leonardomqs
I can't say that the director is good, but he filmed it at least in a acceptable way. And the cinematography is beautiful, whitch helps. The script is predictable. The protagonist as every other character are bad. The movie even tries to create a backstory for the protagonist, but just make it worse. The cast are horrible, Vinnie Jones almost make it enjoyable but the dialogues don't help in any way. I saw this movie when I was a kid (yes, totally wrong), and in that time I was able to visualize that this movie isn't a big thing, but I actually enjoyed. I rewatch it this year, I was not able to reach the end. If you like to see strong people killing each other you can give it a try. Maybe you enjoy it.
airsnob
I rented this movie because I was sick, and figured it was a mindless waste of time and it would keep me occupied without too much mental or emotional stress. I was right. But right when I was asking myself what type of people out there gave this kind of movie an audience ( I am often in existential crisis ) the script slapped me with surprise. It actually gave a very clear message that you're basically a jerk for liking to entertain yourself with gratuitous violence. Then it also killed off all the people in the film who cashed in and laughed at death , showed them what violence really was , well, sort of. I mean essentially the movie is making money off of violence and death and really awful things in real life. Movies and entertainment like this are sort of anesthesisizing the public to hardcore reality. But it knew that, and it made that concept and those people the truly bad ones .. which was an interesting shift in perspective although I can't give it too much credit because essentially it's still cashing in on the same genre .. While I was watching this though I realized that all the people I hate , and that I spend way too much time wondering how they exist in the world , how they don't care about anything of value or have any kind of morality or concept of the abstract and emotional depth, people that sit around and watch movies and cheer for the hero, and yet live like villains. People that have no idea that they are the villains in real life. That they lie, they hurt people, they cheat people. They burn people. They kill people. They rape or molest people. Whatever .. these people ,how do they exist? And not know what they are? How they can be so blind to themselves when there is so much information out there ?? I decided these types of people much watch these mindless movies . So on that level it comforted me. That all those gung ho violent types watching this movie, at the end, the jokes on them. And whoops, maybe it will make them question something more than they are used to. Baby steps Hollywood , baby steps, and I'm all about it. This movie had a conscious. That's amazing for the type of movie it was. It might be too smart though for all the people who need to actually get that message .. but nice try anyways. The script had me laughing out loud too. In a few parts. In a good way. I think this type of movie for what it was was excellent. Probably the one movie like this you could let your teens watch. Because of the message at the end. Which was - violence and the people who cash in on it, the people who use it as entertainment are evil, stupid and deserve to die. Haha.
ironhorse_iv
This movie should be condemned. I'm sorry, but it should. Directed by Scott Wiper, the movie tells the story of Jack Conrad (Stone Cold Steve Austin), an American convict waiting in death row. He along with nine other convicts from different countries, are brought to a mysterious island by television producer Ian Brecket (Robert Mammone). In order to fight in a competition where they must kill each other, so that the last man standing will gains his or her freedom. Without spoiling the movie too much, I have to say, the movie isn't that good, when it comes to the action. The action has way too much, shaking cam and quick cuts. I hate how all the close up and long shots are filmed. You really can't make out details. It kinda ruins the movie, because it's really hard to tell, who's winning the fight or not. I wouldn't say that this movie delivers fun action. The action is directionless. It's doesn't know if it wants to be Hard R or not. It's tries to be ugly-looking, by showing bits of hideously cruel beatings, inferred acts of rape, attempted rape and pseudo-sadistic violence, but at the last second, it cuts away. Surprising, for a Lionsgate movie, the movie has little to no gory scenes. It's give the impression that the movie couldn't pay for blood or gory make up, with their limited budget. Its sucks, more, that, the action is very repetitive. Lots of brawling, shooting, and way too many explosions deaths. Another problem with the film is how they misused Steve Austin. Despite having the top billing; 'the Texas Rattlesnake' is barely in the film, much. The movie focus, way too much on the side characters. I came here, to see Austin 3:16, not these boring convicts. Honestly, if you're going to focus on them; at less, make them, a little more interesting. A lot of them are some generic & have little to no backstory. The only person, that seem cool, was Vinnie Jones as Ewan McStarley. It's upsetting, that the movie didn't focus, more on these two men, fighting each other. I would love it. The only thing, I hate about the limited time, they fought, was how upstage, Jack was, compare to Ewan. It's so bad that Ian orders a shotgun to be given to Ewan to "even" things out. The movie makes, Vinnie Jones look kinda weak. The ending fight between them, was disappointing, as hell. No big pay-off to their feud. By far, the worst thing about this movie is the time, spent with Robert Mammone and his crew! All of the scenes with them, are a total waste of my time. I really dislike, how over the top, Robert Mammone's acting was. I really couldn't stand Rick Hoffman as Goldman, Ian Brecket's assistant & Victoria Mussett as Ian's girlfriend, Julie. Their characters were so annoying, due to wishy washy flighty flake attitude. I really don't get, how they were OK, in helping create a death-fight tournament, and then when people start to die, they try really hard to wash their hands clean, by showing their moral disapprove about the killings to Ian. I really hate how preachy, this movie tries to be. The film tries to makes a major point that a program where convicts fight to the death is inhumane and cruel, though the film marketing capitalizes on that exact point, especially with the tagline. It becomes funny when you realize that this was made by two companies who are known for their violence! Distribute company, Lionsgate is known for torture porn movie and the film's production company: World Wrestling Entertainment AKA WWE is known best for its violent and uber extreme Attitude Era. The movie ultimately fails, because of this. By criticizing the violence, it's insulting their fan-base for liking films like this. You can't be preachy, while making money off of portraying violence. It's very hypocritically of them. Honestly, if you want a better film; watch films like 2000's Battle Royale, 2012's The Hunger Games, 1932's The Most Dangerous Game or 1986's Running Man. They're way superior to this film. Even 2008's Death Race is better than this movie! All, I want to see is Stone Cold Steve Austin kick ass in the Condemned; and they didn't give me, that. Overall: This movie is stone cold mediocre. That's the Bottom Line, because I said so!
BA_Harrison
Ten death-row criminals—eight hard-as-nails men and two women with awesome racks—are 'purchased' from corrupt prisons around the world and taken to a remote island where they are equipped with explosive ankle devices (one tug on the red tag and Kablooey!) and pitched against each other in mortal combat for the entertainment of internet subscribers. Last man standing (or woman—as if) walks free.This Battle Royale inspired action flick could have been a hugely enjoyable, old-school, adrenaline-fuelled action romp: the basic premise is an oldie but a goodie; WWE wrestler 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin makes for a reasonable hero—a tough US black ops agent desperate to be reunited with his wife (who, as it happens, also has a fine set on her); and ex-footie hard-nut Vinnie Jones proves surprisingly good as sadistic ex-SAS soldier McStarley, a man who enjoys his work a little too much.Unfortunately, the film is seriously hampered by unnecessary plot threads, an unforgivable lack of gore (too many characters simply disappear in massive fireballs), some irritating directorial techniques (shaky cam—grrrr!), and hypocritical, heavy handed preaching about the immorality of violence as entertainment (an action flick in which nearly everyone dies is an odd choice of platform to deliver such a message).5.5 out of 10, generously rounded up to 6 for the lovely Emelia Burns as deadly African-American hottie Yasantwa.
