After opening weekend, Safe House received a wide range of reviews.  Most critics claimed it was dull and predictable, while the audience seemed to appreciate what it had to offer.  This is the classic situation with a new director and a new writer.  Daniel Espinosa,director, and David Guggenheim, writer, teamed up for the all-too-familiar agent story in their first major film.

Safe House is about a young CIA agent, Matt Weston, played by Ryan Reynolds, who guards a safe house in South Africa.  After months of boredom, Weston is put to the test when the CIA brings Tobin Frost, played by Denzel Washington, to the safe house location.  Frost, an ex-CIA agent, is being held for betraying the agency for years.  Denzel plays his role to perfection (no surprise there) as a mastermind manipulator; the audience gets to witness Frost slowly work his way into Weston’s mind and control his every move.

The soundtrack and sound editing can make or break movies.  Take The Dark Knight for example: the eerie buzzing noise that is played continuously during the dark scenes had a tremendous role in affecting what the audience felt.  In some cases, the sounds of a movie can alter how you feel and view certain characters.  In Safe House, I was blown away by how loud the gun shots and car crashes were.  It was terrifying and exciting at the same time.  The movie doesn’t give you a minute to catch your breath; it’s 112 minutes of non-stop action.

The storyline was not as  creative as I was hoping for, but the execution was  fantastic.  You can’t ask for better casting when you get Denzel Washington playing the bad guy role he has perfected over the years – American Gangster, Training Day, and Man on Fire.  Ryan Reynolds is great too, as the young CIA agent.  It couldn’t have been too difficult for him to get into character when he’s played so many different roles from Chris Brander in Just Friends to an X-Man to the Green Lantern.

The tagline for Safe House was accurate: no one is safe.  Trust me, no one was.  I wouldn’t give Safe House my highest recommendation, but I would advise any thriller lover to check this movie out, especially for the continuous action.

The start to 2012 has been a kind one in the movie world.  The Grey, Chronicle, Contraband, Haywire, and now Safe House have been all solid movies to see.  We can only hope it continues  movie-ing forward.

Coming from a high school that had one hot meal and a panini line, it seemed like the options were limitless.  Then sophomore year rolls around; what happened to the magic of Salmo? I was tired of Chicken Patty Tuesday and Taco Thursday. My friends and I used to complain about Salmo, “I’m so tired of that place”. Well guess what kiddos, you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone.  Junior year I interned in Washington, DC for the semester and lived off microwave hot dogs and half priced appetizers at happy hour.  When I came back second semester, it was as though there was an aura around Salmo. So many things had changed… lemon water, new deli sandwiches on Friday, bigger cups, new fruit carts, new ice cream  toppings….you name it, Salmo improved it.

DUNDUNDUN, senior year,  townhouse livin’…Living the dream right? You have your own kitchen, you can cook whatever you want right? WRONG. Currently, the bottom drawer of my fridge that I share with 7 other girls contains a block of cheese, broccoli, pre-cooked bacon, and some chocolate syrup.  That is why I started this column, so underclassman can appreciate everything that Salmanson has to offer them.  Armed with 10 guest passes, I am on mission to prove to the students of Bryant University why Salmo is one their best assets.

Being a Bryant student, it’s not unusual to think in terms of cost benefit analysis.  This week when I had the privilege of dining in Salmo, I enjoyed a smorgasbord of dinner  selections. Roasted chicken, couscous from the salad bar, chicken soup, and of course, two helpings of apple crisp. A very well rounded meal, that according to Stopandshop.com, would cost me $26.09 to make. Trust me, with my cooking skills, it would not taste nearly as  delicious. However, for only one guest pass, or $8.50, I was able to enjoy a leisurely meal with some friends.  If I were to walk into Stop and Shop, here is a breakdown of what the shopping list would be for my meal tonight.  Keep in mind this is prepared as if the college student I am were to make it.  This also does not   include the time that would go into this meal (that will come in another article).

•5 count of fresh chicken thighs, $4.58

•McCormick “Recipe Inspirations Rosemary Roasted Chicken”  spices, $1.50

•Plain couscous mix, $1.50

•Tomatoes and cucumbers, $0.89 and $0.75

•Can of chunky chicken noodle soup, $2.29

•3 lb bag of apples, $3.99

•1 lb of brown sugar, $1.49

•5 lb bag of white sugar, $3.49

•Ground cinnamon, $3.19

•Total :  24.38 +1.71 sales tax= $26.09

There is one more thing to consider when all of you sophomores and juniors are dreaming about finally cooking for yourself…When you go all out to make a meal like this, be prepared to eat it for at least the next 5 days.

Dating turns deadly in This Means War, the new romantic-action-comedy from director McG. Zipping along in a purposely silly fashion, the film tells the story of two best friends and secret agents     (Inception’s Tom Hardy and Star Trek’s Chris Pine) who begin dating the same woman (Reese Witherspoon), only to have it cause a tremendous  rivalry between the two for her affections. And in true Hollywood fashion, this of course means war between the two, who will each now stop at nothing to win out over the other.

While you won’t find a single bit of originality in this film, it is still a charming and silly action film that has something for everyone in the audience. The blend of action, romance, and comedy is done well, with many scenes being simultaneously goofy and thrilling – one memorable moment comes when Tuck (Hardy) and Franklin (Pine) bounce around Witherspoon’s house, gathering information on her and planting hidden cameras and microphones, all the while hilariously trying to stay out of her line of sight.

Witherspoon’s Lauren, meanwhile, has her own dilemma, as a perpetually single career woman who now finds herself torn between two seemingly perfect men. Her ruminations on her love life exist as breaks from the action of the film, but thankfully not from the humor – some of the funniest scenes come courtesy of comedian Chelsea Handler’s ad-libbed lines of dating advice her best friend character gives Witherspoon.

This Means War is certainly not a perfect film, but it is not meant to be – it is meant as a crowd pleaser, and it succeeds in doing that, offering laughs in typical rom-com style, with some added explosions and gunfights for good measure. Sure, the action is completely non-essential to the plot, existing as a footnote to the real relationships onscreen; however, the action is welcome when it does arrive, providing for more comedic moments and exploring the friendship-turned-rivalry between Tuck and Franklin. And it is refreshing to see that these roles were given to Tom Hardy and Chris Pine, both action movie veterans who show they have comedy chops too.

This Means War coasts along on the charisma and chemistry of its three lead actors. With enough witty dialogue and breezy comedic scenes to satisfy the average moviegoer; the film succeeds by not even pretending to be anything it isn’t, existing simply as a fun, if incredibly lightweight, film for a rainy day. While it will certainly not score any awards for originality (or anything for that matter), This Means War is just frothy and funny enough to keep you entertained for 90 minutes and have you leaving with a smile on your face.

I give This Means War 3.5 out of 5 Bulldogs.

Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum star as the central couple, Paige and Leo, a sweet, happily married pair of Chicago kids who get into a car accident that leaves Paige with a devastating brain injury: she cannot remember her husband or her life for the past few years.

While the ads for The Vow make it look as if Tatum’s character must get his wife to “fall in love with him” all over again, the film really does not focus on that. Instead, it focuses on Paige’s journey, a frustrating, disjointed, at times completely illogical series of events that will hopefully eventually lead her back into her husband’s loving arms.

And here is where the film is disappointing. With a first half full of inconsistencies, it is baffling as to why Paige does not even TRY to reconnect with her husband, pushing him away and not even giving herself a chance to get to know him, despite the doctor’s advice that it may jog her memory. Because of this, I found myself irritated with the film for quite a while, hoping it would pick up the pace.

Thankfully, the second half does contain a shift of events that start to propel Leo and Paige’s journey forward at a more brisk pace, giving the audience (finally) cause to root for them. However, this shift causes the film to be very disjointed, seeming almost as if a large chunk of the middle of the film that would bridge the inconsistencies is missing.

The pacing of The Vow is all over the place, but the film is still not a complete failure. Rachel McAdams does a great job with her role, beautifully conflicted, if not entirely consistent (though that is just the way Paige was written). And Channing Tatum is fine as Leo, though occasional scenes of bad acting show that he still has a long way to go before he can break out of his shell and into more challenging roles – at least this one is a step in the right direction for him.

Another standout is Jessica Lange as Paige’s mother, a character with more depth than we at first believe when introduced to her. While the film has a fine cast, nothing else really stands out, save for a few cute scenes of the central couple’s budding relationship and a few other tear-jerking moments that show the film’s more sincere side.

Sweet, sappy, and ultimately forgettable, this is a movie for the date night crowd, those looking to invest two hours into the lives of an attractive and likeable couple you want to see end up (back) together. For a romantic night out that may make you smile, shed a tear, or bring your significant other just a little closer to you, The Vow succeeds; but as a consistent journey or emotional statement about the power of love and commitment, the film in the end falls flat.

Having said that it is easy to lose sight of several of those teams over the course of an academic year amidst the plethora of teams here at Bryant. This season is certainly no exception with the relatively unheralded success of the Women’s Basketball team.  Despite it only being the team’s third season playing a full Division 1 schedule they are posting an impressive 13-10 record thus far (and are currently in a conference match-up against conference leading Sacred Heart as this is written).

This kind of success is not sustainable without a talented roster of athletes, and the Lady Bulldogs certainly are in no shortage of that.  Standout athletes include Sophomore Forward Naana Ankoma-Mensa who currently sits at fourth in the conference in rebounding with 222.

Playing behind her in the back court, Junior Point Guard Katie Wittington is one of the best in the NEC with 88 assists putting her at seventh in the conference.  Katie is also leading the conference in free throw percentage at 89.4 percent.  Finally, no team is complete without the intangible asset of reliability.  Someone that can always stand up and perform regardless of the circumstances; and for the Bulldogs that someone is Meredith Soper. Her 795 minutes played this season put her at seventh in the conference and just 50 minutes behind the conference leader.

Alongside this bevy of talent the Bulldogs have the supreme advantage of an excellent coaching staff, which is headed by veteran Mary Burke.  Coach Burke’s tenure started in 1991 when she was promoted from assistant coach, and the Dogs have not looked back since.  She had a long reign as one of the top coaches in the NE-10, with her team showing up in the top 25 polls five times during her career.  Now in her 21st season at the helm of the Lady Bulldogs, Coach Burke looks to improve on their 2011 record of 10-19.

Regardless of record, no season is successful without several key wins along the way, and through their hard work, stingy defense, and top notch shooting the Bulldogs have had several over the course of the year.  The first one of these came early in the season on November 30th against in-state rival University of Rhode Island.

Both Juniors Katie Witington and Meredith Soper combined for 20-10 games in a rout totaling a score of 75-63.  Alongside this victory was a January 9th thriller against Robert Morris in which Soper was the shining star once again, sealing the game in the final possession for the Bulldogs with a lay-up.

The Bulldogs have a challenging schedule to close out their last season of their transition into NEC membership.  Games to be played include the reciprocal conference matchup against Robert Morris in their home gym as well as a difficult home game against rival Mount St. Marys on Saturday, February 25th.  While they are sometimes overlooked across the platform of Bulldog Athletics, the Ladies Basketball team here at Bryant is every bit as successful as any of the programs here in their transition to Divison 1.  Their senior leadership, including standout Brittany Stahura, the young talent pool coming in, and the top flight coaching staff are all to be credited for the victories and accomplishments that this team has achieved this year as well as in years past.

Be sure to catch their remaining two home games next weekend including the aforementioned matchup against Mount St. Marys at 1 pm and the season finale against Wagner on Monday, February 27th at 7 pm.

• Seventy eight members of Bulldog nation were named to the Northeast Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll, including 13 who earned Commissioner’s Honor Roll distinctions. Athletes named to the NEC Academic Honor Roll have maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20. The distinction of Commissioner’s Honor Roll is reserved for athletes who have maintained a GPA of 3.75 or above.

• Just in time to avoid the arbitration process, David Ortiz has agreed to a deal with the Boston Red Sox. The two sides settled on a one year deal worth $14.575 million splitting the difference between what each side had originally wanted. With Ortiz signing, the Red Sox have avoided an arbitration hearing for the tenth consecutive year.

• Journeyman wide receiver Randy Moss has informed the media that he plans on rescinding his retirement for the 2012-2013 season.  No word on whether Moss will request to be paid with the normal wire transfer method or resort to his usual “straight cash homie.”

Understandably when Professor Tom Zammarelli invited my Sports Media Production class to go watch the Ocean State Curling Club with him, there was no way I could miss the opportunity (I don’t anticipate getting the chance to watch live curling many times in my life). So last Friday night I drove out to Cranston with my unofficial photographer, Joelle Sopariawala in tow to watch some curling.

The Ocean State Curling Club was formed in April 2009 to bring the sport to Rhode Island. The league is made up of twelve teams who compete during the winter  against each other every Friday night. Additionally according to the club’s website, members of the club compete in “friendlies with other curling clubs in New England and in numerous Bonspiels (curling tournaments) in the United States and Canada.”

There is a Bryant connection to the Ocean State Curling Club. Professor and Chair of the Computer Information Systems department, Janet Prichard is a member of the club. When Joelle and I arrived at the rink Professor Prichard was quick to come over and greet us and immediately asked us if we wanted to go out onto the ice. Obviously we said yes. We went and put grippers on our shoes. The grippers are basically giant pieces of rubber that go outside your normal shoes to help give you traction on the ice. Most of the club members wear grippers while others have Teflon-coated shoes to give traction and help move on the ice.

Once on the ice, Joelle and I had the chance to pick up a broom and stone. The stone was surprisingly heavy. It turns out the stones are 40-pounds each and are made from special granite that comes from just two quarries in the world. From our vantage point on the ice, we were able to watch the sport from some cool angles and really gained an appreciation for the skill involved.

Though not widely appreciated in the United States, curling has a history dating back to the 1500s. The game pits two teams of four players each against each other in an attempt to score the highest number of points. The players take turns sliding the rocks down the ice towards a bullseye type target. Once released the path of the rock is influenced by two sweepers who use brooms to speed up the rock and straighten out its path. The sport relies a great deal on teamwork and strategy giving it the nickname “chess on ice.”

Professor Prichard is working with SPB on setting up a “learn to curl” night so be sure to stay on the lookout for that!

The Bulldogs, who set a new single-season high in victories at the Division I level by means of a 25-19 overall record and a 14-6 mark in the conference, nearly captured the NEC regular season title last spring while fielding a team comprised mostly of underclassmen. Experience will play another key role in a successful campaign this year, as 12-year bench boss Lisa-Ann Wallace will look to reach even greater heights in the team’s final season of reclassification.

Looking for its seventh league title in 2012 will be top vote-getter Robert Morris. The Colonials led all teams with six first-place votes while edging out second-place Quinnipiac to take the top spot. The Bobcats did, however, earn three first-place votes in the poll. Rounding out the top three is last year’s tournament champion, Sacred Heart (one first place vote), who will have to regroup after losing last year’s NEC Player of the Year in Taylor Froelich.

LIU Brooklyn and Central Connecticut follow the Bulldogs in fifth and sixth place, respectively, in the poll. The Blackbirds will look to rebound from a sub-.500 season while making a claim for their 11th league title. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, will be looking to return to the postseason for another year by means of its potent bats that sparked one of the league’s best offenses in 2011.

Garden State rivals Monmouth and Fairleigh Dickinson were ranked seventh and eighth, respectively. The Hawks, who garnered the lone other first-place vote, just missed out on an appearance in last year’s conference tournament despite finishing nine games over .500, while the Knights will be looking to match the high bar set last season when the program set a new single-season high in victories.

Wagner and its youthful lineup were slated to finish ninth in the league, while Mount St. Mary’s and Saint Francis (PA) round out the 11-team field. The Mountaineers finished 16 games under .500 last season but return 15-of-23 letter winners, while the Red Flash will look to gain ground under the reigns of first-year coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift.

With the 2012 campaign just days away, the Bulldogs will look to start off the season amidst a group of competitive foes that will challenge the team right off the bat, as Bryant heads to Albuquerque, N.M. this weekend to participate in the University of New Mexico Lobo Classic.

The Black and Gold will face off against Northern Colorado (twice), Purdue, Central Arkansas and the tourney-host Lobos – who received votes in the most recent USA Today/NFCA Coaches’ Poll – over a three-day span.

A year after capturing the NEC regular-season championship, the Bulldogs finished 19-12 in conference play in 2011 and won 30 games for the fifth consecutive season. This year, head coach Steve Owens returns six starting position players and three starting pitchers to a team that won five-straight games, and seven of eight, to end 2011.

After finishing 25-7 and earning the top-seed in last year’s postseason tournament, Monmouth has been selected to repeat in 2012, receiving four first-place votes. The Hawks return 18 letterwinners from a year ago, including the conference’s top Major League prospect, right-hander Pat Light.

Last year’s conference champion, Sacred Heart is slated to finish second and also received four first-place votes. The Pioneers beat Monmouth twice in last year’s tournament and bring back nine-game winner Troy Scribner and seven-game winner Nick Leiningen. Central Connecticut was picked to finish third, receiving the final first-place vote. LIU Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary’s, Wagner, Quinnipiac and Fairleigh Dickinson round out the poll, slated to finish fifth through ninth, respectively.

Bryant returns a strong core from last year’s team including one of the league’s best pitchers in Kelich. The right-hander has won 15 games in his first two seasons, going 5-2, including complete game shutouts of Sacred Heart and Mount St. Mary’s, last year. Soltis finished third in batting average (.392) and on-base percentage (.468) in conference-only games last season and was selected to play in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-Star game.

The Bulldogs also bring back 2010 NEC Rookie of the Year Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.), the Black and Gold’s leader in doubles (16), triples (4) and home runs (5) last season.

The Bulldogs open their 2012 campaign this weekend, Feb. 17-19 with a trip to Cary, N.C. Bryant will face four opponents – St. Joseph’s, Wright St., Marshall, and Youngstown St. – over the three days at the USA Baseball Complex, with Friday’s opener against the Hawks slated to begin at 2:00 p.m.

“I feel like a stripper in there by myself!”

“You’re like the dungeon master of Facebook.”

Student 1: We are going to a flannel party.

Student 2: Perhaps you two will find some nice lumberjacks.

Student 1: We can only hope!

Student 1: Just wanted to let you know Victor and I got free Wendy’s chili.

Student 2: OMG the Islanders got 3 goals!!!

“Hey boys, wanna play legos and teach me how to burp?”

“Please don’t put on my roommate’s booty shorts….wow, I don’t think I’ve ever had to tell a guest that before.”

Student 1: Yo, I got this good deal. $170. Round trip. New Orleans. You In?…

Student 2: Sounds good.

Student 1: Only thing is it’s on a Tuesday.

“Let’s get wavy”

“Why I murdered a goose, a cautionary tale”

“OMG I just tutored the hottest kid. Great day.”

Student 1: She posted pound mustbe love.

Student 2: You mean hashtag?

Student 1: I don’t twitter often.

Student 2: You mean tweet?

“So are all girls considered prostitues on Valentine’s Day because they don’t put out unless they get gifts?”

“Finally rode in a DPS car. Check that off the Bryant Bucket List.”

“Do you know Tupper? She looks like that.”

“Those girls are just miserable because they don’t drink.”

“I wish we were in college forever”

E-mail funny quotes to aevangel@bryant.edu