Reviews by Friends of skbreese

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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john12 says "Thomas the Tank Engine Trackmaster is fun to use." about Thomas and Friends Trackmaster Railway Salty Motorized Engine With Track

john12 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:05:06 GMT

Thomas the Tank Engine Track master

Thomas the Tank Engine Trains

For Thomas the Tank Engine fans, there are plenty of trains to collect, starting with Thomas the Tank Engine himself. My son and I have been collecting these trains for the past five years. We started with a wooden Thomas the Tank Engine and it escalated from there. To date, we have over several hundred assorted Thomas the Engine trains, many of which are the main character.

Beware: Once you start collectting these trains, you may not be able to stop! Pull Back Thomas Types of Thomas the Tank Engine Trains For the unlimited, there are many different types of Thomas the Tank Engine trains to collect. If you like to shop on embays you'll find plenty of the trains both used and knew. This is one of the easiest places places to find the Errol trains and their special track, which are becoming scarce. If you live in Europe, you'll probably still find new Errol trains still in their package at stores that carry the Thomas trains....

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Susie-34668 says "Dial Deodorant bar soap is plain and simple and works" about Dial .88 oz. Deodorant Bar Soap - Wrapped

Susie-34668 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:09:52 GMT

I think that these little bars of Dial Deodorant soaps are great. Upon unwrapping them, they have a strong scent.

With any soap, you have a basin of water, and then wet your hands and rub the soap between them. Dial forms a good lather, and because I used to own a restaurant, I know to use hot water, and wash well for 30 seconds. Then rinse well.

My hands really did feel clean, and I knew that they were. Dial is a brand that I trust and with it being cold and flu season right now, I want to know that I am not passing germs to anyone else.

When I have been away from home I use these small little wrapped bars of soap. I will use them in the shower and know that my body is clean.

The small wrapped bars of Dial soap are normally found in hotels, hospitals, and work places. These are made by Henkel North America, and they stand by their products.

I have several of these bars for when I am travelling and feel very happy using them. They are much better than having a large bar, and...

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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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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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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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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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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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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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jasyjen says "If you want to make your dog smile, give them this food!" about Pedigree Little Champions; Pouched Dog Food

jasyjen — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:35:03 GMT

As a very special treat, I purchase a box of Pedigree Little Champions packets for my two dogs to share. My pups usually get dry food only, so giving them a combination of the wet food and dry food together was a big treat for them.

I absolutely LOVE the way Pedigree Little Champions comes packaged. In one box, you get several pouches of food. Each pouch is one serving. The serving is small - Only a little over five ounces. The pouches are lined up nice and neatly in the box, so you can keep them all stored in the box until they are gone. The pouches are very easy to open and the food, literally, slides right out. You don't have to get a spoon and dig it out, or bang on the bottom it to get the food out....it just slides right out. SO EASY! Since the servings are so small, I mix it in with the dry food and give it to my pups. THEY LOVE IT! I have never seen my dogs devour their food with such intensity. They don't eat it down very fast, it's almost as if they are...

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jasyjen says "Get the scent of a freshly cut Christmas tree with this product!" about ScentSicles Scented Ornaments

jasyjen — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:18:41 GMT

While out shopping, I was speaking to another shopper about how much I miss the Glade holiday scent, Glistening Snow. Discontinued this year, it was the only scent that I had ever found that smelled like Christmas. As we were talking, the woman happened to mention a product I had never heard of. ScentSicles. She informed me that ScentSicleswere sold at Walmart (where I happened to be) and worked really well in giving an authentic scent of pine.

I was able to located ScentSiclesscented ornaments in with the seasonal merchandise in Walmart. They were actually on an endcap all by themselves. There were only two packages left, and I bought the 'White Pine' scent. ScentSicles are green sticks that you hang directly on the Christmas tree. There were six ScentSiclesto a pack and each stick was about 5" in length. The top of each stick in capped with a silver area where you can insert a ornament hanger. The package is tightly sealed, and when you open it up, the sticks are wrapped...

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jasyjen says "Get the scent of a freshly cut Christmas tree with this product!" about ScentSicles Scented Ornaments

jasyjen — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:18:30 GMT

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Bryan-Carey says "Pepcid AC Maximum Strength EZ Chews Reduce Acid Fast" about Pepcid AC Maximum Strength EZ Chews

Bryan-Carey — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:10:37 GMT

Heartburn sufferers know that nothing feels quite as nice as an end to the pain and plenty of over the counter drugs exist to help with this problem. Most ordinary antacids are fine for small bouts of discomfort but when heavy duty relief is needed, one product that outshines the rest is Pepcid AC Maximum Strength EZ Chews, an antacid/acid reducer.

Stomach Relief Commentary:

Pepcid AC Maximum Strength EZ Chews are small, chewable tablets that can be taken without water. These chalky tablets are available in two flavors: Berries & Cream or Cooling Mint. They break down quickly, thanks to their small size, and can be consumed in a matter of seconds. They can be taken immediately, when heartburn or indigestion strike, or taken before a meal, when stomach discomfort is anticipated.

I have occasional bouts of heartburn and I am also prone to the disgusting and painful experience of acid reflux. When these serious problems arise, ordinary antacids will not even put a dent in the pain and discomfort....

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jps246 says "Always start a fire - Coghlan Waterproof Matches" about Coghlan's Matches

jps246 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:57:29 GMT

I think waterproof matches are an indispensable tool for any outdoorsman and that's why I keep a pack of Coghlan's Waterproof Matches in my backpack, even on day trips.

These are regular wooden safety matches, except they are treated so that even if they are damp, they will start when you strike the match on the side of the matchbox. In all but the wettest conditions, the matches will light. I've used them in heavy rain, snow and other damp and wet conditions and have had them start after one or two strikes. You get 45 wooden matches in each matchbox, so even a single box will last you for quite a while. I don't think there's really an expiration to the matches, they seem to last at least several years since even the oldest ones I have still work.

I keep these matches in my backpack, whether I'm day hiking or doing a multi-day trip. You just never know when you might need to start a fire or light a stove and what the conditions may be when you do. So the Waterproof Matches tend to...

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PattyTherre says "A very good clarifying conditioner that also adds moisture." about Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Conditioner with Shea Butter & Babassu Oil

PattyTherre — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:53:17 GMT

Quick View: I love Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter and bought the conditioner to accompany it. This lemony conditioner adds moisture to dry hair yet keeps build up and weigh down away. My only small gripe is that it doesn't detangle as well as I would like but otherwise, my hair loves it.

My Take on Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Conditioner with Shea Butter & Babassu Oil

This 11 ounce bottle of white conditioner smells as great as the shampoo,. It has natural lemon extract and smells of fresh lemons. There are no parabens, petroleum-based ingredients, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, or other harsh preservatives or chemicals and no synthetic fragrances or colors, It is 100% vegetarian and cruelty free.

The conditioner is of medium consistency and comes out of the flip cap easily. I need quite a bit because my hair is very long but most people will only need a small amount to cover their hair. The scent is great and stays in my hair after drying which I love.

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Meredith says "Big Star wins!" about Big Star - Chicago, IL

Meredith — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:48:05 GMT

I really love the new Tex-Mex cantina in Wicker Park - Big Star. The owners of Avec started Big Star... nice group. Let's just say I went there 3 nights in a row so it must be good. Located across from The Violet Hour on Damen near Milwaukee. Great vibe, greater food and drinks. I'm in love.

The highlights...

- $2 tacos (chicken, fish, pork, veggie)

- Impressive tequila & bourbon list. Plus, a ginger & beer cocktail that I love. Most cocktails are $7.

- On tap: Goose Island's Matilda ($6), Lagunita lager ($4) & Schlitz ($1)

- Super fresh quacamole, handmade tortillas

- Chill atmosphere, friendly staff

- Good music. They play records. Yes real records on a record player! Mostly rockabilly, old country (think Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash)

Go early-ish for any hope of getting a seat at the bar or seats anywhere, for that matter.

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njchicaa says "philosophy's Purity Facial Cleanser is expensive but effective." about Philosophy Purity Made Simple

njchicaa — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:08:12 GMT

When I first discovered the philosophy brand of skin care products 8 years ago, I wasn't the type of person who would willing spend $16 on a small bottle of facial cleanser. When I received it as a free gift with purchase, though, it was all over. I loved it and I've been using it ever since!

philosophy Purity Made Simple is described by the company as a "one-step facial cleanser" that will remove makeup, cleanse skin, and moisturize it at the same time. The ingredients are a long list of chemicals with a few plant oils mixed in for hydration and fragrance. The bottle claims that it is "fragrance-free", but I do have to say that this cleanser has a strong herbal scent that, after all of these years, I still can't describe as pleasant.

Purity is a gentle cleanser that cleans skin and leaves it feeling soft. (I don't normally wear makeup so I can't speak to how well it removes makeup) This philosophy skin cleanser doesn't really produce any bubbles or lather, but that doesn't...

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