Plot: What’s it about?
Fait (DMX) is the head of a skilled, experienced band of thieves, a crew that can take whatever it wants, whenever it wants. A routine heist involving some jewels is their latest scheme, but things don’t turn out to be so routine after all. The robbery nets a bag full of black gems, the exact haul the crew was hired to make off with. But when Fait takes the jewels to his fence, a government agent named Su (Jet Li) starts to poke around. He informs Fait that these are no normal gems, but priceless stones with a higher purpose and that danger surrounds them. When Fait returns to the fence to reclaim the stolen gems, he is shocked to discover they’ve been stolen, which sets a vicious cycle of events into motion. Soon after, Fait’s daughter is kidnapped and the man behind the crime is sadistic crimelord Ling (Mark Dacascos). Ling is the owner of the black jewels and he wants them back so bad, he’s willing to anything to reclaim them. As Fait and his crew search for the gems, they discover a rival of Ling has stolen the jewels, but tracking down the right man has proved to be an impossible task. Even with Su’s extensive resources, finding the right man has been tough, but no one is prepared to give up just yet. When all the sides clash and an epic battle is waged, who will emerge with the precious stones?
If you’ve seen Romeo Must Die and Exit Wounds, then you’ve pretty much seen Cradle 2 The Grave. This film brings back numerous stars from both movies, then blends the Asian edge from the former picture with the urban landscape of the latter project. Jet Li returns, as do DMX, Tom Arnold, and Anthony Anderson, while newcomers Kelly Hu, Gabrielle Union, and Mark Dacascos add new life to the formula. All three films were also produced by Joel Silver and directed by Andrezej Bartkowiak, so a basic overall pattern is in place here. A hip hop soundtrack, tons of over the top action, and little else, that is the structure of these three pictures. But in truth, I was entertained by the previous two movies and expected more of the same from Cradle 2 The Grave. As it turns out, the action is turned up a few notches and the visuals have been more refined, but in the end, this is still more of the same from these folks. Li is in fine form, but never cut loose to really show off his skills, but the action is still fun to watch. And in the end, we watch movies like Cradle 2 The Grave for a brisk, fun experience, so I can’t knock it too much. I would have liked more of Li and less of the others, but for popcorn action, I don’t have much else to complain about. So if mindless action is your cup of soup, then be sure to rent Cradle 2 The Grave.
This is the second time we’ve seen international action star Jet Li have to share the screen with a rap star, with middling results. Yes, his action scenes are brash and fun to watch, but he is never cut loose to showcase his talents. I mean, if Li was allowed to break loose a little more, like he did in Kiss of the Dragon, the action scenes would be kicked up a notch or two. He still hands in some great work when the fights start, but if you’ve seen previous films with Li, especially his work from his native land, then you know he can do so much more. But like fellow Asian star Jackie Chan, Li is forced to be in these buddy movies, held back by an American pop culture star who can’t tread water on his own. DMX might be good when it comes to raps, but he is a poor actor and its obvious his action scenes were scaled down to his level. A better actor or more gifted action star should have been brought in, so that Li’s skills were complimented. Instead, Li is forced to hold back in order not to outshine his costars too much. Other films with Li include Romeo Must Die, Fist of Legend, High Risk, My Father is a Hero, and Lethal Weapon 4. The cast also includes Tom Arnold (The Stupids, Exit Wounds), Kelly Hu (The Scorpion King, Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan), and Mark Dacascos (Drive, Brotherhood of the Wolf).
Video: How does it look?
Cradle 2 The Grave is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is an excellent visual treatment, as you’d expect from a major studio new release. The print used is pristine, so nicks and marks are never an issue, while grain is also held in check. I was quite impressed with the level of visible detail here also, as crispness and subtle detail are high throughout. The colors are bold, rich, and vibrant, with no signs of errors and flesh tones come off as natural as well. No troubles with contrast either, as black levels remain stark and consistent at all times. In the end, this is a top drawer visual effort in all respects, so kudos to Warner.
Audio: How does it sound?
A Dolby Digital 5.1 option is the main course and it sounds excellent, so expect a high octane experience. The surrounds have a lot to do here and this is an action movie, so the audio is amped up in those action driven sequences. And this soundtrack delivers the kind of overall powerful presence it needs, even in the lower key sequences. The sound design is superb in Cradle 2 The Grave, which extends to this dynamic home video soundtrack. In any event, the track is top notch and offers immense power at times, so it is never even close to a tame presentation. The music pulses and sounds excellent here also, while dialogue is crystal clear and never misses a beat. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French, just in case you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a few brief, promotional featurettes, a multi-angle fight sequence, a DMX music video, some talent files, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
