The Condemned (D or 1/4 stars)
'The Condemned' is an inanely violent action flick directed by Scott Wiper. This film tells the story of Jack Conrad ('Stone Cold' Steve Austin), who's awaiting the death penalty in a Central American prison. He + 9 other 'condemned' murderers are purchased by a corrupt TV producer, Ian Breckel (Robert Mammone), & taken to a desolate island where they must fight 'til death. He who is the last man standing will win freedom. The sick twist, the 10 criminals are playing an illegal game that's to be broadcast, uncensored, across the World Wide Web! The 1st half hour is intriguing. Then it all goes out the window in the ensuing 75 minutes.
Breckel may be an internet genius, but he's also as evil as most of these 'reality show' contestants are. Knowing the nature of people, for $49.99, he figures that most folks would be drawn to this sadistic, gladiatorial reality show; and he was right. It would be like watching porn, except violence substitutes for naked bodies. Millions pay to tune in. And the FBI can't do anything about it because they don't know the whereabouts of the remote island. Some of Breckel's fellow cohorts/cameramen/assistants begin to realize that this game is ludicrous and sick. But Breckel's promise to them of $2,000,000 is hard to ignore.
Back to the killers: None of them have redeeming qualities, or 'qualities', at all. They're not interesting. They fight, they die, & the film drudges on. But the one man we're supposed to 'feel' for is ex-Special Services op, Jack Conrad. His main goal is to defeat Ewan McStarley (Vinnie Jones), his most fearsome foe, & the man who's doing most of the pummeling unto others. The process of the other 8 criminals being killed unfolds in a highly predictable fashion. Who kills who first, Jack or Ewan? Or do both survive? What happens to Ian Breckel after his team turns on him? The film isn't good enough to care, either way.
The set-up for what goes down on the island is presented in an interesting way. There's enough adrenaline in the film to cover 2 action flicks. There are some rare entertaining quips & a couple of satisfying scenes to speak of (look for a helicopter mishap). A half-way decent film was somewhere in here. And I actually think Steve Austin has some onscreen charisma. However, this film misses the mark in so many ways. For every entertaining moment, there are 3 times as much of a boring plotline. Any 1-on-1 battle is filmed epileptically. The camera shakes so much so that you can't even decipher what's going on; really poor editing. There's almost no fun in 'The Condemned'; no craftiness; no pacing; no decent acting; & no intelligible script.
Those who watch these 'types' of films for non-stop action, suspense, thrills, & gore will find too little of it here. We find out that Jack has a girlfriend back home (wherever that is); her character (and most others) is portrayed insignificantly. Most neutral characters mercilessly die for little-to-no purpose. And most disappointing of all, while we (some movie-going public) are intrigued by violence, & the plot of this film involves watching and enjoying it online ... a preachy message is conveyed that anyone who is voyeuristic to violence is 'condemned' as a bad person. Hello!! Then why make this film?!?
Breckel may be an internet genius, but he's also as evil as most of these 'reality show' contestants are. Knowing the nature of people, for $49.99, he figures that most folks would be drawn to this sadistic, gladiatorial reality show; and he was right. It would be like watching porn, except violence substitutes for naked bodies. Millions pay to tune in. And the FBI can't do anything about it because they don't know the whereabouts of the remote island. Some of Breckel's fellow cohorts/cameramen/assistants begin to realize that this game is ludicrous and sick. But Breckel's promise to them of $2,000,000 is hard to ignore.
Back to the killers: None of them have redeeming qualities, or 'qualities', at all. They're not interesting. They fight, they die, & the film drudges on. But the one man we're supposed to 'feel' for is ex-Special Services op, Jack Conrad. His main goal is to defeat Ewan McStarley (Vinnie Jones), his most fearsome foe, & the man who's doing most of the pummeling unto others. The process of the other 8 criminals being killed unfolds in a highly predictable fashion. Who kills who first, Jack or Ewan? Or do both survive? What happens to Ian Breckel after his team turns on him? The film isn't good enough to care, either way.
The set-up for what goes down on the island is presented in an interesting way. There's enough adrenaline in the film to cover 2 action flicks. There are some rare entertaining quips & a couple of satisfying scenes to speak of (look for a helicopter mishap). A half-way decent film was somewhere in here. And I actually think Steve Austin has some onscreen charisma. However, this film misses the mark in so many ways. For every entertaining moment, there are 3 times as much of a boring plotline. Any 1-on-1 battle is filmed epileptically. The camera shakes so much so that you can't even decipher what's going on; really poor editing. There's almost no fun in 'The Condemned'; no craftiness; no pacing; no decent acting; & no intelligible script.
Those who watch these 'types' of films for non-stop action, suspense, thrills, & gore will find too little of it here. We find out that Jack has a girlfriend back home (wherever that is); her character (and most others) is portrayed insignificantly. Most neutral characters mercilessly die for little-to-no purpose. And most disappointing of all, while we (some movie-going public) are intrigued by violence, & the plot of this film involves watching and enjoying it online ... a preachy message is conveyed that anyone who is voyeuristic to violence is 'condemned' as a bad person. Hello!! Then why make this film?!?