Rating: 
Summary: I want to bang my Skull against something....
Review: Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker are budding stars that will soon land themselves into feature films and be handed better scripts than The Skulls. It's obvious both actors have talent, and are a good movie away from being big name stars.The Skulls was mediocre at best. Actually, it was below mediocre. Was it watch able? Yes, but barely. The whole concept was pretty outlandish and rather silly. I can't imagine such a society existing to this extreme extent, but I'm sure there are ones that have the same practices. Rob Cohen did a terrible job of giving substance to the characters. I really felt no real feelings towards any of the performers because their backgrounds were either briskly explained or not interesting at all. It's as if Cohen had one thing in mind, and that was making this secret society as mysterious as possible, and totally forgot about his characters. Also, the street punks magically turning into brainiacs is unbelievable. There were many instances like this through out the movie that were down right cliché loaded. The Skulls turned me off for many reasons, and it's a shame because the basic, basic premise is quite intriguing. 2 Stars
Rating: 
Summary: Skull and bones
Review: A college kid joins a secret society which is better than a frat because they get cars, swatches, 20 grand and hot chicks plus some cool bling bling to wear around the crib. His annoying friend gets killed in the magic castle and he can't seem to put the bizarre accident behind him. Blood in blood out because he can't leave the skulls no matter how hard he tries. they are well connected and some of them even work for the DMV.
Rating:
Summary: It's no mystery
Review: This film lacks any of the suspense or intensity that makes good thrillers memorable. Cohen claims it is a message film aimed at teenagers headed toward college. The message I took away from it is find a better script before you start making your movie or it will wind up like this -- hackneyed and predictable. There are plenty of implausibilities and downright silliness, not to mention groaners in the dialogue and some serious over-acting. But if you think this movie is bad, just check out the sequel...
Rating: 
Summary: We Live By The Rules, We Die By The Rules!
Review: Movie Summary: Lucas McNamara is an Ivy League college student going into his senior year. He wants to go to law school, but the cost is going to kill him. Luckily he is invited to join a very elite secret society called the Skulls that will pay for it all. The Skulls very quickly suck Lucas in and take over his life. He finds himself losing things he didn't want to lose at any cost. Now he must fight to get his life back. My Opinion: The first half of the movie was very good. I was very entertained and had a great time watching it. None of the "silliness" or plot holes bothered me at all. It was easy to get caught up in The Skulls. The second half let down a little and got cheesy. They resorted to old formulas to finish the story. Had they been more creative this could have been a really great movie. The plot line with the senator was interesting though. He helps Lucas fix a mistake that he himself couldn't fix for himself. Namely joining the Skulls in the first place. Well done son, well done. DVD Quality: Widescreen anamorphic 1.85:1 with a great picture quality. The sound is DD5.1 and sounds great. Extras included tons of deleted footage, commentary, making of, and production notes. What You Should Do: Rent this one. It was fun the first time, but won't hold up to repeated viewings. It's not a great movie, but it's not a terrible one either.
Rating:
Summary: The Skulls Action never stops!
Review: As a big fan of both Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker, The Skulls was almost too good to be true. I have seen it so many times, I kow it by heart! Jakcsons character, Lucas MacNamera, is a lower cless student at an Ivy league School, who one day gets accepted into a Secret Society called the Skulls. Caleb Mandrake, Walker's Character, is a rich student attending the same university who meets Luke due to fate and they become instant buds. For the first time, Luke's life is going great, but when his best friend Will suddenly appears dead, he knows it has somethinng to do with the Skulls, and then he realizes, if they could give him that much, imagine what they could take away! I really loved the plot, because it just kept getting thicker and thicker, and the intense subject matter was lightened once in a while by witty one-liners. I enjoyed it very much, but I would not recommend it for younger viewers.
Rating: 
Summary: Noteworthy Thriller
Review: The Skulls is a well-paced and well-acted thriller. Joshua Jackson is Luke McNamara. An Ivy League college student who isn't doing to well with paying his tuition. To certify his place in completing college and have a successful future, he wants in with the Skulls. An intermediate group of young men who are guaranteed anything they want in life. After getting in, Luke's life begins to fall apart as his best friend is murdered and his girlfriend is on the run. Should Luke trust the secret society and his new friend Caleb, or try to get out of the society alive? The Skulls, for some reason, gives me an at-home feeling. I kind of relate to each character in a way, and that shows that each actor gave a pretty good performance. Joshua Jackson, Paul Walker, and Leslie Bibb shine as the leads. Craig T. Nelson also gives a nice performance. The plot and pacing of The Skulls is excellent. The scenes meant to be intense are just that, and scenes meant to be heartfelt and fun are just that too. The DVD isn't loaded, but it's pretty note worthy to any fan of the movie. A commentary is given by director Bob Cohen. I actually found this quiet entertaining as Cohen explains concepts of the movie and other things. There are a few deleted scenes with commentary by Cohen. It is seen why these were cut. There's also a Making Of featurette that works mostly as a promo spot. To round it up are the theatrical trailer and some very interesting production notes. For any fan of the movie or its stars, this DVD is a must have and a must keep.
Rating:
Summary: Watch and forget it - 2.5 stars!
Review: It's a pretentious story decorated with pseudo-medieval elements about the insides of a secret fraternity - the Skulls. A college graduate (J Jackson) becomes lured in by thousands of bucks suddenly appearing on his account (that he's in a desperate need of to continue his education), gets branded by hot iron on his wrist and has to wear a presented watch to cover the secret mark (how ridiculous - it won't take long to unmask the Skull, just take his watch off!). Soon his friend dies mysteriously while trying to penetrate the secret "temple" of the Skulls (it seems to be in the college cellar, but how the heck did they manage to dig out such a big cellar with near temple-high walls?). So Luke understands that life does not give out "free candies" and faces a simple dilemma.... The finale got my attention for 15 minutes, but last pathetic scene garbled the whole impression. Not to mention that, as often as not, love line of the movie was sacrificed to a quick fumble in the bathroom. Indeed, this wasn't a VERY BAD movie, at least it tried to make a difference from brain-dead rubbish on eternal problems of how to lose one's virginity, win a school beauty contest or escape the next-door maniac. However, the Skulls seems to be a group of over-grown tuxedo-addicted post-graduates whose politics, besides sponsoring fast canoe rowers (that's Luke) and squander money on posh cars and receptions, remain vague. Their initiation was preposterous: group of youngsters had to steal a serpent-like weather-wane. Luke and his friend did, but nonetheless all others have been enlisted anyway. Now wonder discipline among the Skulls is lax... and it goes on like that... Plot holes and leaps of logics, as well as half-baked idea of the Skulls, make this movie your last choice for a lonely evening when all other films have been rented out at your local rental-store.
Rating:
Summary: Skull Shattering!
Review: SKULLOVE IT! I love this movie! I watch this movie like every other day! A sort of complicated story, it does very well!!
Rating:
Summary: Well acted, but not much for guys to look at
Review: Joshua Jackson, best known as the eye candy on "Dawson's Creek," tries his hand at a dramatic role in this thriller loosely based on the Yale secret society that has reputedly been running the country to ruin through the mind-control of its illustrious alumni. Here the Skulls are involved in nothing so sinister: they just commit a few murders here and there, and Joshua avec girlfriend have to sleuth out the truth. There are a few suspenseful scenes, but if you're like most guys, renting this video mostly for the promise of some steamy shower or locker room bonding between Joshua and hunky co-star Paul Walker, be warned that pecs and biceps are in short supply.
Rating:
Summary: A Star has risen from this movie
Review: I have been an entertainment critic for some time now and I dont think I started watching this movie with the intent to see an Oscar winning movie. I think in the end, with movies like this one, they have to be judged on whether the movie was entertaining or not; and this one was...just barely. What was surprising was that this movie was kept afloat by Paul Walker who plays more of a supporting actor rather than Joshua Jackson, the lead, who makes rather a mess of his role. Jackson has shown with this movie why he is usually restricted either to the small screen or to supporting roles on the big screen. Walker, on the other hand, turns in an inspired performance as a rich prep student that is torn between his own morals and conscience and his corrupted father. As said above, it is Walker who keeps this second rate "thriller" above water with his acting skills...there is much more to come from this young, talented and budding actor. Walker will be the one who will go on to play leading roles and graduate from the teen movie ranks while Jackson will be left wallowing in Walker's wake. Jackson's acting is one of the many pull downs of this movie. The movie ends with an unbelvievably cheesy scene and it is very irratating for the movie goer as he/she are left with many nagging questions...what happened to Walker's character after his attempted suicide? Not to mention all the holes of the story or the below mediocore acting of most of the cast or the dull directing of Rob Cohen or even the lack of development of any the characters...you barely know enough about any of them to evoke some sympathy. Despite the limitations of his character, script and directing, Walker, rises above all the dismalities of this movie and shines, and what makes the movie barely mediocore. The Skulls is just a stepping stone for better things to come for Paul Walker. Natasha Kaplinski...
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