Review of Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) by Stuart K — 06 Feb 2015
Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, (Romeo Must Die (2000), Exit Wounds (2001) and Doom (2005), this was originally pitched as a remake of Fritz Lang's M (1931). But, when Bartkowiak and producer Joel Silver couldn't make the plot work, they changed the main focus from that of a killer to a diamond heist, and it all came together.
It's very silly and cheesy fun, but it somehow manages to hold the attention. It begins with a group of thieves led by Anthony Fait (DMX) and consisting of Daria (Gabrielle Union), Tommy (Anthony Anderson) and Miles (Drag-On) stealing a large amount of diamonds from a vault.
Miles is caught by Taiwanese Intelligence Agent named Su (Jet Li), who intercepted the gang's boss Christophe (Paolo Seganti). Although he lets Miles go, Su is searching for some rare black diamonds, and Christophe's boss Ling (Mark Dacascos) rings Fait demanding the diamonds.
When Fait refuses, Ling kidnaps Fait's daughter Vanessa (Paige Hurd). Out for revenge, Fait and his gang are forced to team up with Su to stop Ling's evil plan. True, it's not very original, but that doesn't stop it from being a run and exciting romp.
While it's not a very original script either, that doesn't matter, as it has some well choreographed action sequences on display, and that's the point of a film like this. While it might have been done elsewhere and better made.
This will do nicely.
This review of Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) was written by Stuart K on 06 Feb 2015.
Cradle 2 the Grave has generally received mixed reviews.
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