Cradle 2 the Grave

  • 15
  • Andrzej Bartkowiak (2003)
  • US
  • 97 min
Film Review
Reviewed By
3 out of 5

Romeo Must Die duo Jet Li and rapper DMX here reunite with director Andrzej Bartkowiak for another hyperactive slice of cultural fusion. This unpretentious action thriller with its combination of eastern martial arts and western urban grit may not be rocket science, but it's still an enjoyable ride. Playing with the clichés of the buddy movie, this has DMX's streetwise entrepreneur forced into an uneasy alliance with Taiwanese intelligence agent Li after his young daughter is kidnapped by Li's former partner (Mark Dacascos). Though the hip-hop influences of Bartkowiak's previous work still dominate the tale's soundtrack and language, he seems to have refined his film-making style. There's a lot more wit, stereotypes are inverted and both the action sequences and special effects are imaginative yet believable. Li's English remains clumsy, but he's a gloriously entertaining fighter, and it's pleasing to see a feature where all the female protagonists give as good as they get.

Plot Summary

Martial arts crime thriller staring Jet Li and DMX. After pulling off a heist of priceless black diamonds, streetwise crook Tony Fait clashes with Taiwanese cop, Su, who has travelled to the US to retrieve the stones. But despite the pair's antagonism, they become allies when the jewels are lost and Tony's daughter is kidnapped.

Cast and crew

Cast

Su
Jet Li
Tony Fait
D M X
Tommy
Anthony Anderson
Sona
Kelly Hu
Archie
Tom Arnold
Ling
Mark Dacascos
Daria
Gabrielle Union
Odion
Michael Jace

Crew

Director
Andrzej Bartkowiak

Other Information

Language: 
English
Colour
Theatrical distributor: 
Warner Bros
Guidance: 
Violence and swearing.
Available on video and DVD
Released 28 Mar 2003
Certificate 15
Categories
Drama

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