Does knowing that Janet Leigh is stabbed in the shower make “Psycho” any less riveting, or less disturbing, the second time you see the movie? For that matter, does NOT knowing the plot twists at the end of “The Usual Suspects” or Armistead Maupin’s “The Night Listener” make them any better the FIRST time?

The fact is, a story works DESPITE a plot twist, not BECAUSE of it. It’s the reason that certain episodes of “The Twilight Zone” are classics; because even though we know what happens at the end, there’s a depth far greater than just an ironic ending. The plot twist is just a hook, a surprise that lets the real story in.

We all know that Romeo and Juliet die at the end of the play (in any case, Shakespeare lets the cat out of the bag with the intro monologue). We all know that Clark Kent is actually Superman (Shocking! Shocking!). And we all know that Courtney offed Kurt. And yet, Baz Luhrman butchered the Bard and still made a ton of money, there’s another Superman movie on the way, and Courtney still couldn’t do jail time even if she paid off Alberto Gonzales.

It’s interesting that everyone assumed that I hate Harry Potter, when all I wrote was that I’ve never read the books and never will. I don’t like them; I don’t hate them; I’m just indifferent. So who says I’m opposed to them? Read, read, read away. But if your hopes and dreams and life’s happiness depend on a plot twist, then don’t go surfing on the net, don’t read newspapers, and for God’s sake STAY AWAY FROM ALL HUMAN BEINGS, lest the secret slip out. You should have bought the book at 12.01 am and sat up all night reading it.

And what’s with all the anonymous comments? Most of which come from the same person, hiding behind various IP addresses. You can drop the facade: I know it’s you, Ms. Rowling.