Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)

Director:

Andrzej Bartkowiak

Writers (WGA):

John O'Brien (story)
John O'Brien (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

28 February 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Born 2 the life. True 2 the code. Bad 2 the bone.

Plot:

A jewel thief's daughter is kidnapped after he steals a collection of prized black diamonds, which aren't at all what they seem.

Plot Keywords:

Nose Bleed | Female Nudity | Digits In Title | Hip Hop | Diamond

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Jet Li	...	Su
DMX	...	Anthony Fait
Kelly Hu	...	Sona
Anthony Anderson	...	Tommy
Tom Arnold	...	Archie
Mark Dacascos	...	Yao Ling
Gabrielle Union	...	Daria
Michael Jace	...	Odion
Drag-On	...	Miles
Paige Hurd	...	Vanessa
Paolo Seganti	...	Christophe
Richard Trapp	...	Douglas
Ron Yuan	...	Laser Tech
Woon Young Park	...	Bald Enforcer
Johnny Nguyen	...	Ling's Hitman

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin | Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Philippines:R-18 | Iceland:16 | Canada:18A (Manitoba) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-15 | Spain:18 | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:16 | USA:R (certificate #39626) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Denmark:15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Silver Pictures

Trivia:

The casting of Mark Dacascos was the result of a poll on Jet Li's website where fans were asked who they would like to see him fight next.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the auction starts, Sona says that 50 stones are available. The Pakistani buyer wins the first bid with $5.7 million for six stones, leaving 44 stones. Then the Egyptian buyer wins the next bid with $10 million for ten stones, leaving 34 stones. However, Sona then says that "there are 37 stones available".

Quotes:

Fait: You read Chinese?
Archie: No, but I know "cop" in every language.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Cycle of Aggression (2005)

Soundtrack:

Guns & Roses

Jet Li carries a movie that puts him in the passenger seat

I wasn't sure what to expect from Cradle 2 the Grave. A week before it came out I hit the official web page and was excited to learn that Mark Dacascos (The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, Brotherhood of the Wolf) and Kelly Hu (The Scorpion King, X-Men 2) were in the movie. The real reason I was waiting for the movie was of course Jet Li.

Over all, I have to say that the movie left me unimpressed. DMX gives a terrible performance. It's not consistently bad, but when he breaks out into highly emotional scenes he stinks.

Tom Arnold is also in this movie, and is funny in his Tom Arnold way. He's basically the comedic relief, exploiting his fish-out-of-water position (he's a middle age white guy who's main associates throughout the movie are young African-Americans) for laughs. And love or hate the guy, he will make you laugh. He's good in supporting roles, just think of him in True Lies. Similar effect here.

Bad dialogue and acting can be forgiven, but two things are unpardonable: Not giving Jet Li enough to do, and the misuse of Mark Dacascos and Kelly Hu. Apparently they forgot that Jet Li is an international star, and while DMX is known for his music he can't act to save his life. The primary focus of the story should have been on Jet Li's character, not DMX's. Simple common sense--use your star. The star of this movie ain't DMX, it's Jet Li.

Those who have seen Mark Dacascos in Brotherhood of the Wolf know that he can kick some serious tail. All that is wasted since his fight with Jet Li is a pathetically wasted effort, and his only fight in the movie. Kelly Hu, an emerging star soon to be seen in X-Men 2, should have been given more screen time. Sure, she has a fight, but one can't help but feel that she also was misused.

Kung-Fu and Hip-Hop are a bad mix. Producer Joel Silver can't seem to get that through his head, and I doubt he will anytime soon since Cradle 2 the Grave took the number one spot at the box office on it's opening weekend. The fact of the matter is Jet Li carries this mediocre effort all the way. That's a lot of weight for one man to carry, but he does it. Hopefully he'll get back to starring in movies that exhibit his abilities, not stick him in the passenger seat of a stinker driven up by a recording artist.