Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels: Locked ‘N
Loaded Director’s Cut (Unrated)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Film: B-
Guy
Ritchie paints an elaborate film canvas creatively with blood, drugs, and
twists and turns that never fail to amaze.
In the 1999 indie hit Lock,
Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, a crew of 4 bumbling friends (The
Entrepreneur, The Hustler, The Gambler, and The Chef) try to get rich quick
when the one of the blokes suggests they pull together $100,000 so he can
double their money in a card game, the only problem is he walks away a
half-million dollars in debt. In an
attempt to get the money back to the crime boss who loaned him the cool
half-million before he is forced to start chopping off digits, the four friends
find their once normal worlds entwined with a series of others’ not so normal
situations. This heist film is detailed,
entertaining, and well shot (no pun intended).
The manner in which Guy Ritchie manages to connect the diverse
storylines flowingly and coherently remains quite impressive. Also the film editing style utilized
throughout creates an artistic yet interesting setting.
Guy
Ritchie uses a style in which segments of film were purposefully cut out to
give a chaotic sense throughout certain scenes.
Also the music and single camera views used in the film create a great
cinema experience. Overall, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is
a creative and amusing experience. Not
only is the storyline compelling but the dark humor embedded in the film remains
so intelligent, it’s astonishing.
This
being the “Unrated” version of the film I was expecting more. Having viewed the original or “Rated” version
of the film I don’t find there to be a significant difference. If you have not viewed this particular Guy
Ritchie film previously, this would be the edition to purpose, at least until
an HD-DVD version becomes available. It
seems as though more crude language may have been placed back into the film,
F*#k flying left and right as sort of an inside joke. This new version is improved somewhat, but
could be better.
This
DVD’s technicals are not very impressive.
The picture quality is too bright and seemed washed out at times, though
it is obvious that Guy Ritchie intended for this effect to some degree it goes
beyond intention to poor quality for this anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1
presentation. Tim Maurice-Jones’
cinematography should look better than this. The sound is presented in a Dolby
Digital 5.1 format, which is uneven at times and calls for a better transfer. The extras are not very good, only minimally
including a featurette entitled “One
Smoking Camera” exploring film style, and a second short compilation of the
film’s expletives (F*#K!!). Though this
is a new edition it still needs more F*#king improvements.
In the
end, as previously stated, if you do not own this film and can not wait for
high-def this is a good buy, otherwise hold off. Lock,
Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is one of this reviewers personal favorites
(a guilty pleasure like cookie dough) ranking up there with the another Guy
Ritchie film, Snatch which utilized
many actors from L.S.&T.S.B. The acting is great, the storyline is
impressive, and is an overall great piece of entertaining film, a must
see. So load up your DVD player for this
new unrated edition.
- Michael P Dougherty II
