Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  Even when I first saw this, I felt it kind of hard to buy that a common thief and an Asian law enforcment officer would team up to fight a common enem, but there you go. I guess they felt they needed to give this some kind of plot, no matter how loose or ridiculous to hang a bunch of… More
  Even when I first saw this, I felt it kind of hard to buy that a common thief and an Asian law enforcment officer would team up to fight a common enem, but there you go. I guess they felt they needed to give this some kind of plot, no matter how loose or ridiculous to hang a bunch of over the top action scenes and violence on. They could have come up with something far better than this though, that's for sure. This film isn't really boring, but there's nothing really exciting going on, either. The acting is hammy, and as bad as the writing and directing. I guess some of the fights are cool, but, like I said, nothing to really get excited about. This is far from good, but I've seen worse, so I guess that's a bit of praise I can give it. I don't recommend this though. Not at all.

• Candy R

  
  This movie is like Rush Hour without the comedy. Good action movie. Jet is a cop from Taiwan who has come to the US to retrieve black diamonds that were stolen from Taiwan. DMX is a thief who robs the diamonds from the baddy, who then kidnaps his daughter. Jet and DMX have to work… More
  This movie is like Rush Hour without the comedy. Good action movie. Jet is a cop from Taiwan who has come to the US to retrieve black diamonds that were stolen from Taiwan. DMX is a thief who robs the diamonds from the baddy, who then kidnaps his daughter. Jet and DMX have to work together to get back what they both want.

• Dan S

  
  Saw enough of it to say IT SUCKS

• Dean M

  
  Jet Li and DMX are amazing in their well-crafted, hard-working action flick. The stunts are inventive, including bike chases and martial arts fights.

• Jason S

  
  You've seen this before. Same as all the rest.

• Stuart B

  
  PLOP

• Nate Z

  
  [center][font=Arial][color=darkred][img]http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8013/photo060ms.jpg[/img][/color][/font][/center] [font=Arial][color=darkred][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Once again with Cradle 2 the Grave, Hollywood has reminded us of the magic of the buddy… More
  [center][font=Arial][color=darkred][img]http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8013/photo060ms.jpg[/img][/color][/font][/center] [font=Arial][color=darkred][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Once again with Cradle 2 the Grave, Hollywood has reminded us of the magic of the buddy film with the incorrigible rapscallion rapper DMX teamed up with stoic kung fu master Jet Li. Oh wait, did I saw buddy comedy, because what I meant to say was, ?horrendous car wreck.?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]DMX plays master jewel thief Tony Fait. He and his covert team (which includes one of the stars of Kangaroo Jack, take that for what you will) have been hired to steal priceless black diamonds. It appears others are also after these lucrative diamonds including a Su (Li), Taiwanese cop, and some international arms dealers that steal Fait?s daughter. Only really bad guys steal kids. Fait and Su form an unlikely team to recover his daughter and the black diamonds, which are revealed as powerful high-grade plutonium. And you better believe that their investigation has them stop by a strip club at least once.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Let?s just say that acting is not the strong suit of Li or DMX. The rapper (whose real name is the non-threatening ?Earl?) scowls a lot, as if he?s thinking his brain will kick in some time and do the acting for him. Li looks sleepy-eyed or drugged, but he?s best when the fists are flying and his conversation is kept to a minimum.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The plot to Cradle 2 the Grave is black hole of logic. The movie tries to make DMX seem like the good kind of jewel thief, you know, the one you?d like living next door. He won?t allow guns, he steals Robin Hood-style from drug dealers and he loves his little tyke. He even reforms a prostitute (Gabrielle Union). But if DMX is such the master jewel thief then wouldn?t he know that black diamonds aren?t real?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Li is a furious fighter, and his previous film Kiss of the Dragon proved to me that he could utilize chopsticks and pool balls as lethal kung fu weaponry. But with Cradle 2 the Grave he goes one step further, and one step closer to the bizarre world of make believe, by using, of all things, dwarves and lobsters as deadly weapons. What?s next Jet Li? Throwing AIDS patients and school children?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Hack director Andrzej Bartkowiak has previously directed bombs Romeo Must Die and Exit Wounds, another DMX-teams-with-martial-artist vehicle. After Cradle 2 the Grave I say, three strikes and you?re out as a director. Yes, acting and story are not as important in an action film as most genres, however, Bartkowiak directs the action scenes like he?s caught in them. The camera will sway around like its ducking a punch and too often focus tightly on people and make rapid-fire cuts. You can?t enjoy the action because Bartkowiak won?t let you see what?s going on. The film?s climax is like a gigantic end stage in a video game.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Cradle 2 the Grave is so incredibly bad that the best thing about is Tom Arnold. Did you ever think you?d hear that? What more can you say about a movie where one of its actor?s real name is ?Drag-On.? I am not making any of this up.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Cradle 2 the Grave is so maniacally awful that it?s sure to be one of the worst movies you could possibly see. This is the kind of movie someone who hates humanity would make. This is the kind of movie Hitler would have made. And I hear some of you saying, ?But wait, there?s no way xenophobic Hitler would cast an African-American rapper and a Chinese martial artist in his movie.? Oh, that?s exactly what Hitler would want you to think. Do you see how subversive it is now, do you?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: F[/color][/font]

• Donnie D

  
  To be honest I went into this with low expectations and somehow it went below my already low expectations. With Jet Li being the only redeeming value, and the only reason I saw this, there isn't much this movie offers. Cradle 2 The Grave is about a jewel thief's daughter… More
  To be honest I went into this with low expectations and somehow it went below my already low expectations. With Jet Li being the only redeeming value, and the only reason I saw this, there isn't much this movie offers. Cradle 2 The Grave is about a jewel thief's daughter who is kidnapped after he steals a collection of prized black diamonds, and that's the closest thing you'll get to a story from this movie. This movie was literally a boring experience for me. It had no interesting characters, no funny comic relief, no focus, and most of all no interesting ideas. This is literally one of the dullest action movies I've seen and lacks excitement in every way possible because the heroes come out invincible. I also didn't care for the characters either, heck I didn't even care about the little girl who got kidnapped as these characters are so thin and poorly written. It's story lacks everything you expect from a enjoyable action movie, even with low expectations it still failed to be engaging. Now the only person that prevented this movie from being abysmal is Jet Li. Unfortunately he doesn't get many lines, he doesn't get to act, and is only there to fight. Which is another downside as Jet Li Martial Art skills aren't use properly and his fight scenes come out poorly done. I'm serious, not even when Jet Li was using a midget as a weapon gave me any kind enjoyment. Well to be fair to Jet Li he's the only actor in this movie who came out enjoyable and it's a shame that he had to share screen time with these other actors who put no effort in there parts. Cradle 2 The Grave is a dull action that has nothing interesting to offer, with Jet Li unfortunately being limited in his appeal. It's a boring action movie absolutely not worth your time.

• Steven V

  
  This movie is not bad at all. This movie tries hard to have a dramatic and thriller edge that is just laughable. The thin plot has to be expected, because it doesn't change lanes, it stays were it starts and keeps going. The fight scene is decent. Basically it is just a… More
  This movie is not bad at all. This movie tries hard to have a dramatic and thriller edge that is just laughable. The thin plot has to be expected, because it doesn't change lanes, it stays were it starts and keeps going. The fight scene is decent. Basically it is just a direct-to-video action movie, but with star power.

• Joseph E

  
  Sensational Martial-Arts sequences. this film is pure adrenaline. It doesn't ever stop. It keeps going and going and going.

• Deb S

  
  Seriously, who watches a Jet Li/DMX movie and expects to be blown away by a phenomenal script? As an avid Jet Li fan, I was excited to see this movie. I won't give away any specifics, but Jet Li did an excellent job with the fight scenes. DMX takes center stage as Tony Fait and… More
  Seriously, who watches a Jet Li/DMX movie and expects to be blown away by a phenomenal script? As an avid Jet Li fan, I was excited to see this movie. I won't give away any specifics, but Jet Li did an excellent job with the fight scenes. DMX takes center stage as Tony Fait and pulls of a pretty decent performance displaying some cool fighting moves. Everyone gave their best performance, including Tom Arnold, the comedy relief and let's not forget Gabrielle Union with her classy, smart, and outrageously sexy striptease. The fight scene between Mark Dacascos and Jet Li was amazing and impressive; one of the best scenes in the movie. I love the calm, serene look on Jet Li's face as he sizes his opponents up. It is always a privilege to watch masters at work. He kicks butt with brazen nonchalance while keeping one hand stuck in his pocket. Although the Jet Li protagonist is a good guy, he looks dangerous and behaves like the bad guy. Another highlight is the fight where he takes on the 20 cage fighters in the underworld fighting club. There's also a good chase scene with DMX and an all-terrain vehicle. Be sure to watch the credits for tons of inside jokes.

• Chad R

  
  Oh my god this is corny! Apparently, crazy ass DMX has decided the proper attire for stealing millions in diamonds is black tank top, huge gold chain, and baggy jeans hanging half off his ass, yo. Oh, and his acting is hoooorrrriiibbbbblllle. Uhoh, evil Tiawanese chick just slapped… More
  Oh my god this is corny! Apparently, crazy ass DMX has decided the proper attire for stealing millions in diamonds is black tank top, huge gold chain, and baggy jeans hanging half off his ass, yo. Oh, and his acting is hoooorrrriiibbbbblllle. Uhoh, evil Tiawanese chick just slapped DMXs young daughter...you know that is not is going to end well. Look out evil chicky! You'll get yours in the end! DMX is getting that crazy look in his eye. Ha they even have the black godfather in the local lockup running the joint in his pajamas and gets food catered. You know that happens in real life. Oh he even has knives, leather chairs, and his own cook! Ain't prison swell? Jet Li always kicks ass and Mark Decascus has always had great fight scenes in his movies. These two together is a treat for Kung Fu fans. Which, by the way is the only reason to watch this crap...oh wait...just saw another reason, Gabrielle Union strip scene for the pimp wearing what looks to be a light purple corduroy suit! Word!

• alan j

  
  contniuation of the hip hop theme...more spectacular fight scenes...enjoyable for all jet li fans

• Kevin M

  
  DMX ain't an actor. Every scene he's in suffers.

Read all 14 featured audience ratings