In our essay we discuss Louise Rosenblatt's transactional theory of a reading event. Second, we summarize Carole Cox and Joyce Many who applied the transactional theory and designed a 1-5 point continuum to stories and films. Third, we summarize film theorists David Bordwell's constructivism; Richard Wollheim's central imagining and identification; and Noel Carroll's unanimous empathy. These scholars provide quantitative and theoretical support connecting a literary theory to The Tree of Life trailer and the comments written. Our essay found the Top voted comments to be more evident of critical reading as users voted comments with more complexity into higher visibility. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.)