For all the Guy Ritchie fans, there is now an unrated director's cut of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. More footage of London’s gangland and I am pretty much in heaven.
Usually when watching a film that starts with the “This film has been edited” message, it says something about the formatting. Basically they edit the aspect ratio. This DVD of Lock, Stock had the message, but to mention it was including footage not seen in the theatrical release.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels follows four British men out to make a quick quid in a high stakes poker game. Things go wrong when Hatchet Harry cheats, leaving our unfortunate pool shark Eddie in the hole £400,000. The ruthless killer gives Eddie fifteen days to pay his debt or face the consequences.
In a jam to come up with a quick plan to find the much-needed money, they overhear the unruly neighbors’ plans to rob some guys growing “copious amounts of ganja.” Suddenly, it seems as though the four friends’ luck has changed.
Several other characters are thrown into the mix, with their desire to make mad cash or avoid being shot, making Lock, Stock action-packed and keeping you on your toes. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is violently funny and full of slapdash violence.
The Locked ‘N Loaded Director’s Cut adds some more to the rules of the card game both old and new audiences to the film can appreciate. The twelve minutes of added footage makes this unrated Cockney gem clock in at two hours.
The film was originally shot on Super 16 and it is obvious there was no digital re-mastering for this DVD release. I enjoy the grainier feel and think it adds a great deal to the mobster madness of Lock, Stock’s London that pristine images wouldn’t be able to achieve.
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