DVD : The Skulls (Collector's Edition)
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Universal
EAN: 9780783242309
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0783242301
Label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Publisher: Universal Studios
Region Code: 1
Release Date: October 24, 2000
Running Time: 106 minutes
Sales Rank: 14121
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: March 31, 2000
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Deep within the hallowed walls of ivy leagues most prominent campus there exists a secret society where power and influence are bred. Only a few are chosen to join the group where presidents are groomed wealthy bloodlines bond and devious plots are hatched. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 03/28/2006 Starring: Joshua Jackson Leslie Bibb Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Rob Cohen
Amazon.com:
Think of the Skulls as a collegiate Freemason's society--an ultrasecret organization that opens the doors of power to a few lucky Ivy League students, including school rowing star Luke McNamara (Joshua Jackson), a poor kid with a misspent youth. "If it's secret and it's elite, it can't be good," cautions his journalist roommate, but the lure of lavish gifts and cabal-like ceremonies in torch-lit stone chambers is too much to resist--until his roomie is murdered and his own Skull "soulmate" Caleb Mandrake (Paul Walker) is the number one suspect.
There's a campy kick to the initiation ceremonies, ancient rituals in dungeonlike alcoves filled with haze and shadow, performed by enthralled frat boys, but as Jackson flounders at the center of a Skull conspiracy it spins into ludicrous melodrama. See the college president become a thug for the Skull godfather! See street punks become high-tech criminal masterminds! See the conspiracy collapse under its own absurdity!
Jackson is pretty much a dud as the well-meaning hero, but Walker, with flashing eyes under furrowed brow, is mesmerizing as a haunted rich kid torn between a ruthless, overbearing father (Craig T. Nelson) and his conscience. Director Rob Cohen drives the film at a galloping pace and fills it with foreboding images, but his humorless solemnity finally buries The Skulls in a heap of clichés. --Sean Axmaker
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
The Skulls was a lot better than expected. More than a decent time-waster, the script is well-written, and the plot a historically plausible what-if about a secret society of the rich and powerful, who pull the strings not just in society, but on each other.
The story is about a poor but streetwise kid struggling to pay his tuition at Harvard. He displays abilities that set him above the crowd, so is invited to join the Skulls, an elite group of sons of Harvard alum, all of whom are wealthy, and some of whom have risen to powerful positions, such as judge and senator. The kid's bank account is full, and everything seems grand, until his roommate decides to write an expose on the Skulls, which ends in his gruesome death. Not wanting to be part of the coverup, the kid must use every ounce of his street smarts to end the Skull's grip on him, and bring the truth to light.
The lead actor doesn't turn in a very strong performance, but the supporting actors more than pull their weight, so it balances out. The ending was surprising and the stunts, especially the driving, rock.
Rating:  -
This film is nicely shot and has a really good look to it, but these can't save it from a terrible script, wafer-thin plot, generally poor perfomances and lack of a single character with whom one could sympathise.
Avoid.
Rating:  -
People, people, people! Please! I was reading some of the reviews for this movie. Seems some people rented/got this movie to "discover" those ancient secrets of such secret society or the Skulls and Bones. You really think they'll reveal them here?
Anyways, Luke is offered a chance to join the Skulls. The thing is that Luke is different from the other pledge brothers. He isn't a legacy nor does he come from old money. So, this is a rare opportunity of a lifetime.
In the middle of pledging or initiation rites, Luke discovers that his best friend, a student journalist, has committed suicide. Or was he staged to look like he committed suicide. Immediately, he suspects the Skulls. In a freakish way, the Skulls seems to know what Luke is thinking and doing.
Luke wants to back out and report the society of its involvement of a friend's death to the police. However, wherever he turns, there's a Skull blocking his way. Will Luke be able to avenge his friend's death?
Think of *The Skulls* as a collegiate version of *The Firm*.
Rating: -
This film is great, trashy fun. Of course, it's impossible to take it seriously. Inspired supposedly by Yale's Skulls and Bones, the movie has such incredible, unbelievable situations, that to enjoy it one has to see it as an unintentional comedy. My best scene in that sense would be when Joshua Jackson is interned by the baddies in a madhouse. It's such a ridiculous scene that you can't help laughing at it. The second-best situation would be the duel, and the father, telling his son after being shot the immortal line "You're not worth the trouble". Take it easy and laugh out loud.
Rating: -
Modern day attempt at old time expose
of Secret Societies / Fraternity and
not bad at all. Except for excessive
profanity in orginal print that will
keep some otherwise favorabley impressed
away. TV version has a bit cleaned up.
Supposed to be about Bush/Clinton/Gore/
Robertson cult known at Yale University
as Skull and Bones. Good bit of research
done by Hollywood Director, but nowhere
near as effective as Oliver Stone's JFK
or Michael Moore's best (Fahrenheit 9/11
or Roger and Me). Good effort nonetheless!
For a new generation, who better take this
as a warning. See also: Alexandra Robinson's
books!
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starring: Derek Aasland, David Asman, Nigel Bennett, Leslie Bibb, David Christo
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Universal
EAN: 9780783242309
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0783242301
Label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Publisher: Universal Studios
Region Code: 1
Release Date: October 24, 2000
Running Time: 106 minutes
Sales Rank: 14121
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: March 31, 2000
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