The Skulls 3

Rating:
Summary: Oh, Don't Bother ... Just Another One with a Female Lead
Review: Claire Kramer (TV's 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and one of the cheerleaders in 'Bring it On') takes the lead of this new sequel to 'The Skulls.' The story about the secret society is not much different this time though, except one thing; instead of a male, a female student delves into the underground world ruled by Barry Bostwick (TV's 'Spin City').

In fact, little difference can be found, compared with the first Skull film featuring Joshua Jackson, so it's more like a retread of the original rather than a sequel. You get a curious, and very ambitious female student in college, who because of her personal reasons is willing to be a member of the secret society. She takes no for answer, as you see, and uses her knowledge about laws to have the authority bend the rules.

And ... if you think there's more to it, you're utterly mistaken. The rest of the film goes on the beaten road, with the 'trails,' 'branding' etc., and finally you see a bloody crime committed. Though Claire Kramer is surprisingly good, the film remains so predictable and unexciting.

The first film had a curiosity value, when you see the thinly-disguised references to Yale, and the real-life Skull and Bones society, even though the film seems to have taken much liberty with the facts (whatever they may be). Now it's just another tired thriller with cliched items. If you have seen the first one, just skip this.

Rating:
Summary: Hmm The Skulls 3
Review: I've seen the first Skulls, wasn't all the impressed, rather bland. Didn't see the second, but I did watch this one with a couple of friends. I'm not going to spoil it but the story and writing is bland. It really just feels like a television show. TV camera work, framing, lighting. TV production values, everything feels like an average mid budget TV show.

The score, what little there is, is basic electronic ambience, which I actually don't mind, I've always liked Brian Eno like music so I enjoyed that aspect a little. A number of pop like songs are played over montage sequences in the movie, I didn't recognise any of the bands, and there's no real need for them to be playing. But one pop song placement was far more ridiculous then the rest. It won't spoil much to say there is a murder that is revealed to have happened within the first 5 minutes. Eventually there is a funeral for this character, during which the happiest, most completely awkward rock/pop songs plays over shots crying people, family members, pallbearers and the lead character Taylor. My brother and I started laughing really hard at this scene as it became unintentionally comical. Doubtfully laughter was the desired reaction the filmmakers wanted, but its hard to tell what they desired.

For the leads acting wise its okay, nothing horrible for sure, a few times the lead girl seems a little off, but other times very good. But most of the problem is some of the silly dialogue her character Taylor is given. The other leads were in a similar situation I suppose.

My friends and I often like picking out tiny side characters that are fun to watch. And we did actually derive pleasure from a few of the tiny, tiny supporting actors in this film.
Like the first film, students from the school are 'tapped' which means they are now allowed to go through a series of trials which if passed will make them a Skull. Taylor, being the first female allowed to even try, pisses off the guys trying to get in. There is one sarcastic guy, kind of a badass who makes a few wisecracks and actually gets the best line in the film that involves cremation. He seems to take great joy in being a jerk and making the other guys laugh at Taylor. The fact that he's finding it amusing is what makes watching him entertaining. We liked this guy. It would have been fun to watch him get a chance to do more throughout the movie as he just has single lines here and there. Even though his character was little more then a plot device he made the tiny portions he was in fun and alive. Kind of the wiseass arrogant, condescending, collage guy who knows and loves it.

I also liked the police captain, he walks into an interrogation room, says a line, has a slight confrontation with a cop lower in rank and leaves. After watching him, it was like, woa bring him back, let HIM do the rest of the investigation. Miniscule character, but great presence. Calm, intelligent, commanding cop.

Another good tiny performance was a doctor who questions the Taylor about a possible drug incident. She seemed very doctor-like-concerned. Knowledgeable, educated, confident. Same issue with as the cop, bring her back for more! Lol.

These three actors all helped elevate their tiny moments of screen time. They each had presence and their lines came off natural for the characters they played. They were flavour. Overall, not really my type of movie as I'm a picky fellow. TV styles, bland everything except for some of those actors. Nothing substantial. But hey, if you like Skulls 1, and 2, perhaps you'll like 3.

Rating:
Summary: Skulls 3
Review: It took 2 false starts until they made the best Skulls. This movie was by far the best skulls so far. Of course you know's the baddy its always the cute ones. And in this movie there is 3 gorgeous guys all hot for one girl(Claire Kramer). This movie is defiantly worth 5 stars it doesnt drag on and they have captured your attention by the first scene right up until the last

Rating:
Summary: No one is forcing you to see this.
Review: So I rented this DVD for two reasons. The first is that I really liked the first one. The second one was terrible, but I liked the first and was hopeful that perhaps the makers were trying to remedy the gigantic mistake Skulls 2 was by trying again. The second reason was that there was at least one hot girl who got naked in Skulls 2 and I was hoping for equivalent or greater nudity.
There was no nudity in this movie. The lead girl is very pretty, and a swimmer, but that's as far as it went. But as for my first reason, I was not as disappointed. This is much, much better than the second movie. This is in fact not a waste of time and space. There are some good moments that are feebly left to themselves, but overall this is an average movie.
In short:
> Predictable plot twists
> Interesting premise to the Skulls idea (I mean, face it, besides the idea of a cool secret society, they don't have much to go on)
> Some rather scary and, in my opinion, well-filmed moments of climax or drama.
> The direction is good. The dialogue is mediocre and predictable and as another reviewer mentions, reeks of mid-budget tv-shows. But the movie is directed well. Not extraordinarily, but the plot is made decently real.
> The characters are not very human, but if you take the cues and invoke your emotions, it gets human. Kinda like an interactive thing :-)

So basically, I liked it, although I might not have had I not seen Skulls 2 and thus not had pitifully low expectations. Check this one out if you have nothing to do, don't make it a party event.

Rating:
Summary: A skull movie above any other.....
Review: This is the 3rd installment in the Skulls series- the skulls is an ultra-secret/prestigious and powerful college society. They mold and support its male members, turning them into the most powerful leaders. In this 3rd series Clare Kramer plays Taylor, an accomplished young woman whose father is a Skull and her brother committed suicide when he couldn't become a skull.

Taylor sues the Skulls under gender discrimination and she is reluctantly accepted as its first female inductee. Taylor wants her Dad's acceptance and she thinks entry into the Skulls is one way. But not everyone, not even her Dad, wants Taylor in the Skulls. The story is told in flashbacks...Clare Kramer is great in the lead role and reminds me of a young Ashley Judd.

The movie's murder and mysteries are intruging, the viewers don't even find out who the victim is until well into the movie. The identity of the final hero, betrayer and murderer came as a genuine surprise to me. The Skulls III is actually, IMHO, the best of the series.

The DVD offers the basic scene selection, plus bonus features-the trailer and an inside look at the making of the Skulls III with commentarys from the director and actors.

Rating:
Summary: A skull movie above any other.....
Review: This is the 3rd installment in the Skulls series- the skulls is an ultra-secret/prestigious and powerful college society. They mold and support its male members, turning them into the most powerful leaders. In this 3rd series Clare Kramer plays Taylor, an accomplished young woman whose father is a Skull and her brother committed suicide when he couldn't become a skull.

Taylor sues the Skulls under gender discrimination and she is reluctantly accepted as its first female inductee. Taylor wants her Dad's acceptance and she thinks entry into the Skulls is one way. But not everyone, not even her Dad, wants Taylor in the Skulls. The story is told in flashbacks...Clare Kramer is great in the lead role and reminds me of a young Ashley Judd.

The movie's murder and mysteries are intruging, the viewers don't even find out who the victim is until well into the movie. The identity of the final hero, betrayer and murderer came as a genuine surprise to me. The Skulls III is actually, IMHO, the best of the series.

The DVD offers the basic scene selection, plus bonus features-the trailer and an inside look at the making of the Skulls III with commentarys from the director and actors.