special effects and full-range 3D, but because it promised to have the first glimpse of the first song to come off of the "Bad" album, which there's no denying is a HUGE force in pop culture, music, and entertainment history.

I know I'm not the only one who loves it... Like a PP stated, even when I went in off-off-off season, the theater was still 75% full and finished with cheers, claps, and a few standing ovations. People sang on the way out of the movie theater, fondly talked about how they were kids when they saw it at Disney last... It was pretty cool to see people in their 40s and 50s thinking back to previous Disney trips from decades ago and having that feeling again. Of course, there were people that hated it, thought it was stupid, etc etc... But that's every show and ride. I doubt this one will be around long, but I know tons of people are enjoying it.

As for MJ the man, all I will say on that is that even the most surface of research into the allegations against him and you'll see why he was aquitted and was almost certainly not a child molester. He was absolutely a very troubled person with serious emotional and mental issues, who relied on people he shouldn't have to help him cope, who existed in a life that would be as hard for us to concieve of as a normal life was impossible for him to concive of was. He was preyed on for his money, fame, and talent his whole life, right up to his death and long after. And none of that comes up at any point during Captain Eo.

So... I'm off my soapbox.

 

[drp4video]

i saw it for the first time in September last year and I thought it was outdated and awful. And there were a lot of those around me who felt the same. I thought it was a mess. As one who loved and still does love his music, I hated it, as did my 24 year old daughter.

Obviously Disney had no plan to bring it back until the death of Michael Jackson. I personally feel it would have been better to have left it in the vault.

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

it was about a guy in a bizarre ship with an even stranger crew going to a planet to sing to Angelica Huston. Nothing about celebrating his life... Unless his life is way more epic than was ever reported.

That made me snort-laugh!

I love it, too, and I'm hoping it will still be there for our Oct. trip so my children will be able to enjoy it in all its corny gloriousness.

 

[rabbitroger]

Goodness - next time you're at Disney, take a real close look around.

Pirates of the Caribbean? NOT a nice buncha fellows (and don't forget about Anne Bonny). Murderers, theives, the whole nine yards.

Cinderella? In the original Grimms Brothers story, the evil stepsisters were forced to wear iron shoes heated red hot ..... and dance in them until they died.

Snow White? As I recall, her stepmother paid someone to tear her living heart out...... and Snow ended up living with a buncha bachelors in a hideway in the woods, under somewhat dubious circumstances.

"Why on earth would these characters be considered to be suitable in a theme park frequented mainly by children?"

you gave two fictional examples and one example which is a fictional re-imagining of something that happened centuries ago.

Michael Jackson was REAL, his crimes happened recently, the show was restarted months after his death. Maybe it's one of these US only things but i can't imagine any theme park in the UK deciding a show about Gary Glitter to be appropriate entertainment.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

you gave two fictional examples and one example which is a fictional re-imagining of something that happened centuries ago.

Michael Jackson was REAL, his crimes happened recently, the show was restarted months after his death. Maybe it's one of these US only things but i can't imagine any theme park in the UK deciding a show about Gary Glitter to be appropriate entertainment.

MJ was found innocent. Even the most simple of searches on the subject reveals why he was found innocent and that he was most likely targeted by people looking to make a fast buck. The first allegation he was never charged for, police said there was overwhelming evidence that nothing occured, and the disgrunted father (who had been inactive in his son's life until his family became friends with MJ) was caught on tape planning to extort MJ. The child (repeatedly), his mother, and 30 other witnesses said nothing ever happened. It was settled out-of-court by proxy (he was in treatment and gave the legal rights away during the time on the grounds that he was unable to make decisions at that time) by his wife and Elizabeth Taylor, against his wishes, out of concern for his health. The father, who made the accusations, went on to kill himself and the boy got himself legally emancipated from his parents very shortly after this whole thing. The family of the second child had a long history of trying to extort celebrities and companies for money... To the point where George Lopez told MJ to stay away. The lawyer from the previous suit, who carried on a long and well-documented vendetta against MJ, sought the family out and talked them into making accusations in the hopes he'd settle out-of-court. The stories, even among the accusing family members, didn't match, a search of MJ's house found nothing incriminating, the descriptions of MJ nude by the accusers were incorrect, and there were dozens of witnesses who came forward to say that not only did nothing happen but that the family had been in plans for years to meet MJ with the final goal of extorting him for money, as they did to George Lopez. In the end, he was charged and found innocent by unanimous jury vote on the first round of voting and the evidence was so flimsy there wasn't even a civil suit brought forward.

Gary Glitter was not found innocent. Several times. In several countries. Over several decades. And has admitted to "behavior that could be misinterpreted of an intimate nature with people who consented to activity they were not legally able to consent to in hindsight."

As for it being "US only," that'd be wrong... It has reopened in the US, France, and Japan.

And again, none of this was brought up during Captain Eo.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

And if we're going to put the performers under scruity at Disney themeparks, let me just point out:

Tim Allen ~ Where to begin there... Admitted former hardcore drug user, arrested and jailed for 2 years on drug trafficking charges (he pled guilty to avoid life in jail), arrested in 1997 (2 years after the first "Toy Story" and during a whole bunch of Disney-owned movies he made) for drunk driving.

Owen Wilson ~ Admitted hardcore drug user, attempted suicide after a failed relationship. Has a child out of wedlock.

Johnny Depp ~ Admitted hardcore drug user and alcoholic (he's said he's in recovery but recent events prove otherwise), arrested twice for public intoxication and assault, in a long-term unmarried relationship with a model. On record as making "anti-American comments."

Kelsey Grammar ~ Admitted alcoholic and drug user, arrested numerous times, had a alcohol related accident where he destroyed a car, the star in a well-circulated sex tape, mutiple divorces and allegations of not supporting his kids financially.

Matthew Broderick ~ In a car accident that resulted in the death of two people after a suspected alcohol binge. Was supposed to go to jail for up to 5 years, ended up paying a fine of $175.

Mel Gibson ~ Do I even need to get into that one? Dude is off his rocker. Admitted alcoholic, drug user, wife beater, possibly guilty of assaulting a child (was sued and settled, just like MJ... Though unlike MJ he was behind the choice to settle, not a lawyer), racist, sexist, religiously biased...

Do you see that when you see Buzz Lightyear, Lightning McQueen, Jack Sparrow (ok, maybe Jack Sparrow), Lotso, Simba, and John Smith? Are those qualities glorified and celebrated by Disney when they hire these guys?

Then why would you see it with Captain Eo and MJ?

 

[richmo]

I imagine the only reason Eo is showing is because of the death of Michael Jackson.

I remember seeing it when it first came out in the 80's and wasn't too impressed then. When I was last at Epcot, I took another look to see if my impressions changed. Nope.

I was hoping Eo would be replaced by my next trip to Epcot, but that isn't going to happen. I'll skip it this time and look forward to a new, permanent replacement.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

you gave two fictional examples and one example which is a fictional re-imagining of something that happened centuries ago.

So, close Captain Eo for now and re-open it in 2212?

 

[minnie mum]

MJ was found innocent.

No he was NOT. He was found not guilty. There is a big difference and the two terms are not interchangeable.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

No he was NOT. He was found not guilty. There is a big difference and the two terms are not interchangeable.

He was found not guilty, which by the law means that he's innocent of the crimes he was charged with. One can't be cleared of charges, found not guilty, but still be guilty of the crime or not innocent, especially in our "innocent until proven guilty" judicial system. The one time charges were brought against him, a unanimous not guilty verdict was returned on the first vote and the evidence against him was so flimsy that there wasn't even a civil trial that would have had the potential to find him socially/civilally responsible for the alleged crime.

So in short, in a civil court and criminal court, he was found not guilty, and in civil court he wasn't even pursued, meaning in a civil context he's innocent or not responsible for or of the alleged crimes.

 

[minnie mum]

Whatever helps you sleep at night....

 

[Rhongepooh]

The eleventh rule to the fight club is you DON'T mention Micheal Jackson!

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Whatever helps you sleep at night....

Why so rude? Is that really necessary?

In one case there was not enough evidence to charge for a crime (though there was enough to persue the father of the accuser), the second he was aquitted. It's not about what helps me sleep at night, that's the facts. No need to be nasty about it. If you disagree, I wasn't on the jury, don't take it out on me.

 

[Huff]

Pirates of the Caribbean? NOT a nice buncha fellows

POTC used to have pirates chasing women. The PC crowd protested so now the scene has women chasing the pirates for stealing bread. Ya, thats what really must have happened in the time of pirates!

 

[DisneyDetective]

ROFLMAO!! - almost spit out my mouthful of popcorn!!

Haha! I never liked this attraction!

 

[Huff]

you gave two fictional examples and one example which is a fictional re-imagining of something that happened centuries ago.

Johnny Depp is a character in POTC. MJ is a character in Captain EO. POTC fictionalizes something that happened centuries ago. Captain EO fictionalizes something happens centuries from now. Both are fictional entertainment.

Your trouble is with MJ more than the show itself. Many don't care for Depp for a variety of reasons both on and off stage. Should they remove him from POTC?

 

[minnie mum]

Why so rude? Is that really necessary?

In one case there was not enough evidence to charge for a crime (though there was enough to persue the father of the accuser), the second he was aquitted. It's not about what helps me sleep at night, that's the facts. No need to be nasty about it. If you disagree, I wasn't on the jury, don't take it out on me.

But you were the one insisting that being found not guilty is the same thing as being innocent. That is not the case. In your American system of justice, the accused is presumed innocent until found guilty by a jury of his peers. That is not the same thing as being innocent. To think otherwise is simplistic. Because there is insufficient evidence to procede does not mean a crime wasn't commited. And aquittal does not necessarily prove innocence. I think there have been enough high profile cases in your own country to illustrate that point quite clearly.

 

[WDSearcher]

Let's presume for a second that the OP was looking for an actual answer as opposed to stirring the pot to create just the kind of opinionated discussion that minnie mum and Tropical Wilds are having.

The reason that Captain EO was brought back to the Disney parks is pretty simple -- attendance. Bringing back a "classic" attraction to show to a totally new audience is a way to create something "new" on a much smaller budget than a new attraction would need. So it brings back something that has a definite market (MJ fans) as well as adding something that older Disney fans have seen and may take their kids to. Piggybacking off of MJ's death was an opportunity to bring more people in the gate, and Disney took it.

If you've never seen Captain EO, then you may not be aware of the plot line, which in no way celebrates anyone's life. It's a long-form music video, plain and simple. At the time, it was somewhat groundbreaking. As it stands now, it's fun and campy and silly and certainly doesn't glorify Michael Jackson.

If you think that it's an improper attraction for a theme park, you can certainly feel free to write to Disney and express that opinion. I'm sure that when they made the decision to resurrect the attraction, Disney was aware it would cause a negative reaction with some people and they're ready for it. If you don't think it should be there, then you certainly don't have to go to it. Thankfully, there are many other attractions and shows to see.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

It was a tribute to MJ. Appearently, it won't leave until people stop coming to it. Once there's barely any people, the doors will shut and something new will come in. About freaking time.

 

[wdwislife]

I'm surprised this thread is still open!