Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)

"Jet Li's fight scenes are sensational.  Leah Rozen, People Magazine
"DMX and Jet Li take action movies to a whole new level  Clay Smith, Access Hollywood

Editor's Note Jet Li once again joins up with a musical costar in Andrzej Bartkowiak's thrill-a-minute CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE. Li was introduced to American audiences as the villain in Richard Donner's LETHAL WEAPON 4, which featured former Crystals lead singer Darlene Love. Li got his first English-language starring role in Bartkowiak's ROMEO MUST DIE, with the late Aaliyah and rapper DMX. The director has reteamed Li and DMX as men on opposite sides of the law who are forced to work together in CRADLE. DMX plays Fait, a powerful man with a deep love for black diamonds but a deeper love for his daughter (who gets kidnapped). Li is Su, a Taiwanese agent--Fait calls him the Kung Fu James Bond--who has come to Los Angeles to find the stones and capture his former partner, Ling (Mark Dacascos), who is after the gems as well. The action is fast and furious as Su sides with Fait to battle helicopters, trains, fancy cars, motorcycles, tanks, and flying ATVs in rings of fire and pouring rain. High-tech heists and heavy heat send the action quotient soaring while Tom Arnold supplies comic relief and karate hottie Kelly Hu adds mystery and romance (along with awesome martial arts stunts).

	Anthony Anderson
	DMX
	Gabrielle Union
	Jet Li
	Kelly Hu
	Mark Dacascos
	Tom Arnold
	Daryn Okada - Cinematographer
	Andrzej Bartkowiak - Director
	Derek Brechin - Editor
	Joel Silver - Producer
	David F. Klassen - Production Designer
	John O'Brien - Screenplay
	Channing Gibson - Screenplay

New York Times
"...Beneath its hip-hop flash, CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE works the kung-fu version of the David-and-Goliath myth..." 02/08/2003 p.E17

Entertainment Weekly
"...[DMX is] shaping himself into a genuinely appealing screen presence, a sort of gangsta-preneur samurai..." 03/07/2003 p.51-2

Variety
"...[Li's] precision foot- and fist-work remain superlative....[DMX] registers with a cool, commanding presence..." 03/03/2003 p.41-78

Total Film
"...[A] mixture of Hong Kong chop-sockery and urban hip-hop chic..." 05/01/2003 p.95

L.A. Times 6 of 10
True, Li can kick, punch, slap and leap his way out of any ugly situation, but he's rarely given the chance in Cradle 2 the Grave. The few promising skirmishes that do erupt sputter out quickly as if fight choreographer Corey Yuen had dropped his cell connection while phoning in his moves. Then again, maybe Yuen knew better than to attempt anything too ambitious since the filmmakers evince no faith in Li's ability to hold our attention. Even when he's going fist to fist against Dacascos in a ring of fire, drenched in water with helicopters smoking in the background, the filmmakers are frantically looking elsewhere. With so little trust and even less dialogue to back him up, it's no wonder Li rarely takes his left hand out of his pants pocket. His fists aren't furious; they're on strike. - Manohla Dargis

San Francisco Chronicle 6 of 10
But the shocker is Arnold. Although it is difficult to imagine, as the oddball character Archie, Arnold steals every scene. He's fast, funny and a little disturbing. If only the film could say the same. - C.W. Nevius

Chicago Sun-Times 6 of 10
I can see that this movie fills a need. I have stopped feeling the need. The problem with action movies is how quickly state-of-the-art becomes off-the-shelf. We yearn for wit and intelligence, and a movie like Shanghai Knights looks sophisticated by comparison. - Roger Ebert