Film Review: Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

Still Guy Ritchie's best film. Set in London, 4 guys pool their money together to gain entrance to a high stakes game to with 100,000 grand. Well when the one who plays in the game gets hustled by Harry the Hatchet and now owes half a million pounds in 7 days or all the guys will start losing appendages. So now the boys are desperate to score some cash and end up learning of a robbery of some local drug dealers and decide to rob the robbers. Throw in a cast of wild characters including Harry's own personal collector Big Chris (played by Vinnie Jones), bar owner Sting (who plays one of the guys father), a young Jason Statham, and assorted thieves, gangsters, and dope heads, and you have one of the wildest movies ever made. My favorite characters are drug dealer Rory Breaker, Big Chris, Soap, and Tom. It's one of my favorites. Loaded with tons of cool quotes and followed up by the equally great Snatch.

B+
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Rory Breaker: If the milk turns out to be sour, I ain't the kinda pussy to drink it.


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Soap: A minute ago this was the safest job in the world. Now it's turning into a bad day in Bosnia.


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Bacon: What's that?
Samoan Joe's Barman: It's a cocktail. You asked for a cocktail.
Bacon: No. I asked you to give me a refreshing drink. I wasn't expecting a fucking rainforest! You could fall in love with an orangutan in that!
Samoan Joe's Barman: You want a pint, you go to the pub.
Bacon: I thought this was a pub!
Samoan Joes Barman: It's a Samoan pub.

Bond daily quote...QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008)

M: If you could avoid killing every possible lead, it would be deeply appreciated. 
James Bond: I'll do my best. 
M: I've heard that before.

Bond daily quote...(DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER)

James Bond: Weren't you a blonde when I came in?
Tiffany Case: Could be.
James: I tend to notice little things like that - whether a girl is a blonde or a brunette.
Tiffany: Which do you prefer?
James: Well, as long as the collar and cuffs match...

Bond daily quote...GOLDENEYE

 Xenia Onatopp: You don't need the gun
James Bond: Well, that depends on your definition of safe sex.

SKYFALL, the newest Bond film is underway

Finally after some legal and money issues, the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall, went into production a few weeks ago. Bond fans can now rejoice as we will have a new Bond film for next Thanksgiving. Joining Daniel Craig and Judi Dench is one of the more impressive Bond film casts ever. Javier Bardem has been cast as the villian. Ralph Fiennes is on hand. I think is some official M16 capacity. Naomie Harris is a fellow agent helping Bond. Albert Finney was just added to the cast, which is another plus. And french actress Berenice Marlohe is the latest Bond Girl. The story has something to do with M's past now coming back to haunt her and Bond caught in the middle. Sound very intriguing. Can't wait for next November. Due to hit theaters symbolically on November 007, 2012.

Bond daily quote....FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

"Ah, the old game: give a wolf a taste and then leave him hungry. My friend, she's got you dangling." - Kerim Bey (From Russia With Love)

Jennifer Lawrence is poised for action as Katniss in THE HUNGER GAMES

A new picture of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in the upcoming film, The Hunger Games, which is one of the big films due in 2012.

Pierce Brosnan takes over as James Bond in GOLDENEYE

I remember this day like it was yesterday. Back in 1994 when it was announced Pierce Brosnan would be assuming the role of superspy James Bond for the film Goldeneye. I was ecstatic. When they announced it, there was a media blitz rivaling a king or prince coronation. It was that big of a deal. History shows that Pierce was offered the role of Bond a few years ago but could not get out of his contract with NBC for the TV series Remington Steele. Which was a good warm up role for Brosnan as he got to look dapper and be witty. Timothy Dalton ended up getting the role and he lasted just two films. So when the time came again to cast a new Bond, there was no doubt who should play him. Pierce Brosnan. When Goldeneye finally premiered in November of 1995, it was awesome. I saw it three times at the theaters. Loving it more and more each time I saw it. Goldeneye would become my favorite Bond film of all time. Pierce would play Bond in a total of four films. And he would become my 2nd favorite Bond actor. Well I kind of flip flop between him and Roger Moore. Anyway, just thought this would make a cool post describing when Pierce became Bond for the first time. And a new chapter in this long running series was added to this legendary franchise.

Bond daily quote...OCTOPUSSY (1983)

Vijay: Is he still there?

Q: You must be joking! Double-0 seven on an island populated exclusively by women? We won't see him till dawn!

Bond daily quote...CASINO ROYALE

Vesper Lynd: It doesn't bother you? Killing all those people?

James Bond: Well I wouldn't be very good at my job if it did.

Bond daily quote...(THUNDERBALL)

Fiona: Some men just don't like to be driven.

Bond: No, some men don't like to be taken for a ride.

Ranking my favorite Bonds...

So I since I'm doing this James Bond marathon posting all this month, I should begin with ranking my favorite Bonds right? Thought so..here we go.

1. Sean Connery - Even though I didn't start watching Sean's films until after seeing Roger first, he is Bond. Nobody played him better. The right mix of humor and ruthlessness and witty charm made Sean the total Bond package.

2. Roger Moore - Now I grew up when Roger was Bond and I thought he was so cool. With the one-liners and his smoothness with the ladies. Towards the end of his run, he lost a little of his edge but watch his early Bond films and you will see why I thought he was the second best Bond ever.

3. Pierce Brosnan - When it was announced that Pierce was taking over as Bond, I was like hell yeah. Finally Remington Steele gets to play Bond. And he did a damn good job. His Goldeneye is my favorite Bond film ever and that's saying a lot.

4. Daniel Craig - is off to a good start but he needs to lighten up just a bit. His Casino Royale takes Bond in a new direction and he was quite good.

5. Timonty Dalton - not as bad as everyone remembers. In fact, he did what Daniel Craig is doing now, only Tim did it 20 years ago.

6. George Lazenby - Not fair that George only got to do one Bond film. And not it's fault that he had to follow in the footsteps of Sean. His one film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service is actually one of the best Bond films ever made. And George acquits himself quite nicely.

DOG SOLDIERS is one hell of a movie...

Back off kitty....

I have one holdover from Halloween to talk about. I just re-watched 2002's Dog Soldiers and it's even better than I remember. The story has a British squad on a training exercise in the Highlands of Scotland. They're supposed be simulating war games with an elite Special Ops squad but things get deadly when they come across the bloody remains of the ops soldiers save for the wounded captain. Then all hell breaks loose as savage creatures attack. The creatures turn out to be werewolves on the hunt. The British soldiers are rescued by a zoologist named Megan in her jeep and haul ass to a farmhouse. It's here where they will make their last stand. Dog Soldiers mixes action with horror extremely well. Writer/director Neil Marshall would go on to make the even better film, The Descent. But here he borrows a little from Aliens with the plot and situations but then puts his on spin on this creative werewolf tale. And speaking of werewolves, these are some cool looking creatures. Best I've seen in recent memory. The action is fast and furious and the dialogue is crisp and humorous with a British/Scottish accent. The cast are all solid especially Sean Pertwee as Sgt Wells, the leader of the British Squad; Emma Cleasby as Megan; Kevin McKidd as Private Cooper who steps up to take charge; and Darren Morfitt as Private Spoon (the wild soldier who has a memorable one on one fight with one of the beasties in the kitchen). Pure awesomeness! And plus it has a cute little dog too.
B+

Spoon and a werewolf about to go a few rounds...

Cooper and Megan on their first date...

Man, I knew I should have just stayed in bed this morning...

Megan thinking...what the hell am I doing here?

Bond daily quote...(Goldfinger)

James Bond: Manners, Oddjob. I thought you always took your hat off to a lady.

James Bond: [to Pussy] You know, he kills little girls like you.
Pussy Galore: Little boys, too.


GOLDFINGER (1964)