'Captain EO' Showed Michael Jackson in Transition

CLEVELAND - With the return of Captain EO to Disney theme parks nationwide this week, I felt that it was a perfect time to dissect the life of its star during that time. That star of course, was Michael Jackson.

My biggest inspiration.

Jackson's life was in great transition during the time that the 17-minute, space fantasy film was created and ultimately released. It was shot in great secrecy during the second half of 1985 and edited during the first half of 1986. It premiered at Disney parks nationwide in September and became an instant hit, wildly popular particularly because it was filmed in 3-D. Michael had dominated music and pop culture during 1983 and 1984 with the historic success of his Thriller album and accompanying music videos and trademark costumes. But after he and his brothers finished the critically panned Victory tour in December 1984, the national love affair with MJ began to fade.

Michael surfaced in early 1985 to co-write and feature in the charity single "We Are the World," but then he disappeared for more than a year and a half. When he resurfaced in the Captain EO flick, his facial appearance had changed subtly and his music and dance style became more combative, though only for reasons of "doing good." When EO premiered, Michael had just turned 28-years old and his face had become a shade lighter than it had been. His lips even somehow looked different, and his chin had more definition. Everyone else criticized MJ for the changes, but I was still excited about his creativity and his look.

At the time of EO's release, Michael had been absorbing negative press for over a year for the first time in his iconic career. Tales of him sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber and buying the Elephant Man's bones had surfaced in the print and news media and caused people to brand him weird. The music industry was changing as well and Jackson was experiencing strong competition from many directions, including from his 20-year old sister Janet, who released her first brilliant album, Control in '86.

Michael's next solo album, Bad was released a year after Captain EO. His lyrics, style of dress and thematic elements of the short films from the album continued what began in the Disney film. He was tough, aggressive and eager to send in-your-face messages. Thus, Captain EO should be considered the bridge between the calm and tame Michael that could do no wrong and the brash and "street" MJ that was more controversial and possessed a "me against the world" sensibility.

Whatever edition of Michael that the world got, I was very pleased with. He was always an evolving genius and will forever be.

Bravo, Michael.