Lionsgate has done a fine job assembling supplements for this release, beginning with a commentary track courtesy of director Scott Wiper. He begins by talking about how he worked on the script before filming started and then talks about shooting on location in Northern Australia. He explains how he wanted the film to have a voyeuristic look, and how he tried to give the prisoners a reason to fight. He mentions that there's no stock footage used in the film, and why slow motion is used in certain scenes. From there he talks about how using mixed media (35mm and High Def) was used to give certain parts of the movie a very specific look and how that get tricky in the editing room. He covers casting and characterization and he points out some interesting bits and pieces about certain character quirks along the way. Wiper also says that the only 'visual effect' used in the film is the helicopter crash, which is half real and half CGI, and he speaks about how they tried to give the violence in the picture a certain look and feel. Towards the end he explains some of the challenges involved in the big showdown between Vinnie and Steve in the canyon, and he does a decent job of addressing the message that the film attempts to deliver and how it relates to the violence we see on screen. Wiper does a pretty solid job elaborating on a few aspects of the story while also filling us in on a lot of the details that make up the story of how this film was made. There's a little bit of dead air here and there but for the most part he keeps the talk going at a good pace and is rarely at a loss for words.

A second commentary finds Wiper paired up with his leading man, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and it's a little more candid than the first track with the two playing off of one another a little bit as they talk. They talk about the co-stars and the characters a fair bit and discuss a few scenes and their specific reactions to them and how specific moments were intended to bring some comic relief to the audience. They talk about the stunts in the film, discuss some of the supporting actors, and about a few different musical tracks that were originally going to be used in the film that wound up not being used for various reasons (one of which was GNR's 'Welcome To The Jungle'). They tell some good stories from shooting on location, and Austin explains where he thinks he could have done better in the film. Wiper points out the importance of duct tape and Austin explains how he didn't have the time to learn one key fight scene and so he just wound up 'beating the Hell out of them with a stick.' It's a little less technical than the first commentary but it is actually a little more fun thanks to Austin's laid back involvement and the fact that it gives us two different points of view on the making of the picture.

From there, check out The Making Of The Condemned, a five part documentary (with a play all option) that covers pretty much everything you'd need to know about the film by way of interviews with director Scott Wiper, editor Rick Hoffman, Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, screenwriters Andy and Rob Hedden and more. The Hedden's covers the influence of reality TV on the script, and how Wiper brought it to reality after WWE Films optioned it. They cover casting and the importance of Austin's lead performance, and some of the quirks of his character and how he contrasts with Jones' character. We see some interesting behind the scenes footage and hear about how the fight scenes were shot and how important Richard Norton's training was on the final film and of the importance of a few key stuntmen. Jones addresses a key scene where he roughs up a female character and how he prepared for it. We also learn how many of the fight scenes and stunts were performed by the actors and not the stunt men. Wiper talks about the importance of the control room in the film and how this room was built for the movie, and then Stone Cold shows off the camper he lived in while he was on set and he explains some of the practical joking that took place on set while the movie was being shot and the relationship that developed between Austin and many of the other cast members. The documentary wraps up with a tribute to Wiper made up of thoughts and comments from the cast and crew that assisted him on the picture before closing by addressing the moral issues that the movie deals with and the cast's adoration of Steve Austin. Although there's quite a bit of back patting and what not in here, there's also some interesting commentary and some interesting behind the scenes footage that makes it worth checking out.

Capital Carnage Reunion is a clip from a 1998 WWE Pay Per View Event called Capital Carnage where Vinnie Jones shows up in the ring to deal with The Boss Man only for Steve Austin to show up and take care of business. Steve and Vinnie watch the clip together and look back on the event amicably, commenting on the set up and the match. It only relates to the movie in that it's the first time the two performers met on camera but if nothing else it's a fairly amusing segment.

From there, we're treated to Stone Cold At Movie World which is a clip where Stone Cold Steve Austin shows up to do a meet and greet in Australia to promote the film. It isn't deep but it is a chance to hear some Australian fans explain why they like the man and to hear Stone Cold talk about what it was like doing his first public appearance in Australia.

Rounding out the extra features are six minutes worth of Storyboard Sequences which play out in split screen with the storyboards on the bottom of the frame and the filmed scenes up top, the theatrical trailer for The Condemned and trailers for other Lionsgate DVD releases.

While The Condemned borrows a little too heavily from a few other films to stand out as anything exceptional, it is a fast paced, exciting and gleefully violent film that should please action movie buffs. Austin makes for a likeable leading man and Vinnie Jones brings some enjoyably sleazy screen presence to the picture. Lionsgate's DVD looks and sounds very good and comes with no shortage of extra features, earning this release a solid recommendation.

Ian lives in NYC with his wife where he writes for DVD Talk, runs Rock! Shock! Pop!. He likes NYC a lot, even if it is expensive and loud.