Today I went to see A.I..  I really wanted to like this movie.  But unfortunately I didn't.  I hadn't seen any reviews beforehand, so I went into the theatre open-minded and optimistic.  True, I don't like Steven Spielberg, but I had hoped that Stanley Kubrick's concepts would balance it out.  It didn't and I left the theatre feeling totally manipulated.  The last hour I kept checking my watch, wondering when this bad movie would ever end.  This film was trying to be a lot of things.  First, it was trying to be a science fiction fantasy.  It was trying, and failing, to be Bladerunner in some parts.  Some of the special effects were interesting, but it wasn't anything I've not seen before.  The storyline wasn't particularly science fiction either.  It was more like a family drama.  Disney makes better science fiction than this.  Spielberg likes to play up sentimental pap, but the way he does it has no effect on me.  My mom, who usually falls for these standard cinematic devices, said that she thought the ending was "shlock".  Indeed it was.  She said her favorite part of the movie was when it was over.  I expected the happy ending, being that it was directed by Spielberg, but I didn't expect it to be so cheesy and so long.  I was more concerned about the boy's toy bear in this movie than I was the boy.  It was like ET without the funny bits, poor character development, and twice as long.  It wasn't a waste of two and a half hours in the air conditioning, and it had Jude Law, but I won't be going to see it again.

A bit later I met up with Rachel and Steve to get dinner.  We went to the House of Pies, my favorite restaurant in Houston.  It's a lot like I imagine an old time diner to be.  The waiters were really efficient there, possibly a little too efficient.  Every few minutes they came by to fill up my water and coffee, even though I hadn't had much of either.  I guess this is normal, but it'll take a while to get used to. 

On the way home I filled up my new car with gas for the first time.  I was upset that it cost $15 (£10)  for a fill up until I realized that it would probably cost $60 to fill up this same compact car at the Esso by my house in Leeds.  Crikey!

watching: Erin Brockovich

drinking: Shiner