Detroit Rock City

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Details At A Glance

General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Theatrical Trailer(s)	Yes, 1 - 1.78:1, 16x9, Dolby Digital 5.1
Rating		Other Trailer(s)	Yes, 1 - Dolby Digital Canyon
Year Released	1999	Commentary Tracks	Yes, 2 - Adam Rifkin (Director); KISS (Idols)
Running Time	90:48 minutes	Other Extras	Biographies - Cast and Crew Deleted Scenes (4) Featurette - Behind The Scenes (36:52) Featurette - Detroit Rock City KISS Concert (4:41) Menu Audio and Animation Music Video - Strutter (The Donnas) (3:06) Music Video - The Boys Are Back In Town (Everclear) (4:28) Scene Selection Audio and Animation
RSDL/Flipper	RSDL (85:17)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu	Cast & Crew
Region	4	Director	Adam Rifkin
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Edward Furlong Giuseppe Andrews James Debello Sam Huntington KISS Natasha Lyonne Lin Shaye
Case	Appalling Button Thing	Starring
RPI	$34.95	Music	J Peter Robinson

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	MPEG	None
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.35:1	Dolby Digital	5.1
16x9 Enhancement		Soundtrack Languages	English (Dolby Digital 5.1, 448 Kb/s) English (Dolby Digital 2.0 , 224 Kb/s) English Audio Commentary 1 (Dolby Digital 2.0, 192 Kb/s) English Audio Commentary 2 (Dolby Digital 2.0, 192 Kb/s)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio	2.35:1	Miscellaneous
Macrovision	Yes	Smoking	Yes
Subtitles	English	Annoying Product Placement	No
Subtitles	English	Action In or After Credits	Yes, minor after credits

Plot Synopsis

When this effort was put up for review, my exact word was that it was tripe. I then foolishly indicated that I did in fact have the Region 1 version for direct comparison. In the resounding silence that followed, it would seem that the boss decided that that was as good an indication that the review was mine as any, and so I found myself confronted with the prospect of multiple viewings of a film that I only ever got on Region 1 because (a) it was cheap and I needed a cheap DVD to get over the limit for a real good rebate deal and (b) it is in some way connected with KISS. Now I will grant you that these are not exactly the best reasons to indulge in a DVD, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would end up having to review a Region 4 version too. Let me assure you that my view of the film has not been changed in any way by the fact that I have had to watch it three times in succession. So, if you are looking for a really balanced review of this DVD, you may well be sadly disappointed.

I suppose the very first misconception that should be cleared up is the fact that this is not a KISS film per se: whilst KISS is certainly a factor in the film, the film is actually about four boys following their dream of seeing their favourite rock band live in concert. Set in 1978, we join Hawk (Edward Furlong), Jam (Sam Huntington), Lex (Giuseppe Andrews) and Trip (James Debello), of aspiring basement band Mystery jamming away in truly appalling fashion on the eve of the big event. These four guys from Cleveland, Ohio have managed to acquire four tickets to see the hottest live act of that era (and just about any other era too) in concert in Detroit, and they are very happy indeed. However, things do not quite go to plan and the key nemesis here is none other than Jam's mother (Lin Shaye). Something of a religious fruit loop, she is so against rock and roll that Jam is forced to hide his records in unusual record covers - with some painful results for his mother and as a result himself. For reasons that shall not be divulged here, Jam is in possession of the sacred KISS tickets when his mother discovers them, and in a fit of pique burns them. However, nothing is going to stop these guys from seeing KISS live - including Jam being immediately marched off to boarding school - and so when Trip thinks he has come into possession of four front row tickets and four backstage passes, the guys bust Jam out of boarding school and head off in (of all things) a Volvo to Motor City, USA. Now clearly things do not go quite as expected and the pilgrimage ends up with the four guys needing to do whatever they can to obtain tickets for the big concert.

If this sounds like a fairly weak storyline, that is simply because it is. On the face of it, this had the potential to be something quite decent but in the end it gets too sidetracked by the subplots, with the result that the whole thrust of the film is lost. This really required someone like a Steve Martin to sit down and firm up the comedy aspects of the story to really get the best out of what was a decent idea. Sadly, the film is the worse for the lack of such work. It ends up with lacking that essential ingredient of a comedy - comedy. Not aiding the situation is some fairly lacklustre efforts from the cast. The only role that really carried any sort of conviction was Jam's mother and in that respect Lin Shaye as the anti-rock and roll (almost) priestess just about carries the show here. She is definitely the highlight here and the rest of the cast were either sadly lacking in any acting ability (Shannon Tweed springs to mind here) or were simply unable to understand that this was supposed to be a comedy. Certainly on this evidence, I would not be jumping to see any further work from the four principal players. Adding further to the lack of direction of the film is indeed the lack of direction from Adam Rifkin, and this would certainly not be wanting to rank highly in his portfolio lest it impede his directorial ambitions completely.

Indeed, about the only thing that makes this film in anyway enjoyable is the music, and a fair sprinkling of some terrific music from the 1970's is on offer here - culminating in of course the "recreation" of the 1978 Love Gun concert tour show by KISS. However, that is barely sufficient compensation for the rest of the film and this is overall something that in all honesty I can leave on the shelf with ease.

Transfer Quality

Video

After a sequence of rather impressive video transfers from this source, this is something of a mild disappointment. Perhaps because of that sequence of impressive transfers, and because this was an anamorphically filmed effort, which usually results in a superb transfer, my expectations were high going in to this review. By no means is this a bad transfer, and certain distributors would kill for transfers of this quality, but rather just not as good as I was hoping it would be.

The transfer is presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and as usual is 16x9 enhanced.

The main disappointment here is the fact that this simply does not have the vibrancy and sharpness that I have come to expect from anamorphically shot films. At times this is just a little on the dullish side from the transfer point of view, although still having a good deal of definition to it. Whilst this may partly be the result of trying to capture the feel of the late 1970's, in the end the lack of vibrancy really hurts in the darker portions of the film - of which there are many. There are times when I just felt that there should have been a bit more detail in these darker scenes. Overall, this transfer is still better than most, but just not as good as we are coming to expect from this source. However, after direct comparison with the Region 1 version, this is far less a Village Roadshow problem as opposed to an inherent problem in the original print. There were no low level noise problems in the transfer.

This is a slightly over-rich transfer at times, although quite natural in tone. Generally, this is a nicely colourful transfer. Whilst some of the more vibrant colours of the era are perhaps a little bit lacking at times, it is hardly a serious distraction to the transfer. There did not appear to be any problem with oversaturation of colours at all, nor was there any problem with colour bleed.

There did not appear to be any MPEG artefact problems in the transfer. There did not appear to be any significant film-to-video artefact problems in the transfer. There did not appear to be any film artefact problems in the transfer.

This is an RSDL formatted disc with the layer change coming at 85:17. This is an unusually placed layer change, as it comes just before the closing credits start - and as such is an eminently sensible place to have a layer change. It is completely non-disruptive to the film and indeed is barely noticeable as it just marginally extends a black scene fade.

Audio

Matching the slightly disappointing video transfer is a slightly disappointing audio transfer.

There are four audio tracks on the DVD; an English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, an English Dolby Digital 2.0 surround encoded soundtrack, and two English Audio Commentaries in Dolby Digital 2.0. I listened to the Dolby Digital 5.1 effort, as well as the two Audio Commentaries.

The dialogue was clear and easy to understand throughout the transfer.

There did not appear to be any problems with audio sync in the transfer.

The original music score comes from J Peter Robinson, but it could hardly be considered a serious part of this film. What stands out here is some of the finest rock music from the late 1970's ever to grace a film soundtrack. Well worth an isolated music track in its own right, it is that good.

The main, albeit minor, problem with the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is that it is just a little lacking in bass and surround channel support. Indeed, about the only time that the soundtrack starts to really rock is the final scene at the concert. Other than that, this is a good transfer, with very little to complain about - but equally little to praise, either. The overall soundscape is just a little too flat for my taste but nonetheless is a reasonably natural sounding effort.

Extras

On the face of it, quite an impressive looking package of extras is on offer here. However, whilst there appears to be plenty in terms of quantity, there is not so much in terms of quality.

Biographies - Cast and Crew

These are reasonably detailed efforts, although since the bulk of the cast and crew have fairly short film histories they are obviously not huge in length.

Theatrical Trailer (1:44)

A typically modern effort that manages to give away most of the film in two minutes or less (thought for the day: how much would studios save by just making theatrical trailers?). Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, it is 16x9 enhanced and comes with decent Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.

Dolby Digital Canyon

Music Videos - Strutter The Donnas (3:06) and The Boys Are Back In Town Everclear (4:28)

Both are presented in a Full Frame format with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound and are memorable only for the fact that they are of a magnitude of about 100 times less decent than the originals. The originals (from KISS and Thin Lizzy) would have been a very welcome inclusion - these are not.

Featurette - Behind The Scenes (36:52)

In the Region 1 version, this goes by the classification of "Miscellaneous Shit". Never a truer word has been applied. This is presented in a Full Frame format with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound and comprises a lot of miscellaneous shit without comment nor any apparent purpose. Segments showing director and assorted crew rolling on the floor framing shots are not what I would call entertainment. This is eminently avoidable.

Deleted Scenes (4) (10:51)

The reason they were deleted is pretty much obvious when you watch them - the one involving Elvis for instance is especially atrocious in my view. Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, not 16x9 enhanced and with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound from the original filming and therefore very hard to hear at times.

Featurette - Detroit Rock City KISS Concert (4:41)

Just when you thought that the multi-angle button on the DVD remote was as useless as mammaries on a bullock, Roadshow Home Entertainment finally find a use for it. What we have here is the song Detroit Rock City from the ending of the film presented with a choice of four angles to watch the song by or a fifth angle showing all four angles at once. A very nice novelty value extra if nothing else. It is presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, is not 16x9 enhanced and has Dolby Digital 2.0 sound.

Audio Commentary - Adam Rifkin (Director)

You should be well aware by now that I am not a fan of these things in general, and therefore when you get one this boring then I am pretty much likely to blast the thing. Well since you know I will, I guess there is no point bothering any further with my thoughts here.

Audio Commentary - Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley (Idols)

Call me pedantic, but the words "audio commentary" sort of indicate to me that what we will get is the stated personnel providing some form of commentary about what is appearing on screen. Apart from the 22 minute stint from Gene Simmons, bearable because he actually is a very intelligent and interesting person, the rest is a sad misnomer. What the rest actually is comprised of are three twenty minute telephone interviews by Tim Sullivan (Associate Producer and KISS nut) with Peter Criss, Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley, which have virtually nothing to do with the on-screen action and with very similar questions to each anyway. About the best that could be said here is that they are actually more animated than Adam Rifkin.

R4 vs R1

The Region 4 release misses out on:

The worst ever menu perpertrated on a DVD
Two additional multiple angle features
Third full length audio commentary from cast and crew
Learn to play Rock And Roll All Nite on guitar feature
Snapper case
Whole bunch of DVD-ROM content including a script to read whilst watching the film

The Region 1 release misses out on:

Appalling button case

The Region 1 version has been universally slated for its appalling animated menus and deservedly so - in fact they are so bad that I have never had the patience to navigate the damn things. However, in view of the plethora of additional material on the Region 1 version, and given that the video and audio transfer is not significantly different to the Region 4 version, Region 1 is the way to go here I am afraid.

Summary

Perhaps my first words about this film were a tad harsh: perhaps tripe is not quite the word I was looking for. On reflection perhaps a more apt word to describe the film would be puerile. A whole lot of clichés have been rolled into this sucker and about the only thing that makes this better than the Region 1 version is the fact that the 4% PAL speed up meant that I had to suffer the film for less time. There is no doubt a market out there that will find this a great film - I am simply not one of those people. Personally, I would say that this should be avoided at all costs, but in truth I have seen far worse than this. At the very least, please give it a rent first rather than forking out your hard earned bucks to buy it. About the only thing that could save this would have been Shannon Tweed getting naked - now that would have been worthwhile seeing.

A good if unspectacular video transfer.

A good if unspectacular audio transfer.

A good extras package quantity wise, if not in quality.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

Review Equipment

DVD	Pioneer DV-515; S-video output
Display	Sony Trinitron Wega 84cm. Calibrated with the NTSC DVD version of Video Essentials.
Audio Decoder	Built in
Amplification	Yamaha RXV-795. Calibrated with the NTSC DVD version of Video Essentials.
Speakers	Energy Speakers: centre EXLC; left and right EXLR; and subwoofer ES-12XL