Not worth it for Tom Cruise. But the scenes with him and Malin Akerman are among the funnier parts of the movie.

Even Bryan Cranston failed this week…

Even Bryan Cranston failed this week…

There's no way The Lucky One couldn't be utterly spoiled by its trailer, because nothing happens in The Lucky One. "Zac Efron stares" sums up two thirds of the movie.

There's no way The Lucky One couldn't be utterly spoiled by its trailer, because nothing happens in The Lucky One. "Zac Efron stares" sums up two thirds of the movie.

Yeah, the only interesting plot development in Dream House (and big third-act twist) was revealed in the trailer. One of the more egregious instances I've seen.

Yeah, the only interesting plot development in Dream House (and big third-act twist) was revealed in the trailer. One of the more egregious instances I've seen.

The resurrection of the head reminded me of Torchwood, which is not a good thing (though the glove plot line was one of that show's better ones). It might as well have been Magic Resurrection Electrical Current.

The resurrection of the head reminded me of Torchwood, which is not a good thing (though the glove plot line was one of that show's better ones). It might as well have been Magic Resurrection Electrical Current.

It was also like WALL-E. And 2001 and Moon, to lesser degrees. But I agree, it worked.

It was also like WALL-E. And 2001 and Moon, to lesser degrees. But I agree, it worked.

I think he just wanted to fuck with him (and humans generally), and Weyland's imperative provided an excuse.

I think he just wanted to fuck with him (and humans generally), and Weyland's imperative provided an excuse.

Or the last several seasons of The X-Files.

Or the last several seasons of The X-Files.

It's funny. When I saw the movie, I identified so exclusively with David and his Oedipal issues that I concluded the film's message was nihilistic. Yes, God exists, but he hates us, and he sucks, and the universe is dark, cold nothingness (or full of sharp teeth).

It's funny. When I saw the movie, I identified so exclusively with David and his Oedipal issues that I concluded the film's message was nihilistic. Yes, God exists, but he hates us, and he sucks, and the universe is dark, cold nothingness (or full of sharp teeth).

And the weirdest thing is that, in the first book, anyway, the factions seem to have ridiculously rigorous initiation rites, so large numbers of people become factionless, the lowest of the low. I was waiting for these hordes of factionless to take over already and dismantle the silly system.

And the weirdest thing is that, in the first book, anyway, the factions seem to have ridiculously rigorous initiation rites, so large numbers of people become factionless, the lowest of the low. I was waiting for these hordes of factionless to take over already and dismantle the silly system.

The '70s were a golden age of "quality" YA (i.e. stuff that adults, especially librarians, like, stuff that wins awards), with S.E. Hinton serving as an inspiration. In the late '80s and '90s, cheesy series books like Sweet Valley High took over that section of the bookstore, which didn't do much for the genre's…