Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18489 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-11-02
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Full Screen, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Dutch
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 107 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Cockney boys Tom, Soap, Eddie and Bacon are in a bind; they owe seedy criminal and porn king "Hatchet" Harry a sizeable amount of cash after Eddie loses half a million in a rigged game of poker. Hot on their tails is a thug named Big Chris who intends to send them all to the hospital if they don't come up with the cash in the allotted time. Add into the mix an incompetent set of ganja cultivators, two dimwitted robbers, a "madman" with an afro, and a ruthless band of drug dealers and you have an astonishing movie called Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Before the boys can blink, they are caught up in a labyrinth of double-crosses that lead to a multitude of dead bodies, copious amounts of drugs, and two antique rifles.

Written and directed by talented newcomer Guy Ritchie, this is one of those movies that was destined to become an instant cult classic à la Reservoir Dogs. Although some comparisons were drawn between Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino, it would be unfair to discount the brilliant wit of the story and the innovative camerawork that the director brings to his debut feature. Not since The Krays has there been such an accurate depiction of the East End and its more colourful characters. Indicative of the social stratosphere in London, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a hilarious and at times touching account of friendships and loyalty. The director and his mates (who make up most of the cast) clearly are enjoying themselves here. This comes across in some shining performances, in particular from ex-footballer Vinnie Jones (Big Chris) and an over-the-top Vas Blackwood (as Rory Breaker), who very nearly steals the show. Full of quirky vernacular and clever tension-packed action sequences, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a triumph--a perfect blend of intelligence, humour and suspense. --Jeremy Storey

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
DVD 5
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 Stereo English
Dolby Digital 5.1 Stereo
Interactive Moving Menus
Behind The Scenes
Interviews With The Cast And Crew
Original Theatrical Trailer

Synopsis
A brutally comic tale about a group of London friends who find themselves deep in debt to an East End tough, LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS is quick-paced, stylized, and highly entertaining. In his debut feature film, director-writer Guy Ritchie weaves a tangled web of shady, blithely eccentric characters and several storylines, all of them coming together in a gleeful explosion of murder and mayhem. When streetwise charmer Eddy (Nick Moran), the son of steely bar owner JD (Sting), botches a gambling scheme with his dad's nemesis, porn king Hatchet Harry (P.H. Moriarty), he's got one week to come up with 500,000 pounds or he loses his fingers--and so do his friends Tom (Jason Flemyng), Bacon (Jason Statham), and Soap (Dexter Fletcher). While the pals scheme to make the money, Harry indulges his penchant for valuable antique shot guns, stolen for him by a couple of inept burglars. Soon the missing guns, a paranoid group of marajuana growers, a mean-spirited debt collector (Vinnie Jones) and his young son, and a violent bunch of thugs, are all thrown together in this tightly-woven, genuinely funny story that takes its inspiration from old British comic gangster flicks like THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN and more recent films like RESERVOIR DOGS and THE USUAL SUSPECTS.

Customer Reviews

"I don't want to know who you use, as long as they're not complete muppets"
For a while during the 90's it felt like the only credible movies to come out of the UK film industry had to star Hugh Grant with his floppy hair do and a Richard Curtis script, or Ewan McGregor starring as Ewan McGregor in various films most of them excellent. However, then came along Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels like a breath of fresh air.

Released towards the end of the so called `cool Britannia' period of the 90's, it must not be underestimated what an impact this film had on the UK film scene and cinema goers at the time of release. Superb cinematography, slick editing, a script full of whit and a killer soundtrack all combining to give us a classic `mockney' British crime caper, the film even has a cliff hanger ending that can only have been inspired by the Italian Job, but unlike some I do not have a problem with that. Although he was never been able to fully repeat the success achieved with Lock Stock, Guy Richie in terms of his direction and production values, is to date the closest the UK has had to Quentin Tarantino with Lock Stock as the British Pulp fiction.

The basic story is set around groups of people whose lives become interwoven (or ended) through fate, misunderstanding or planning. Pot growing ex Graduates making money for local hard man Rory Breaker, A bunch of small time criminals headed by Dog, a fencer by the name of Nick the Greek, a group of friends in a tight spot, one of whom has Sting as his Dad! Porn king Hatchet Harry and his cohorts, and a pair of bungling `northern' burglars. Add into the mix a rigged card game, a bungled burglary, a chaotic robbery, a successful heist, 2 gangs ending up in the wrong shoot out, a cliff hanger ending, plot twists, guns, dodgy weed, and a classic script full memorable dialogue:

Eddie: They're armed.
Soap: Armed, armed with what?
Eddie: Err, bad breath, colorful language, feather duster... what do you think they're gonna be armed with? Guns, you t*t!

The memorable scene where big Chris (Vinnie Jones) finishes the character Dog by smashing his head repeatedly against a car door, despite its violent nature, seems somehow poetic as it is the only violent act of this level that Big Chris commits during the film, and it is to defend his son. This scene is typical of the film, the humour is dark and there is violence, but I was never left with the feeling that I had watched a violent film. Ritchie is clever here as the actual blood and guts level you actually see on film is minimal with the suggestion being enough.

All of the above combine to make Lock Stock essential viewing for anyone that is a fan of British Crime thrillers and caper. However do not mistake this film as a serious gangster movie in the mould of `A long good Friday' or `Get Carter' think more along the lines of a cross between the original Italian Job with Pulp fiction and you are closer.

Ignore previous film snob reviewers who can't see past the end of their Guardian newspaper media section, who have said this film is "glamorisation of working-class gangsters by middle class lads". The questions one needs to ask are, was it entertaining? and did I enjoy watching it? And the answer to that with Lock Stock is a big fat yes. At no time does this film aspire to be a gritty documentary, factual or truthful. It is simply a tongue very firmly planted in cheek, feel good, stylish caper that is well directed and great fun to watch. I would give this film 6 stars out of five if I could, as regardless of genre, it is unquestionably a modern classic film, and one the best British films to emerge in the last 20 years.

Spawned a thousand fake cockney accents.
Well what can be said? Guy Ritchie has come up with an absolute belter of a gangster/black comedy. It cracks along at a wonderful pace, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you follow the capers of the four protagonists. Each scene and character provides amusement and engagement. This film has also given thousands of unfunny blokes the opportunity to annoy everyone by quoting the film far too much (Dan and Michael, if you are reading this, take heed). Also notable for ressurecting the career of the oft-forgotten star of the fine television programme 'Press Gang' , Dexter Fletcher. With great cinematography, fine performances, a good witty script, engaging narrative and great big guns, lock, stock is a must for any film enthusiast.

What a good film!
The film 'Swept Away' might have failed as miserably as Guy Richard's marriage, but his first cinematic effort was a thumping good movie! It's rather akin to how I would expect a big-screen version of 'Eastenders' to turn out (except with rather more swearing and slightly fewer shrieks of 'RICKY!!!'). It's great to see that these DVDs are available for purchase, once more! There's nothing more frustrating than logging into amazon, only to find that they're "out of (Lock,) Stock (and Two Smoking Barrels)"!!!!!!!!!!!