GODZILLA: Yep, saw that too

Seeing Godzilla wasn’t on my list of things to do, but let’s just say that 15-year-olds can be persuasive. And it’s not like the movie didn’t have things going for it. For starters, there’s Emmy-Award-winning (and Tony-Award-winning, and Golden-Globe-Award-winning) actor Bryan Cranston. He certainly wouldn’t waste his valuable time on a non-starter, would he? Neither, I dare say, would his co-star, Oscar-Award-winning actress Juliette Binoche. Then again . . .

I’m not going to say that those A-listers did this movie for the money, but it’s distinctly possible. Or maybe they just wanted the vast international exposure of an instant box-office hit. Or maybe they just wanted to do something fun for a change. Yep, that must have been it! Because, while Godzilla certainly isn’t the stuff BAFTAs are made of, it is quite a lot of fun.

Having seen exactly one Godzilla movie in my lifetime, including this one, I can’t speak to the canon, can’t judge it in context, and can’t provide historical perspective. However, I can say that the Godzilla fan in my life was certainly pleased enough with it to see it three times, and is looking forward to the inevitable sequels that the movie paves the way for. It’s not all cherries and cherubs, though. A Godzilla fan I work with was disappointed that it took so long for the Big G to make his on-screen appearance. In that regard, the movie is definitely more of a setting-of-the-stage than a creature feature. Godzilla’s not hogging the limelight in this one.

I did leave the theater with a few nagging questions that no one has been able to answer to my satisfaction. I won’t bore you/spoil it by detailing them here, but if anyone fancies themselves to be a Godzilla expert and would be willing to serve on a Q&A panel, let me know. Of course, if I saw the movie again, maybe I could answer the questions myself. Yeah, no . . .

Here’s the trailer.

DRAFT DAY: Of course I saw it!

Not sure why people are so surprised to hear that I saw this movie. Of course I saw it! I love football movies and I love Kevin Costner, so I took the day off for my birthday and took myself to see Draft Day. It was the ultimate indulgence!

Upshot: It’s NFL draft day (clearly) and the general manager is in a tight spot. He has to build a dream team or the coach walks, which doesn’t matter because if he doesn’t pony up the dream team, the owner is going to ax him anyway. Meanwhile, he’s got the future of a handful of players’ lives in his hands, and very few cards to play at the table. Oh, and he also has to figure out exactly what his girlfriend wants out of him — and what he wants out of himself. All on the same day! Can he do it? Of course he can. And I won’t tell you how because it’s way more fun to watch it unfold. Call me a sentimental football fool, but I’m ready to see it again!

I’m pleased to report that the critics liked this one twice as much as they liked Three Days to Kill. That’s probably not saying much considering that they didn’t like Three Days at all, but for what it’s worth, I liked Draft Day more too. Not only do you have Mr. Field of My Dreams, you’ve also got an impressive handful of legends, including Frank Langella, Ellen Burstyn, and Sam Elliott. Throw in a fantastic Jennifer Garner and Denis Leary while you’re at it. Director Ivan Reitman sure knows how to put a team together, doesn’t he? And he’s been doing fun stuff like this for a long time, so just trust him. You’re in good hands.

P.S. It just so happens that the Webbers saw another Ivan Reitman movie just the other day — Stripes, with Bill Murray and Harold Ramis. Yes, it’s time once again for the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series here in Austin, and that’s how we kicked it off. So if you don’t hear from me much over the next few weeks, that’ll be why.

Watch the Draft Day trailer here.