BuzzSugar

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:30:00 PDT

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to the titles below, you can watch some very funny recorded improv comedy starring Amy Poehler when you rent The Upright Citizens Brigade: Asssscat!

The Kite Runner
If you enjoyed Khaled Hosseini's bestselling novel, you won't be disappointed by how closely the screen adaptation resembles the book in both plot and its ability to tear your feelings apart. I gave this warning in my review and will say it again: The Kite Runner is not for the faint of heart, and some of the most gut-wrenching scenes from the book are even harder to take visually.

That said, there is much to appreciate about this story, which follows two young boys growing up in Afghanistan before and after the Taliban come to power. The relationship between the two friends is beautifully explored, as tense political events unfold around them. When one of the boys stands mutely aside while his best friend is brutalized, the decision sets off a series of mostly agonizing events and haunts him the rest of his life. In the end, however, it's a tale of love and redemption. Special features include commentary from Khaled Hosseini and the filmmakers.

Two more titles to go - one spooky, one that will take you back in time - so

read more. Party of Five: The Complete Third Season Check out Matthew Fox's hair on that cover. Amazing. I know it's hard to get beyond Lost and Scream and The Ghost Whisperer, but once upon a time, these stars were on a little drama called Party of Five as a family of orphaned Salinger siblings who raise themselves (or is it . . . each other?). Season Three was a turning point for most of the characters. Charlie's (Matthew Fox) girlfriend and family nanny gets caught plagiarizing a paper for her PhD, Kate (Jennifer Love Hewitt) reveals to boyfriend Bailey (Scott Wolf) that she wants to remain a virgin, Bailey turns into an alcoholic, and sister Julia (Neve Campbell) spends a lot of time dealing with her guilt after a friend's suicide. This is a great addition to your Party of Five collection and it's a fun journey back through the fashions and style of the '90s. The Mist Perhaps you missed the late November release of this spooky Stephen King film, since it's sometimes hard to get in the holiday spirit and see a scary movie at the same time. If that's the case, be sure to add The Mist to your queue this week, as it's pretty much everything one could want out of a scary movie. The movie follows local townspeople trapped in a supermarket by a thick and deadly fog. While it's spooky to wonder what, exactly, in that mist is killing people, the really scary stuff comes from the way the group deals with the threat, bringing up all kinds of topics around End of Days. Marcia Gay Harden is particularly creepy as the town's religious fanatic Mrs. Carmody. The special two-disc set includes commentary by writer/director Frank Darabont, deleted scenes, the behind the scenes webisodes, and the complete film in black and white.

The Mist Will Creep Up on You

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:30:00 PST

I admit that I wasn’t expecting much from the film adaptation of Stephen King’s novella, The Mist. I thought it might be a fun-scary movie - the kind that jolts you out of your seat with fright but isn't all that memorable. Yet just as the otherwordly mist in the film creeps into a small town in Maine and traps unsuspecting shoppers in a grocery store, The Mist crept up on me, making me realize I was in for a terrifying hour and a half. If you’re looking for quickie scares that will evaporate by the time the movie’s over, look elsewhere. The Mist is a disturbing film that taps into primal fears and real world terrors, and its doomsday mood will stay with you long after you exit the theater.

David Drayton (Thomas Jane) is a movie poster artist whose house is damaged one night after an electrical storm. Together with his son Billy (Nathan Gamble) and neighbor Brent (Andre Braugher) - with whom he's had tense relations in the past - he rides into town to buy groceries. There at the grocery store, the ordinary becomes extraordinary: a dense, white mist surrounds the building, an earthquake rattles its foundations, and a man materializes from the eerie whiteness, blood dripping from his nose, shouting "There's something in the mist! It took John Lee!" Scared yet? Well,

read more What is this "something in the mist"? We get some visual clues: a giant octopus-like tentacle attacks a grocery clerk, spidery creatures menace a group as they venture out to get medicine for an ailing man, and a flock of prehistoric-looking insects invade the store. Where did this dangerous mist with its monsters come from? Is it a pollution cloud? Did the nearby military police unleash aliens from another world? Or, as the town religious fanatic Mrs. Carmody (a creepy Marcia Gay Harden) suggests, have they come to exact God's bloodthirsty revenge as a sign of the End of Days? Like the great disaster films of the 1970s (The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure), The Mist's narrative tension (and horror) comes as much from the characters' interactions as from the monsters the mist occasionally spits out. In the midst of a social breakdown, what groups form and who leads them? What ties dissolve? How do race, politics and religion factor in? With a terrific cast and special effects that do not upstage the human characters, The Mist keeps one foot in the imaginary with CGI monsters and supernatural hints, and one foot firmly planted in our real fears: unchecked military or scientific activity, the breakdown of society, the end of the world. It also has one of the most shocking endings I've ever seen. Like a blank screen onto which we can project our fears, The Mist suggests but it doesn't resolve. Photos courtesy of The Weinstein Company

Which Scary Movie Looks Scarier?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:29:05 PDT

Which of these two scary movie trailers looks like it will be more successfully scary?

Stephen King's The Mist
"A freak storm unleashes a species of blood-thirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole-up in a supermarket and fight for their lives."

Japanese remake, One Missed Call
"Several people start receiving voice-mails from their future selves - messages which include the date, time, and some of the details of their deaths."

Burberry Lip Mist Looks Good, Feels Like Real Luxury

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 27 May 2011 10:06:00 PDT

It's rare to encounter a beauty product that actually does make you feel like you're using something luxurious and precious, but Burberry's new Lip Mist ($30) has me fully in its thrall. From the delicate magnetic snap of the cap aligning itself to the elegant shimmy when its tube swivels, designer Christopher Bailey and company have managed to create a product that's rife with sensory detail. Simply put, it's incredibly satisfying to use. And the lipstick that's inside doesn't lack for charm, either. I tried the Lip Mist in Copper, so to see how it wears and get a full review, just keep reading.

How to Kick a Nighttime Cough Naturally

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:05:23 PST

Whether it's because of a cold or allergies, coughing at night is not only annoying, it prevents you from getting the sleep you need to stay healthy. Before you down cough medicine (which often just masks the cough), you might want to relieve your nighttime cough with one of these natural remedies.

Steam up: Before hitting the hay, create a steam room in the bathroom. Shut the door, don't turn on the fan, and take a hot shower. Let the water gently run on your face, or if that's too intense, place a warm washcloth on your sinuses, allowing the heat and steam to help relieve sinus congestion. You can even use a neti pot in the shower - just be sure to fill it with warm distilled or sterilized water, not the shower water. Using a neti pot after you've breathed in steam can make it more effective.
Get moist: Since dry air can often cause a dry cough (especially in the Winter months when we crank up the heat), moisten the air you breathe by running a cool-mist humidifier on low throughout the night (I'm a fan of this humidifier from Crane). In the morning, be sure to wipe down your windows and windowsills as condensation tends to form, and you don't want this moisture to encourage mold growth, which can also aggravate a cough. Follow the directions that came with your humidifier when it comes to cleaning it, and disinfect it thoroughly at least once a week to avoid mold growth.

Keep reading for more natural ways to beat your nighttime cough.

Yes, There's a Right (and Wrong) Way to Apply Perfume

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:10:45 PST

Fragrance is highly personal, and generally, as long as it smells good to you, there's no real "right" or "wrong." However, if you want to get the full experience of your favorite perfume and have it wear as beautifully as possible, there actually is an optimal way to put it on. To find out how, see our tips below.

Solo Hiking Tips I Learned Going to Half Dome and Back

Michele Foley — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:27:48 PST

Last weekend started out pretty typical: my boyfriend and I made the four-hour drive to Yosemite for a few days of climbing with friends. But what I wasn't counting on was sleeping in that first morning and missing my chance to climb. Left alone, I figured I might as well go for a hike. My original plan was to do a two-mile hike to the base of Vernal Falls - ha! Twelve hours and 17 miles later, I had endured one of the most difficult treks of my life.

I would caution anyone to face a long distance challenge with a friend - especially for safety reasons. But if you've ever stopped yourself from going on a long run, hike, or bike ride because you were alone, it's worth considering as long as you do your research and come prepared. I can't remember the last time I felt so completely gratified and accomplished. Here are the things that helped me endure the trek.

Do your research. While I wasn't expecting to go beyond Vernal Falls via the Mist Trail and then take on Half Dome, I was prepared. It's a hike I've always wanted to do so I knew what to expect. I studied it enough to know the route and trail conditions with confidence. I also had done the Mist Trail (the beginning of the hike to Half Dome) several times in my past.
Be prepared. I didn't expect to go on a epic hike, but I did expect to be away from my camp until sundown, so I packed appropriately. In my pack I had enough food and water to last me beyond a full day. I also had extra layers of clothing, a headlamp, map, sunscreen, and a compass.

Find out what other tips helped me on my trek, and share your own stories with me when you

Get the Look: A Sexy, Wavy Blowout

Real Beauty — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:05:13 PST

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

Kattia Solano, the mastermind behind NYC's Butterfly Studio, says she's done with the froufrou Kim Kardashian look (we're kind of over the whole wedding spectacle, too). This much-loved hair guru is digging softer, more textured waves, like the ones seen on Jessica Biel.

But looking like you didn't try too hard isn't as simple as it sounds. Luckily, Solano broke down the steps for scoring beachy waves, so you can easily attain this piece-y, bohemian hairdo at home. Check out the details below.

Choosing a Humidifier: Warm or Cool Mist?

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:00:32 PST

Jack Frost is nipping at many of us with his chilly temps, and we're fighting back by turning up the heat. It keeps us warm, but completely dries out the air we breathe, so we end up with dry skin, chapped lips, a sore throat, dry cough, or congested sinuses. You can get relief by running a humidifier, which will add moisture back into the air. Many people use them while they sleep - the gentle whirring sound can be so relaxing.

When buying a humidifier, you'll be presented with two different types - warm mist and cool mist. To choose which one would be best for you, decide what type of air is easier for you to breathe. If you inhale well in a sauna, then a warm mist might be best. If you have allergies or asthma, opt for a cool mist humidifier instead.

How they work and are maintained may also be a factor, so to learn more about the difference between the two, keep reading.

Mmm Mmm Good: Stila Mandarin Mist Perfume

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:07:25 PDT

The newest summer scent from Stila Cosmetics is called Mandarin Mist. This lovely, light zesty, fruity fragrance is a mimosa, yuzu fruit and citrus blend.

The sheer, light pink sturdy glass bottle (love the light pink!) has beautiful black and pink blossoms painted alongside the front and is crowned with a brushed silver cap.

Stila Mandarin Mist is now available in a 50 milliliter Eau de Parfum spray bottle for ($36). For those of you that are as into as into orange scents as I am, be sure and check out these orange-scented perfumes as well as these amazing mandarin orange body washes.