Feedback: November 29, 2013

The Power of Pop
I was so elated to see Katy Perry on the cover (#1284). Yes, album sales are slipping throughout the industry, but that doesn’t mean that musicians have fallen out of pop culture headlines.
Justin Marsh
Cambridge, Vt.

Three paragraphs on the life and death of Lou Reed and eight pages (plus a cover) on Katy Perry? Although I realize it wasn’t your intent, you’ve nonetheless made a disturbingly strong statement about the current state of popular music.
Glenn Phillips
Atlanta

No Rest for the Wicked
Villains have long been people’s favorites, but as your Movies essay argues, they’ve definitely found the spotlight of late. Tom Hiddleston‘s villainous performance as Loki in Thor left me giddily chilled. However, as much as I enjoy Loki, I would’ve preferred to see less promotion of him in the trailers for Thor: The Dark World and more of the actual title character.
Taylor Greer
Corunna, Mich.

The Great Contenders
I enjoyed your Holiday Movie Preview and Oscar predictions (#1285). But I can’t believe you didn’t even consider Harrison Ford a Best Supporting Actor “Possibility” for his amazing turn in 42. He has truly matured beyond the bomber jacket and bullwhip.
Jeff Hoyak
Pequannock, N.J.

Whenever the Oscar buzz starts, I usually have lots of advice and suggestions for the Academy. This year, however, I send them but one message: Barkhad Abdi.
Karen J. Hollingsworth
Richfield, Minn.

It’s been a particularly strong year for film, but I was a little disappointed not to see Sam Rockwell as a Best Supporting Actor candidate in your Oscar predictions. I thought he did a fantastic job as a charmingly delightful slacker in The Way, Way Back. Rockwell has consistently put out good work for well over a decade, and it’s time that he is recognized for it.
Michael Rocco Baldelli
Wallingford, Conn.

Perfectly Imperfect
In “The Perils of Speed Plotting,” you said that New Girl “seems to have no plan at all” (TV). I completely disagree. We’re not even halfway into the season and you’re already expecting Nick and Jess to break up and create drama? I love their relationship; it’s so refreshing to watch a couple on TV who are actually having fun with each other.
Isabel Rodriguez
Weehawken, N.J.

Correction
The full-page portrait of Judi Dench was shot by John Swannell/Camera Press/Redux (Holiday Movie Preview, #1285).

You Tweet, We Listen
Teen queens and sinister sorceresses commanded your attention

Faith in #Reign as best teen drama since Gossip Girl justified. RT @EW: The CW just gave every new show a full season http://ow.ly/qIm2v —@ASHLEYYSPENCER

Chewy, tasty, Villainessy goodness in the Maleficent trailer. I love Angelina;-) http://insidemovies .ew.com/2013/11/13/maleficent-trailer-angelina-jolie/… via @EW —@GEEKGIRLDIVA

The Hobbit‘s New Elf: Yea or Nay?
Middle-earth has made room for one more magical being in Peter Jackson’s second installment, The Desolation of Smaug. While some EW.com readers have accepted Evangeline Lilly’s Tauriel, others feel she’s intruding on sacred ground.

Welcome!
Adding Tauriel is just giving a name and face to the unattributed guards serving Thranduil. It’s not as egregious as Arwen’s unrealistic role in the LOTR movies. Plus, they have to have a few strong females among all that testosterone. —Photog58

As long as any new character remains true to J.R.R. Tolkien’s spirit (and I have faith it will), I’m good with it. And any reason to cast Evangeline Lilly works for me: She really has the elven look nailed down. —ElfQuest

You Shall Not Pass!
Why not just write a new elf-and-dragon story altogether? Why deface a great work? Artistic license doesn’t extend to spoiling a masterpiece. Sad. They should have just stopped with the Rings trilogy. —Snail Guy

What’s with the need to toss in a female elven warrior? Galadriel was incredibly powerful and magical, but she worked behind the scenes. She didn’t need to go out with a bow and arrows and blast away. —Sorceress