Even the great martial artist Jet Li is suffering from China’s
takeover of Hong Kong as the great one has concentrated on getting
recognition in America, just like Jackie Chan has.
Even the great martial artist Jet Li is suffering from China’s takeover of Hong Kong as the great one has concentrated on getting recognition in America, just like Jackie Chan has.
While it could be argued that Jet Li is the best fighter working in film today, he is choosing projects that just don’t work for him, reducing him to a Cantonese stereotype.
Li’s American films, which include “Lethal Weapon 4,” “Romeo Must Die” and “The One,” are all badly produced and written, and their box office receipts suffered for those reasons.
Gone are the wonder and mystique of Li’s best Hong Kong films, legendary epics like “Once Upon A Time in China,” which also spawned three sequels; “The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk,” its sequel, and others. Instead of greatness, Jet Li’s Hollywood career has been defined by its extraordinary mediocrity. It’s not Jet Li’s fault; he just needs better material to work with.
“Cradle 2 the Grave,” the third film by cinematographer-turned-director Andrzej Bartowiak, following “Romeo Must Die” and “Exit Wounds” with Steven Seagal, is another less-than-stellar effort, going for the ultimate action quotient while leaving the sorry story on the back burner.
Rapper DMX, who co-stars in “Exit Wounds,” appears in “Cradle” as well, as a criminal mastermind with a loyal crew of followers. Once again, DMX probably should stick to rapping, but the script for “Cradle 2 the Grave” is so inept that it’s hard to figure out if he has any gift for acting. His face, those deep, penetrating eyes and his hoarse voice are his most intriguing features but his delivery is leaden and somewhat wooden.
The story, which seems to be lifted from dozens of action films, is a retread. Tony Fait (DMX) is a crime lord who loves money and toys so much that he has a whole dedicated crew (Gabrielle Union, Anthony Anderson and Drag-On) working for him. Living in wealth and luxury, Tony’s one major issue is his eight-year-old daughter Vanessa (Paige Hurd), whom he doesn’t want to get involved in what’s going on, even in the slightest way.
That brings us to the hero of the film, the Asian intelligence officer Su (Jet Li), who has been dispatched to the United States to supposedly intercept some precious magic stones. He must find the stones, which could have the power to end the world if gotten into the hands of Ling (Mark Dacascos), the Asian criminal element in the film. Of course, in the hands of Su, are we supposed to believe the stones will be used to good ends?
Maybe, but probably not. The opening segment is visually spectacular, a rousing 15-minute heist involving Tony and his cohorts, but ultimately the film disappoints when Tony and Su become partners, trying to not only recover the magic stones, but also to try and save Tony’s daughter Vanessa, who has been kidnapped.
The action plays out with some exciting fight scenes, but anybody but the most die-hard action buff will be sqirming in their seats in the spaces between.
“Cradle 2 the Grave” has some good action and some interesting fight sequences, but it really doesn’t really add up to much more than that.
CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE. Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Written by John O’Brien and Channing Gibson. With Jet Li, DMX, Mark Dacascos, Anthony Anderson, Kelly Hu and Gabrielle Union. Rated R (violence and language), 100 minutes. Now playing at Bay Area theaters.
