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I think it was back in the mid-late 80's Francis Ford Coppola DIRECTED (!) a Michael Jackson sci-fi short movie that was to be apart of a Disney theme ride or something? It might have been in 3-D.

Is this nugget available anywhere?

I don't know why, but for the last 20 years or so I wanted to this little masterpiece. It certainly had to be the nadir of Coppola's career.

MICHAELK JACKSON KICKS ASS!

"Captain Eo" was a 4-D "ride-film". That is, a short movie that makes you feel that you are living the movie, instead of watching it.

Hence, getting it on DVD or VHS would ruin the whole mood (and point) of the movie.

Disney World  no longer shows it, but it has other "ride films".

In Epcot Center, there is "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience". In there, taking place after "Honey I Blew Up the Kid" but before "Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves", you are ata scientific convention that will show you how Wayne Szalinski's shrink ray works. Unfortunately, something goes wrong and you get shrunk to action figure size!

In Disney MGM Studios, there is "Muppet 4-D Theater". In there, you are the guest of honor in a very special edition of  The Muppet Show as Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker unveil their lastes invention: the first computer-animated muppet! Waldorf and Statler are seated in the blacony next to you, and The Swedish Chef watches you from the projection booth.

In Animal Kingdom, there is "It's Tough to be a Bug". There, you get shrunk to bug size as Flik and the cast of "A Bug's Life" shows you how life is for bugs, and why bugs desrve respect too.

In Universal Studios, there is "Terminator 3-D: Battle Across Time". Taking place after "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" but before "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", you join Sarah Connor, John Connor and the T-800 Terminator as they battle Skynet's evil machines all across time.

Also, there is "Shrek 4-D". Taking place before the first movie but after the second movie, you join Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona as they battle the ghost of Lord Farquaad, who came back from the grave to enact his revenge on our heroes (and you, of course).

Don't know what "4-D" is/means --
I remember I saw "Eo" in the same building as the Space Mountain ride in Disneyland proper, Anamheim, California, back in '87 or so.  I was out working on a play & the producer took us all there one day as a treat.
I remember that the 3-D effect of the little bug thing that flew out of the screen was pretty cool, but the film itself . . . good lord . . .
I remember Jackson's voice, which was that of a small pre-teen girl.  We were asked to accept that this mincing elf was the commander of a spaceship.  No way.  Nope.  Sorry . . .
The acting was very bad, the story was cheesy, the music(!!) and musical dance number were sort of identical to every other Michael Jackson video -- you had the mass dancers of "Thriller", etc. etc.  
Really, the 3-D effects WERE impressive -- very impressive -- but the film sucks sucks sucks, and not in a fun way either.  
Disney should/could bring back the technology or keep working on holographic projection, but if "Eo" is lost to time, it's really only a loss for technical completists.
peter johnson/denny crane

Taking place before the first movie but after the second movie

I think my head hurts.

I saw EO several times at Disneyland and enjoyed it a lot.  Of course I was very young at the time and perhaps too forgiving.  Really it is possibly the only Michael Jackson artifact that I actually liked...that and the "Billy Jean" video.  That was cool.

I remember seeing the 'Captain Eo' uniform on display somewhere.  It looked so much more impressive in 3D.  And I actually enjoyed the mini-movie/music video....

Coppola directed Jack (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116669/)?  That's disgusting!

plan9superfan sums it up pretty good, as does peter johnson, although they have very different perspectives.  The 3-D was very good.  They used polarized lenses rather than the old blue-red glasses, which makes a world of difference.

If you ever get the chance, I'd second that Muppets movie plan9 mentioned.  That thing was hilarious.