Rating: 
Summary: Good thriller
Review: This movie is based on a secret society at an actual Ivey League School, Yale, named Skull & Bones. As it is shown in the opening scene of the movie several Presidents were members of similar secret societies it not the actual "Skull & Bones." The movie portrays the supposed dangers that befall upon anyone who betrays the society. Although there are a few holes in the plot this is an entertaining movie and worth watching at least once.
Rating: 
Summary: NUMB SKULLS
Review: This movie reminds me of the kind of movies churned out in the sixties that had mediocre acting, mind-numbing plots, and hokey production values. But, in spite of this, "The Skulls" is an enjoyable film to pass some time with. The plot is interesting in its concept, but the execution becomes so absurd that one can only laugh when the two heroes come to a duel, with an inevitable conclusion forthcoming. Hill Harper's saintly portrayal of Joshua Jackson's best friend is smarmy; Leslie Bibb and Paul Walker try hard, but Mr. Jackson, he looks like a high school jock who got cast in the class play because of his looks and touchdowns! William Petersen as the lawyer Skull is an interesting character, but tell me---is he supposed to be Jackson's long-lost father? And the ending leaves many questions unanswered. Also, Craig T. Nelson's over the top cigar-chomping father is a hoot, too!
Rent it for fun...it's not a classic, but it's not a total flop either!
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected.
Review: I got this movie, expecting to see a thriller based on fact. What I got instead was a teen-flick that seemed more like Scream than a movie about the powerful elite that (purportedly) runs countries and continents. Don't get me wrong however, this movie is definitely a thriller but it isn't sinister enough. The Skulls seem more like a group of spoilt brats than a highly efficient secret organization filled with the best minds. The story was not very credible, how do a group of teenagers bring down such a secretive society that is said to span the globe? Surely the Skulls are not so incompetent as to allow a teen-journalist to enter their most sacred chambers with such ease and steal all their secrets. There must be better movies about the skulls out there because this one was a real disappointment. I can only recommend this movie to those who like thrillers, just don't get this movie if you are expecting an expose on the skulls. There was one reviewer who said he would have liked to see Jackson and Walker more physically involved with each other. It amazes me that there are such deviants who watch these movies to fulfill their perverted fantasies. The movie was about the Skulls not about homoerotic fantasies.
Rating: 
Summary: Fraternity vs. Secret society
Review: I recommend this movie to anyone considering joining a frat and/or is between the ages of 18-27. Rob Cohen does an excellent job in attempting to portray what goes on inside the walls of the "Skulls" secret society. The Skulls - a highly powerful secret society - provide third year college students with expensive cars, girls, and powerful ties...an enormous key to future political power. The lucky members chosen each year at midnight (approx. 15 ?) must go through intense hazing and rituals dating back to the early 1800's. Each prospective member unites with another to become soul mates. Each pair of soul mates tell each other their darkest secrets to become closer and to ensure loyalty in the most defying situation. In the movie, Luke (Joshua Jackson) demonstrates how joining the Skulls has placed tension on his friendship with Chloe (Leslie Bibb) and his roommate (Hill Harper). Sworn to keep the happenings of the Skulls a secret, the line between friendship and loyalty to the Skulls becomes very thin. Luke son learns that the Skulls are not only watching his every move, but they monitor his close friend Chloe as well... -A must see for college students!
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: This movie is one of my favorite movies ever. It really draws me into the plot from the beginning. I am not usually a person who enjoys action films, but this one left me wanting to know more. I have not yet seen either of the sequels, but I don't think they can live up to how great this one was. One of my friends and I love to watch this movie together.
Rating:
Summary: Bare bones entertainment
Review: In the dark halls once walked by ancient members of secret societies, one group in particular stands out and has survived and prospered...The Skulls. This opening introduction should have been a clue as to how absurdly dramatic this movie would be.
Director Rob Cohen (Daylight, Fast & The Furious) has never been able to pull any gem from the movies he makes with the only exception being Dragon, The Bruce Lee Story. Instead, he usually creates moderately entertaining movies that try so hard to be more than they are. This was the last dramatic movie he made before moving into the even more flashy flair of The Fast & The Furious.
The Skulls starts out promising, with good characters trying to deal with their real life and school. One in particular, Lucas McNamara, played by Joshua Jackson of Dawson's Creek fame, is trying hard to make something of himself, despite his poor roots and semi-criminal childhood. He does well but mostly plays a similar character to what he played on DC. Paul Walker, playing Caleb Mandrake, stands out showing some real emotion as the conflicted rich kid who befriends Lucas and battles his own conscious throughout the movie. You find yourself liking him, despite his `take no responsibility' personality.
The real downfall of the movie is simply the switch in direction from Lucas' journey into sudden wealth and opportunity, to murder mystery. I think it would have been more instresting to see Lucas work his way into the society and find he is nothing like these people, and either find a way to use the Skulls abilities for good purposes. William L. Peterson, always good, plays Senator Levritt, who states this to Lucas early in the movie. This sounded like a promising start to the intrigue that could follow the young man who has never known what it's like to be rich or to have the ability to wield such power.
But alas, the movie falls into bleak territory and barely digs it's way out. All in all, it's an entertaining movie of power, secret society rules superceding the law and discovery of a person's own moral code. A good combination that was clumsily executed but is still good on most levels.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre formula film
Review: I rented this film hoping to learn more about the secret society, Skull and Bones (or just Skulls for this film). We don't get to see much, other than some lame initiation rite and a brief ballroom dance party where beautiful ladies are merely there for the decoration as they are introduced to the new initiates. What follows is a second rate formula film to unravel the mystery of who's behind the coverup of the murder in the Skulls ritual room. I was nearly bored to tears. The only good things about this film were the music and the scene when Joshua Jackson's character flips out, accusing a police officer of switching the videotape to cover up the conspiracy. He did a great job in that scene, but the rest of the film seriously needed some work. After I finished watching it, I felt like the makers of this movie didn't know enough about the Skulls to really write and produce a stellar movie. I wanted to learn more about what a membership in Skulls means to people, besides having beautiful women thrown at them, sports cars of their dreams, and $100,000 checks made out to each member once they are officially part of the brotherhood. I wanted to know more about the tension between Mandrake and the Senator, as well as Mandrake and his own son. This film just glosses over it to move the plot along, and what you get is a snoozefest with marginal acting and story. If anything, this film does a service to secret societies, because people will walk away after viewing this film that there's nothing to worry about if members of our government and Wall Street are in the brotherhood. I hope a more serious film about the social impact of secret societies and its rituals will be made someday, and that such a script/story won't be sacrificed for the purpose of fitting the standard formula of the suspense drama. Skulls could have used a lot more suspense. Because of the mediocrity of this film, I won't even bother to watch any of its sequels. If it couldn't be done right the first time, there's no point in repeating the same formula with different casts.
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: 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...
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
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