Criticizing the critics

Updates from the world of film criticism:

• A.O. Scott of The New York Times discusses the role of the reviewer and why critics and audiences seem to disagree so often. "The discrepancy between what critics think and how the public behaves is of perennial interest because it throws into relief some basic questions about taste, economics and the nature of popular entertainment, as well as the more vexing issue of what, exactly, critics are for," Scott writes.

• Kevin Smith blasts back at Joel Siegel after the "Good Morning America" reviewer walks out of a screening of the "Clerks" sequel. "Leave the diva-like behavior and drama-queen antics to the movie stars, not the movie reviewer, ya rude-ass prick," Smith writes.