Wrestling with Death
Tristan Mansson-Perrone, Staff Reporter

For audiences who love violence, blood and action, “The Condemned” will definitely satisfy that hunger. Staring Stone Cold Steve Austin, the film is a loose commentary on our culture’s recent and endless love affair with reality television.  
Ten death-row-inmates battle to the death on a remote island as part of an illegal underground reality television show. While this death match goes on, people around the world are able to watch the gore live, via the Internet. The one criminal left standing at the end is granted a full pardon and released.
The film is based on the Japanese novel, “Battle Royale,” written by Koushun Takami, and was adapted into a motion picture once before, in 2000. “Battle Royale’s” premise is even darker than the adaptation; instead of death-row inmates, randomly selected school children are plucked up and left on the remote island of death.
It is no wonder that World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has produced this film. Approximately six million households purchased WWE pay-per-view events in 2006, making the company the largest pay-per-view event-programming provider in the world.  With such a large audience pent on viewing violence, “The Condemned” is sure to satisfy the millions of WWE enthusiasts.
It’s hard to think that American’s can take the idea of violence to this extreme. With the evils and death that seem to surround us every day, one would think that the natural reality of our lives would suffice. It’s sad to think that we enjoy being consumed by anger and the desire to kill and fight.
What is needed is a film that criticizes reality television for its absurdities and negative impact on human culture, not one that encourages it. Those considering joining “The Condemned” culture and seeing the film, maintain a critical mind.

Decide for yourself. “The Condemned” was a released on Friday April 27 and is playing at all major movie theaters.