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'Nole checks out DETROIT ROCK CITY
Hey folks, the 'Nole has come in with a look at DETROIT ROCK CITY. Here's a movie I'm dying to see. I have yet to ever see KISS in makeup in concert. Everytime I've even been close some act of hell has kept me from seeing them perform. For me, watching KISS perform in full KISS regalia would be akin to watching Elvis or The Beatles. Not musically speaking, but iconically speaking. In make-up KISS simply becomes so utterly breathtakingly uber cool that... Damn... I don't know. I haven't seen them yet. I'm sure my imagination builds it up beyond reason... but I hope this film captures that type of excitement. Anyway, watchout in this review cause I caught a couple of SPOILERS in this review that you may want to steer clear of. But if that doesn't bother ya... Rock on...
Harry,
First off, let me say I'm a first-time, longtime regarding your site.
Anyway, I'm here to give you an early review of the film the grunts of the
KISS Army have been waiting for, for....well hell, since the damn project
was announced. I'm talking about "Detroit Rock City," and I will say right
from the start that the movie is a hoot. It's not great, in fact, it just
barely staggers across the finish line as good filmmaking, but that's
missing the point. It's a blast of nostalgia for the KISS fans lucky
enough to live through the Golden Age of the "Hottest Band in the World."
For those who were around in the late 70's but were too young to go the
shows (like me) it gives you front seat to the excitement. And to those
unfortunates whose parents waited until they were legally married to do the
unprotected deed, well "Detroit" gives you an idea of how badly your folks
screwed you over by being good.
As for the film:
The movie is not a coming-of-age type film along the lines of an "American
Pie." By that, I mean a laugh-out-loud comedy that still sketches a pretty
realistic picture of life for teenagers in America. "Detroit" instead
takes the silly farce rout....in fact, in some scenes, it appears director
Adam Rifkin has been influenced a bit too much by "the Phantom in the Park."
I felt let down when I realized this, but fortunately, the actors and the
great vibes of the film made up for it. The four main kids were all
enjoyable, and each had substantial on-screen time as they try and get to
Cobo Hall in Detroit (rock city) to see KISS. In fact, some of the best
parts of the movie are when they go their separate ways (I'm trying real
hard not to put too many spoilers here). Like the original KISS, this is a
group with four distinct characters; no one here is getting 'Jansported'
(being carried by the others).
Edward Furlong gets top billing (not to mention the hottest babe in the
picture) but it's the kid who plays Jeremiah who steals the show. He's
honest, sincere, and easily the most realistic of the main characters. No
doubt, most theatergoers will cheer for Tiny Term the loudest, but Jeremiah
is the one we'll all be silently identifying with.
Specific highlights include:
The opening scene with Jeremiah's mother (the actress playing this
character drank WAY too much coffee in between takes);
A highway scene featuring some Disco Dorks and soundtracked by the
ebullient 70's crap classic "Makin' It." If you don't laugh out loud to
this scene, you suck. It's that funny;
Furlong taking the stage at a male strip club, run by none other than Ron
Jeremy (whoever that is) and frequented by Shannon Tweed;
The drugging of the boarding school padre is another cool scene;
Every little bit of the action at the convenience store!
An overall highlight was the attention to detail in recreating 1978. Just
like in the very-underrated "That 70's Show," you won't see a Pepsi One can
on the table in the basement where the kids smoke pot; you won't see a box
of Cocoa Krispies with Coco the Monkee on the front, because back then,
they had a fat elephant-like creature on the box (why I don't know).
In the convenience store, take a look at the comics on the rack, the bubble
gum cards, the shirts the customers are wearing, the wrappers of the food
on the shelves.....well, you get the idea. I mean, it is dead on, man!
And of course, you're going to a jillion different pieces of KISS-abilia
from back in the day, even though that couldn't have been too hard to get,
since Gene is one of the film's producers. Still, bigtime brownie points
for accuracy.
Also, the involvement of the band and obvious devotees of the KISS legend
is obvious. In one particular scene where an argument takes place over how
badly disco sucks, one girl says disco is so popular, it wouldn't surprise
her if KISS made a disco record one day (let's see, it's 1978...wonder what
was released in '79). A few clever things like that pepper the screenplay,
which is cool.
Where the film disappoints is the immaturity of the movie. It's obvious
the producers wanted to appeal to the lowest common denominator of fans.
The script is a total hack job, but that's okay. "American Pie" was too,
but it worked because they hacked good movies. Same here.
But the direction really could have used some help. Rifkin uses some
camera techniques that were totally gratituitous. It felt like watching a
kid who gets his first video camera and can't stop playing with it.
AS for the general direction of the story, I just think they could have
made a much better movie if they would have taken a different route in
presenting the material. For instance, Jeremiah's mom, essentially the
villain in the movie, is preposterously over-the-top (I'm talking Jon
Voight-in-Varsity Blues-kind-of over-the-top). Now many of the potential
ticket-buyers for this film can relate to having a mom who may have been a
total bitch at times (especially relating to music), so that's an effective
story element. But in "Detroit" I don't think it works as well as it could
have.
I know it sounds like I'm really bitching hard about a movie I said earlier
was a blast, but really, overall, I thought "Detroit" was very enjoyable.
Any KISS fan out there will enjoy it, and even some non-fans too. I just
expected something different. Honestly, I expected a movie that would have
been good enough to finally get the band the respect they deserved from all
the people who have been ragging on them for years. I saw a sharp, clever
film as the opportunity to finally get the critics off KISS' back.
Unfortunately, I don't think that's going to happen. But, to look on the
bright side, the movie is an unabashed homage to a great band. And despite
the flaws, that counts for a lot in my book.
Ciao.......'Nole
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+ Expand All
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Get over it.
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Though I doubt this movie will be able to live up to the high-camp that was Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park, I think this movie will be enjoyable. For whoever says Kiss' day is long over, they obviously did not go see them on their reunion tour a few years back (or possibly couldn't get tickets). Great show.
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That 70's Show has to be one of the lousiest sitcoms in history! I mean, WTF kind of title is "That 70's Show" anyway? It's so damn lame, that it practically explains the entire show as it is. Ya know, after seeing Boogie Nights, these other so called "70's films/series" made in the 90's are just crap (well, up until Detroit Rock City) and boring. Well, Boogie Nights is on the realistic side, but at least the writers of "That 70's Show" could have made the dialog more interesting. That's why I like sitcoms such as "Sex & the City". The shit is real and honest and not phony like "Friends" or even "That 70's Show". Sorry if my opinion is biase (spelling), but ya know what, the old saying is "Been there, done that".
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I can not wait to see this movie! It looks so friggin cool! And I dont even like Kiss, not the least bit, but if the movie is as good as I think it will be, that'll be no problem, regarding That 70s Show, well everyone has his opinion, but I think it completely kicks ass!
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Kiss sucks. Kiss ALWAYS sucked. I never could "get into" the whole Kiss Army thing and I was 13 in 1977 during the height of popularity of the band. I did end up going to a Kiss concert in 1989 during their "Hot In The Shade" tour and they couldn't even sell out a 3,000 seat hockey rink. As a matter of fact, the opening two bands Slaughter and Little Caesar kicked ass and made Kiss look bad by the time they came out. Even the large sunglasses wearing Sphynx with the fog machine couldn't fix the show. I will still check out the film, though, just for the seventies crap. Another thing to all those who praise the seventies.......if you REMEMBER how truly boring the seventies were, you wouldn't think so fondly about that decade.
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KISS was the most incredible band I've ever seen. I'm 28 and didn't get to see the concerts back when I was young. I gotta tell ya, the 2 reunion tours was the most jaw-dropping, rocking concerts I've ever seen. They had the audience in the palm of their hand and didn't disappoint. Great sense of humor too.
For those geeks, who say they suck...whatever, just keep jerking off to the Backstreet Boys. I'll rock out with KISS!!!! -
You don't know who Ron Jeremy is? He's a huge ugly slob who has made a ton of money in the porn industry for having a prodigious...you know what. He's the hero of many a non-silicone or steroid viewer!
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C'mon guys,
"That 70s Show" is horrible. Any sitcom that stoops to having a guy with a funny accent for laughs just doesn't cut it in my book. And for Godsakes get rid of that awful laugh track. -
Like I said, is the classic Kiss song 'Detroit Rock City' gonna be in the flick? That song kicks ass big-time !!! It would kinda spoil it for me if the tune wasn't in the film. Anybody any info?
Don't freak if the song has clearly been in the trailer or something. I'm from Ireland where there has been fuck all info on this project. The only bits I've picked up have been from this site. -
Thanks to my dad, I grew up with an appreciation for great music such as KISS, the Eagles, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, etc. Anything non-disco 70's ranks up there in my book, from DAZED & CONFUSED to "That 70's Show." Yes, "That 70's Show" which is actually a very intelligent title considering some of us refer to some programs as "that show with that guy who does that weird stand-up and has those three strange friends" and "that show where everybody loves that guy...what's his name..." If you don't like the show because of the name or the Fez character, who, BTW, has some of the best lines despite the slightly corny accent, then you need to take a look at it again and see just how realistic and time spanning it is. ("Sex in the City" is also a cool show, I'll say.)
Ok, that's my rant for the day. I can't wait to see this movie. Maybe I'll go with my dad, he'd appreciate it. Remember, you're never too old to go to the movies with your parents because it's a great bonding time with the folks. -
1) Adam Rifkin is a mildly under-rated director. Tapeheads was pretty good, and I must admit I thought The Chase rocked (call it a guilty pleasure.) 2) Natasha Lyonne! Natasha Lyonne! 3) Everytime I see someone list bands and include Kiss in with Beatles/Elvis/Hendrix etc., it makes me giggle. Kiss aren't a very good band- even they know that. But that doesn't mean they aren't a whole lot of fun. Why does eveyone feel the need to elevate them to a level they don't belong on? 4) Steadycam???!!??? Moron. What studio do you work for, anyway? 5) The only good thing about That '70s Show is the goofy visual tricks they use when someone gets stoned. Well, that, and the redhead is hot. It's still better than Dharmutt and Gag, mind you... 5A) If the Church of Scientology is going to keep shoving female 'comediens' down our throats, why can't they at least find attractive ones?
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Yes, KISS is a guilty pleasure of many (not mine, but I know plenty for whom it is). I still can't imagine ever actually spending money for a KISS record or a KISS concert ... but I will see this movie. It looks like it is another great 70s period piece. Also, like the poster above, rent Rifkin's _The Chase_ (the one with Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson, NOT the other "the Chase" that I've seen in video stores but can't find in IMDb). It's great self-parody by Sheen, sort of a criminal's-eye view of what it's like to be in one of those LA police chases. (Here in Chicago, they NEVER put chases on TV. Unless it's over and there's an attractive set of crash pictures.) Anyway, it's almost completely worth it for the post-credits sequence involving Sheen, a clown suit, and an hommage to his father. More I cannot say. Also, "That 70s Show" is explicitly supposed to be a 90s title (just like the names of _Friends_ episodes: "The One with Rachel's Boobies.")
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So, I was lucky enough to see this glorious piece of perfect mindless kickass rock and roll comedy last week. At one point (the bathroom scene) I laughed so hard I started choking and got really worried (made a quick grab for the Albuterol). One thing I was worried about in this film is that it would only appeal to older folks- wrongola. No historical knowledge is necessary for this film to be funny. One ass hair of this one contains all the humor in American Pie and then some. It crushes all other comedies I've seen this year (APie, Bofinger, on and on). I hope there is a sequel.
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I just got back from DETROIT ROCK CITY and all I have to say on the topic, at least until I get my review in, is that this is one of the best executed, most well-written, most non-stop pure glee film I have seen this summer. Fantastic fantastic fantastic!!! And as for 'Nole, she must be on crack cocaine. This IS a coming of age movie, it gloriously captures the teen angst and the "I wanna be a rock and roll star" by practicing in my basement with absolute perfection. This is the movie that completely immortalizes Gene, Paul, Ace, and Peter for all time, as they should be. You guys have GOT to be proud of this film, it is pure genious. I'm so pumped for you. Everyone involved deserves many well-deserved rounds of applause from audiences standing on their seats. Be cocky, you've earned it. PEOPLE: Don't wait for people to tell you about this flick, go and see it immediately and be one of the first to see the brilliance for yourself. And don't forget to spread the word. If this movie doesn't do gangbusters at the box office, I will lose all faith in the moviegoing populace of America and be forced to move to Mexico. This is one to beat.
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Jul 29, 1999 10:08:00 PM CDT
Cocoa Crispies mascot was Tusk the Elephant, & he'd sing "It's t
by rob zombie
Just thought that should be provided as backstory for the reviewer. And Harry, you gotta see Kiss on tour later this year..trust me! The 1996 San Antonio & Austin shows were the goofiest, silliest, most heartwarmingly entertaining shows I've seen! A must for anyone who wore their lousy storebought Kiss Halloween costume in 1978...I cant wait to see this flick!
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And man, I tell you this movie is gonna be great. Even though I stood around until 2am waiting for the director to get his shit together and they had posters with Vinnie Vincent's stupid Ankh makeup on(check it KISS continuity
buffs) Eric Carr's in fox makeup too. Make sure you look closely at the Cobo Hall vendors booth and you'll catch it too. It was an okay shoot 'cause KISS was there. Not as cool as sitting front row for the Animalyze tour, but a close second. I await the flick with KISS passion!!!!!!!!!
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