Greatest Movie Ever...???

A few weeks ago, my fiance forced me to watch KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. More than once in my life, conversations have been brought up about this film and how "fantastic" it is. I had NO idea what I was in store for.

If I would have had the opportunity to watch this movie when it first came out in 1978, I probably would have thought it was amazing. Unfortunately, I was only 2 years old and Gene Simmons gave me nightmares, so there would have been none of that.

By today's standards, this movie would be considered a low budget ridiculous comedy that would have gone straight to video...and I mean VHS, not DVD. That's to be expected after 30 years has passed. Technology has sky rocketed since then, but I suppose the special effects in the movie were probably superb at the time.

I wish I could actually tell you the plot, but I was laughing so hard, that I missed a lot. If memory serves me right, it's about a mad scientist who kidnaps people and turns them into these robots. Then he uses the robots to work in the park. After getting pissed off because his funding was cut to pay for KISS to perform at the park, the mad scientist seeks revenge. During the day, KISS can be found at some mansion sitting by the pool in full KISS make-up and attire. Oh yeah, all the members of KISS have special, super hero powers. There are four talismans (each representing a member) that give KISS their super powers, and they must protect these talismans to make sure no ones steals them. The mad scientist ends up making robot KISS to cause mayhem all over the park and to try to destroy KISS. But alas, KISS ends up uncovering his plot and saving the day.

What was the best part of the movie? Was it the fact the the band called Gene Simmons "The Beast" and he would always respond by growling? Was it the part when Paul Stanley says, "Star Child!" to the girl trying to save her robot boyfriend? Was it the choreographed "fight" scenes? Was it all the bad special effects? No. All of these things, and any of the other great scenes I left out, pale in comparison to the one aspect of the movie the tops them all: Ace Frehley's black body double. Yup, you read that right. He had a black body double. At the end of the movie during the fight between KISS and robot KISS, you'll notice Ace fighting himself...and then you'll notice much darker skin peeking out of the robot KISS costume. Heehee...it makes me giggle just thinking about it.

This is definitely a movie any rock fan should check out. Or if you're looking for a good comedy to watch, then find yourself a copy of KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. You'll double over in laughter. I'm just thankful these boys stuck with music and not acting.