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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: New Line Home Video
Salesrank: 4295
Released: December 21, 1999 |
| Our Price: $3.45 |
| Used Price: $1.50 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
IT'S 1978 AND FOUR MIDWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE ON AN UNSTOPPABLE MISSION TO SCORE KISS CONCERT TICKETS. THE QUARTET FACES OBSTACLES ALONG THE WAY, FROM AUTHORITARIAN NIGHTMARES AND PARENTAL HYPOCRISY TO TRIALS OF CONSCIENCE AND THE EVER PRESENT INFLUENCE OF DISCO IN THEIR PURSUIT OF A ROCK-N-ROLL FANTASY.
Description of Detroit Rock City (New Line Platinum Series):
It's hard to call Detroit Rock City a "coming of age" movie--since it's hard to argue that any of the characters do any genuine growing up. But even though it's about four young metalheads trying to get to a KISS concert, the movie actually has more in common with sincere portraits of adolescence than it does with raucous teen comedies. The four heroes are members of a teen metal band called Mystery (the s is written in the same font as the letters of KISS, lest anyone mistake their source of inspiration). After the drummer's religiously zealous mother burns their tickets to a long-awaited concert in nearby Detroit, the boys go anyway and try to get tickets through theft, skullduggery, and entering a male stripper contest. The jokes are broad and the movie culminates in an orgy of male adolescent wish-fulfillment, but here and there some loving attention is paid to the details of 1970s teenage life--the haircuts, clothes, and toys the filmmakers probably had when they were kids. Edward Furlong, as the band's singer, is his usual scruffy self and exudes his particular lopsided charm; the rest of the cast play their parts with similar high spirits. Though Detroit Rock City was probably meant to be a no-holds-barred comedy in the vein of American Pie, the end result is curiously wistful; no one's going to mistake it for The Last Picture Show, but something sincere and elegiac lurks in those bang-covered eyes. --Bret Fetzer
Detroit Rock City (New Line Platinum Series) Reviews:
A lot of stuff in one 
2009-09-14 - It's a nostalgia film for people who grew up then, it's a coming of age film for others, it's a KISS movie for some, it's a comedy for many, it's a drama for many others, it's a bunch of stuff in one film. The story is of a group of teenagers planning on going to see a KISS concert, but then something happens to the tickets. The film is about the adventure to seeing a KISS concert. It's like a realistic version of The Lord of the Rings or The Wizard of Oz. The characters go on a journey, and in this case, it's to see a KISS concert.
What's interesting is that all of the ideas on how to get to a KISS concert were ideas that were done. You could think of the craziest story on how someone got a KISS ticket, it probably happened. That's how much people wanted to see KISS. This film shows a lot more than just how big KISS were. The films heart is not just in KISS, but it's in ROCK MUSIC ITSELF! The incidental music used is a ton of classic rock tunes from the seventies. The one disappointment in that was only to the director, which he made a comment on.
The DVD has so many special features, you wouldn't believe that a single disc could be so jam packed. An extended version of one of the scenes, with alternate camera angles, how to play "Rock and Roll All Night," and the music video for a Donnas cover version of "Strutter" (one of the highlighting points for me). It includes a couple of documentaries on the film, and a lot more special features. However, the most special feature is the movie itself. This film is what KISS are all about. If you don't understand KISS, this is the real way to understand KISS. I haven't even had a chance to see them live yet, but this film really shows the way that fans felt about KISS, and these were fans who had never seen them live.
Overall, this movie is amazing, and although it seems more like a nostalgia film or a film as part of a culture (the KISS culture), it's a great film in general.
Sam Huntington
2009-08-04 - Sam Huntington is the main reason I even purchased this movie. I knew nothing about it before hand, but I ended up ABSOLUTELY loving this movie. You don't have to like the band KISS to watch and/or enjoy it. It's a crazy movie. :D
Awesome Dude
2009-03-27 - If you grew up in the 70's and liked rock music....this movie is all you!!! It mirrors the trials and tribulations of growing up as a wanna be rocker in the 70's. Love this movie!
2.5 stars out of 4 
2008-12-27 - The Bottom Line:
A fairly forgettable comedy, Detroit Rock City will most likely appeal to fans of KISS or 17 year-old boys; it's not a bad film, but if you're not in its target demographic you have little reason to see it.
great flick 
2008-07-24 - As long time member of the Kiss army my self and my two teenage boys got a kick out of this film. It was funny the music was great!!
