Cradle 2 The Grave

Jet Li famously turned down roles in the two Matrix sequels, annoyed that they were offering him a mere $3 million. It may sound like vile diva-ish behaviour of J-Lo proportions – but when you consider the eighteen months of work involved, and the obscene amounts being paid to his would-be co-stars, Li’s actions are hardly inexplicable.

His wisdom, however, might be called into question: a pair of Matrix roles would certainly have cemented the Hong Kong combat-ace’s reputation in the West. Cradle 2 The Grave, though likeable enough, is a thoroughly forgettable straight-to-video affair that wlll hardly bestow household-name status on anyone invoved. If it’s any consolation, though, it’s practically more fun than The Matrix Reloaded.

Between the fights, there is a gloriously simple plot whereby a dastardly international criminal (Dacascos) kidnaps the cute lickle daughter of a gang leader (DMX) as part of a diamond heist. This causes the city’s police to engage in an extensive search, led by a government agent played by Li, and aided by DMX’s crew of gangsters.

It is safe to say that no great intellectual or philosophical depth is on offer, but if one accepts in advance the general lack of grey matter, there’s plenty of guilty pleasure to be derived from a variety of beat-em-up scenarios, all of which deliver exactly what one would expect. The Academy awaits.