1. The critics themselves are responsible for their own demise. Critics are out of touch and worse than that, consider themselves untouchable in their golden perches. The arrogant Charles Isherwood of the NY Times (and formerly of the LAT) is a perfect example of the average critic's typical snide dismissiveness, combined with a shockingly sophomoric writing style. And I'm sure your son's friend indeed has more qualifications to make informed decisions than the 'professional' critics themselves. "Those who cannot create, critique". And I for one, will be thrilled they day critics all go the way of the dinosaur.

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2. The only singular group of critics I trust are the writers at the Onion's AV Club, and even then I couldn't name a single one right off the top of my head. They're funny, and tell you if something sucks or not.

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3. Heres a big dirty secret for anyone who cares. Nobody but about 20 people ever paid attention to Pauline Kael or Lester Bangs to begin with. Critics have always been vastly uncool to anyone outside of other critics.

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4. The great thing about the internet is that many of the bloggers who comment on film are superior to the old media types. I say the more the merrier and if you're any good, people will care what you have to say.

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5. It's good to hear someone's take but to take it as gospel is beyond silly. A problem I see lately is this dominance of total relevancy ... anyone is a star in their own mind and are the best and if you disagree it's only your opinion. Maybe, but sometimes things just suck. That people do not want to acknowledge that is a scary sign of an growing acceptance for mediocrity. Sometimes things are just bad or poorly done. The real tide turning is the lack of objective truth. Far too many people have a sincere lack of fact and truth. If their opinion runs contrary to the facts somehow they're still right. I don't get it.

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6. I'm young. As much as I respect AO Scott and David Edelstein, why would I revere their opinion over that of a trusted blogger when I can intuit that these aged critics and I do not have comparable tastes (or lifestyles, for that matter)? It's not that the critic as a concept is no longer relevant, it's just that these particular individuals ARE. Their time is up - if they wanna stick around, they need to mobilize 50 year old butts into theater seats, instead of clucking their tongues and proclaiming HBO the new cinema.

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7. Shawn Edwards gives this article 5 popcorn bags. But he would have pointed out the true death knell of criticism. The LA Press Association honored movie blurb whore Edwards with its "Best Critic" award just this year. This for the man who called "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" "The most magical movie of the year."

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8. The problem with critics is, they are all alike. Uniformly left wing to far left, their reviews are completely predicable, and thus worthless. I personally believe some movies are made just for critics to gush over. Naturally, they bomb big time but nobody seems to care. I remember many years ago I began to notice that Roger Ebert never criticized a black movie. Never. He felt it needed every little boost it could get, and he was not going to be part of the problem. Such flagrant dishonesty is intolerable and I stopped watching him. Roeper is not as bad, but close. No, the end of the critic is near, and not a minute too soon.

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9. Trust? Easy. Anthony Lane and Alex Ross; Sasha Frere-Jones and Peter Schjeldahl. I don't always agree with them but do believe they have applied intelligence, knowledge and background to any given summation. I guess that's why I subscribe to The New Yorker!

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10. I read critics all the time, from movies to television, to theater to music to food even. It's interesting and informative and it's an art form all its own. Terrific writing is also a part of criticism and I can appreciate a well written review. A critic can influence whether I try whatever it is they're reviewing although ultimately if I try it, I decide for myself. But it's nice to have the guidance to read of someone who has already tried it.

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