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Hilary Up to New Tricks in The Reaping

PopSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 17:07:28 PDT

Hilary showed off what looks to be some fancy tongue tricks as a guest on The Sauce the other day in New York. She looks pretty goofy considering how scary The Reaping looks. Guess that's what makes her a two-time Oscar winner -- the ability to play anything at any time. While the reviews for The Reaping aren't great and we're thinking she won't get a nomination for this role, we still bet her performance is top notch.

For more pics of Hilary on the fuse's show, just

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The Reaping: Plagued By Mediocrity

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:00:43 PDT

Former ordained minister Katherine Winter (Hilary Swank) has turned her back on her faith after losing her husband and daughter while doing missionary work in Sudan. When The Reaping opens, she’s a skeptical scientist who debunks religious miracles.

Katherine’s skepticism is challenged when she’s summoned by Doug (David Morrissey) to Haven, Louisiana, where the locals insist they’re being visited by Biblical plagues. She and her colleague, Ben (Idris Elba), are told that shortly after a local boy died, the rivers turned to blood. The culprit, according to the townsfolk? The boy's sister and the one witness to his death: a creepy little girl named Loren McConnell (AnnaSophia Robb). After witnessing a scourge of boils and lice, frogs falling from the heavens, and the death of cattle, Katherine is drawn into a mystery that science can’t explain.

But while The Reaping has all the ingredients of a great horror film, it doesn't come close to approaching greatness. For the highlights and lowlights,

The Reaping benefits from interesting characters, an eerie setting, hints of Devil-worship, and great visual effects. And yet everything in this film seems like a poor imitation of devices seen before in superior flicks: The Exorcist, The Omen, Deliverance, and even the lukewarm but at least coherent Skeleton Key. If The Reaping were a roller coaster ride, it would be one that lurches from one cheap thrill to another, but you know where it’s going, and you can’t wait to get off.

There are some chilling and beautiful scenes in The Reaping, no question. The aerial view of the river of blood is a spectacular sight. Also heart-stopping is the moment we meet Loren, the hauntingly beautiful, backwoods child who suddenly appears at the river’s edge, setting in motion Katherine’s memories of her dead daughter. The film also captures the decaying beauty of the Deep South. Late at night, in Doug’s old mansion, Katherine discovers an old blues tune playing on a Victrola. Alongside weeping willows and a moonlit garden, the myth of the Gothic South seems to come alive.

But occasionally arresting moments cannot save a poorly edited movie that becomes so plodding that my friend was actually counting which plague we were on so she could figure out when the movie was going to end. Also, I never quite understood how Haven was significant enough for plagues of Biblical proportions, or why Doug sounded more Irish than he did Southern. (To be fair, the actor masters the Southern accent by the end.)

Ultimately, The Reaping is an incoherent mess, as murky as the swamps of Louisiana. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of horror flicks, I’d stay away or save your money and rent it. I for one, have not lost faith in the horror genre. It definitely gets better than this.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Link Time! 4/5

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:18:59 PDT

TV Squad compiles a quite comprehensive list of great TV drinkeries.
And Spinner presents the unsexiest album covers of all time.
Cinematical has the scoop on Coca-Cola's lawsuit against a film that features Jesus drinking a Coke.
Tracks from Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero are surfacing, and Idolator's got a good one.
Best Week Ever wonders: Was Michael Buble drunk on "Idol"?
Merry Swankster's 1990s album tourney has reached the Final Four.
Film Experience giggles at the wry though unintentional self-reference in The Reaping tagline, "What Hath God Wrought?"
The TV Addict prints up some Dunder Mifflin letterhead.
Rolling Stone Rock and Roll Daily sits down with ex-con-turned-rapper Akon.
Give Me My Remote has the details on how to win a trip to the set of "Heroes."
Meanwhile, if you've got the big bucks, Tube Talk tells you how to bid in a charity auction for TV appearances and set visits.

Movie Preview: The Reaping

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 07:15:11 PDT

When I first started watching the trailer for The Reaping, which comes out this Thursday, April 5, I was like, "Hey, this looks pretty cool!" But then, just as quickly, I was like, "Nah." The premise sounds really interesting: A small town in Louisiana appears to be suffering through the 10 Biblical plagues, attracting the attention of a Christian missionary-turned-scientific expert. Yet the woman - played by a girlish Hilary Swank - begins to regain her faith in religion when she can't explain away the town's mysterious happenings.

The execution of said premise, however, looks hokey, and what should be chilling is instead kind of "eh." You can check out the trailer and tell me what you think of The Reaping if you

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Craft a Heart-Healthy Salad in Honor of Mediterranean Diet Month

Michele Foley — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:10:25 PDT

We might not be able to make it to Greece or Southern Italy anytime soon, but we can bring the cuisine to us by celebrating Mediterranean Diet Month in our own kitchens. The healthy benefits of the Mediterranean diet are touted by numerous studies, and for good reason: it promotes heart health, good vision, and weight control, to name a few. An easy way to get the Mediterranean diet into your own life is by dressing up an everyday salad with elements of this regional cuisine.

Nuts, legumes, and seeds: The next time you are debating salad toppings, consider a handful of walnuts, a serving of chickpeas, or a sprinkle of sunflower seeds. The protein, fiber, and healthy fats contained in these small bites will help keep you full and energized throughout the day. Even better, center your entire salad around a legume, like this chickpea, almond, and goat cheese salad.

Fresh vegetables: You'll be hard-pressed to find any Mediterranean meal served without a good helping of vegetables. Foods like greens, eggplant, zucchini, artichokes, tomatoes, and cucumbers are popular choices, which is why YumSugar's recipe for a warm mushroom and artichoke salad is a natural choice.

Learn more ways to make your salad Mediterranean after the break!

This Weekend, Go For a Jog

Leta Shy — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:23:12 PDT

In the midst of all your margarita- or mint julep-fueled celebrating this weekend, here's a reminder to pull on your running sneakers and go for a jog: a new study has found that regular jogging can help you live longer.

The study compared joggers and nonjoggers as part of a larger Danish study that's been tracking 20,000 people for over 30 years. Researchers compared about 2,000 joggers from the study with nonjoggers and found that the joggers were 44 percent less likely to die from any cause compared to those who didn't jog, and in general had longer life spans - up to six years longer. Running and jogging can help lower your risk of many diseases and conditions, like high blood pressure, cancer, and high cholesterol, so it's no surprise that the regular joggers in the study were healthier overall.

The good news is that you don't have to become a serious runner to reap the benefits; researchers say that the most benefits came from jogging at a slow or average pace (not strenuous enough to feel too out of breath) for one to two and a half hours a week, and it's fine to break your jogs up into a few sessions during the week. Why not start now? Here's an easy jogging-walking workout for you to try this weekend.

Sweet Treats With a Hidden Source of Protein . . . Beans

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:05:31 PDT

Poor beans. Many people pass them up because they're not a fan of the squishy texture or their gaseous repercussions. But these inexpensive magical legumes are so healthy for you, between their fiber, protein, and iron content, everyone should include them in their diet. If you're having trouble stomaching a bowl of beans, you can still reap the healthy benefits without your taste buds even realizing it. Appeal to your sweet tooth and try out these dessert recipes, all made with the goodness of protein- and fiber-loaded beans.

Smarter Eats: Mix Veggies You Hate With Ones You Love

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:02:48 PDT

Even the most healthy of eaters can't love every single veggie. You could cover the broccoli you despise with melted cheese to make those florets more palatable, but of course that's not a superhealthy option. Here's a healthy trick to help those unfavorite veggies go down: mix them with veggies you love.

If it's mashed potatoes you crave, add chopped kale to your bowl, or grill peppers or zucchini with your beloved onions. If you're a huge pasta fan, toss mushrooms into the tomato sauce, or mix steamed carrots with cubes of sweet potato. When you eat veggies you don't care for with ones you can't live without, you can just focus on the flavors you love while still reaping the nutritional benefits from those unwanted veggies.

Source: Flickr User VirtualErn

Dollar Store DIY Projects and Other Savvy Hits of the Week!

Emily Co — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:15:11 PDT

Cool DIY projects made from dollar store items
How to save money on Fido
Just what exactly is the Buffett Rule all about?
Secrets to saving even more on your favorite indulgences
Nine ways to use vodka as a cleaning agent
Reap the rewards of wedding expenses by smartly charging these credit cards
A Google recruiter reveals the type of email that catches his eye
Announcing your engagement at work? Five things you should consider
Find out what the best jobs in 2012 are
Get your medicine cabinet in order with these tips

3 Steps to a More Relaxing Weekend

SavvySugar — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:15:43 PDT

To make Monday through Friday run more smoothly, tweak your weekend routine and take advantage of the extra free time. Saturday and Sunday tend to fly by, but if you learn to make the most of those hours, you'll be able to tackle extra tasks and set yourself up for an easier work week. Follow these three tips for a productive weekend and prepare to reap the benefits all week long:

Schedule a time slot for errands. Spend five to 10 minutes each Friday figuring out which tasks you need to check off by Sunday night. Make a list and plan to take care of them in one day so that you'll have at least one full day to have fun and fill however you'd like. Once you've finished brainstorming and marked the to-dos on your calendar, move the chores to the back of your mind and focus on enjoying your days off.
Keep up your routine. If you wake up at 6 a.m. throughout the week, don't sleep until 11 a.m. on weekends. Give your body a break and stick fairly close to your standard sleep schedule. Same goes for your diet: don't shock your body with excess food or alcohol or you'll risk getting sick. Just because it's Saturday doesn't mean you should toss your healthy habits aside, so keep your mind and body in shape by taking your vitamins, eating balanced meals, and staying hydrated.
Chill out, guilt-free. The best thing you can do to kick-start a productive work week? Relax. Use your time off to cut yourself some slack and enjoy the things you love. It's important to maintain a work-life balance, so remember to reserve at least one day each weekend to sit back and unwind.