The Skulls - PG-13

Dumb, but some teens will enjoy it anyway.

Rating: PG-13 for violence and brief sexuality Studio: Newmarket Film Group Directed By: Rob Cohen Cast: Joshua Jackson, Paul Walker Running Time: 107 minutes Release Date: 10/24/2000 Genre: Thriller

Common Sense Note

Parents should know that this PG-13 rated movie's bone-crunching violence is probably too much for those under thirteen and sensitive younger teens. Parents may also want to discuss secret societies/fraternities/sororities and hazing with their children.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: N. Warren

Veteran director Rob Cohen keeps THE SKULLS moving, even when the action stops making sense. As Luke's travails with the Skulls increase, the story seems to unravel. A society whose membership is top secret but brands a skull on initiates' wrist where anyone can see it? A fraternity that controls the entire college campus, the top law schools, and the police department?

Adults may become impatient with the many lapses in logic. However, this is a thriller for teens. The main character learns that money and power at the expense of friendship isn't worth it--not such a bad message during a time when wealth is seen as the ultimate, if not only, barometer of success.

One fifteen-year-old female viewer liked the two friends Luke leaves behind the best: fellow rower and outsider Will, whose murder sparks Luke's turnaround, and the girl upstairs, Chloe. Will is a strong, if briefly developed African-American character, and Chloe turns out to be one tough woman, planning getaways and out-driving killer SUVs.

But even the fifteen-year-old saw where the plot went awry. The scene in which Luke goes from a thorazine coma to fighting a duel exasperated her: "Oh let me just change my shirt and we'll go and kill some more people," she mocked. But it didn't dampen her overall enthusiasm. Bottom line: The glossy visuals, intriguing settings, and action in THE SKULLS may help teens forget that all the plot twists add up to a pretzel.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content It's implied that two characters have sex in the shower. Women are brought to a Skulls pledge event, presumably for sexual favors.
Violence Quite a lot, including murder, car wrecks, punching, and shooting. Surveillance cameras and bugs in Luke's room add to the constant ominous conspiratorial overtones.
Language Some strong language.
Message
	Social Behavior
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Some smoking and drinking.