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How far will you go for the king of the monsters?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dear Mr. Smithee,
My 7-year-old son and his little buddy are the next generation of “Godzilla” fans.
We have managed to purchase various “Godzilla” movies for his collection. But nothing would be cooler than for him to experience “Godzilla” on the silver screen, don’t you think?
I’d be willing to travel an hour or two for this special treat. Are there any theaters that show these classics?
SUE PASCALI, Loganville
Dear Mommie Sweetest,
A child’s proper education requires persistence and dedication. It is exactly why I drove my once wee son D.W. all the way to Fort Knox. He stood by the road (one cannot exactly enter, you understand) and sang the title tune to “Goldfinger.”
It is why he and his once wee brother Cecil B. were taken to the field of dreams in Iowa, where they played catch as nearby cornstalks swayed in the wind.
It is why D.W. stood on the formidable steps outside the “Exorcist” house in Washington. And it is why, in Germany, he traced the footsteps in Berlin of “Run, Lola, Run.”
So, Mommie, tell Mr. Smithee — how much do you really love your little tyke?
Do you love him enough to pack a lunch and drive, say, 350 miles so that he could have the thrill of his little lifetime?
The original Japanese “Godzilla” will be screened at 7 p.m. April 25 at the Griffith Film Theater at Duke University’s Bryan Center in Durham, N.C. Better yet, it’s free. More info: www.duke.edu/web/film/screensociety/SciFi2007.html.
If you insist on staying a little closer to home, I would suggest you pay great attention to the goings-on at Atlanta’s Plaza Theatre, which occasionally holds a “Silver Scream Spook Show.” www.plazaatlanta.com.
The screening in March involved “Mothra.” (Don’t you wish you had written to me earlier?) On April 28, the Plaza will show 1954’s “The Creature From the Black Lagoon.” A special kiddie matinee is at 1 p.m. Free for the kids 12 and under; $6 for Mommie Sweetest.
Also monitor the special events Web site section of the Starlight Six Drive-In Theaters, especially regarding this June’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Monster Bash. www.starlightdrivein.com.
ALAN
P.S. You get an “Are We Done Yet?” tool kit and enough “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirts to dress yourself, your son and his buddy.
Dear Mr. Smithee,
Is there a name attached to the “Casino Royale” card game that’s the focus of James Bond’s latest attention? At a glance, it seemed like a “high roller” version of seven-card stud.
ROSS TUCKER, Woodstock
Dear Want to Join My Weekly Card Game?
Either you are kidding or my table needs a mark like you.
One of the recent cultural phenomena has been the surge in No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em, a simple but invigorating poker game. It is played not only by James Bond these days, but formidable foes such as Alan Smithee.
Players make their best hands out of five of seven cards — two dealt down to each player and the other five as face-up community cards in the center.
There are four rounds of betting, and at any time a player can go “all in,” betting all of his or her chips.
Mr. Smithee likes this game. And I like No Limit Hi/Lo Omaha even better. Each player gets four cards face down, and they make their best hands out of two of their down cards and three of the five face-up community cards. The high and low hands split the pot.
Ready to play?
At least to get in the mood, watch some old- and new-style poker and other card games in movies.
I’d suggest not only “Casino Royale,” but “Rounders” (1998), “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” (1998), “Big Hand for a Little Lady” (1966), “Kaleidoscope” (1966), “The Cincinnati Kid” (1965) and “California Split” (1974).
ALAN
P.S. You get a deck of “Pirates of the Caribbean” cards and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
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