>>> PEOPLE CELEBRATING THE MATCHUP BETWEEN THE USA AND ENGLAND.

>> SEEING IT COMPLETELY FULL IS CRAZY TO ME.

WE ARE SEEING ALL OF THE SUPPORT FROM BEYOND.

IT IS GREAT.

>> HUNDREDS WERE AT THE WATCH PARTY TO SEE TEEN USA PULL OUT A 0-0 FINAL SCORE.

>> SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES, COMING TOGETHER.

COMING OUT HERE.

SO AMAZING TO SUPPORT OUR TEAM.

ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE NOT BEEN HERE IN 8 YEARS.

>> ROUGHLY 4000 PEOPLE CRAMMED IN.

DIAZ WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT INSIDE.

>> IT'S A GREAT BONDING TIME WITH MY FAMILY.

COMING AFTER THE WORLD CUP IN RUSSIA, THEN THIS YEAR, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THIS ATMOSPHERE.

>> IN SOME RESPECT, FRIDAY WAS THE WARM-UP FOR SATURDAY.

THAT IS WHEN SAN DIEGO'S OTHER TEAM WILL BE ON THE PAGE.

>> MEXICO, WE ARE SO CLOSE TO TIJUANA.

THEY WILL STOP BY HERE FIRST.

JUST ENJOYING THE CROWD.

>> THE FINAL MATCH OF THE GROUP STAGE, IF THEY WIND, THEY WILL ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND.

IF THEY LOSE, THEY WILL BE ELIMINATED.

>>> THEY WERE OUT, BUT NOT FOR SHOPPING.

THE REPORTER SAYS THE ENGLISH FANS LIVING IN SAN DIEGO BEGAN LINING UP OUTSIDE OF SHAKESPEARE PUB.

>> Reporter: THESE FANS WERE AHEAD OF THE GAME.

SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, GOD SAVE THE KING, AND SAID, GOD SAVE THE QUEEN, MAY TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO.

IT WAS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS FOR THIS GROUP.

THEY WERE WATCHING THEIR HOME SQUAD SOMEWHERE THAT WAS 70 DEGREES AND SUNNY, INSTEAD OF 50 DEGREES LIKE IT IS IN ENGLAND RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING IN SAN DIEGO DURING THE WORLD CUP?

>> IT'S A GOOD ATMOSPHERE.

>> Reporter: FISH AND CHIPS WERE PLENTIFUL, JUST IN CASE THE ENGLAND FAITHFUL WERE FEELING HOMESICK.

THERE WERE SOME CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE HAVING BEEN BORN IN THE STATES, WITH HAVING FAMILY BACK IN ENGLAND.

>> I'M HALF BRITISH AND HALF AMERICAN, SO I GREW UP HERE.

I AM A LITTLE TORN, BUT I HAVE TO GO WITH WHO MY MOM SUPPORTED GROWING UP.

>> Reporter: THINGS LOOK PRETTY QUIET NOW, BUT AT 5:00 THIS MORNING, THIS WAS BEAMING WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE LINING UP HOPING TO GET HERE TO WATCH THE ENGLAND GAME.

THE TEA LOVING BRITS, THE OWNER OF SHAKESPEARE HAD TO CALL FOR EXTRA HELP.

>> WE HAD TO HIRE EXTRA STAFF AND EXTRA SECURITY.

>> Reporter: THE FINAL SCORE, A GOALLESS SCORE, FOR ENGLAND FANS, IT TRANSLATES LIKE A RAINY VACATION.

>> NOT GREAT.

WE DID NOT REALLY FEEL THE VELOCITY.

>> Reporter: WITH THAT, THE ENGLAND FANS HAVE A FEW DAYS TO GET THEMSELVES BACK UP FOR THE IN WALES.

>>> TOMORROW MORNING, MEXICO WILL PLAY AGAINST ARGENTINA.

IT IS SCHEDULED FOR 11:00.

YOU CAN STREAM.

IT IS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES TODAY AT KPBS.ORG.

THE >>> IT USED TO BE THE BIGGEST SHOPPING DAY, BUT THIS YEAR IT STRETCHES FAR BEYOND BLACK FRIDAY.

PET OWNERS ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS .

PET POWER STUDIO IS HAVING A SPECIAL BLACK FRIDAY SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY SALE.

THE SHOP OWNER SAYS, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST WEEKENDS OF THE YEAR IN TERMS OF SALES FOR HER BUSINESS.

THEY WILL BE BACK AT IT TOMORROW.

THE EVENT RUNS FROM 12:00 TO 5:00.

>>> THE SHOPPING SEASON IS MAKE OR BREAK AS THE RETAIL CENTER.

THE REPORTER SPOKE TO LOCALS WHO SAID THEY ARE RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: GAVIN NEWSOM TOOK A STATEWIDE VICTORY LAP.

THEY HAVE FULLY RECOVERED ALL JOBS THAT WERE LOST DUE TO RECESSION.

HE DECLARED THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THE LITTLE BIT OF NEWS DID NOT LAND VERY WELL AT SAN YSIDRO.

JASON, THE CEO OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE.

WE LOST MORE THAN 2000 JOBS DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THE JOBS HAVE NOT COME BACK.

IN ALL JOBS IMPACTED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BY THE PANDEMIC.

OTHER PLACES THAT DEPEND ON COMMERCE, WERE CRUSHED.

THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE HARSH RESTRICTIONS OF BORDER CROSSING IMPLEMENTED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND KEPT GOING BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.

SHE SAYS THE ENTIRE REGION'S ECONOMY WAS BADLY HURT.

>> HAVING AN ESTIMATED IMPACT OF $428 MILLION IN 2019.

IT BARELY REACHED $85 MILLION BY JULY OF 2021.

>> Reporter: BY THEN, TOO MUCH DAMAGE HAS ARTIE BEEN DONE.

>> LOCAL COMPANIES HAVE STRUGGLED, THE WORK FOR SHOWING UP LATE FOR WORK.

THAT DELAYED THE SHIPPING TIME THAT INCREASED THE COST.

THAT HAS BEEN LOSING CLIENTS.

SOMETIMES THEY DECIDED TO MOVE OUT OF OUR REGION OR STOPPED INVESTING.

>> Reporter: RETAIL SALES FIGURES ARE STILL BIGGER THAN WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THE WAIT TIMES REMAIN HIGH AT CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION.

THIS MEANS ANOTHER TOUGH HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.

>> A THIRD OF OUR BUSINESSES MAKE THE NET PROFIT FOR OVER THE YEAR BETWEEN JANUARY 20th AND.

THIS IS EXTREMELY CRUCIAL.

>> Reporter: MAKING THINGS WORSE, THE CONTINUED CLOSURE AT THE BOARDING CROSSING.

PEOPLE USED TO WALK DIRECTLY FROM THE BORDER CROSSING TO THE OUTLET MALL.

NOW THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE OTHER BORDER CROSSING, IT IS FURTHER AWAY WITH LONGER WAIT TIMES.

>> THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION THAT TAKES YOU TO AMERICA.

YOU EITHER HAVE TO WALK OR TAKE A BUS.

>> Reporter: THE BORDER PROTECTION HAS PREVIOUSLY SAID THAT OPENING THIS IS A TOP PARTY.

NOBODY KNOWS WHEN THAT WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

THE AGENCY HAS NOT RESPONDED TO A KPBS.

SHE STILL REMEMBERS GOING ON SHOPPING TRIPS WITH HER MOM WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

>> IS PRETTY SAD.

TO SEE HOW THINGS USED TO BE, AND NOW, IT'S FAIRLY LONELY.

THEY COME HERE TO THE BANK OR TO THE -- BUSINESSES.

>> Reporter: SHE STARTED WORKING OUT THE COMMERCE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT'S PRETTY SAD TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE CLOSED.

IN THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CREATED TO HELP STRUGGLING BUSINESSES.

THEY ASKED CITY AND COUNTY, TO HELP WITH THE BAND.

>> Reporter: IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM KPBS, THEY SAY THAT THE FUNDING REQUEST WAS TOO LATE.

BUT SINGLE BUSINESSES CAN STILL APPLY FOR A SINGLE BUSINESS PROGRAM.

>>> WE HAVE MORE BLACK FRIDAY COVERAGE LATER.

WE WILL ALSO GET SOME INSIGHT ON THIS YEAR'S SHOPPING TRENDS.

>>> WE ARE NINE MONTHS INTO RUSSIA'S WAR IN UKRAINE.

THE WAR FROM SPACE SHOWS THE STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.

THESE IMAGES FROM THE NASA SATELLITE SHOW AND AERIAL VIEW OF UKRAINE IN JANUARY.

RUSSIA HAS BOMBED KEY PIECES OF UKRAINE'S POWER GRID IN RECENT DAYS.

NEARLY 50% OF RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING OUTAGES.

THE WHO ARE WORKING ON A PLAN TO SUPPLY MORE GENERATORS TO THE COUNTRY.

>>> THE REFUGEES ARE NOT LETTING UP.

THEY ARE TRYING TO GET TO PLACES LIKE SAN DIEGO.

OUR REPORTER CAUGHT UP WITH THE UKRAINIAN ARTIST, FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE WITH HER DAUGHTER.

>> Reporter: UKRAINIAN REFUGEES, THEY FEEL VERY MUCH AT HOME IN THE HOUSE IN SAN DIEGO.

>> IT WAS LIKE -- >> Reporter: THEY FEEL FREE HERE TO DO WHAT THEY LOVE.

THAT IS BECAUSE -- WELCOMES THEM INTO HER HOME AND OPENS HER ART STUDIO FOR VERA.

SHE SAID THAT HER FAMILY KICKED THEM OUT A MONTH AFTER THEY ARRIVED HERE FROM POLAND.

>> I WAS VERY LUCKY.

AIRBNB, IN FEBRUARY, I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING AT ALL.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, AN INCREDIBLE PAINTER DROPS OUT OF THE SKY INTO MY GARAGE.

IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

>> Reporter: HER HUSBAND IS A MILITARY AIRPLANE MECHANIC NEEDED WITH THE EFFORT FOR UKRAINE.

FLEEING WAS HER LOWEST POINT.

>> WHERE WILL I BE NOW IF CONNIE DID NOT HELP US?

I DON'T KNOW?

>> Reporter: SHE CAN SMILE AGAIN, BECAUSE HER DAUGHTER IS SAFE AND SHE CAN PAINT AGAIN.

SHE'S AN ACCOMPLISHED ARTIST AND HAS HER OWN STUDIO IN UKRAINE.

THE STUDIO WHERE SHE CAN PAINT HER FAMOUS SUNFLOWERS HAS BROUGHT HER BACK TO LIFE.

>> I CAN FEEL A DIFFERENT FEELING.

>> Reporter: HER GOAL IS TO SUPPORT HER FAMILY WITH HER ART WHILE SHE IS HERE.

WAS SHE STRUGGLES WITH, WASTED MOMENTS.

>> I COULD PAINT SOME FLOWERS.

I CAN FEEL FREEDOM EVERY TIME.

>> Reporter: SHE HOPES THIS PIECE CAPTURES, INSPIRES OTHERS TO LEARN FROM WHAT SHE WISHES SHE WOULD HAVE SAVORED A LITTLE MORE.

>> IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU DON'T DO MANY, DIFFICULT TO FIND TIME.

>>> ON THE NEXT NEWS HOUR, A GROCERY MERGER CAN CHANGE PRICES FOR SHOPPERS.

COMING UP A 7:00, AFTER THE EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.

>>> HOMELESS VETERANS ARE SUING FOR NOT BUILDING HOMES AS QUICKLY AS PROMISED HERE.

AS NICK REPORTS, THEY ARE ALSO QUESTIONING WHY THIS IS BEING USED FOR SPORTS?

>> Reporter: THIS IS UCLA MANICURED BASEBALL DIAMOND.

>> IT IS KIND OF DISGUSTING TO SEE.

>> Reporter: NOT AT ALL WHAT CHRISTINE HAD IN MIND WHEN SHE DONATED MUCH OF THIS LAND IN THE LATE 1800S.

>> IT WAS NOT GIVEN TO ANYBODY BUT VETERANS FOR A HOME.

BUT WITH VIETNAM, THE VA DECIDED, NO MORE.

AND THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES SAID, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO TAKE OVER THIS TOWN.

THE VETS WERE KICKED OUT.

>> Reporter: 4000 VETS ONCE LIVED HERE WITH A NUMBER OF HOMELESS VETERANS IN L.A., TODAY.

LATE LAST NIGHT, A LAWSUIT WAS FILED.

DEMANDING THAT WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE VA OFFER HOUSING TO AT LEAST 3500 VETS ON OR AROUND THIS LAND AND NOT USE IT FOR PURPOSES THAT ARE NOT PRIMARILY RELATED TO PROVIDING HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE FOR VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES.

NO LONGER A PRIVATE SCHOOL'S PLAYGROUND.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPENING THERE?

>> A LOT.

TO HELP VETERANS.

>> Reporter: HE SERVED IN IRAQ AND LIVED FOR A YEAR ON THIS LAND.

HE IS ONE OF 14 HOMELESS VETERANS.

>> BUILD THIS HOUSING.

I GET IT, BUT I DON'T CARE.

THEY CAN SEND US TO WORK, AND YOU WILL NOT DEAL WITH US?

NO.

>> Reporter: BACK IN 2016 AFTER A LAWSUIT FOR VETERANS AND ADVOCATES, THE VA WAS PROMISED HOUSING HERE.

WHEN WE VISITED IN MARCH, MORE THAN 700 UNITS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

NOT ONE WAS COMPLETED.

>> THEY ARE STUDIO APARTMENTS.

>> Reporter: SOME WERE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, SCHEDULED TO OPEN THIS FALL.

>> NOW WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT NEXT YEAR, JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, SO MANY DELAYS.

WE MET BACK IN 2016, CONGRESS DECREED THAT LANDOWNERS MUST THAT CHURN -- >> THE END RESULT OF THIS, PEOPLE ARE DYING ON THE STREET.

IT IS SERIOUS.

>> Reporter: THE VA SIGNED AN AMENDMENT WITH UCLA GIVING THE COLLEGE MORLAND FOR A PRACTICE FIELD.

>> IF WE WOULD'VE SAID NO TO THAT, THEY COULD'VE GONE TO A JUDGE OR SOMEWHERE.

>> Reporter: THE VA SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH AND ANOTHER 10 YEAR LEASE WITH THE SCHOOL.

I WAS TOLD THIS.

>> THE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE SCHOOL IS NONCOMPLIANT.

I AM SURE IF WE TERMINATED THE LEASE, THEY WOULD TAKE US TO COURT.

>> Reporter: HE AGREED WITH ONE KEY PART OF THIS LAWSUIT, BRENTWOOD SCHOOLS ATHLETIC FACILITY SHOULD NOT BE ON THIS LAND.

NOW, THE VA IS BEING TAKEN TO COURT, NOT BY THE SCHOOL OR UCLA, BUT BY VETERANS.

>> HOW CAN YOU BE THE HOME OF THE BRAVE WHEN SO MANY ARE HOMELESS?

EVERY ADMINISTRATION HAS TREATED THEM AS DISPOSABLE.

THE HARDEST PART OF WAR IS COMING HOME.

IN GOING THROUGH WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH NOW, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE YOUR OWN PLACE HERE?

>> IT IS EVERYTHING.

STABILITY AND HOUSING FALLS INTO PLACE.

I DON'T DESERVE IT.

>>> WE REGULARLY COVER THE ISSUES FOR THE VA COMMUNITY.

RECENTLY A SUMMIT WAS HELD ON VETERAN HOUSING.

YOU CAN FIND THAT STORY ON KPBS.ORG.

>>> EARLIER WE CHECKED IN ON THE LOCAL SHOPPING SCENE.

MALLS ACROSS AMERICA ARE STILL SEEING A LOT OF ACTIVITY.

GLORIA, TELLS US ABOUT THIS YEAR'S APPETITE TO SPEND.

>> >> Reporter: IS A BIG SHOPPING DAY OF THE YEAR.

WITH THE INCREASE PRICES AND ECONOMIES STILL A FLOP.

>> WE HAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.

WHAT WE WILL BUY THIS YEAR.

>> Reporter: CONSISTENT HIGH INFLATION, RETAIL SPENDING STILL SHOWS STRENGTH.

SALES WERE UP A LITTLE OVER 1%.

CONSUMERS SAY THEY ARE CAUTIOUS.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF DOWNSIZING.

NOT LIKE LAST YEAR.

>> Reporter: THE FEDERATION DATA IS SHOWING THAT SHOPPERS ARE SPENDING BIG.

AN ESTIMATED 166.3 MILLION PEOPLE PLAN TO SHOP ON THANKSGIVING DAY THROUGH CYBER MONDAY.

>> THERE IS LESS INFLATION ISSUES.

MORE PHYSICAL STORES THAT ARE OPEN AND THERE HAS BEEN HER CAPACITY.

WE ARE SEEING MORE STABILITY.

>> Reporter: 69% OF STUDENTS PLAN TO SHOP ON BLACK FRIDAY.

38%, SAY THEY WILL SHOP ON CYBER MONDAY.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY BIG BASE OF CONSUMERS THAT SHOP ONLINE, BUT ALSO A LOT THAT SHOP IN PERSON.

>> Reporter: KPBS NEWS.

>>> OUR REPORTER HAS INSIGHT ON HOW THINGS ARE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.

>> Reporter: CONSUMER SHOPPING IN PERSON WILL BE A BIG DEAL.

WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS THAT BLACK FRIDAY HAS A LOT OF MOMENTUM.

THERE ARE NOT THE 4:00 A.M.

SALES.

THIS YEAR, THE FEDERATION IS EXPECTING A FAIR AMOUNT OF GROWTH, A LOT OF SHOPPERS COMING IN ON BLACK FRIDAY.

A LOT OF THE STORES THAT WERE TRADITIONALLY OPEN ON THANKSGIVING, THEY WERE CLOSED.

MACY'S, KOHL'S.

ONLINE SALES CREPT UP FOR ALL RETAIL SALES.

THOSE WILL BE BACK DOWN THIS YEAR.

IT WILL GO BACK DOWN TO 18 TO 20%, BECAUSE CONSUMERS REALLY WANT THAT PHYSICAL EXPERIENCE IN STORES.

THE MALLS HAVE CHANGED THE WAYS THAT THEY CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY WINDOW WITH RESTAURANTS, POP-UP STORES, A LOT OF DECORATIONS AND AREAS FOCUSED WORK HISTORY CONSUMERS WILL HAVE A BETTER EXPERIENCE, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR WAS A TOUGH HOLIDAY SEASON.

THERE WERE NOT PRODUCTS ON THE SHELF BECAUSE OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

THIS YEAR, MOST OF THOSE ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.

RETAILERS HAVE A LOT OF INVENTORY.

THEY HAVE HAD THAT FOR MONTHS.

WE WILL SEE BIGGER DISCOUNTS.

LAST YEAR THE DISCOUNTS WERE 25% OR LESS.

THIS YEAR, THEY WILL BE 25% OR MORE.

WITH ONLINE RETAILERS LOOKING AT 50% SAVINGS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR CONSUMERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR VALUE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

>>> CHANGES COMING UP IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE DIRECTION AS WE GO THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT COOLER AIR.

FOR TRAVELING ON SUNDAY, THE CONDITIONS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.

LET'S TALK ABOUT TONIGHT, WE WILL BE SETTLING DOWN INTO THE 30s AROUND OCEANSIDE.

SAN DIEGO, THE WIND IS SETTLING DOWN.

THERE'S AN ONSHORE FLOW THAT'S WORKING ITS WAY INTO THE PICTURE.

ON SATURDAY, WE SEE THE CLOUDS ROLLING BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES.

WE COME OFF WITH SOME CLOUDS, ENDING UP WITH SUNSHINE.

WE GET SOME CHILLY AIR OFF THE EAST, FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND INTO THE DESERTS.

THE TEMPERATURES ARE DOWN SOMEWHAT, COMPARED TO WHAT WE SAW THE OTHER DAY.

EDDIE 2 DEGREES, SAN DIEGO.

THE WARMEST DAY WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR THIS MONTH.

WE ARE DOWN INTO THE 60s.

THIS IS A LITTLE CLOSER TO NORMAL.

MORNING CLOUDS, LATE DAY SUNSHINE, EVEN THE INTERIOR VALLEYS CAN SEE A BIT OF SUNSHINE.

THERE IS YOUR ONSHORE FLOW AS WE GO TO SUNDAY.

MORE MORNING CLOUDS, IT WILL BE A DRY DAY FOR TRAVEL.

OF COURSE, THAT IS KEY HERE.

PRECIPITATION ALREADY AROUND 150% OF OUR NORMAL RAINFALL.

WITH THE NEXT SYSTEM COMING IN THE EARLY WE, YOU CAN'T RULE OUT A SPRINKLE OR A SHOWER OVER HERE.

THE MOST WE WILL SEE, THE CLOUDS AROUND, A COOLING TREND.

WE LOOK FOR THE HIGHS OF THE INTERIOR TO DROP BACK DOWN INTO THE 60s STARTING OFF ON MONDAY.

OTHERWISE, AS WE CHECK OUT THE MOUNTAINS, WE WILL SEE GUSTY WINDS WITH THE SYSTEM THAT WILL BE INLAND.

NOT MAJOR IMPACTS HERE.

AGAIN, WE WILL SEE SOME COOLER AIR COMING WITH SOME GUSTY WINDS.

TUESDAY, INTO THE DESERT, SOME CLOUDS.

OTHERWISE, A BIT OF A COOL DOWN AS WE HAD UNTIL MONDAY AND ALSO INTO TUESDAY.

FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> IT'S ABOUT AS CLOSE TO THE MOON AS NASA CAN GET WITHOUT A LENDING.

THESE ARE PHOTOS FROM THE CAPSULE TAKEN THIS WEEK DURING THE CLOSEST APPROACH TO THE MOON.

ABOUT 80 MILES TO THE SURFACE.

THIS IS PART OF THE ARTEMIS ONE MISSION.

THIS WILL LEASE TO AN OUTER POST.

IT WILL HELP WITH A POTENTIAL TRIP TO MARS.

BETH SAYS, CHRISTMAS DOES NOT ARRIVE EARLY IN THEATERS.

HERE'S HER REVIEW.

>> Reporter: STEVEN SPIELBERG, HIS MOVIE DRAWS WELL.

HE SHOWS US HOW MOVIEMAKING BEGAN EARLY IN HIS LIFE.

>> SAMMY, WE WILL USE DADDY'S CAMERA TO FILM IT.

ONLY CRUSHED THE TRAIN ONCE, OKAY?

AFTER WE GET THE FILM DEVELOPED, YOU CAN WATCH IT CRASH OVER AND OVER.

>> Reporter: FOR A FILM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HIS MOST PERSONAL, IT FEELS DISTANT.

THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ART, BUT NOT A LOT IS ON DISPLAY.

IT'S LATE ON INSIGHTS.

HE SEEMS DRIVEN TO MAKE MOVIES ONLY BECAUSE HE'S IMPRESSED WITH HOW THE RESPONSE IS FROM PEOPLE.

PLUS, MOST OF WHAT WE SEE OF HIM AS A YOUNG LAWMAKER, IT IS HIM IMITATING OTHER MOVIES.

>> CUT.

THAT WAS GOOD.

>> Reporter: THIS IS NOT THE TYPE THAT AUDIENCES ENJOY.

IT FEELS BLAND.

I DON'T LIKE TO GET TOLD TO FEEL WHO A CHARACTER IS.

I WANT TO DISCOVER THOSE THINGS AND THERE IS NO SENSE OF DISCOVERY IN THIS.

BOTH FILMS ARE BASED ON YOUNG ADULT NOVELS AND BOTH REMOVE THE HORROR ROOTS AS THEY FOCUS ON YOUNG LEOPARD THEY START BOLDLY, AS IT INTRODUCES MARILYN AND HER HUNGER FOR HUMAN FLESH.

THE FILM REFERS TO PEOPLE AS EATERS AND SUGGEST THERE IS A SUBCULTURE LIVING UNDER THE RADAR OF SOCIETY.

SHE FALLS IN LOVE WITH A FELLOW EATER.

>> YOU CAN SEE BLOOD.

>> Reporter: 131 MINUTES, IT WEARS OUT ITS WELCOME BY BRINGING OUT A ROMANCE.

PEOPLE USUALLY EMBRACE COUNTABLE FILMS.

NOT WHEN IT IS FOR MAINSTREAM AUDIENCES.

I WON'T CALL THIS A LUMP OF COAL, BUT NOTHING I WOULD PUT ON MY HOLIDAY LIST.

>>> YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING.

GOOD NIGHT.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING HAS BEEN MADE IN PART BY, BILL HOWELL.

PRESIDING.

FLOOD AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

THE CONRAD FOUNDATION.

THE FOLLOWING -- BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.