I was surprised by your negative thoughts on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. However, I don't take critics' comments very seriously; I generally like what they don't. Every movie does not have to be thought-provoking — sometimes it's mindless entertainment that keeps us watching. — Jay Smith

Jay, it's not like I didn't expect disagreement when I gave POTC: DMC a D+. Nor am I a glutton for hate mail. (Message to Johnny Bubanak: I am not ''the worst movie critic on the planet'' — someone else on the planet is.) But your not-exactly-a-question-more-like-a-statement is so calm and reasoned that I thought I'd celebrate Pirates' awesome opening box office booty by taking your comment very seriously. I think there's as much to be gained (and enjoyed) in disagreeing with any given critic's analysis as there is in having your own taste validated — maybe even more so. And I offer a giddy thumbs-up to well-done mindless entertainment. In fact, it was well-done entertainment I found wanting in POTC: DMC, and argued why.

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