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A Loving Look At DETROIT ROCK CITY test screening
Ya know folks, every now and again there's a film that just makes me wanna smile. You see, DETROIT ROCK CITY is that movie right now. When I was just a wee lad, I dressed up as the 'Thing That Survived Three Mile Island', which consisted of a glow in the dark reptilian mask and a 'no nukes' t-shirt and won the Eeyore's Birthday Costume COntest here in Austin. The Prize? All four of them LPs (an ancient circular disc made of asphalt like substance with grooves which, when scratched with a needle attached to an amplifier gave off noise sounding like HIFI MUSIC) of the KISS Solo Albums... the ones where each album had a different member of the band's badass faces on it! Ever since I've heard of this movie, I've been awaiting it. And, I've been hoping that it would be a part of SXSW Music and Film fest here in Austin. Why? Well, so I could see it earlier than it's targeted release date, which now pushes it into the summer from it's earlier April release date.... sigh.... So who knows... perhaps...
I had the opportunity to see a MarketCast test screening of Detroit Rock
City on Monday, and am finally getting around to sharing my thoughts with
you. Please feel free to share this with your readers.
First off, let me just start with the obligatory bashing of market research
companies.... Prior to this, I'd only attended two other test screening,
both by the famed NRG. Hah, and I thought they were bad! This MarketCast
group was incredibly disorganized and unprepared for the number of people
that showed up. But my real beef was the demographics represented.... The
"invitation" called for ages 18-34 only, yet a good 1/3 of the audience
were under 18. I'd guess VERY few over 25. Even the "select" group of
viewers who were paid for a more in depth opinion fell in the 16-25 area.
Considering this is a movie about K.I.S.S. and K.I.S.S. fans in 1972, I
would have though an older age group much more representative. Although
the humour of the movie seemed targetted towards the younger end of the
spectrum. Not sure if that was intentional or wise.
Ah yes, the movie. For those who haven't heard the synopsis already,
Detroit Rock City, starring Edward Furlong, is about 4 high school K.I.S.S.
fans in 1972 who after losing their tickets, would do anything to get into
the show.
Despite the sometimes canned humour of the movie, they managed to reel me
in pretty well. Wasn't long before I was feeling the agony right along
with our four unlucky friends, wincing at every blow, furious with every
person who got in their way. I found myself wanting to go to the concert
as badly as they did (and I'm a pretty far cry from a fan of K.I.S.S.).
And felt utterly depressed every time it seemed less and less likely to
happen.
I keep mentioning the tone of the humour, so perhaps I should describe
that. I don't mean to come down hard on it, sure enough it kept me
laughing through most of the movie. But it all had a somewhat adolescent
flavour to it. Bathroom gags, drugs, and lots of just simple jokes that
anyone would be sure to pick up. Some of it was a little more thoughtful,
like the running rock'n'roll versus disco gag. Our four rock'n'roll feings
just can't seem to get away from the Stellas and Guidos of the world.
All that said, when the lights came on, myself, my friend, and the rest of
the audience still had huge grins on our faces (well, until the MarketCast
drones started handing out surveys). Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and I'd
highly recommend the movie to all my friends when it is released. Best (of
the genre, that is) I've seen since Something About Mary. Not to mention,
an awesome soundtrack.
TheGuyNotCreativeEnoughToHaveAPseudonym
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KISS movie? Cool! Anti-market research comments without offering an alternative way to capture audience feelings? Ball-numbingly stupid. I get sick of ppl bashing these groups without having any alternative idea what should be done. No, I am not "one of them," just get sick of booger-eating film geeks bashing something, but not saying how it should be done. End rant. I now return you to your Babylon 5 SW-Ep1 fantasies.
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...these test being organised by the actual producers of the film, (not a bunch of pollsters) for the benefit of the _filmmakers_. How about using these tests to gauge how the film plays, whether or not it works as a piece of drama, not whether it appeals to a "certain demographic". How about that test screenings be used primarily so that the filmmakers can see a film with an audience before it reaches final cut, not so the marketing department can role a bunch of questionnaires into stick with which to beat the filmmakers. What do you think? Does that satisfy you?
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Shit ! I hope it's a better movie than "Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park" where a demented Anthony Zerbe created fake Kiss androids haaaah hahahahahaha !
Seriously though, some things just don't add up here.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but a Kiss movie,set in 1972, about Kiss, which didn't come in to being as a group until around '74 ?
Also, if memory serves, the song DRC, didn't come into being until '77 or '78. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm !
okay, geekish observations done, are they really truly serious about letting Stanley, Criss and Frehley in front of movie cameras again. Any doubts about their lack of acting ability should be dispelled by a viewing of their "Phantom" effort. Simmons though, he can act !!!! But Frehley has the kind of speaking voice that makes you want to throw something blunt and heavy at him.
Guys, nothing personal, but I want to see you act as much as I want to see Arnold Schwarzenegger sing, which ain't much !!!!! -
what's your problem?...in regards to the detroit rock city movie you stated KISS as being writen as K.I.S.S....KISS does not stand for anything but KISS..i'm sure i'm not the only fan who'll be sending you this correction...and another thing...the movie is set in 1978...not 72...and 3rd...it's not about KISS...it's about 4 teens who happen to like KISS...if you aren't a fan...and obviously you aren't...then don't fucking write about them..especially if you don't know what the fuck you're talking about...enough said
Ace -
what's your problem?...in regards to the detroit rock city movie you stated KISS as being writen as K.I.S.S....KISS does not stand for anything but KISS..i'm sure i'm not the only fan who'll be sending you this correction...and another thing...the movie is set in 1978...not 72...and 3rd...it's not about KISS...it's about 4 teens who happen to like KISS...if you aren't a fan...and obviously you aren't...then don't fucking write about them..especially if you don't know what the fuck you're talking about...enough said
Ace -
Hey y'all, I think you're gonna be real sorry you missed this one and just dissed this one, whether you be a KISS fan or not. I am not a KISS fan, but my age means that KISS was just as big a part of my Grade School/Jr. High experience as was the original STAR WARS! Yep, I'm talkin' 'bout that garage band with bad KISS-paint at the school talent show, 'bout that first rock concert at the State Fair with Alice Cooper, 'bout the coveted black-light posters in my brother's room - I'm talkin' KISS, man! The one and only, ain't no other, fire-breathin', tongue-waggin' KISS!! I don't know - maybe it is a generational thing [I am not a boomer, BTW, ya tike!]. But I guarantee you that this will be one funny film because... well, it was made by Adam Rifkin, fer crissakes! And in my book, Adam Rifkin is one of the funniest independent film-makers in American, in the same league as Johnny Waters, Christopher Guest, and the brothers Farralley. He's also one of the best emerging young writers in Gollywood - so, get thee hence to DETROIT ROCK CITY and rock the block party 'till your hair turns gray!
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She's in it. I'm there. Except now I have to wait a little longer. Hey, why doesn't anyone make a movie about The Boomtown Rats?
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Hey everybody..relax, this movie is more about the 4 guys in 1978 trying to sneak into a sold out KISS concert. I was the 1st AD on this movie and it ROCKS!!! Adam Rifkin ROCKS!!! the cast is wonderful especially Lynn Shay (The old lady in "Something About MAry") and Shannon Tweed!! and even Ron Jeremy has a cameo!! You non KISS fans don't fixate on KISS, they're the "engine" of the movie not the whole locomotive.
"Chop Wood, Carry Water, Make Film" -
Nuff said.
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Ah, KISS. Speaking of those solo albums, Harry, you didn't miss much. The Ace Frehley album was awesome, but who wants to hear Gene Simmons croon "When You Wish Upon a Star?" Or Paul Stanley jerking off? Or Peter Criss doing anything that wasn't Beth? To learn more about the history of Kiss, go to the library. Better yet, go to www.pitchforkmedia.com and dig through the comprehensive Kiss archive. Cause I love me dammit.
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What the hell do you think YOU are?The boom never SLOWED down.There's been a increase in births just about EVERY year except for a couple dingleberry.And Ace is right,this flick is circa 77-78,the KISS heydey.Still mad that KISS fans picked on you for Barry Manilow records and Shaun Cassidy posters?
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I hope you're not one of those uneducated people that still think KISS is an acronym for "Knights In Satans Service" or whatever. KISS means kiss, nothing else and it's not spelled K.I.S.S. unless you're trying to imply something.
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whats wrong with you all? stop crapping on about bad marketing or confusion with the demographic of the audience or whatever bullshit. I am 15, did not exist in the 70's, but i understood all the jokes, references or whatever and i loved it. i saw it with about 50 other teenagers and we all F**KING LOVED IT! and so did all the ex-70's adults at the cinema. and, goddammit, its not about KISS its about four babes who loved 'em. SO GET OVER IT!
From kickarse bunnie in Australia.
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