The Condemned [Blu-ray]

Product Details

Jack Conrad is a death row prisoner in a corrupt Central American prison who is "purchased" by a wealthy television producer to take part in an illegal reality game show. Brought to a desolate island, Conrad finds himself trapped in a fight to the death against nine other condemned killers from all corners of the world. With no possible escape - and millions of viewers watching the uncensored violence online - Conrad must use all his strength to remain the last man standing...and earn his only chance at freedom.





Like your action movies loud, fast, and violent? World Wrestling Entertainment has just your cup of testosterone with The Condemned, a derivative but watchable punch-out starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, one of its top draws. The mountainous Austin is a former Special Forces soldier who is retrieved from a Latin American jail by an unscrupulous television producer to participate in a pay-per-view death match in which ten criminals must fight each other to the death. The other contestants (which include fellow athlete-turned-actor Vinnie Jones) are all cut from the most villainous of cloths, but Austin is, of course, Wrongly Accused; in no way does this prevent him from opening a ten-gallon drum of beatdown on his competitors. Scott Wiper's direction is overwrought, and the script's attempt to make a statement on violence is pointless, but Austin is a more charismatic lead than John Cena in the WWE's previous action movie effort, The Marine. And the premise, which has been tapped by everything from The Most Dangerous Game to Battle Royale, is pure comic book fun, and should please B-movie fans who felt turned off by Grindhouse's relentless tongue-in-cheek tone. -- Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews ::

(2.5 STARS) "Running Man" Meets "Battle Royale" Ends up with an OK Action Flick - Tsuyoshi - Kyoto, Japan
Once in a while films like "The Condemned" come out and remind us that old B-movie premise never dies. The story of the WWE-produced film is simple. Ten death row convicts from all over the world are brought to a deserted Pacific island, where they are forced to kill each other. The battles are broadcast via internet (US.95 needed to view) and the last man (or woman) standing will be awarded money and a right to be free.

Now, Steve Austin plays Conrad, a contestant who is "bought" from a Central American prison by an enterprising producer Breckel (Robert Mammone). Most viewers know from the very beginning where this "Battle Royale"-style story is going. Vinnie Jones plays McStarley, a former British forces agent - a typical "dangerous" character Jones is often required to play.

This is not the worst action movie I have ever seen. I have seen much worse ones. It is just that the actions in "The Condemned," which look often repetitious, are ordinary, familiar and ... well, in short, nothing new. What is worse is the film's "serious" moments that become sometimes preachy, stressing moral issues that are too obvious. Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Running Man," silly and campy as it was, knew what it was doing. It was guilty pleasure, but still fun, which is something missing here.

There are explosions, shoot-outs and more, but director Scott Wiper wastes the potential to make an entertaining film, and ends up with a mediocre action film that is too long, and what is worse, that takes itself all too seriously.