Review of Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) by Alex P — 02 Aug 2007

This is twice the thrill ride of any of the other hip hop/hong kong flicks.

There are some stellar action set pieces, most notably when DMX leads police on a high speed chase via ATV, intercut with Jet Li fighting pretty much the entire UFC roster in a steel cage match. Somehow, it makes sense when you're watching it.

But nothing can top the final fight scene between Jet Li (doing his emotionless cyborg type thing; if his acting were any more wooden, he'd be a tree) and Mark Dacascos (a Puerto Rican playing Chinese because I guess the producers figured, hey, close enough), during which Jet Li somehow manages to set off a nuclear reaction in Dacascos' THROAT. Must be seen to be believed.

But the script is generic, the direction tired, and the only real acting being done is by Chi McBride in a two scene cameo as a jailed crime kingpin who lives like an emperor in prison.