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"THE CONDEMNED" (2007) (Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Mild Heavy Extreme *Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Extreme Minor Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Moderate None Heavy Extreme QUICK TAKE: Action: With only one winner possible and facing a thirty-hour deadline, a number of death row inmates fight to the death to be crowned champion of a reality TV show set on a remote island and broadcast over the Internet. PLOT: Ian Breckel (ROBERT MAMMONE) is an exploitative TV producer who thinks he's come up with the ultimate idea for reality TV and making a lot of money from that. Picking ten death row convicts from third world prisons around the world, he proposes a fight to the death where the last person standing is set free. And to make the most money, he plans to broadcast the event on the Internet. With the aide of his staff including Bella (SAMANTHA HEALY), Eddie (CHRISTOPHER BAKER), Baxter (LUKE PEGLER) and Goldman (RICK HOFFMAN), all while his girlfriend Julie (VICTORIA MUSSETT) looks on, the show begins. Set on Papua New Guinea, the ten inmates are unceremoniously dropped onto a remote island. Wearing explosive-laden ankle bracelets that can be detonated by pulling a tab on them, if any attempt is made to remove them, or at the end of the 30-hour competition, the prisoners know what's in store. Among them are spouses Paco (MANU BENNETT) and Rosa Pacheco (DAZI RUZ), drug dealer Kreston Mackie (MARCUS JOHNSON), and tough loner Yasantwa Adei (EMELIA BURNS). Also on the island is the humongous Petr "The Russian" Raudsep (NATHAN JONES) and the more diminutive yet lethal Go Saiga (MASA YAMAGUCHI), while ex-British forces agent Ewan McStarley (VINNIE JONES) seems the most dangerous of the bunch. And then there's Jack Conrad (STEVE AUSTIN), an American previously imprisoned for killing several people in an explosion, but who's really a military operative who was left high and dry by his government, all as his single mom girlfriend back home, Sarah (MADELEINE WEST), wondered what happened to him. With the clock ticking and millions signing up to watch the mayhem, the various contestants do what they can and must to survive, all as some of Breckel's inner-circle begin to have doubts about the violent program. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into reality type TV shows or are fans of hard-hitting action films or anyone in the cast (including professional wrestler Steve Austin), they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For pervasive strong brutal violence, and for language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: Considering what occurs in the film (the killing and torturing of others, strong profanity, the overall concept of the "show" etc.), it's doubtful many parents would consider any of the characters as good role models for kids. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated action film. Profanity consists of at least 44 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, as is some cleavage, while a rape is suggested but not seen, and another is attempted with related groping. Varying amounts of cleavage are also present. Other violence includes various characters killing (by various means), brutally fighting, or torturing others out of either just plain maliciousness or self-preservation (the last person left standing lives). Accordingly, various characters have bad attitudes, and all of that material and various moments of potential peril might be unsettling to those very sensitive to such material. Much of that violence has varying degrees of bloodiness. The fighting and other behavior might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate, while various characters drink or smoke, and some drug related comments are made. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's some of that from lightning during a t-storm as well as some flicker from a camp-type fire. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are all sorts of camera movement (exacerbated by quick edits) throughout the film, as well as some spin around shots, and POV shots from a helicopter. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Miscellaneous people drink in a bar. We hear that Jack was working as a military operative to destroy a drug plant. Mackie tells his incarceration story, saying he set up a hash bar in Malaysia and was caught with fourteen pounds of that. Saiga pours liquor or something else flammable onto Paco, and McStarley dropping his cigar onto that, causing Paco to be engulfed in flames (only briefly seen). Breckel has a drink. People have beer in a bar and we see more of that when the film occasionally returns to that scene of such patrons watching the contest. BLOOD/GORE The Russian has some blood on his face following a fight. The various contestants are thrown from helicopters (while still shackled) down to the water around the island. One inmate lands back first on a broken post and is impaled (he's dead and bloody). Yasantwa jams a broken tree branch into an assailant's neck (with very bloody results). Rosa has a bloody palm. McStarley has some blood on his face. Jack has a little blood on his head. We hear the sound of Goldman vomiting from watching a scene of torture. McStarley has some blood on his head following a fight. Jack has some blood on his arm following a fight. Jack and McStarley get into a brutal fight, with the latter slicing the former on the shoulder (with briefly seen bloody results). We see blood on a knife after it's used to slit a throat (the act isn't seen directly). Jack is very bloody, especially a section of his arm that appears to be missing the top layer of skin. McStarley shoots the various broadcast crewmembers, some with bloody results. A guard holds a gun on Jack who grabs and disarms that man. He then shoots that man several times while bent over (we see the bloody holes exit out of the back of the guard's clothing). McStarley has various bloody cuts on him. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Breckel has a bad attitude for conceiving, setting up, and then executing the "show" where third-world, death row inmates battle to the death, all in the name of entertainment and profit for Breckel. He also comes down hard on Goldman and Julie when they eventually develop a conscience about what's occurring. Late in the film, and hearing that the military is approaching, he plans to abandon the island and leave most everyone else there to suffer the consequences. Those who work for Breckel and agree to do the webcast also have bad attitudes. Most of the death row inmates have bad attitudes not only for their previous crimes, but also in wanting to and succeeding at killing others. Some of them, notably McStarley and Saiga, get some sort of glee out of doing so, with both torturing Paco and at least McStarley raping that man's wife in front of him. We learn that military officials left Jack high and dry in a third world prison despite him working undercover for them. Breckel wants an "Arab" for the show, but when that man is shot and killed, he's offered a Guatemalan, but he says he doesn't want one of them as he has two Mexicans. He then settles on American Jack since anti-American sentiment is high around the world and Breckel figures that might lead to additional viewers. We hear that Jack was in prison for killing three people, but we later learn they were members of a drug cartel and he was working as an undercover operative for the U.S. military. McStarley refers to Mackie (who's black) as "boy" and "Rasta." We hear that McStarley executed and raped a number of people in his past. Breckel has his crew make up a fake story about Jack's past, including that he's a member of the KKK and blew up a place for "retards." Having seen Yasantwa in action, Breckel refers to her as a "Hot African chick with a nice rack." Breckel slaps Julie (his girlfriend) after she continues to question his behavior. Breckel assists McStarley (getting weapons to him, etc.) so that he'll probably win the contest. McStarley refers to a woman with glasses as "four eyes." McStarley says he was abandoned by his government and left in an African prison where he had to endure taking "it up the ass" twice a day. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" and/or "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. McStarley and Paco exchange punches and other blows during a fight. McStarley then slices Paco's arm, breaks his knee, and then has him chained to a tree while Saiga has Rosa pinned to the ground. McStarley pronounces her "one fit bird" and then goes over and states, "Have a look at those t*tties" (in her tank-top). She punches him, prompting him to punch, kick, and repeatedly smash her head to the ground. We then see such related footage on TV monitors showing the action, and it's implied that McStarley rapes her (we hear her cries and other such sounds of anguish). We see footage on TV monitors as well as "live" views of McStarley and Saiga torturing Paco, by beating, kicking and do much more to him in a brutal fashion. That concludes with McStarley firing an arrow into him, Saiga pouring liquor or something else flammable onto him, and McStarley dropping his cigar onto that, causing Paco to be engulfed in flames (only briefly seen). GUNS/WEAPONS Machine guns/Shotguns/Handguns/Knives/Machetes/Arrows/Explosives: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound, or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "We're f*cked," "They shot my f*cking Arab," "Tell the warden to go f*ck himself," "What the f*ck is wrong with you?" "Called f*ck your momma," "It's a f*ck-up times ten," "Open your f*cking mouth," "This is hard-f*cking-core," "This sh*t is f*cked up," "M*therf*cker," "We have a big f*cking problem," "F*ck's sake," "We won the f*cking jackpot," "It's too f*cking real," "Hold still f*cker," "F*ck it," "M*therf*cker," "F*ck that," "A big f*cking riot on your hands," "Where's my f*cking money?" "My f*cking reality," "Do I have your f*cking attention?" "You f*cking hillbilly," "(It's) Bullsh*t," "Holy sh*t," "You piece of sh*t," "Sh*t-head," "You slut," "Hot African chick with a nice rack," "Whore," "I think they're going to get it on," "We're screwed," "Are you out of your mind?" "She's a tough nut," "Freakin," "Gringo," "Who the hell is this guy?" "Put a muzzle in it, boy," "Rasta," "Redneck," "Retards," "You dumb son of a bitch," "Dirt-bag," "I love this Japanese dude," "Pretty ballsy for an old geezer," "Where the hell do you think you're going?" "Hell yeah," "That's one angry bitch," "What is this, friendship island?" "Wake up and have a cup," "What the hell just happened?" "Getting his ass beat," "You ungrateful son of a bitch," "Game on," "Let's dance, asshole," "Balls" (testicles), "It's my ass they'll fry," "Take a piss," "Shut up, you ugly bitch," "Four-eyes" and "Hell-hole." All of the fighting and other stunts might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate. Various characters have varying styles of tattoos. Rosa spits in Breckel's face, followed by guards restraining her. Saiga gives "the finger" to others before jumping from a helicopter. Jack travels across a horizontally hanging cable using his hands and feet (hanging from it). To get away from Jack, McStarley jumps off a cliff into a lake below, followed by Jack doing the same. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of suspenseful, ominous, heavily dramatic, and action-oriented music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) The song "Black Betty" has the lyrics "damn thing gone wild," "she really gets me high," "She's so rocky steady, and she's always ready." PROFANITY At least 44 "f" words (2 used with "mother"), 13 "s" words, 2 slang terms for sex ("do you" and "get it on"), 1 using male genitals ("c*cks*cker"), 1 for breasts ("rack"), 6 hells, 4 asses (1 used with "hole"), 4 S.O.B.s, 1 damn, 2 uses of "G-damn," and 1 use each of "For Christ's sakes," "For God's sakes," "For the love of Christ" and "Jesus Christ." There may also be cursing in various foreign languages that we couldn't understand. SEX/NUDITY Breckel tells Eddie to make sure their event is broadcast across the Internet, including on the fighting and sex sites. When Breckel asks his girlfriend how he looks before a TV interview, she playfully says, "I'd do you." We see various shirtless male prisoners. Yasantwa shows some cleavage and must contend with an older male contestant who attacks and then seems ready to rape her (feeling her clothed chest and reaching down toward her clothed crotch, and lecherously calling her a "slut"). Having seen Yasantwa in action, Breckel refers to her as a "Hot African chick with a nice rack." Rosa shows lots of cleavage. Rosa and Paco passionately kiss upon reuniting. McStarley pronounces Rosa "one fit bird" and then goes over and states, "Have a look at those t*tties" (in her tank-top). She punches him, prompting him to punch, kick, and repeatedly smash her head to the ground. We then see such related footage on TV monitors showing the action, and it's implied that McStarley rapes her (we hear her cries and other such sounds of anguish). When Julie has had enough and wants Breckel to stop it, he responds that Rosa is a killer and "whore." Yasantwa shows some cleavage, and gives Mackie a massage as he tells her his story (all while a production person back in the control room states, "I think they're gonna get it on"). McStarley says he was abandoned by his government and left in an African prison where he had to endure taking "it up the ass" twice a day. Sarah shows some cleavage. SMOKING McStarley smokes a few times (including cigars), Breckel smokes at least once, and some miscellaneous characters smoke in several scenes (cigarettes and at least one cigar). TENSE FAMILY SCENES None. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Reality shows and whether any would ever go so far as something like this. How the film perpetuates brutal violence, but then tries to deliver a social message about societal ills and such in watching such behavior. The comment that people enjoy watching violence and probably always will, and Breckel stating he doesn't force anyone to watch. We learn that military officials left Jack high and dry in a third world prison despite him working undercover for them. VIOLENCE In his "audition," The Russian is pitted against three other prisoners. He fends off their attacks while delivering brutal blows to their faces and bodies. He smashes one back against a wall, apparently breaks the neck of another, and then lifts one up by the neck against a wall. One inmate is ordered to attack another, chained one, but that chained man easily dispatches the other. That man is then released from his chains and is to take on Jack who punches the man twice (gut and face), knocking him out. A guard punches one inmate in the stomach, and then he or another does the same to that man or another. Rosa spits in Breckel's face, followed by guards restraining her. The various contestants are thrown from helicopters (while still shackled) down to the water around the island. One inmate lands back first on a broken post and is impaled (he's dead and bloody), while Saiga kicks his handler before jumping out. Jack head-butts his handler, and is then thrown out, purposefully to the sand below rather than the water. An older male contestant attacks Yasantwa, punching and slapping her around before seeming ready to rape her (feeling her clothed chest and reaching down toward her clothed crotch). She head-butts him backwards while he's on top of her, but he knocks her around some more before pinning her again. She then hits him in the crotch, jams a broken tree branch into his neck (with very bloody results), pulls the explosive pin on his ankle, kicks him again in the crotch, and then sprints away as the explosive detonates and blows him up. Jack hits Paco and then pins him standing against some rocks with the shackles still around his wrists (but Jack lets him go). Mackie smashes a TV camera that's watching him. Mackie fights Saiga with a knife, but Saiga kicks it from his hand. The two then exchange various brutal punches and other such blows. Jack knocks the feet out from under The Russian and then exchanges brutal blows with him, while the Russian also gets him in a bear hug. The two then tumble down a hill to a precipice where Jack realizes The Russian's detonator pin is missing. He then bashes the man on the head with a rock, sending The Russian off the precipice where he explodes in mid-free fall. On different occasions, Breckel slaps Goldman on the back of the head. McStarley and Paco exchange punches and other blows during a fight. McStarley then slices Paco's arm, breaks his knee, and then has him chained to a tree while Saiga has Rosa pinned to the ground. McStarley pronounces her "one fit bird" and then goes over and states, "Have a look at those t*tties" (in her tank-top). She punches him, prompting him to punch, kick, and repeatedly smash her head to the ground. We then see such related footage on TV monitors showing the action, and it's implied that McStarley rapes her (we hear her cries and other such sounds of anguish). When Julie has had enough and wants Breckel to stop it, he responds that Rosa is a killer and "whore." After the long attack, McStarley walks away with a huge explosion behind him (implying he or Rosa pulled her detonator pin). Yasantwa hits Mackie, but he then pins her (inside some plane wreckage). Jack uses a headlock to leave a guard unconscious, and then punches another man unconscious at the top of a tower. When he's discovered there, the power is turned out and a man on the steps fires a machine gun at him. Jack jumps from the tower and lands hard, but runs away as more machine gun fire blasts behind him. A woman pulls the detonator pin on a man's leg and then sprints away to avoid the resultant explosion that kills him and destroys the airplane wreckage he was in. We see footage on TV monitors as well as "live" views of McStarley and Saiga torturing Paco, by beating, kicking and do much more to him in a brutal fashion. That concludes with McStarley firing an arrow into him, Saiga pouring liquor or something else flammable onto him, and McStarley dropping his cigar onto that, causing Paco to be engulfed in flames (only briefly seen). Breckel slaps Julie (his girlfriend) after she continues to question his behavior. Jack battles Saiga, makeshift pole vs. knife, with both attempting to strike the other with those weapons, while also delivering brutal punches and kicks. McStarley then fires an arrow at Jack who flees, followed by a foot chase. Yasantwa then has a knife on Jack, but he quickly gets control of her, with an arrow from McStarley landing in her back. Saiga then throws a Molotov cocktail into their area, resulting in an explosion and fire. Yasantwa then pulls the detonator pin on her ankle bracelet, with Jack diving into a hole just in time before the resultant explosion. McStarley fires an arrow at Saiga who barely avoids it. Jack punches Saiga to the ground and then fights him (makeshift pole vs. knives), with McStarley then joining the fray, trying to hit Jack with a machete. Jack strikes both with brutal blows, and then stabs Saiga in the gut with a knife (no impact, or blood). Armed with a newly acquired shotgun, McStarley fires many shots at Jack, with one getting him in the arm, resulting in him falling and disappearing into a body of water (into which McStarley shoots). McStarley shoots and presumably kills a guard and a cameraman (no blood). Jack and McStarley get into a brutal fight, with the latter slicing the former on the shoulder (with briefly seen bloody results). McStarley then repeatedly shoots at Jack with a shotgun as the latter tries to escape, but ends up falling and careening off rocks until falling into a body of water in which he floats, face-down, as if dead. When he realizes Breckel is going to abandon them on the island, Goldman grabs him. A guard, however, hits Goldman and then slits his throat (we hear but don't see that final act). We see highlights of some of the above violence in such a highlight reel from the show. McStarley punches one person, slices the throat of another, stabs a third and strikes a fourth. McStarley shoots the various broadcast crewmembers, some with bloody results. He then kills the last with a lot of machine gun fire (no direct impact seen, and no blood). A guard holds a gun on Jack who grabs and disarms that man. He then shoots that man several times while bent over (we see the bloody holes exit out of the back of the guard's clothing). Jack repeatedly shoots McStarley, killing him (we don't see the direct impact, but see his facial reaction from that). Jack shoots machine guns at a fleeing helicopter. When that doesn't work, he's handed an explosive ankle collar that he actives and throws at the chopper. It land inside and explodes, sending the chopper into a rocky outcrop where it explodes again (killing the two people inside it). Reviewed April 24, 2007 / Posted April 27, 2007

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