Search - Cradle 2 the Grave (Widescreen Edition) on DVD

Extreme Kick @$$ Kung-Fu Action?

Mr. JKW | Honolulu, Hawai'i | 04/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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 chase2. Jet Li's "Fight Club"3. Smooth talking the security guard.4. The final battleWARNINGS: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"

Like action flicks? C2G does not disappoint!

Eric V. Moye | New York, by way of Dallas | 10/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Greatest action movie ever

Chon-ny | 06/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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"

Predictable, But Better Action Film Than You May Think

Tsuyoshi | Kyoto, Japan | 03/31/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"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."