The Condemned
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Convicts fight to the death in reality-TV debacle.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16 and Up
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Condemned was written by Cynthia Fuchs
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
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- 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?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on The Condemned
What’s the Story?
While locked up in a Salvadorian prison, Jack Conrad (Steve Austin) catches the attention of Ian Breckel (Robert Mammone), a reality TV producer who's scouting talent for his latest whiz-bang of an idea: Ten death-row inmates get dumped on Papua New Guinea, where they fight to the death; the last one standing goes free. The live 30-hour pay-per-view event is to rake in millions. The game begins, and Jack finds himself surrounded by thugs and killers. Though he makes friends with Paco (Manu Bennett), Jack's one goal is to somehow contact his girlfriend back home. A 14-year veteran of the Special Forces, abandoned by the U.S. government during a black ops mission gone wrong, Jack appears to have something resembling a conscience; he's troubled after he kills someone. His adversaries include a loud-mouthed cretin named Nazi (Andy McPhee), a psycho martial artist (Masa Yamaguchi), and a cheater named Ewan (Vinnie Jones). As the fighting goes on and on, the moral lesson is pounded home. It's suggested that the extreme violence has "crossed a line" when people start getting blown up and raped, and a reporter accuses Breckel of producing a "live snuff film." Her disgust doesn't bother him, because he plans to be rich. But after Ewan and Jack wreak all manner of vengeance on these greedy "TV people," Donna shows up again in a coda: "Those of us who watch," she intones soberly, "we are the condemned."
Is It Any Good?
Where's Richard Dawson when you need him? THE CONDEMNED borrows from a number of sources, but its focus on mass media ethics calls to mind the weirdly campy Running Man, in which game show host Dawson oversaw a to-the-death contest featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger (in an astounding pink Lycra suit). In Scott Wiper's version, the men wear manly clothes, the violence is more brutal, and the dialogue is less snappy. But the overly simplified point is the apparently same: TV producers are scum. And after the film delivers nearly two hours of bloody bedlam, one character puts the blame on viewers.
Movie Details
Studio: Lionsgate, Director: Scott Wiper
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: 4/26/2007, DVD release: 9/18/2007
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive strong brutal violence, and for language.
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: 4/26/2007, DVD release: 9/18/2007
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive strong brutal violence, and for language.
Our Members Say
See 6 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title off for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
-
I rate this title iffy and give it
-
I rate this title on and give it
Cmon.................
It is the best movie ever. Appropriate for most. id say 12+
-
I rate this title off and give it
It is Bad
I Watch The WWE But the movie is a bad one and it has nothing to do with Wrestling.
-
I rate this title iffy and give it
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
MamaFitz recommends:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
for kids age 3
See more from MamaFitz
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
for kids age 3
See more from MamaFitz
