Iffy for 16+
Convicts fight to the death in reality-TV debacle.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that teens who are into pro wrestling may be drawn to this brutal action movie by star "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. The film -- which centers on the idea of a fight-to-the-death reality TV show -- is packed with aggressive, bloody, loud "realistic" violence: Characters punch, kick, throttle, body slam, bite, and head-butt each other in fights (not to mention cut throats and grab crotches), and weapons include guns, knives, chains, clubs, and ropes. People are thrown roughly from helicopters (one is gruesomely impaled on a stake, while others plunge into water or hit land, hard) and fall from cliffs and against rocky mountainsides. Two men rape a female contestant (the scene is indistinct on screen but causes visible upset). Language includes many uses of "f--k" and plenty of other swear words. Lots of cigarette smoking and a bit of drinking.
- Families can talk about violence on television and, increasingly, in Web videos. What are the effects of watching such violence? What's the best way to deal with this ongoing problem? Should access to programming be limited or regulated? If so, who should be in charge of regulating it -- studios? Parents? The government? Should there be fines or other costs for breaking regulation rules? How does this movie make a case against media violence even as it delivers exactly that? Families can also discuss reality TV. Do you think any reality show would ever go this far? Why or why not?
The good stuff
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Messages: Everyone is party to the mayhem, from prison authorities and convicts/contestants to TV producers/techs and the FBI, whether acting, reacting, or watching.
What to watch for
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Violence: Nonstop: The hand-to-hand fights feature punches, kicks, crotch grabs, cut throats, throttles, arm locks, body slams, bites, head-butts, bloody faces, and broken bones; weapons include knives, chains, clubs and branches, ropes, and guns. People are thrown roughly from helicopters (one is gruesomely impaled on a stake, and others plunge into water or hit land, hard); two men rape a female contestant (indicated by reactions of viewers, and indistinct, small images on monitors). Almost every conflict has an audience: Prison guards set up a fight among inmates, TV producers watch the mayhem with alternating delight and horror, people in a bar watch with excitement until their friend looks dead (then they feel really bad), etc.. There are also jokey references to blowing up a "clinic for the handicapped and mentally retarded."
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Sex: Female contestants wear cleavage-baring tops; a brief kiss between husband and wife turns into some groping -- which is interrupted by killers; brief scene in which man and woman embrace before she kills him; reference to "titties."
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Language: Frequent use of "f--k," plus "bulls--t," "s--t," "whore," "hell," "goddamn," "son of a bitch," "a--hole," and "c--ksucker." Derogatory uses of "gringo" and "Yankee" to mean "American," as well as "boy" and "rasta" in reference to a black man.
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Frequent cigarette smoking by cons and TV producers; Breck drinks liquor; references to drug cartels.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
The ACTION movie to see! by Enthusiast101
There are some critics, but I've heard mostly good feedback on this film. I just got back from the theatre myself and thought I'd throw my two cents in. I would definitely recommend going and seeing the movie! It's worth it in my opinion. I really enjoyed the action/fights, the storyline, and the flow of it all. I thought it was put together rather well, and there's a good message (believe it or not in the movie). Stone Cold did a great job acting, and I hope to see him in many more future roles. If you like intense, action-packed, graphic movies...go see this! You won't be disappointed! If you're a Stone Cold fan...you'll be happy just to see him on the screen. Overall, I think the film was very well done, and I really enjoyed it! There are also some funny lines thrown in for good measure!
3
Very Predictable - Bad Acting in Places by pheonixx
Thought the movie was ok as far as action goes, but plot and character development was terrible. You knew exactly how it was going to end and I felt like looking at my watch a few times to see if it was over already. Definitely some awkward places with bad acting. Otherwise, big muscles and being a real bad boy was appealing.
4
A fun night at the movies by Sueren
I thought The Condemned was a good movie despite the review in the paper. It was a little more brutal than I would have liked, but Steve Austin was awesome. A good story plot-but predictable.
5
MOST VIOLENT MOVIE EVER by xxkarmaxx
My frend and I saw it last night. We liked it a lot. It was the most violent movie we have ever seen. It was a great movie though. It is not for the faint hearted. Great movie to watch. Lots of action!!!
3
SO SO by army_jon84
the movie was okay, but it didnt have enough action to it nor did it have enough of Stone Cold in it.....the one thing could been left out was the girl getting beat up and raped in the movie....some ppl do not like watching movie with ppl raping ppl in it nor seeing a girl get beat up for the passion
3
Condemned Ain't Half Bad by Yukon
The Condemned is all about violence. Once you get past that point, the film works overall, though the plot is definitely a stretch. It is exciting, thrilling, and entertaining. The island setting is beautiful. Though not quite worth the money to see it in theaters, it is more than a decent rental, but not for those who condemn violence.
4
Running Man meets Survivor by Donnie Darko is Dead
This movie is not bad...however, it is not good either. The idea was good, the action, the character development and ending are very flat. The sad part is, from the very beginning, you know who the last man standing is...there should have been more big names to make the movie less predictable. If you want a better movie rent Running Man...if you have to pick a movie...pay matinee only.
5
Codemn me, this is good snuff. by Easy Tiger
I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed every moment and it more than kept my attention, I was enthralled. I didn't mind the violence. My only complaint was not being able to drink in more of it, scene for scene cause of the shake camera work during some of the most gory scenes in the movie. During the torture scene where Paco (one of the more likeable characters, who already had a broken leg), gets severly tortured (including severly beaten by a tag team of deathrowers, shot with a bow and arrow & lit on fire)...,most of the action is seemingly shot from a wide angle, shaky cam (to say the least).I'd much rather have seen the scene shot as in your face as possible, with a normal steady movie angle view. So that's my only complaint, is I'd have lost the shaky wide angle views and just stuck with pure movie cam angle steadiness.It is a film that makes u realize that ur the condemned.