Rating: Summary: Garbage Review: I work at a video store, and I had heard this movie was bad, so for fun I decided to watch this movie before it came out. It was laughably horrible. I figured people would hate this film when it came out, but I have not heard ONE negative remark! People always complain about movies that are different and refreshing (like Titus and Magnolia), but no one seems to care that this movie is one of the worst of the year. Obviously, people don't have good judgment about films, so hopefully you do and don't buy this garbage.
Rating: Summary: An awesome movie Review: I thought The Skulls was a very well done movie. I didn't expect Joshua Jackson to put on such a powerful, strong performance since he usually plays "the other guy", or the best friend. But, surprisingly, Joshua Jackson did an absolutely amazing performance. I definitely recommmend this to anyone. A simply wonderful well done and well acted movie.
Rating: Summary: You must see this film Review: This is a simply awesome film. Suspense, action, thrills, this film has everything. Suitable for all age groups but if your 15 to 20 you will love this.
Rating: Summary: Pure Brainless Entertainment Review: You could only expect to be entertained at a basic level by this wave of insipid, 13 year old girl-geared, teenybopper movies, and this one is no excetion. Pathetic acting from people who were only hired for looks, a plot full of huge holes, and too much eye candy abound. BUT, I have to admit it, on a purely campy, male-fantasy level, this is worth watching. Leave your analytical mind at the door, and just watch this for the sets, the clothes, the money, and the paraphernalia. The set designer deserves most of the credit-the dramatic Skull sets are worth watching, along with the toney, spacious dorm rooms(they're ridiculously large and overly-furnished-ask any college kid). A particularly pleasing set is Caleb's bachelor pad-esque room, furnished to the nines beyond what any kid could afford. Of course, all of the sabbath-like rituals are undeniably appealing,the same goes for the GQ fashion and the extraneous skull props. So moviegoers, don't think at all on this one, it will just give you a headache, rather just watch it to imagine a life almost nobody can have.
Rating: Summary: Straight forward plot, very familiar actors Review: Joshua Jackson (Pacey from Dawson's Creek) turns in an interesting performance as a college senior trying to pay for Law School by joining a Secret Society (a la George Bush). The story holds up and Jackson teams with Leslie Bibb (from Popular) to try to get fellow Skull Paul Walker to tell the truth. Walker is the old money bad boy who can't live up to the expectations of Craig T. Nelson, but there are other machinations going on behind the scenes (be sure to see the outtakes for the possible relationship between Jackson and the distiguished gentleman from Virgina). This movie bears a similarity with The Firm, but Jackson is not Tom Cruise, so many won't remember it a year from now. As a WB young star vehicle it fails, as a thriller it is so so, but it was worth a look.
Rating: Summary: Interesting premise, poor presentation Review: Though it poses a good moral dilemma, "Skulls" is presented in such an implausible way as to render it crippled at birth. Luke McNamara is a small town boy of modest means attending an Ivy League institution that is never really named but is obviously Yale. He is hoping to be called for membership into the Skulls, a secret society of great status and power. Members of this society have the doors of power, wealth and influence thrown wide to them. This is a dream come true for Luke, who spends much of his time fretting over the hundreds of thousands in student loans he is incurring. When he discovers that one of the members has committed a felony, he is torn between his desire for wealth, his loyalty to a friend, and his conscience.Writer John Pogue ("U.S. Marshals") has conjured up a good moralistic tale, but it is so full of ridiculous premises that it becomes laughable. This is supposed to be a secret society where other than the members themselves, no one knows who the members are. Yet, Pogue and director Rob Cohen present it in such a way that they may as well be advertising their identities on TV. The building where the secret meetings take place is prominently marked with a Skull, and only members have keys to the building. So, Duh, anyone seen entering the building must be a Skull. New members get brand new $50,000 automobiles and $100,000 in cash, as if no one will notice this sudden burst of good fortune. The new members are branded on their wrist and we are supposed to believe that they will never be seen by anyone without their wristwatch on. The list of inconceivability goes on ad nauseam. The acting is generally quite good. Joshua Jackson ("Cruel Intentions", "Urban Legend") is excellent as Luke. He plays the part with just the right combination of idealistic zeal and moral grounding. He gets great support from Paul Walker ("She's All That", "Varsity Blues") as Caleb Mandrake, the spoiled rich kid trying to step out of his father's shadow. Craig T. Nelson gives a wonderfully nefarious performance as the chairman of the Skulls and Caleb's father. Maybe secret societies exist, and maybe they don't. The fact that no one is sure indicates that if they are more than mere myths, they are a lot more secret than depicted here. I rated this film a 6/10. It is an interesting idea that loses credibility in the telling.
Rating: Summary: Had potential but... Review: This movie looked interesting in the previews, then when I saw it, it was full of scenes that were funny when they were't suppose to be and dialoge that was just horrible. I thought we'd gotten past "macho" dialoge in movies since we have gotten to the year 2000. Characters are stupid and you don't care about them. Only reason to see it is to look at Paul Walker. Skip and go rent Lords of Discipline or the movie with Brendan Fraser about racism in a school( I cant remember the name).School Days? This is a waste of money. Runnnnn!
Rating: Summary: Too fantastical Review: Interesting premise but carried to such fantastical extreme as to disabuse. The story deteriorates from a somewhat intriguing tale to imaginary nonsense. Director Cohen does say in his commentary that since nobody really knows what goes on in those "secret" societies at Yale, Harvard, etc. (and as a Harvard alum I have to add, nobody cares), Cohen and his colleagues could let their imaginations run free. Well, they did. Yale, meet the Addams Family and The Munsters. Morticia and Lurch are more believable than the Skullsters in this thing. Nicely photographed movie though, especially the ersatz Ivy League interiors, somewhat reminiscent of older edifices at the real Harvard. Kudos for cinematography. Thumbs down on plot. Thumbs up for Craig T. Nelson as Mandrake, Sr., a cad you come to relish hating.
Rating: Summary: Surprised Review: George W. Bush and his dad are both "Skulls" which is the only reason I watched the movie. I'm not sure if I want a select group of people running my country, but then again I don't want the arrogance and bully features Gore embodies. After watching the movie, I can only hope that Bush will do the right things if he is elected instead of trying to advance the "Skulls" agenda unless it's for the good of the people. May 'someone' help us all.
Rating: Summary: Interesting topic Review: We thought this movie brought an interesting and fresh behind-the-scenes look of today's secret societies, in this case one at an ivy league campus. The Skulls also shows how life long connections in business and politics are formed early on during this important time in college. And if we look at the real world of business and politics, we can easily figure out that this flick comes pretty close to reality. Granted, the plot is simple and the acting is often cliche, but the topic is very interesting and the movie was well executed as it keeps the viewer focused. We watched the movie together with folks who are easily bored and rarely consider a movie worth watching, but in the case of The Skulls they all responded with the request to watch it again and to purchase the DVD. There's just something about this movie that leaves the impression that after watching it you learned something and you had a great entertainment experience. And that's what it's all about.
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