Customer Reviews

Cradle 2 the Grave (Full Screen Edition)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(21)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Popular rapper DMX has teamed up in an earlier martial arts film with Steven Segal, and has stepped his role in action films up a notch with martial arts superstar Jet Li, who has (to my mind)established himself as one of the greatest martial arts stars of our time.

DMX's role is Tony Fait, a smooth (but somewhat excitable)master thief. He and his crew (including the lovely Gabrielle Union and his partner-in- crime from the afore-referenced "Exit Wounds" Anthony Anderson) break into a diamond exchange, and steal a cache of black diamonds. They were created by the Taiwanese government, and when agitated (kinda like what we saw as the principal weapon in the fifth Bond flick "Diamonds Are Forever") unleash incredible energy. They were originally stolen by the real bad guy Ling (Mark Dacascos), who intends to auction them off to a room full of worldwide nogoodnicks. Ling then abducts DMX's baby girl to ransom them back. And as they say, it is ON.

You cannot have these guys together without great fight scenes, and this movie does not disappoint. Li has an incredible nonchalance about himself, and actually fights (and easily handles, of course) his first few adversaries with one hand in his pocket! He has to use both hands, though, when he ends up in the middle of a brawl with a crew of Ultimate Fighters. Of course, he can, and does, without raising much of a sweat (but he does get around to tossing around a midget as a "weapon").

Just as he did in Exit Wounds, Tom Arnold provides some comic relief (among his best lines: "I cannot read Chinese, but I know cop in every language").

Forget about the folks who dog out this movie. The acting is just fine. This script does not call for Meryl Streep, and neither is it incredibly thought provoking screenplay. It does not need to be. It doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is, a slammin', ultra-violent, retribution filled, sexy action film. While I thought at first that the one-handed fight scenes were a bit much, as another reviewer noted, it does show another side of the virtuosity of Jet Li. And I don't really care whether Kelly Hu (bad-guy Ling's equally ultra-fine sidekick) would have beat down Gabrielle Union in two seconds "in real life". The two of them on the screen is worth seeing, in my humble opinion.

Like action movies? Then this one is for you. Enjoy it for what it is, and you will have spent a great ninety minutes.

Jet Li's new film in Hollywood is produced by Joel Silver, and there are lots of HIS fingerprints all around. Slick action, comic relief, and [beautiful]women. Many critics may despise those things, but I just don't agree with them; for, in short, what's wrong with that?

The plot is all about handful of some mysterious black diamonds and cruel gangsters, professional thiefs (with no gun policy) and a spy sent from Asia. Imagine actors like Mark Dacascos, Kelly Hu ("The Scorpion King"), DMX, Anthony Anderson ("Exit Wounds"), Gabrielle Union ("Bring It On")and Jei Li, and you get rightly the idea of who is going to be cast as who. Add them a comic relief Tom Arnold, and then you know the whole story.

Sure, the cast look like "Exit Wounds" minus Steven, but "Cradle 2 the Grave" shows better actions than that, having Jet Li at hand. And fight scenes are instructed by Li's trusted long-time friend Corey Yuen (who also did a job behind "The Transporter"), so actions are competently done, if lacks any new element. At least, nimble Li can move as a spy should, and he even gives his original style here (he rarely uses his left hand).

Though I am not still as much impressed by his Hollywood works as his Asian ones, "Cradle 2 the Grave" is better than his previous "The One" and perhaps the same director's "Romeo Must Die." DMX and other actors are all good, but I still think that director Andrzej Bartkowiak (who was the photographer of "Speed," and you can see a good parody of this hit film here) can better the entire film by speeding up the story a bit. With characters one or two less, the film is less confusing and slicker.

The film is indeed predictable, but you should know that from the beginning. And ... well, if you know that from the beginning, you cannot complain about that. Plus, you get a very funny end credits, thanks to Tom Arnold and Anthony Anderson.

Fans were awed by the brilliance and creativity of Jet Li's moves in "Romeo Must Die" or "Lethal Weapon 4" (not to speak of his massive accomplishments in his Chinese films) because of the little things--binding people with plastic straps, fighting them with a fire hose, strangling with a rosary or disassembling a gun with one swipe. It seems as his American film career progresses, Li has chosen to go with big effects, and less of the smaller, cooler moves.

Cradle 2 The Grave has all the basic action movie elements: a reluctant pairing (Li's Su character and DMX's Fait), a kidnapping, a weapon of mass destruction, comic relief (Tom Arnold) and the bad guy boss who can also fight. "Cradle" also adds cooler elements such as DMX's burglary squad, who operate quite efficiently in a very "Ocean's 11" way; a nice contrast with rough-n-tough DMX and his daddy-doting daughter; and Li in a semi-neutral role, neither fully a good guy or a bad guy.

Su, a Taiwanese intelligence officer, spoils Fait's theft of some valuable gems that just happen to be able to produce nearly infinite amounts of destructive energy. Weapons dealers mistakenly believe Fait still has them and kidnap his daughter, forcing Su and Fait to work as a team.

Other than an amazing stunt showing Li dropping from balcony to balcony using only his hands on a skyscraping hotel, the directors of "Cradle" seem to have gone away from Li's amazing athletic skills and toward gigantic fight scenes that show no creativity. There's even an extremely forced fight scene with Jet Li against several guys in a "Fight Club"-like scenario, that comes out of nowhere, and feels like an entirely different movie. The battle at the end is way too reminiscent of the final battle in "Romeo Must Die," and is almost a side issue by then.

However, both Li and DMX come through with excellent performances, making even Tom Arnolds grinny comic act easier to swallow. The movie moves extremely well, and has no really slow parts. It's about 20 percent the chase, 40 percent fights, 20 percent comedy and 20 percent heists.

Get it and watch it during a long weekend, but this film isn't a must-have, by any means, for your collection.

the story wasnt as good as other jet li movies but it was solid. the reason this movie deserves 5 stars is the action. it has great fight scenes, fast cars, atvs, midgets, crime, tanks,and saving the world from nuclear destruction. it wont win any academy awards but it is definitely worth seeing

A lot of the reviews were critical of this movie and director Andrzej Bartkowiak, but let me tell you, what the movie may or may not lack in story or originality, it more than makes up for with intense action and cinematography.

THE STORY:

Tony Fait (DMX) is a jewel-thief whose latest heist gets him caught in between a huge gang war between the Taiwanese government, the local mob and a terrorist network. When the bad guys kidnap his daughter he must form a reluctant alliance with the Taiwanese cop Su Duncan (Jet Li) sent to recover the jewel to find her.

THE COOL STUFF:

Most people will compare this film with Li's and Bartkowiak's last collaboration, 2000's "Romeo Must Die" with its similar "kung-fu/hip-hop" pairing and casting (the alwas superb Anthony Anderson also returns as Tommy) and in my estimation, "Cradle 2 The Grave" has managed to surpass the earlier film. The action, both kung-fu wise as well as stunt wise is far superior to the earlier film. Another comparable film in my opinion was Vin Diesel's 2002 effort "XXX." DMX's scene with the motorcycle chase easily beats up some of Diesel's work in XXX. (I also though Diesel would have made a fine choice for the Fait character, but DMX pulled it off well). As always, Jet Li's work is simply amazing to watch.

BEST SCENES:

1. The motorcycle chase

2. Jet Li's "Fight Club"

3. Smooth talking the security guard.

4. The final battle

WARNINGS:

Pretty tame stuff although this being a Jet Li movie you KNOW the ending is going to be just a "little" gruesome.

THE VERDICT:

If you love action, Li and Bartkowiak bring it in spades.

Highly Recommended

Who cares what Roper and Ebert thought about the film, I loved it and I know that any Jet Li or DMX fan will agree with me. Tony Fait (DMX) and his crew featuring Gabrielle Union, Drag-On
and Anthony Anderson pull a huge dimond heist and find super rare black dimonds which everyone wants including a Taiwanese police officer Su (Jet Li). But, Tony's daughter is kinapped and
is held hostage by crimelord Ling (Mark Dacascos) and theartens to kill her if Fait doesn't give the dimonds. Now it's up to Su and Fait to defeat Ling and redeem the dimonds. Also starring Tom Arnold, Kelly Hu and Michael Jace. Cradle 2 The Grave is defently one of the best action films ever.

Mark Descascos vs. Jet Li should have been one of the greatest end fight scenes ever filmed. There are a lot of good martial artists that could not keep up with the hong kong fast pace of a jet li fight scene. Decascos has proven, especially in the kung fu fest "Drive", that he could more than match Li's quickness, agility, and presiceness needed for a good fight sequence.
No words can express the dissapointmant of martial arts fans at how bad the producers and director dropped the ball with this film. It's almost criminal. But then again, the same director rushed through a fight finale with Li and Russel Wong for the "climactic" fight at the end of Romeo Must Die, so maybe it was my own fault for expecting something great, but hey, I can dream can't I?
Shame on all involved. Maybe if someone would finally release Crying Freeman in the U.S., Mark Deacascos would get the credit he deserves.

With the passing of Bruce Lee so long ago, martial arts fans have been begging for a replacement. Many have tried to take his place from Chuck Norris to Jean Claude Van Damme. But none has had that fluid style, that grace that Lee had. The closest we had for a while was Jackie Chan, but he played things more for laughs than anything else. And then came Jet Li.

Jet Li provides that fast paced, frenetic style that Lee had, making his fight sequences look almost like a ballet of violence than a simple fight. He also has a knack for making it look so easy and a screen presence that few in this genre have. So I was pleased to find his newest on video up to par with his best.

CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE features rapper DMX as Fait, a high tech thief who spends the beginning of the movie with his crew pulling off a heist in a diamond exchange. Not only do they end up with a load of regular diamonds, they pick up a bag of black diamonds that they were hired for. As they attempt to escape, they split in two groups. One loses a bag of gems while riding the top of a subway car. The other loses the second bag to Li. But the bag with the black gems is safe in Fait's hand.

The gang returns home and Fait puts his little girl to bed for the night. A doting father, he makes time for her, even helping her say her prayers before bed. Then he gets to work, taking the gems to his fence (Tom Arnold). Knowing something is up, he wants to know who is looking for the gems and what he can get for them.

The gems end up stolen from Arnold and Fait gets a call from the real bad guy, Ling (Mark DaCascos). Ling lets Fait know that he has kidnapped his daughter and that he wants the diamonds...now. By now, Li has joined forces with Fait, letting him know that he is Taiwan secret police. The pair check in with a local gang lord who they know robbed Arnold. Getting no help from him, they do realize where he has hidden the gems.

When they aren't where expected, they split once more in two groups to find them or someone who knows their location. Both pairs end up in some spectacular fight sequences and one in a thrilling car chase involving a four wheel ATV, a motorcycle and tons of police cars.

With little hope in sight, they get a call from Fait's daughter on a cell phone she finds in the van the bad guys have locked her in. Putting together clues she has given them along with the truth about the stones, they set out on a rescue mission. And when that begins, we end up with a set of three fight sequences running simultaneously that are some of the best seen in recent years.

I missed this one at the theater thinking it would be just another chop socky flick. I was wrong. What we have are some dynamite action stars making an action film that a number of directors should study. Why? Because far too many directors these days think that a fight sequence is about close ups of fists connecting or the hero's face. The truth is, as we see here, backing off with the camera gives us a chance to see the whole fight and not just bits and pieces of it.

The final main fight between Li and DaCascos is fantastic. Both are extremely skilled in martial arts and choreographing a fight sequence. Both make it look as fluid as a splattered tray of mercury. The only thing as fluid and slick as this scene is a quart of Pennzoil.

If you love action movies, then this is one not to miss. It delivers on all counts.

...though it is the usual rehashed Asian cop comes to America with way too much cursing, I couldn't help but love this movie. It was nice to see the criminals learn their lesson and change their ways in the end. I truly liked that aspect of the movie.
This movie is FANTASTIC. The fight scenes are fast, smart and amazing. I didn't care for Jet Li with his hand in his pocket, in some of the fight scenes, but I suppose it was their attempt at trying something different and I can respect that. This is easily one of Jet Li's best films and in my opinion he doesn't have many.
DMX is surprisingly a very good actor. I can't stand his filthy music and what's up with the teeth, hasn't he made enough money to get them fixed?(maybe that is fixed?) Nonetheless, he is very good in this film and I give him many kudo's for a job well done.
Tom Arnold is great comic relief. He had us rolling on the floor with his crazy one-liners. He really helped the movie move alone as it should(he is also great in the movie 'True Lies').
OVERALL it's a familiar story-line with some clever twists and amazing action scene sequences with special effects that really bring the action to life. 'Cradle 2 The Grave' is a fantastic action flick and I highly recommend it.

THIS MOVIE WAS VERY WELL PRODUCED. THE ACTORS AND ACTRESS DID FINE JOBS. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE ACTION THAT THE MOVIE BRINGS. I HOPE THAT FOLLOWING MOVIES ARE AS WELL DONE AS THIS PARTICULIAR MOVIE.
THANKS,
JUSTIN COLVER