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This is a better-than-average action film in which 10 death row inmates are dropped on an island and must fight to the death until only one remains alive. Think SURVIVOR plus flag football...to kill an opponent, you don't need to beat him to death; all you have to do is pull out the red flag on his or her explosive ankle bracelet and then run like hell before the bracelet explodes. Of course, many of the players choose to beat their opponents to a bloody pulp first, apparently just for the fun of it. If you've seen CON AIR, you will recognize Stone Cold Steve Austin's character as similar to Nicolas Cage's: a good guy in the military who kills only when necessary and/or to defend a woman or a friend. THE CONDEMNED also resembles CON AIR in that it is foremost a showcase for the male star. That being said, the supporting characters in CON AIR are also well-developed and the audience is filled in on their names and histories at the beginning. THE CONDEMNED...not so much. We get intriguing glimpses of some backstories --- one character mentions that married couple Paco and Rosa "went on a killing spree together in Mexico" --- but Rosa is killed without getting to do much more than scream, and Paco's behavior is so gentle that it's hard to imagine him as a brutal killer. Two other inmates are animalistic. One mutters in a foreign language as he tries to rape a woman; the other just grunts as he attacks Steve Austin; both are killed quickly before the audience gets to know them. Sure, it's Stone Cold's show, but this movie would have been more intriguing if we got to know the other convicts, cheer for our favorites, and care more about whether they live or die.Read full review
World Wrestling Entertainment has officially broken down Hollywood's Door. 'The Condemned' (starring Stone Cold Steve Austin), is about 10 prisoners fighting to the death in a contest where only one is supposed to get out alive. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is the latest Wrestler; following in the footsteps now of "The Rock" ('Scorpion King', 'Rundown', 'Be Cool', 'Walking Tall', 'Gridiron Gang'), "Kane" ('See No Evil'), John Cena ('The Marine') to become a movie star, in 'The Condemned'. (Although he did already cameo in "The Longest Yard' remake from Adam Sandler prior to this break-out solo-film). The bullet-headed performer unleashes magnetism, amiable personality, healthy sense of humor, and talent. The action is what we are accustomed-to in successfully-fun & exciting action genre. Interestingly, according to the film's press notes, Austin himself brought the script to the producers. This is one of those action movies in which there is essentially no line between the good guys and the bad guys. Ian Breckel (Robert Mammone) expects to make a large fortune by beaming this live-action snuff contest live over the Internet, justifying what he is doing by pointing out that they are all Death Row Inmates. Of the 10 Death Row Inmates, 8 are purely cannon fodder, their deaths as inevitable as they are grisly. But no kidding - it's expected to be that way when we watch any action-film. But the two remaining might or might-not survive (and don't automatically bank on Austin -- NO SPOILER HERE but it's not assured). These two are the worst of the Inmates. Jack Conrad (Austin), trained by the U.S. Military to be a cold-blooded killer, is a Special Forces guy who specializes in undercover "Black-Ops." The Guatemalan Operation that landed him a Death Sentence was but the last in a series of lethal assignments. "He's probably killed more people than anyone on that island," a representative from the Department of Defense claims. Opposite him is his British Counterpart Ewan McStarley (a snarling Vinnie Jones), also Special Forces, imprisoned in Africa for killing 17 men and raping nine women in a Rwandan village. He also rapes one of the two women on the island and he cheats at the game, the sexual violence and his chicanery making him the bad guy. But it is a tough call. Neither Conrad nor McStarley are people anyone would want to run into in a dark alley — or even broad daylight. The psycho as hero, what a concept, and these two victims pit massive testosterone into their purpose. 'The Condemned' does exceptionally well in it's cinematography and choreography of scripted violence. (Why again, I add WWE Wrestlers are succeeding in acting; as Wrestling has long-been scripted acting mixed with choreographed violence). Director Scott Wiper does know a thing or two about providing visceral, bone-crunching thrills, while also stimulating with visual effects in scenes that are a sadist's dream. This 'Battle-To-The-Death' is action-flick genre at it's best. Academy-Award?? NO !!!! Fun & Exciting?? You Betta' Believe It !!!! See This !!!! As Good as Action-Films Go !!!! Welcome Stone Cold to Hollywood !!!!Read full review
I thought this film was great a bit gory, but not over the top like some of todays recent releases..Movie opens with a film crews decision to do a reality based cyber show..so they hook up cameras throughout a small island take 10 of the meaneast death row inmates and drop them onto the island only 9 make it to the island alive..once there they have to kill or be killed, the one left standing when it's over gets his freedom..here's the twist to keep them from trying to escape and to force them to do what they are told a ankle band is placed on them that holds an explosive enough to kill them instantly..they have only 30 hours..when one inmate sets his sights on a bigger kill he places himself into a race against time to reach his final destination along the way he's forced to defend himself while at the same time keeping his sanity in a insane predicament..Stone Cold Steve Austin was a wonderful choice for the lead in this film..Money well spent we are happy with this one..oh yes very happy!Read full review
The Condemned starring Stone Cold Steve Austin from the WWE was a good action flick. Similar plot and storyline to Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Running Man, where Austin stars as military agent Jack Conrad who is rotting away in prison in El Salvador. Conrad is offered a chance at clemency if he is the "winner" of a ten participant reality show-snuff film, broadcast on the Internet at $49.95. The action is good, but not great. Some of the ten participants (Nathan Jones, Masa Yamaguchi) are wasted, and the writing could have certainly been improved. The best part of the movie is definitely the final twenty minutes. What doesn't make any sense whatsoever is Austin destroying a helicopter with entertainment mogul Ian Breckel inside by throwing a bomb hundreds of feet in the air. That is totally impossible, if Austin had an arm like that, he could be earning $20 Million a year with the Yankees. Also purchased The Marine (John Cena) which is far superior in terms of plot and being believable.Read full review
One thing I loved about this movie, is that Stone Cold stayed true to who he is. There was no faking in this movie. He was a dry sense-of-humored jerk while wrestling, and he was the same in this movie. The character he played was none other than the Stone Cold we love to hate. The movie was a 2007 Rambo plot with exceptional graphics, and non-stop action. Survival!! LAST MAN STANDING!! That is what this movie is all about! Don't think that because Stone Cold is the leading role that he is the hero, because there are some serious twists in the movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat! I really enjoyed this movie, and give it two thumbs up!!! Hope to see Stone Cold in some more films real soon.....Why? BECAUSE STONE COLD SAID SO!!!
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