I wondered how my pals from the '80s might've collectively reacted to director Zelda Williams' and screenwriter Diablo Cody's new horror comedy had it actually been released in the year of its 1989 setting. My guess is we would've thought that it was pretty lame but had some decent laughs; that Heathers and Beetlejuice did the same sort of thing much better; and that the movie was only worth our time because we got to see it for free.

For the professional company's latest rendition of Love Stories, its annual collection of choreographed vignettes that makes for a sensational Valentine's Day gift, Ballet Quad Cities' February 9 and 10 presentations at Augustana College's Brunner Theatre Center will be filled with sounds and sights to make audiences swoon. Compositions by George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. Beautiful figures moving to live instrumental accompaniment. Executions by gunfire. You know – all the romantic standards.

This morning's announcement of contenders for the 96th Annual Academy Awards was da bomb. Kind of literally.

If you liked the 2004 version, you almost can't help but enjoy this latest one, because it's the same movie, albeit with songs.