As I sat in Newark-Liberty International Airport, the snow was falling so thick we could hardly see the runways outside. Our plane was originally schedule to depart around 11:30 AM. By that time, it had already been pushed back to 12:54 PM and my family had been at the terminal for nearly three hours. But as noon approached, the snow relented and a plane was soon spotted taxi-ing to our assigned gate. By 1 PM, the JetBlue staff started to board us. Once everyone was seated, we pulled away from our gate, but we were nowhere near departure.
Because of the weather, the plane had to be de-iced. That was slated to take about another twenty minutes, according to the pilot. While that was finishing, he came on to tell us a mechanical problem had been discovered and needed to be addressed before we could depart. And so, an hour after boarding the plane, we finally took off from Newark-Liberty International Airport and left the frozen tundra that was New Jersey and New York City behind us.
Our flight was uneventful and thankfully, we did not hit any turbulence. The complimentary beverages were fine as were the snacks (I had ginger ale and munchies). My only complaint was with the TV at my seat. One thing that makes the delays more bearable is the fact you have your own TV to watch while waiting, or you could listen to music as well. There is a control panel on your arm rest to allow you to do so. Mine was broken. I was stuck in sports channels and could move sometimes if I pressed hard enough. When it switched over to the TV after takeoff, I was stuck watching Maury. After find out who was and who wasn’t cheating with random girls out of town or their fiance’s mother or confirming they were the baby-daddy, I decided just to spend the rest of the flight listening to my iPod and reading my Kindle.
The sky was clear and the sun was starting to set as we touched down in Orlando International Airport. As we had signed up for Disney’s Magical Express, we didn’t have to pick up our luggage—a cast member would do that for us and bring it to our room. We proceeded straight to the Magical Express check in and were able to board our bus immediately. I read that there was a decline in Magical Express ridership and I find that odd. It makes everything easier—no need to worry about your luggage and direct transportation to your hotel.
After a stop at the Caribbean Beach Resort, our bus pulled up to Pop Century Resort. My mother and I went to check in and soon we were on our way to our rooms. This time we’re staying in the 90’s, which we’ve nicknamed “Guam.” After putting our stuff in our rooms, we returned to catch the bus to the Magic Kingdom. We go there at the start of every trip and ride the WEDway People Mover—but last time we went, it was closed due to the refurbishment of Space Mountain.
After dinner at Cosmic Ray’s and a spin on Buzz Lightyear, we hopped from monorail to monorail to go to Epcot, which had the magical hours that night. (It was one of the monorails specially designed to promote Tron Legacy). We quickly found ourselves on Space Ship Earth before going to see how the lines looked at Mission: Space. The green team line was short and after, we ran over to Test Track. We were actually able to get on the stand-by line and ride together, and then hung out in the show room to wait for some friends who had come down a few days earlier than us.
Once we were all together, we went to Soarin’, which only had a thirty minute wait (if that). As they had been in the park the entire day, we bid each other a goodnight and they headed to the exit. We, on the other hand, turned to the Imagination Pavilion—it was time to revisit Captain Eo! The movie premiered in 1986 (the year I was born) and was removed in the early 1990s, so I have very dim memories of it. My sister never saw it.
In the waiting area, they play the original pre-show. It is a behind the scenes feature with Coppola, Lucas and Jackson as well as the crew and dancers. During which, all my sister could say was “Look at that 80’s hair!” We entered the theater and sat down to experience “Captain Eo.”
Since we’re talking George Lucas, this is set in space! Captain Eo is part of a group that keeps the universe good. We are told two conflicting details about this captain: that he is a respected captain and that he has bungled a mission or two. So it’s hard to peg him—the efficient hero who gets the job done or the misfit leader who gets by by the skin of his teeth. However, after viewing the whole movie, it seems that they were going for misfit leader with unorthodox ways that gets results. We come into Eo’s ship, manned by robots and rejected Muppets. As they rush around and yell at each other, up rises Michael Jackson. He looks like a mighty hero, a captain you would follow, and just seriously badass.
And then he speaks.
It’s hard to take someone seriously as a serious badass space captain when he sounds like he never hit puberty! Anyway, it is revealed that Eo and his crew are on their way to a planet to deliver a gift to its leader. However, one of the Muppet Reject Crew has lost the map and they’ve been spotted by the planet’s defenses. Once they crash into the homing device, they must get to the leader—which is easy as they are quickly captured.
The planet’s leader looks like a cross between a spider and how you usually find all your extension cords—knotted together in a giant ball. Everything is black, white and grey and she hisses like a snake. Captain Eo calls her beautiful but it is buried, needing to be unlocked. He is going to unlock it for her. As his crew turns into the Muppet Reject Band, the queen sends her robotic forces after him. Once the music begins, the soldiers are turned into dancers wearing orange and yellow costumes. They form a small army behind Captain Eo and start dancing.
And here’s where we get to see Michael relive his glory days, his Thriller success. His dancing ability is mesmerizing and you only watch him (though he is the only one in white). He then starts singing a song with the chorus of “We are here to change the world”. It is such an 80’s sentiment, though it is interesting to note that at one point, the queen calls Captain Eo and the Muppet Reject Crew “Infidels.” As the dancing army continues to sing, Captain Eo continues to convert more of her soldiers into his backup dancers.
Now, he has enough power to convert the queen. In a flash of neon, the wire-spider disappears and in her place we get…well, as my sister said “Angelica Huston?” She doesn’t speak, just waves as Captain Eo realizes his mission is complete. He dances out of the palace, Muppet Reject Crew once again with him. As their ship sails back into the black of space, the Captain Eo logo is brought back up.
Like most Disney 3-D films, this one also has ways of putting you right in the middle of the action. When there are blinking lights on screen, they blink in the theater. As the spaceship engages in battle and swoops through a set that looks oddly reminiscent of the Death Star, the theater rattles as well. When the queen sends out her robotic minions, their whips lash against your own leg as they hit Eo’s.
Overall, it is a very dated piece—and not just by how good Michael Jackson looks. The sentiments and the outfits are clearly from the 80’s. While I wouldn’t mind a return of the former, the latter can stay clearly there. (As you can tell, I’m not a big fan of 80’s fashion). If you find yourself in Epcot one of these days, I definitely recommend a stop to see Captain Eo. If only to just remember what Michael Jackson once was.
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