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'Million Dollar Arm,' 'Godzilla,' Family Friendly?

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"Godzilla" and "Million Dollar Arm" debut in theaters across the nation Friday. But between "Godzilla's" overgrown lizards and "Million Dollar Arm's" exceptionally talented Indians, movie reviewer Bob Waliszeski says neither hits a family friendly home run.

"Godzilla," starring Bryan Cranston, who plays scientist Joe Brody, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who plays Lieutenant Ford, is a gruesome allegory about the pitfalls of militarized science.

As expected "with a skyscraper-size lizard, it's going to have some violence and language. But it's a popcorn muncher for the summer," Waliszeski, director of Focus on the Family's Plugged In Online, said.

"It deserves a PG-13 rating. I give it a 3 out of 5 for family friendliness. It has some potential but not a slam dunk for families," he added.

Plugged In Online film critic Paul Asay says parents should be forewarned that there are "four s-words, four or five uses of 'h---' and one 'd--n,'" and Jesus' name is abused three times along with God's at least a dozen.

"Someone refers to Godzilla as being like "a god, for all intents and purposes," he continued.

But there is some redeemable spiritual content: a prayer is said over a plane full of soldiers right before they parachute into a monster-mashed area.

"Million Dollar Arm" stars "Mad Men's" Jon Hamm, who plays a hard-driving business guy with loose morals and a live-it-up lifestyle. In his quest for extraordinary baseball talent, he solicits the help of some really likable Indian cricket players with wicked arms.

The film is based on a true story, but Waliszeski warns "there's some alcohol consumption and some sleep around choices in this film -- nothing explicit but certaintly could have done without this especially in a Disney film."

He gave this a 3.5 out of 5 for family friendliness.

***For more insight on both films check out CBN News' interview with Plugged In Online Director Bob Waliszeski on CBN News Today, May 16.

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