All of this is to say that Didion's fans experience her work on an intimate, personal level as well as an intellectual one. (Because of that, her influence on journalism is much more profound than the macho histrionics of Tom Wolfe or Hunter S. Thompson.)

Can we please appreciate Didion without knocking other writers while doing it?

Truth can still sometimes (often?) be found in the offensive. More importantly, talking about the "unspeakable" is an important counter-balance to society's desire to clam up. Issues of race, rape, and genocide should always be talked about and acted upon, not merely waved away with a dismissive morality as taboo.

Silverman might misstep, as all comics do, and comparing her to past greats is perhaps a bit much without more years in which to judge her, but I'd hardly say that she's a worthless hack. I'd say she's a provocateur in the best sense -- someone who pokes us with a sharp wit where we are most tender.

John Cusack plays the same shuffling soul in every film, but I happen to like his dark humor and wry characters. Harold Ramis is always sharp of wit, and between Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day he's got my loyalty for some time.

Please. Enough with the half-hearted Cusack bashing.

This will be a decent film for those who already like Cusack and Ramis, and will probably be just dull for those who don't. Whether or not Cusack and Ramis realize it, they've cultivated a following, and that following are the only people likely to watch this new film.

Thank god I'm one of those people.

I agree with Cary's advice. He asks her to clarify the situation with her boyfriend and then say "yes" if the situation seems tenable. What's wrong with that?

"Out-and-out abusive?" She's clearly happy in the relationship. The LW says that this is "the best boyfriend she's ever had" and "he treats me like a queen" -- and assuming you don't doubt her ability to judge personality, I think a little hesitation or indecision before marriage is to be expected. Furthermore, as has been previously stated, the majority of her issues with his family would be mitigated by putting some distance between them. The rest can be discussed over time.

Paris sounds wonderful, don't you think?

Isn't anyone here picking up on the obvious clue that Fox and NPR probably ran the story straight from the wire? In other words, since the AP buried it, it got buried by default in the rest of the coverage.

It isn't exactly NEWS that news organizations run wire stuff verbatim, with little or no editing. It's quite possible you're all reading into this way more than you should.

What is this, a love letter to Goldthwaite?

While Laura Miller obviously linked Steven Hart's Salon article on Tolkien and Lewis, I'm not sure she actually read it. It makes clear the reasons and connections between Lewis and Christianity, and the peer group Lewis surrounded himself with.

Miller's questioning of the Christian theme in Lewis' work seems weak and poorly researched if the only bite to her claim comes from the writings of a singular source. There's no context to what peers thought of Goldthwaite -- for all we know he was panned -- and one man does not a movement make.

As a kid, I thought C.S. Lewis' Christian symbolism was pretty heavy-handed, and I still think that. I do enjoy the writing though, and I plan on seeing the film. As Hart's article indicates, they share the same setting (New Zealand) and special effects company as Lord of the Rings, so I'm hoping for similar results). Early reviews seem positive also.

There is nothing wrong with being Christian, or having Christian themes, but arguments about religion really belong on a seperate topic. When it comes to Christianity in Narnia, however, this is not even a question -- it is a fact. I only wish Miller would gather a few more of her own before writing pieces like this.

Brokeback Mountain looks interesting to me because it's got Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Ang Lee as Director. I think all three are very good at their jobs, and I think the movie is worth a look because of it.

All the hoo-ha about them being gay is really beside the point. As Lee said, this is a love story, and the fact that they're gay in the script says more about the audience viewing it than the story itself. Like "Look Who's Coming to Dinner", it's only shocking if you think it is.

As for opening on the same weekend as Narnia? Uh, I think that's just coincidental. Besides, small independent films will do better when offered as they should be -- as alternatives to mainstream films like Narnia. Chances are, I'll see both, because they are both very different films, and because they both look interesting.

Like it or not, I'm not sure why responses to this article have to be filled with so much emotion and fury. His article is somewhat rambling and pointless, but it's certainly not so terrible as make Baby Jesus cry.

Save your energetic ripostes for more worthy topics...

Here I am, a Wisconsin-expatriate in Arkansas, and you have me dreaming of frozen ponds and the sound of packed snow under boots.

I miss snow... :|