Reviews by Friends of pitcherday

Fardreamer says "De Palma's Mission Impossible reboot goes on Cruise control" about Mission: Impossible

Fardreamer — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:13:59 GMT

In 1996, 30 years after its debut on the CBS television network, producer Bruce Geller's spy-action adventure series Mission: Impossible followed Star Trek from the small screen into the silver screen when Paramount Pictures released Brian DePalma's film adaptation, which stars Tom Cruise as IMF operative Ethan Hunt and Jon Voight as Jim Phelps.

Because the series was so much a product of the Cold War - proving Nicholas Meyer's statement that "all art reflects the times in which it's created" - storywriters Steven Zaillian and David Koepp and screenwriters Koepp and Robert Towne couldn't simply take stories from the old show and update them for the film.

They could, however, take some of the series' basic premises and one character (Phelps) and try to extrapolate what the end of the Cold War has wrought on the IMF team and its leaders now that the Iron Curtain has fallen and their roles and missions are being redefined.

The big issue faced by Zaillian, Koepp and Towne was this: Tom Cruise's...

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PattyTherre says "Tastes great and good for you too. Eat em up, yum!" about Thomas' Better Start High Fiber 100 Calories English Muffins

PattyTherre — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:13:15 GMT

Quick View: My family calls me a fiber freak. And I am. I believe fiber fills you up and keeps you full and it aids in good digestive health. I don't get nearly enough fiber for the most part so I am always on the lookout for foods that boost my intake. Thomas' Better Start High Fiber 100 Calories English Muffins have 5 grams of fiber per muffin and taste great. They really are a better start to anyone's day!

My Take on Thomas' Better Start High Fiber 100 Calories English Muffins

These English muffins look exactly like regular ones. They come six to a package and need to be sliced into halves to toast. Each weighs 1.8 ounces which is just about what other English muffins weigh.

They taste exactly the same as English muffins at a restaurant or that you buy in a store with little or no fiber in them. At just 100 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 4 grams of protein, the hefty 5 grams of fiber in every muffin is an added benefit to these low cal, low fat muffins.

I toast them and add fat free cream...

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bkovacs says "Maybe, man" about Yes Man

bkovacs — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:36:08 GMT

The premise for Yes Man is excellent: What if you said "yes" to everything and where would that lead you? And there are a few good things in Yes Man about this uplifting concept, enough to make me think that we should all say "yes" a lot more often. However, Yes Man ultimately becomes just another chance for Jim Carrey to mug his way through a script that veers a little too silly for my taste.

Carl Allen (Jim Carrey) is a bored and boring bank loan officer when a friend drags him to a seminar on learning to say "yes." Skeptical, Carl decides to give it a try and quickly has some pleasant and rewarding adventures, not the least of which is going for a wild ride on the back of Allison's (Zooey Deschanel) motor scooter. He soon starts a tentative relationship with Allison and his fortunes at the bank change as well. Carl learns that it is hard but rewarding to say yes, and this is the film's strong point.

Of course, Yes Man is a Hollywood film headed by big star, so there must be some silly...

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njchicaa says "Our puppies love Trader Joe's Chunky Chicken Canned Dog Food." about Trader Joe's Chunky Chicken Dinner Premium Canned Dog Food

njchicaa — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:21:24 GMT

Although I feed our foster dogs and puppies a diet primarily consisting of dry kibble, I mix in some canned food once or twice a week as a little treat. I really like the Trader Joe's line of canned dog foods and have recently been using their Chunky Chicken Dinner.

I like Trader Joe's Canned Dog Foods (and cat foods) because they don't contain by-products, mystery meat, or carcinogenic preservatives. The main ingredients include chicken, beef, textured soy protein, animal liver, guar gum, and a bunch of vitamin/mineral supplements. When you open up the can, Trader Joe's Chunky Chicken Dinner looks like your typical canned dog food: a dense brown mass covered by a layer of brown slime. It doesn't look appetizing to me, but the puppies definitely don't mind the appearance. In fact, they all come rushing up to me when they hear the can opener going with tails wagging. They LOVE eating this Chunky Chicken Dinner and haven't had any problems like stomach upset or allergy issues...

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this2shallpass19 says "Garlic AND cheese in a cracker? Sign me up!" about Sunshine - Cheez-It Parmesan & Garlic Baked Snack Crackers

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:48:30 GMT

I am more of a salty/savory kind of snacker, than a sweet one. I would much rather snack on chips, crackers or cheese than candy, chocolate or desserts. One of my favorite snacks are Sunshine Cheez-It Hot & Spicy Baked Snack Crackers, but the last time I was at the grocery store, I came across a flavor I haven't had before - Sunshine Cheez-It Parmesan & Garlic Baked Snack Crackers. I love cheese and garlic, so they seemed like they would be a perfect fit.

When I first tasted these, I immediately picked up on the garlic. The parmesan flavor was definitely secondary, but slightly noticeable. If you're not a garlic lover, I wouldn't recommend these because they are pretty garlicky - in a good way. At first the flavor seems really strong, but the more you eat, the more mild they seem.

I love these Sunshine Cheez-It Parmesan & Garlic Baked Snack Crackers, but if I could change anything, I would make them a little cheesier, so the garlic to cheese ratio was a little more balanced. ...

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awareness says " a playful wheat beer, both festive yet serious" about Lost Coast Brewery & Cafe Tangerine Wheat

awareness — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:08:01 GMT

Lost Coast Brewery's Tangerine Wheat is a well-made American wheat beer with a fun, tangerine flavor.

Tangerine Wheat is fun, accessible, and its refreshing light body makes it enjoyable just about any time you're in the mood for its tangerine character. It has a clean, pleasant finish without any unpleasant aftertaste, a pitfall which fruity beers must work to avoid. In fact, its strength—its tangerine flavor—while it may lead you to choose Tangerine Wheat for an occasion is also what will keep you from drinking it endlessly (until next time). There's only so much tangerine flavor one can down in an evening.

Unlike some fruity beers which mask poor craftsmanship with a cloying, sweet flavor, Tangerine Wheat is a quality wheat beer made with exacting craft beer standards. As with many wheat beers, it makes an excellent beer for folks who are not used to drinking beer or who are averse to overly hoppy, bitter beers. If you are into beer and want to introduce it to some of your friends...

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AnnaBanana says "It does what it promised but I am very concerned." about Pantene Pro-V Silver Expressions Daily Color Enhancing Shampoo

AnnaBanana — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:27:36 GMT

Usually, I don't do reviews about shampoos or conditioners with rare exception (i.e. Aveda Sap Moss about a year ago). A few weeks ago, I ran out of the Aveda Sap Moss Shampoo only to discover it had been discontinued by Drugstore.com. Whilst cruising the aisles at CVS, I noticed they were having a sale on Pantene Pro V Silver Expressions Shampoo. "What the heck?" I thought, and took a bottle home.

According to the label information, this stuff promises to help remove dulling residue from white or silver hair, leaving it brighter and healthier-looking. I've got to say that it does what it promised. The other night, while chatting with the cashier at the 7/11, I happened to glance up at the security mirror above us and my hair looked absolutely dazzling. I have also received nice comments about it.

I really, really wanted Pantene Pro V Silver Expressions Shampoo to work for me on an indefinite basis but I am a little concerned about what I perceive to be greater-than-normal...

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this2shallpass19 says "The Boyfriend Burnout Tee is the absolute perfect t-shirt!" about Mudd Burnout Boyfriend Tee

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:21:12 GMT

I almost never shop at department stores since I find most of my goodies at Target, Ross or online. However, I saw a Kohl's advertisement and noticed some candles were on sale, so I was lured to the store. While there, I tried on the best t-shirt ever - Mudd Burnout Boyfriend Tee. I loved it so much I bought it in two colors, and I'm going back for more!

What makes this t-shirt so awesome is the design that you can't notice in the picture. You know that look and feel of a really old t-shirt? When it gets super soft and kind of see-through? That's the Mudd Burnout Boyfriend Tee. They did something neat to the material so that it is textured with regular and "worn" materials. It has a v-neck, which I'm partial to, and it has a small pocket on chest. This shirt is made out of 52% cotton and 48% polyester.

I bought this shirt in "blue spruce" and "dark heather gray", but they have it several other colors too. This shirt is very comfortable! It just fits perfect in all...

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dmlichnerowicz says "High-quality chocolate from historic Lebanon, Ohio" about Golden Turtle Chocolate Faactory - Lebanon, OH

dmlichnerowicz — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:14:47 GMT

Having lived in and around Lebanon for almost five years, one of my favorite little haunts is in the historic downtown area: the Golden Turtle Chocolate Factory. About fifty feet from the Golden Lamb, Ohio's oldest continuously functioning inn (dating back to the early 1800's), the Golden Turtle Chocolate Factory is a small shop that sells an enormous variety of high-quality milk, dark, and white chocolates, both in their local store and online.

I have tasted many of the confections they make, and my absolute favorite are the dark chocolate-covered candied orange rinds. They look a little like cat poo, but they taste absolutely amazing! The chocolate is delicious, not at all waxy, and any order you place is neatly packaged up for you in white boxes with their gold logo embosssed on top. Prices are comparable to other chocolate speciality shops I have visited, and it is certainly worth it. The Golden Turtle Chocolate Factory products make beautiful gifts, additions to carry-ins...

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dmlichnerowicz says "Not even worth a dollar" about e.l.f. Eye Widener

dmlichnerowicz — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:58:12 GMT

My opinion of el.f. products has been progresively dropping, and the e.l.f. Eye Widener didn't help. E.l.f. Eye Widener is a white eye pencil designed to create "an illusion of bold and beautiful eyes that sparkle" and "help to awaken tired eyes for a more youthful and vibrant look." E.l.f. advises customers to appply the eye liner along the upper lash line and waterline for a wide-awake look. The new design of the pencil supposedly has a softer formula and a sharpener in the cap.

My take: Frankly, I thought it sucked. The pencil was really hard, and it was so difficult to apply to my eyes! Along my upper lid, it pulled my skin, didn't show up, and actually hurt a little! I had a really hard time even getting any color to show up on my waterline, and within minutes, the color was gone! It made my eyes water from all the pulling and rubbing, just to try to get some of the eyeliner onto my face.

I am so unimpressed by this product. Even the new, improved formula wouldn't...

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PattyTherre says "Adidas Tropical Passion is fruity but best for young women." about Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray

PattyTherre — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:45:29 GMT

Quick View: I adore fruity fragrances, especially lemon, lime, and orange scents. When I saw Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray (1.7 ounce) for under $10.00 while shopping online, I added it to my cart. It does smell nice but it's very unsophisticated and the scent fades fast.

My Take on Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray

This fragrance comes in a glass 1.7 ounce bottle and is tinted slightly orange. It has notes of tangerine, melon, pineapple, magnolia, orange blossom, cedar and musk. It sounded like an amazing light scent that I would enjoy. And I do. But the fragrance is very ... unsophisticated for lack of a better word. It is straight up fruity with orange notes being the strongest.It doesn't change as it dries down. In fact, it smells much more like a body mist than an eau de toilette. And it lasts about as long.

Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray is strong to start. It is almost overwhelmingly fruity. It then dries down...

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njchicaa says "Julie and Julia is cute enough but I wouldn't watch it again." about Julie & Julia

njchicaa — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:48:42 GMT

As someone who has spent the past couple of years following recipes and learning how to make new dishes, I loved the idea of Julie and Julia. The film simultaneously follows Julia Child and her entrance into the cooking world and Julie Powell, a young wife who is dissatisfied with her career. Julie decides to set a goal: to prepare all of the 500+ recipes in Julia Child's classic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking and publish a blog about her cooking adventures online.

I really loved the idea of a young wife trying to tackle every recipe in a cookbook. I have several free hours in my afternoon which is how I got started with the cookbook collection and trying new things. Unfortunately, the focus of Julie & Julia was more on the marriages of the main characters rather than their cooking experiences. The actress who played Julie Powell did an adequate job, but nothing that really made me feel connected to the character. Meryl Streep, on the other hand, was phenomenal...

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ApriBambino says "Not quite homemade but not bad for a canned soup." about muir glen Classic Minestrone Soup

ApriBambino — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:43:52 GMT

Muir Glen Classic Minestrone Soup

I like making soup, a lot, but when I don't have the time I'll give in and use a canned soup even though I'm not a huge fan.

Having a coupon for Muir Glen soup, I decided to get a few cans to have on hand. I chose the Classic Minestrone as it's one of our favorites anytime. Well, the other night I simply didn't feel like fussing over dinner so I opened a 19 ounce can of Muir Glen Classic Minestrone Soup. I like the fact that It has an easy-open pull top tab so, no can opener necessary.

As for the tomato-based soup, it's quite full of all the ingredients you'd expect in a minestrone which include Carrots, Tomatoes, Garbanzo (or chickpea) Beans, Spinach, Potatoes, Green Beans, Light Red Kidney Beans, Peas, Diced Celery and Penne Pasta. It's seasoned with onion, oregano, basil, sea salt, black pepper, thyme and rosemary.

Flavor wise, this soup is good, the balance of herby flavors is pleasant and it's not overly salted. The tomato flavor is fresh and...

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njchicaa says "I just don't get Yankee Candle's Christmas on the Beach candle." about Yankee Candle Christmas on the Beach 22 Ounce Housewarmer Jar Candle

njchicaa — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:47:41 GMT

As a fan of both candles and tropical scents, I was sorely tempted to buy myself their new holiday candle, Christmas at the Beach, when I received their holiday catalog. I had done a ton of shopping at the time, though, and figured that I needed to restrain myself and take a pass on it. A month later, I was ordering Christmas presents at YankeeCandle.com and, well, my resolve crumbled and I included TWO Christmas at the Beach Housewarmer Jar Candles--one for me and one for a gift!

I must confess, I expected Christmas at the Beach to have a festive evergreen-type fragrance with hints of coconut and pineapple. Instead, I discovered upon removing the top of the jar that this is a completely tropical fragrance blend of pineapple and coconut. Yankee Candle's description claims that it also is supposed to smell like cilantro, too, but I can't detect any hint of one of my favorite spicy herbs. In all honesty, this "holiday" and "festive" Yankee Candle seems to be the exact same formulation...

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this2shallpass19 says "I love all the coupons, but the magazine itself is just okay!" about All You Magazine

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:32:20 GMT

I am a big coupon user, so after hearing that All You Magazine is loaded with coupons, I decided to order a subscription. Not only is it filled with coupons, but it provides recipes, articles for women, info and practical solutions to family and life problems too.

All You Magazine has the slogan: "Enjoy life for less". That's true. The majority of the magazine is for the frugalista woman who wants to pay less and get more. It offers suggestions on how to save money at the grocery store, beauty tips, health advice, recipes and loads and loads of coupons. There are coupons for everything from diapers, make-up, Slim-Fast, vitamins, cleaning products and food.

I gave this magazine a 3 star rating because although the massive amounts of coupons are a major bonus, I don't really find the articles helpful or entertaining. I have yet to see a recipe that interests me or catches my eye, and most of the advice seems to be commonsense to me. It's rare that I find an article worthy...

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GreatMartin says "LEARN HOW TO MILK COWS----AGAIN!!!" about "DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS" & JENNIFER JONES

GreatMartin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:20:38 GMT

Jennifer Jones, who starred in one of the most romantic movies ever made, "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing", died yesterday at the age of 90. She was nominated for the Oscar five times and won for her performance in 'The Song Of Bernadette". I was a big fan of hers.

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"Did You Hear About The Morgans?" is the full title of the film but is being referred to just as The Morgans. I have an idea for a movie--have a married couple, recently separated because he cheated, and like fish out of water, since they are sophisticated people, put them in Wyoming. Yes it is as old hat as it sounds but not as bad as it could have been. While there are no laugh out loud moments in the movie there are quite a few smiles, even if they are familiar.

Romantic comedies like this live or die on the leads and their chemistry or lack of same. There is some chemistry between Sarah Jessica parker and Hugh Grant but not...

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LoveisJoy says "Dollar Store Quality - I Expect A Little More From Avon" about Avon NATURALS Pomegranate & Mango Refreshing Shower Gel

LoveisJoy — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:11:00 GMT

I bought a bottle of Avon Naturals Pomegranate and Mango shower gel mostly because the description sounded delicious. It's described as a fruity, tropical scent with a coordinating lotion (reviewed here) to go with it. Since it is much less expensive than Bath & Body Works products, I was hoping that I could find a similar quality shower gel at an affordable price.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. The shower gel smells nice, but it is thin and doesn't lather especially well. Unlike Bath & Body Works products that have pomegranate scents that are sophisticated and a little sexy, Avon Naturals smells like it was made for kids. It's a very sweet and simple fragrance that probably won't appeal much to a mature woman.

As noted above, the consistency of the shower gel is much thinner than what you get from similar products. It lathers okay, but doesn't feel particularly moisturizing. It does rinse off cleanly, without any residue. However, you're definitely going to need a lotion...

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RudiXeno says "Magic Jack: It worked for me" about Magic Jack

RudiXeno — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:35:39 GMT

About a year ago a friend and business associate was over with his wife for a Sunday evening dinner.

After dinner we were talking about his business when he asked if I might be able to help him out by making some Public Relations telephone calls for him. So we discussed what the message would be and got that all squared away. He went out to his car and when he returned he tossed a little silver gizmo to me and said, "use this to make the calls."

It was a Magic Jack. His business is in Ft. Lauderdale and of course I live in Boca Raton (another County). It'll look better on the caller ID he claimed. He plugged it into my laptop, we spent just a few minutes setting it up and we plugged a corded phone into it. To test it I called my daughter in New York. She heard me loud and clear and her caller ID identified the call as originating in Ft. Lauderdale.

VOIP on the cheap

Magic Jack is basically a VOIP device that permits you to make free calls over th Internet. I'm not sure what...

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Jo says "It may be hard to find your jewels at YardSaleTreasureMap.com" about YardSaleTreasureMap

Jo — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:23:26 GMT

I was elated when I read about www.YardSaleTreasureMap.com. I love to go to yard sales. Before we moved I would plot out my morning by streets and spend several hours at yard sales.

Not knowing the area quite so well I have limited my hobby to yard sales on one long street in my town. www.YardSaleTreasureMap.com is simple to use. I just put in my starting address, the maximum miles I want to drive and the day I want to go treasure hunting.

When I saw a red balloon I clicked on the listing and found the specific time of the yard sale and where it was. There were details of what would be for sale as well.

There are two problems with www.YardSaleTreasureMap.com.

The listings are taken from www.craigslist.com. That is very limiting for someone like me who lives in a suburban area 50 minutes from Boston. Yard sales are posted in local newspapers or just via signs on the trees. I found one yard sale in my town. I put in Boston and found a few more but not enough for me to rave about YardSaleTreasureMap.com....

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this2shallpass19 says "This is the best eyeliner I have ever tried!" about Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof Eyeliner

this2shallpass19 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:12:00 GMT

I needed to buy something inexpensive at Sephora to meet the free shipping requirement, so I ordered a Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof Eyeliner for $8.00. I don't have a need for a waterproof eyeliner, but it happened to be the cheapest they had in black.

I normally use Avon Ultra Luxury Eye Liners because they are inexpensive and work great. I have been using them for the past 12 years or so and never had a reason to even try another brand. That is, until now. My serendipitous, last-minute purchase of the Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof Eyeliner is my new favorite eyeliner!

Sephora sells this eyeliner in a beautiful array of colors, but I chose black. What makes this eyeliner special, is that it is not only waterproof, but the color is supposed to be bold and metallic too. When I apply this eyeliner, it just glides on with no effort at all. There's no pulling or tugging! The black color isn't metallic, but it is a really bright, bold color of black. It's the blackest...

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