The Condemned

The Condemned

Nope, we’re not talking about condemned houses or apartments. We’re talking about people. Even though it is not mentioned anywhere, this is a straight remake or rip off of the Japanese film Battle Royale, with a lot of Running Man thrown in for good measure. It’s about ten violent criminals being forced on an island and they have to fight to the death, while people on the Internet are watching it live. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin stars in this bloody and violent movie.

And, I mean this movie is really violent. So, much so that I think many Stone Cold fans will probably be turned off by the mean nature of the film. The film goes beyond the bounties of tastefulness. I like violence and hard R-rated movies like the next guy, but there are scenes that go too far. One such example involves a prolonged rape scene followed by a suicide. The scene could have been done completely differently and gotten the same results.

The movie tries to force the message that violence is dangerous and that watching people dying is wrong, but the movie is acting on the very ideas the story is trying to condemn. (Sorry)

That’s not to say the movie is completely bad. There are some moments here and there that are pretty good. And, the movie is certainly better than WWE’s other movie The Marine. I will also give them credit for not letting the studio dump a PG13 on it.

Stone Cold isn’t that bad and seems to handle himself pretty well in the action scenes. I think he needs better parts and movies, because there could be a good acting career for him in Hollywood. The Condemned isn’t it.

On a sheer action level, it isn’t totally bad, but there is almost nothing redeeming about this film.

Grade: D+