Silver and Black Diamonds
Anthony Fait (DMX) is a single father but also one smooth operating bank robber who with his team pulls of some fast paced and daring bank robberies. On their trail is Su (Jet Li) a Taiwanese Intelligence officer who is a fearless, slick martial arts expert. But when Fait's daughter is kidnapped in exchange for some black diamonds he finds himself turning to Su for help. As the unlikely team join forces they realise there is something bigger going on involving a new deadly weapon.
"Cradle 2 the Grave" whilst certainly an entertaining movie it is also one made to a formula which when you see that Joel Silver is producer is not much of a surprise. Joel Silver makes movies for the masses; slick, good looking movies which are fast paced and "Cradle 2 the Grave" is all this with the obligatory good looking cast and action which is stunning whilst in the mix of sexy action, car chases and so on is some humour as well with Tom Arnold showing up in yet another comedy bit part.
The thing is that whilst "Cradle 2 the Grave" is entertaining in a cool action movie sort of way it is like fast food; okay in the moment but you find yourself wanting something more when it is over. It doesn't matter that Jet Li is smoother than ever when it comes to the hand to hand fight scenes and it doesn't matter that DMX is seriously smooth whilst Gabrielle Union is super sexy because all of these things you will have seen in previous Joel Silver movies and will see again in later ones. And as for the storyline, well it is little more than a vehicle for all the typical elements.
What this all boils down to is that whilst "Cradle 2 the Grave" is this slick action movie featuring a robber and a martial arts expert cop joining forces. But the truth is that it is a Joel Silver movie made to his formula which means fast paced, good looking and a lot of escapism whether it be the action or the slickness of the characters.
