This past Wednesday, November 18, I attended the showing of The Black Balloon in the LBJ student center teaching theater. It was actually a really pleasant showing; they handed out free sodas and popcorn, kind of corny but cute. The movie was based on a young man, Thomas, and his family that move to a new home and he has to start at a new school, all he wants is to fit in. When his pregnant mother has to take things easy, his father Simon puts him in charge of his autistic older brother Charlie. Thomas, with the help of his new girlfriend Jackie, faces his biggest challenge yet. Charlie's unusual antics take Thomas on an emotional journey that causes his frustrations about his brother to pour out. Majority of the audience were female, and it did somewhat turn out to be a more feminine version of a movie, I think. Certain scenes in the movie were really emotional and just made you appreciate everything so much more. Overall this was probably the most rewarding common experience event.

-Ryan Howard