THE CONDEMNED
© Lionsgate
Mania Grade: B
Rated: R
Cast: Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Rick Hoffman
Writer: Scott Wiper, Rob Hedden
Director: Scott Wiper
Distributor: Lionsgate
Original Year of Release: 2007
Extras: Five-part "making of" documentary, audio commentaries, storyboard sequences, and Stone Cold's visit to Movie World.
Buy it now!
Rated: R
Cast: Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Rick Hoffman
Writer: Scott Wiper, Rob Hedden
Director: Scott Wiper
Distributor: Lionsgate
Original Year of Release: 2007
Extras: Five-part "making of" documentary, audio commentaries, storyboard sequences, and Stone Cold's visit to Movie World.
Buy it now!
THE CONDEMNED
By: Tim JansonReview Date: Friday, October 05, 2007
If you think you’ve seen The Condemned before you wouldn’t be entirely mistaken. It borrows elements from several films including Escape from New York, Running Man, and No Escape. Despite that, this is actually a pretty good action flick and really took me by surprise. Wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin is Jack Conrad, one of ten condemned prisoners who gets a chance at freedom. A wealthy producer named Breckel has brought Conrad and the other nine prisoners to an island near New Guinea where they will battle to the death with the lone survivor winning his, or her, freedom. Breckel will broadcast the event over the internet and his team has set up hundreds of cameras all around the island to capture the brutal action. Each “contestant” has been fitted with an explosive ankle bracelet to keep them in control.
Among the other prisoners is former SAS operative McStarley played by Vinnie Jones. Jones has virtually made a career out of playing similar tough guy roles including Juggernaut in X-Men 3. He plays McStarley to the villainous hilt. McStarley has formed an alliance with Japanese martial artist Saiga, and together they hunt down the rest of the prisoners. Yet another prisoner is played by former WWE wrestler and Strongman competitor, 6’ 11” Nathan Jones. It isn’t all just a beat-em-up however. A back-story on Conrad shows that he is more than just an average prisoner. He disappeared from his home in Texas a year earlier without a word to his girlfriend. Now his entire hometown is watching the action unfold over the Internet along with millions of other viewers.
Now, Steve Austin isn’t a guy with a lot of acting range. But then again, guys like that (Chuck Norris, Steven Segal) have done quite well for themselves in action hero roles. The writers and director were very smart with the way they handled Austin. Even though he is the star, he isn’t asked to carry the film or be in every shot. In fact, several actors, including Jones, have far more lines of dialogue than Austin does. But as the tough guy hero, he does pretty well. He’s got the usual hero quips and does an excellent job with the action scenes.
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