Lock, Stock...

I've only seen one episode but based on that one episode I am impressed. This is the type of TV that we should be getting all the time. Once again we must rely on Channel 4. I just hope they do not cancel it.

Fresh? Maybe. Stylish? Definitely.

Having taken a leaf out of the Guy Ritchie, (that's Mr Madonna for those of you who've been elsewhere recently), school of film-making, this series is definitely THE most originally stylised show this side of the millennium, well so far anyhoo.

Some great talent involved, both in front and behind the camera. Ralph Brown, (aka: 'Danny the Dealer' in 'Withnail & I'), is superb as comic book crook 'Miami Vice'. As are the many and various cameos and guests. The regular team, i.e. the Boys from the Boozer, and the Hollandaise Hop Heads are a delight to watch.

The content is, as ever for Channel 4, fresh and down to the bare knuckles at times, (Bravo Channel 4 - Fight the sell-off, PLEASE!) But the plots wear thin very quickly. After all, how many times can you recycle the Lovejoy-esque cyclic con routine? It seems as often as you like, so long as you make it fresh and trendy.

However, on second viewing - one year on - it's an unfortunate fact that 'trendy' shows tend not to hold their with the passing of time. But who cares, especially if you live for the moment, as the main characters in the show do. Twelve months on, I'm glad to say, it was still as fresh as a daisy. (But the jury is out as to whether it will prove to be a contemporary classic).

At the end of the day it's a job well done, with essentially limited material. I have to err on the side of style over content, but I enjoyed every minute of the whole series. Some very funny, and oddly familiar-thru-experience, episodes beautifully shot and acted.

Well done, all concerned.

Well, the anticipation of this series was there when it was first aired in early 2000....and it paid off! I've just re-watched the seven episode set on DVD, and nothing has been lost in the 3 years since first release....in fact the whole series is very watchable all over again! If you like the two movies, "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch", you'll absolutely love this made for TV series, its a fine example of how a TV follow up to a movie should be.Fine acting from a very fine cast-the four "heroes" of the show, played brilliantly by Daniel Caltagirone, Scott Maslen, Shaun Parkes and Del Synnott, and the two classic bad guys played by Ralph Brown and Christopher Adamson, as Miami Vice and his faithfull right hand man Three Feet. Put together, these guys are unforgettable, a cult in the making, and it must be said this series should be bigger, more widespread, so a bigger audience can appreciate it.I personally hope a follow-up movie can come of this-Miami Vice is too good a character to lose on film, but then they all are to be honest! I can't to be honest think of any negative points about this collection of stories, other than there hasn't been a second series!So yes, if you enjoyed the movies, dig this out....you won't be dissapointed. 9/10 Classic

The press hasn't exactly loved this, but I liked it even more than the film. The script for Lock Stock and 200 Smoking Kalashnikovs was funny and pacy. The direction was classy and stylish, and overall it was really enjoyable.Watch this -ESPECIALLY if you liked lock, stock itself.

The press hasn't exactly loved this, but I liked it even more than the film. The script for Lock Stock and 200 Smoking Kalashnikovs was funny and pacy. The direction was classy and stylish, and overall it was really enjoyable.Watch this -ESPECIALLY if you liked lock, stock itself.