Review - G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra

"G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra" is based on the Hasbro toy line, as well as a 1980's animated series and comic book. A convoy carrying a top-secret bioweapon is attacked by a heavily armed and well-organized group...and is just as quickly rescued by the same. The two surviving members of the convoy, Duke and Ripcord, are recruited into a top-secret multi-nation military group led by General Hawk. Along with Scarlett, Heavy Duty, Breaker and Snake Eyes, they must attempt to recover the stolen weapons from the hands of Cobra.

Anyone who remembers G.I. Joe from their childhood will get a kick out of this movie. The action sequences are spectacular, and despite introducing several characters in such a short time span, they not only do so, but give detailed backstories for several. The new backstory between Duke and the Baroness is different...but it does work for the story. There is just enough of a plot and some humor inserted in opportune moments.

Granted, some of the performances are not incredible. I refuse to believe Marlon Wayans was the best person they could find to play Ripcord, and Channing Tatum's Duke was more wooden than Pinocchio. Rachel Nichols was amazing as Scarlett, and Sienna Miller just about stole the movie as the Baroness. Ray Park and Byung-hun Lee were both outstanding as Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow respectively.

All in all, a solid and fun summer action movie. With any luck, this won't be the last time we see these characters on the big screen.

The Passing Of John Hughes

Today, one of the true icons of the 1980's passed away. John Hughes, the writer/producer/director, died of a heart attack at age 59. He was the creator of some of the most easily recognized movies of the 1980's, including "Sixteen Candles", "Pretty In Pink", and "Some Kind Of Wonderful." However, his most famous works had to be "Ferris Buellar's Day Off", "The Breakfast Club", and "Home Alone".

Review - 28 Weeks Later

"28 Weeks Later" is the sequel to the surprise science-fiction hit "28 Days Later". In the beginning, we see a small house in England. Six people are holed up, trapped by the infected people running the streets. A small boy manages to find them...only to lead the infected to them. One lone man manages to escape. We fast-forward seven months, and people are being allowed back into London, which has now been declared free of infection. The US Army has been cleaning up, and believes that the Rage virus has been eliminated. Unfortunately...they're dead wrong.

This movie can easily be categorized in the same genre as "Outbreak". A fictional movie, certainly. However...both are easily possible, and even plausible. Watching the movie gives you a certain feeling of dread, considering how such a disease may already exist...or someday could. The cast is decent, and the ending leaves a potential third movie wide open.

All in all, a movie as good as the original (a rare thing indeed). A definite one to watch...if you can handle it.

Review - Knowing

"Knowing" is a science-fiction movie with an unusual twist. Nicolas Cage plays a tormented MIT astrophysics professor who lost his wife in a tragic hotel fire. He muddles through his existance (mostly with the assistance of alcohol). But his life changes drastically when his son receives an unusual note from a school time capsule. Fifty years ago, a young woman frantically scribbled numbers onto a piece of paper. In doing so, she chronicled every major disaster for the next fifty years...perfectly. Now, he must discover what the last three predictions are...before it is too late.

This was a good movie that could have been a great movie. Unfortunately, a bizarre plot twist takes what could have been great...and diminishes it. The characters in the movie are decent enough, but it's actually difficult to feel any true sympathy for them.

Good, but not great. Worth a rent, but not much past that.

Review - The Taking Of Pelham 123

"The Taking Of Pelham 123" is a remake of a novel by John Godey. The original was made in 1974 and starred Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Hector Elizondo, Earl Hindman, and Lee Wallace. The premise remains the same - four armed men hijack a New York City subway train. Their only contact with the outside world is Walter Garber (played by Denzel Washington), a NYC Transit official. The gang's leader, Ryder (played by John Travolta), gives him an ultimatum - ten million dollars in one hour...or hostages will be excecuted.

As usual, Washington and Travolta turn in excellent performances. Washington's Garber is a man facing demons of his own...and is now faced with huge responsibility. Travolta plays Ryder with his usual manic flair...but like Garber, there is more to him than there appears. An excellent supporting cast includes Luis Guzman, John Turturro, and James Gandolfini as the Mayor of New York (nice to see Tony Soprano found work after the mob!).

You would like to learn a little more about some of the characters in the story...but they do fill you in on just enough that you don't leave the theater scratching your head in confusion. The original was good...but I actually believe this was better. And yes...I did see the original!!!

A tense thrill-ride from start to finish, don't miss the train for "Pelham 123".

Review - Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

The Transformers return in spectacular fashion in the big-budget sequel to the 2007 mega-blockbuster. Sam Witwicky is preparing to go off to college, while Mikaela is running her family's auto shop. The Autobots are helping the US Government hunt down the remaining Decepticons. However...one of the Decepticons leaves a warning...about the return of the Fallen.

This is everything you want a summer movie to be - big, loud, and over the top. The action comes early and often, and all the familiar faces return...including a few new Transformers. These include Mudflap and Skids (a pair of jive-talking Autobots), Arcee (who changes into three separate motorcycles), Soundwave (the Decepticon communications master), and Jetfire (an old Decepticon who changed sides...and now uses a cane to get around).

Some of the comic moments are a little forced, and I may not be alone in saying that I enjoyed watching Shia LeBeouf getting hunted down by the Decepticons. Is there any possible way he could be left out of the sequel? Oh, yeah...Transformers 3 is scheduled for a 2012 release.

Not quite as good as the original...but still, definitely worth the trip to the theater! Once again, "Transformers" delivers!

Three Best Of - John Hughes

Few filmmakers have been as associated with a decade as John Hughes has with the 1980's. He has been a screenwriter (with almost forty films to his credit), a producer, a director, a soundtrack writer, and even an actor in three movies. His teenage comedy/dramas are among some of the most remembered movies of the time. Since Hughes only directed eight movies, I will take into account his writing/producing credits as well. On that note, without further adieu, the three best movies of John Hughes:

1 - The Breakfast Club (1985) "Breakfast Club", the nickname for Saturday morning detention, was Hughes' first movie as a producer. It was his second turn as a director, and his sixth screenwriting credit. The story of five teenagers at a suburban Chicago high school from five completely different cliques is still considered one of the best teen movies ever. There are lots of laughs for sure (mostly at the expense of Principal Vernon, played brilliantly by the late Paul Gleason), but there are also some very serious moments as well.

2 - Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) Take two comic geniuses (Steve Martin and John Candy), place them in a never-ending series of disasters, and watch the sparks fly! When a stuffy businessman attempts to get from New York to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving dinner, he is aided and thwarted simultaneously by a boorish shower curtain ring salesman. The pair are forced to work together, despite a continuous string of misadventures. Martin's "f-bomb" tirade to the car rental clerk, and Candy's declaration of "We'd have more luck playing pick-up sticks with our butt cheeks" are just two of the hilarious moments.

3 - Ferris Buellar's Day Off (1986) While "Home Alone" is arguably Hughes' biggest-grossing movie (he produced and wrote the screenplay for it), "Ferris Buellar's Day Off" is the movie that most fans will always remember him for. The grand tale of a high school slacker taking a sick day with his best friend and girlfriend, all while making a right fool of Principal Ed Rooney, is a classic story. Matthew Broderick brings humor and insight to the wiser than his years Buellar, and breaks the fourth wall constantly throughout the picture. A who's-who supporting cast (which includes Kristy Swanson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Stein, and Hughes regular Edie McClurg) only adds to the delight.

But that's just my opinion...

Honorable Mention - "Sixteen Candles", "Weird Science", the first three "National Lampoon Vacation" movies.

My Two Cents - Top Grossing Movies

Titanic. The Dark Knight. Star Wars. What do these three movies all have in common? Simple...combined, they grossed over one and a half billion dollars at the United States box offices. One and a half billion. And that was just at movie theaters in this country. A better question is - how? Why? What determines if a movie is going to be a box-office smash, or an absolute bomb? If there was a simple answer to that question, Hollywood would be turning out billion-dollar megablockbusters by the truckload. Since they aren't...here's my take on it:

First and foremost, it doesn't hurt that these were three exceptional films. Often, there is a great deal of hype surrounding them...and most of that hype occurs when the movie is already released (the classic "word of mouth"). Unlike most movies, where the hype machine revs up months in advance. Also...most of these movies transcend simple genre descriptions. There is a little bit of something for everyone.

But, in the end...it's an intangible. Sometimes, a movie comes along...and it is just a smash. Consider that in 1977, "Star Wars" was the highest grossing movie in US box office history. It took twenty years before "Titanic" took the crown. And it was another eleven before "Dark Knight" joined the exclusive club of highest grossing movies. In the history of Hollywood, only eight movies have grossed over four hundred million at the US box office: Titanic, Dark Knight, Star Wars, Shrek 2, E.T., Star Wars Episode One - The Phantom Menace, Pirates Of The Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest, and Spider-Man. Eight movies in over eighty years...that's pretty exclusive company.

Will there ever be a movie that out-grosses Titanic? It's impossible to say for certain. Surely no one ever thought Star Wars would be outgrossed. Not only was it outgrossed...but it was outgrossed by over one hundred and forty million dollars. And eleven years after it was outgrossed by Titanic...Dark Knight outgrossed it by seventy-three million. It will take an extraordinary set of circumstances to break Titanic's stranglehold on the top spot. But if life has taught us nothing else...it is that records are made to be broken.

But, that's just my opinion...

Review - Star Trek

The long-anticipated and much-hyped reboot of the "Star Trek" series arrived this summer. As a long-time Trek fan, I walked into the theater with a mixture of anticipation and dread. To my delight...the anticipation and hype were all worth it! To this point, this is hands-down the best film of the summer!
This is not so much a new chapter with the old Star Trek characters...but a reimagining of the old storyline. The same characters from The Original Series...but completely different. A fascinating concept (as Spock might put it), but it works. And what helps the most is an unbelievable cast! I never thought I would live to see the day I said someone out-Spocked Leonard Nimoy...but Zachary Quinto pulls it off! Chris Pine captures the charismatic swagger of Kirk. Karl Urban almost steals the movie as the crusty "Bones" McCoy. My only complaint on the casting goes with Anton Yelchin as Chekov. They seemed to play him more for comic relief than anything else.
Easily, no contest, the best movie of the summer (so far)!!

Review - Terminator: Salvation

The much-anticipated sequel to the first three "Terminator" movies finally arrives! John Connor, now an adult, fights a losing war against Skynet and the machines it controls. The human resistance finally catches a break with a discovered tool that stops the machines in their tracks. But the sudden appearance of a mysterious figure...as well as the capture of John's father, Kyle Reese, complicates matters.
I find it unusual that of all the "Terminator" movies to get a PG-13 rating...they chose this one. I think that this is the one movie of the series that needed an R rating the most. The visions of the future from the first two movies compared to this one seem to have changed drastically as well. In the first movie, mankind was living underground like moles, starving and filthy, poorly equipped. Suddenly, they have planes, helicopters, and a small arsenal at their disposal (including nuclear submarines).
While there is a great deal to nitpick with this movie...there is no denying that it is a far better movie than the third installment (although that isn't saying much). I would even go as far as to put it close to the second movie...but nothing will ever touch the greatness of the original.
In summary - good story, good acting, lots of action. Definitely worth the trip to the theater.

Review - X-Men Origins - Wolverine

Everyone knows the man. The cigar-smoking, metal-laced, berserker mutant known to some as Logan...and to everyone as Wolverine. In the first big movie of the summer, we explore the background of how Logan became what we know him as today.
This movie spans a great deal of time quickly before the opening credits are through. From Logan's childhood in Canada, to stints in every major war from the Civil War to Vietnam, and finally, Logan's leaving a top-secret military group which features fellow mutants Sabretooth (half-brother Victor Creed), John Wraith, Agent Zero, and Deadpool. We see how Logan has the one true love of his life taken from him...and his joining the now-infamous Weapon X program to avenge her.
On some levels, this movie succeeds greatly. We finally get to see Gambit (played excellently by Taylor Kitsch). Liev Schreiber gives a much better performance as the sadistic Sabretooth, and of course, Hugh Jackman turns in another great turn as Logan. The big problem here is...it's the classic case of Hollywood hype fallen short. As great as this movie could have been, it just wasn't what we were promised. Ideally, this should have been two separate movies (the first one could have lead up to Logan joining Weapon X, the second finishing off the story).
All in all, good, but could have been much better. Decent start to summer 2009.

Review - Cloverfield

"Cloverfield" is a most unusual and heavily hyped sci-fi movie. It takes place over a couple of days in New York City. We begin the movie with a going-away party for a young man who is moving to Japan for a new job. Suddenly, all hell breaks loose. Things begin to explode, people begin to panic...and the characters find themselves in a race against time...and something else.
This movie had been previewed for months...with very little information given about the movie itself. In the back of my mind, I started wondering, "Am I witnessing another "Snakes On A Plane"...or will this movie actually live up to the hype?" The short answer...kind of. Imagine if the people who shot "The Blair Witch Project" made "Godzilla". You now have a pretty decent idea on what "Cloverfield" was like.
I liked the idea of the first-person perspective on the movie...and how there was still interaction between the characters and the surroundings. However...there were times where another characters perspective would have been appreciated. And it leaves the movie-goer with many questions about what actually happened.
All in all...not a great movie...but a good one. The characters were likeable and well played, the story moved along well, and unlike "I Am Legend", the special effects were a lot better.

Review - National Treasure: Book Of Secrets

I was a big fan of the first National Treasure movie, and thus I was quite enthused when word of a sequel reached my ears. And I'm glad to say, that the sophomore jinx didn't hit Book Of Secrets.
The movie is enough that you didn't have to see the original to follow this story...as a matter of fact, this movie barely makes any reference to the original (quite an unusual turn of events). Ben Gates' great-great grandfather has been presented as a possible co-conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. With the assistance of his father, his sidekick Riley, his estranged girlfriend Abigail, and his mother Emily...Ben goes off on another incredible search to protect his family name.
There are some excellent performances in the movie...and with a cast that includes Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Ed Harris, and Helen Mirren, that is pretty much a foregone conclusion. The story is entertaining, and carries on at a good pace. The ending of the story almost guaranteed a sequel.
All in all, an excellent movie!

Review - I Am Legend

I'll admit it...when I first saw the trailers...I was intrigued. I had already rented an earlier version of this movie off Netflix (The Omega Man, with Charlton Heston in the title role). Still, I put off seeing this movie.
It wasn't terrible. Granted...we've come to expect so much better from Will Smith...but it wasn't entirely Will's fault this time around. The special effects for such a big-budget film were not very impressive. In fact, they were quite underwhelming. The story is about the same as Omega Man - a military scientist is the last man alive in New York City after a man-made disease wipes out the majority of the human race. Most of those unaffected by the disease are now more animal than human...unable to tolerate sunlight (or any bright light for that matter). It is interesting to see how a person would stand being the only person left on Earth...and what it might do to their psychological state.
Decent characters...decent story...bad special effects. I Am Legend isn't the best movie you could spend money to go see...but it isn't the worst, either.

My Two Cents - Summer '07 In Review

Well...I can finally say...it was a good summer for movies. Thankfully...considering what a dud 2006 turned out to be. I will say...there were some disappointments (the most notable of which was "Spider-Man 3"), but I would have to say that the movie as a whole was a good one. There were more hits than misses. And now, to quickly review my earlier post of my most anticipated releases of the summer...and update how I felt about them.
First and foremost, I must say that I did not get a chance to see "1408" or "28 Weeks Later". I do plan to rent "1408" on Netflix...and I will let you know what I thought after that. That being said, let's continue.
"Spider-Man 3"...I already reviewed it...but here it is again. VERY disappointing. Easily the biggest let-down of the entire summer. Should have been WAY better than it actually was.
"Live Free Or Die Hard"...I was expecting it to be good. I was amazed at how awesome it really was!!! Bruce Willis just keeps getting better every time he plays John McClane...and this time out was great! Excellent supporting cast, good story...and loads of action and witty one-liners. In other words, everything we come to expect from a "Die Hard" movie.
"Transformers"...what can I say besides..."When does the sequel come out!!!!!!!!!" Hands down, no contest, the best movie of the summer!!! Everything I anticipated and then some!!!
"Pirates Of The Carribean - At World's End"...I am of the opinion that "Pirates Of The Carribean - Dead Man's Chest" was not a very good movie. So...I went into this one not expecting much. Thankfully...they redeemed themselves. "At World's End" was a perfect third chapter. It tied up all the loose ends from the first two movies...but left the door just wide open enough for the possibility of a fourth movie.
"The Bourne Ultimatum"...Easily as good as the first movie. Robert Ludlum needs to write more Bourne books!!!
"Fantastic Four - Rise Of The Silver Surfer"...I was a little underwhelmed with Galactus...but a small nit to pick. Otherwise, a strong sequel for an under-rated film.
"Ocean's Thirteen"...Like "At World's End", I was disappointed with the second movie of the "Ocean" series. And again...they managed to redeem themselves somewhat. It still wasn't as good as the first one...but this one was better than the second one.
"Resident Evil - Extinction"...Not as good as the first two, but still an entertaining movie.
Of course...that's just my opinion...

My Two Cents - Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Hey, all y'all!!!

OK...I know I haven't posted in quite some time. I may never grow tired of movies...but I'm afraid I did hit a dry spell for posting to the blog. However...have no fear, for I have returned! And I've got a ton of stuff to talk about, too!!!

My Two Cents - You Might Be A Movie Fanatic If...

Unless you've lived under a rock for the last several years, odds are you know who Jeff Foxworthy is. A stand-up comedian of some dubious talent...Foxworthy is best known for his jokes about whether or not you qualify as a redneck. Well...that's all well and good. But, this blog does not wish to know such things. What concerns me is whether or not you might be a movie fanatic. So...without further adieu...a little test to determine whether or not you are, indeed...a movie fanatic.
If you ever got a job at a movie theater for the free tickets...you might be a movie fanatic.
If your home theater system cost more than the car you are driving...you might be a movie fanatic.
If a friend, family member, or co-worker wonders aloud if a movie is any good, and the first thing anybody says is, "Ask so-and-so"...you might be a movie fanatic.
If you compare movies with other movies...you might be a movie fanatic.
If upon returning from the restroom or concession stand, you have asked a total stranger what happened during the movie...you might be a movie fanatic.
If you have ever planned an entire day around a movie...you might be a movie fanatic.
If you quote movies that nobody else has ever heard of...you might be a movie fanatic.
If you don't go to Blockbuster Video because you've seen everything they have...you might be a movie fanatic.
If you go missing, and the first place anybody looks for you is a movie theater...you might be a movie fanatic.
If you have lost count how many movies you have seen...you might be a movie fanatic.
If you can tell the difference between movie theater popcorn by blindfolded taste...you might be a movie fanatic.
If you've ever spent an entire day inside a movie theater...and don't work there...you might be a movie fanatic.
If you've been nodding for the majority of this list...sorry, you're a movie fanatic.
But that's just my opinion...

My Two Cents - Good Movie VS Great Movie

It could be the age old question - what separates a good movie from a great movie? What's the difference between three stars and four to five stars? How do you bring a movie from "so-so" to having people rave about it to anybody who can stand to listen to them? I'm sure almost everyone has their own opinions on the what and the how. So...in my humble opinion...here are the top five things that I think take a good movie and make it a great one.
1) Character development. It sounds pretty simple. But it can make all the difference in the world. Every movie has characters in it. And granted, you can't learn everything about every single character...you just don't have enough time. But at least take the time to develop SOME of the characters. Character development works in two ways. One...it makes the characters more interesting...and it connects the audience to them more. It's easier to care about somebody you actually know something about. Two...it gives insight into some of their actions. One of the most powerful moments of "Saving Private Ryan" is where Tom Hanks' character tells the squad that he is an English teacher from Pennsylvania. It has absolutely nothing to do with the story...but it makes Hanks' character a little bit more human. You connect with him a little more. And yet so few movies take the time to do this.
2) Special effects in moderation. You've heard it your entire life. Everything in moderation. A little of something can be a wonderful thing. Too much can be horrible. The same goes for making movies. Special effects in the movies have come unbelievably far just in my lifetime. Compare the special effects from "Star Wars" to "Revenge Of The Sith". As I said in an earlier post, it's like comparing a Model T Ford to a Prius. They can do things in movies now that they wouldn't even have imagined doing twenty years ago...simply because there was no way on Earth that they could have done it. BUT...to paraphrase the immortal words of Ian Malcolm from "Jurassic Park"...moviemakers get so preoccupied with whether or not they can do something, they never stop to ask if they should. Special effects can add so much to a story. But too many just distract from the story itself. Good special effects are like sprinkles on a sundae. They shouldn't be the main attraction...they should make the end result that much more amazing.
3) Trying to do too much. Another point of moderation. I've said it before...and I'll say it again. Nothing drops a movie from great to good faster than trying to do too much. Whether it is too many new characters, too many sub-plots, too many twists...too much is NEVER a good thing. Especially in a medium where you only have two hours to tell your story, give or take. The two greatest examples on this point are "Spider-Man 3" and "X-Men: The Last Stand". Both are fine movies. But they could have been great movies...except for one minor detail: They tried to do too much.
4) Waiting for something good. I remember quite well when I went to see "The Hulk." I was so psyched about it. I had bought my ticket a week in advance. I went at eleven o'clock at night. And then...I waited an hour before I actually got to see the title character. I know...I timed it. I know that sometimes, patience is a virtue. When you have to wait sixty minutes out of a two hour and eighteen minute movie to see the main character...that's pushing it.
5) A flat ending. This has happened many times before. You have a great movie. It is astounding. It is incredible. And then...it ends. And the ending just ruins it. Suddenly, what should have been a great movie drops to an OK movie. Classic example - "Lord Of The Rings - Return Of The King." It was a great movie...and then the ending took half an hour. By the time the movie actually ended...I was glad that it had ended! I have seen movie endings where the audience stands and applauds. That is how you want a movie to end.
But, that's just my opinion...

Review - Spider-Man 3

"Spider-Man 3" is the third installment on the classic Marvel Comics series.
Life is finally looking up for Peter Parker. His girlfriend, Mary Jane Parker, is a star on Broadway. He is planning on asking her to marry him. And Spider-Man is finally becoming popular. Little does he know how much trouble awaits him. Harry Osborn is still obsessed over the death of his father...and becomes the New Goblin to hunt down Spidey. Small-time criminal Flint Marko has an accident with a science experiment...turning into The Sandman, who is literally made of sand. Pesty photographer Eddie Brock is hounding both Spider-Man and Peter. And when Spider-Man finds himself covered in a mysterious black substance that augments his powers...but also starts to change him for the worse...can he find a way to make everything right again?
I waited a long time for this movie. And it was entertaining...don't get me wrong. But...I found myself drawing the unfortunate comparison to "Star Wars Episode III". Essentially, they tried to do too much. Too many characters...too many sub-plots...too much in too little time. You have Spider-Man battling both the New Goblin, Sandman, and towards the end of the movie, Venom (who deserved an entire movie all to himself). You have sub-plots involving Mary Jane's acting career, a possible second love interest in Gwen Stacy, the rivalry and animosity between Peter/Spidey and Harry/Goblin, the distraction of Eddie Brock. By the end of the movie, you almost need a scorecard to keep it all straight.
The inevitable comic book geek nitpick - Topher Grace as Venom?????? In the comics, Eddie Brock is a weight-lifter of near Olympic levels. Grace is only two and a half inches taller than Tobey Maguire...and let's face it, folks...he doesn't look like a weight-lifter to me. While he does capture Brock's trademark arrogance...he just doesn't have the physique to make it convincing.
All in all...an entertaining movie...but it should have been so much better. "Spider-Man 3"...we can only hope "Spider-Man 4" is better.
Starring - Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Topher Grace, Thomas Haden Church, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, James Cromwell, and Theresa Russell. Directed by Sam Raimi.
Time - 2 hours, 20 minutes. Rated - PG-13 (Comic book violence, some language)

Review - The Condemned

"The Condemned" is an action-thriller brought to us courtesy of World Wrestling Entertainment.
Ian Breckel is a television producer with a revolutionary new concept: He will take ten death row inmates from various Third World countries. He places them all on an island covered in cameras. The sole survivor after thirty hours leaves the island with their freedom and a million dollars. Among his "contestants" are a husband and wife, a monstrous Russian, a martial artist, a psychotic ex-British Special Forces soldier...and Jack Conrad, who was sitting on death row in Central America. But Conrad isn't what he appears...and neither is the contest. Who will survive? And how many people will tune in?
In the right hands, this could have been a very interesting movie. The concept alone is unique, a commentary on our lust for violence...and the willingness to pay to watch it. In that aspect, it is ironic that the WWE produced this movie, seeing as they charge $35 for people to watch men beat each other up as "sport". And that becomes the movie's biggest problem...because it plays out almost like a WWE pay-per-view.
The acting is almost non-existant. There is a weak subplot involving Conrad and his ex-girlfriend...and even the fight scenes aren't that spectacular. In several of them, you can barely make out what is happening. One of the few highlights of the movie is Vinnie Jones, playing Ewan McStarley...and he delivers his parts with venomous relish. Unfortunately, that's about all you can really say about this movie.
"The Condemned" should be just that...to a video store bargain bin near you with all speed.
Starring - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Rick Hoffman, and Dasi Ruz. Directed by Scott Wiper.
Time - 1 hour, 53 minutes. Rated - R (Language, extreme violence, a scene of suggested rape)