The Latest from Cactus Tactical: Feeling a Bit British

Gunfights and Films

Feeling a bit British

1. Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz is a 2007 British action comedy directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) that spoofs the conventions of the American "buddy cop" film genre popularized in such films as the Bad Boys and Lethal Weapon series. Sergeant Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is sent from London to the small, English countryside town of Sandford because his extreme dedication to being a London constable consistently upstages his colleagues. When he arrives in Sandford, he uncovers a plot by a small cabal of residents to rid the town of anything and anyone they find disrupts the peace and harmony they strive for.

Nicholas Angel is undoubtedly London's finest constable. With an arrest record that far surpasses that of any other officer, he continues to undergo training to better his skills. This makes his fellow constables look lazy as well as incompetent, so they have him forcibly promoted and transferred to Sandford, a quaint country village with the lowest crime rate in the country.

Sandford is as quiet as it is advertised. On his first night in the village, Nick takes it upon himself to bounce out under-age drinkers from the local pub, then arresting them for disorderly conduct in the streets. One of the gentleman he arrests in the street turns out to be his new partner, Danny Butterman, a doughy, affable fellow who happens to be the son of Frank, the village's chief of police. Nick meets his fellow constables who, with the exception of the smug Andy's, are entertaining but neither adept at nor much interested in investigative police work. The only other people who seem interested in law and order are the Neighborhood Watch Alliance, a group of long-time residents who care deeply about maintaining Sandford's reputation as the nation's best village and are concerned about the arrival of street performers and other "riffraff". Danny takes a particular intrerest in Nick's past and constantly asks questions. This is part of the comedy of the intempt cop and the pro. Danny is certain Nick's time in London was filled with the kind of blazing action he has seen in American action films like Point Break and Bad Boys II.

For a few days, Nick's most exciting moments are chasing a runaway swan and then a shoplifter, and confiscating the arsenal a local farmer has collected over the years, including a rusty sea mine. He also pulls over for speeding the local solicitor and his much younger girlfriend. The two of them are on their way to perform in their "homage" to Shakespeare, a dreadful updating of Romeo and Juliet. After the performance, the two would-be Thespians are brutally murdered by a dark-cloaked figure with a hatchet. Their bodies are then strewn about in the road where Nick and Danny had pulled them over for speeding and their car wrecked to make their deaths appear to be a gory traffic accident. The other police officers are content with explanation, despite Nick's concerns about the lack of skid marks at the scene.

The next day Nicholas and Danny are tipped off to a possession of illegal weapons outside of the city. They go to the farmhouse with the entire crew - and Saxon. But it's not the dog they need. It seems Saxon's trainer is the only one who can understand the guy in charge of the farm, who shows Sgt. Angel the impressive collection of weapons that he's managed to stash. Nicholas is floored at this very dangerous and highly illegal collection. He, Danny and the rest of the officers haul in the collection. To celebrate, Danny invites Nicholas out to an evening at the local pub, where he encourages Nicholas to order more than just his usual cranberry juice. He proceeds to have several pints of lager, and the pair escort local businessman George Merchant back to his estate. They then head back to Danny's pad, where Danny invites Nicholas inside. There, he shows Nicholas how to switch off and unveils his incredibly impressive DVD collection. While they're watching Point Break and Bad Boys II, another "accident" is being setup involving George Merchant and his rather posh estate, which the NWA doesn't find keeping in with the villages' rustic aesthetic.

Once again, they're called to the scene of yet another accident - this time it appears that George Merchant is dead and the accident was covered with an application of bacon and beans. But Nicholas knows that George Merchant wasn't killed in an accidental explosion - he once again believes this is murder. It just seems to be a town that is very accident prone and no one finds it odd.

The following Saturday it's time for the town fair. Nicholas is unfortunately strapped with working security. Danny wants to see Nick's sharp shooting skills during a game - he does so and wins a cuddly monkey. While a local lottery is being held for some rather nice prizes, Nicholas is greeted by the reporter Tim Messenger. He sees Leslie Tiller telling him something. Messenger tells Nicholas to meet him behind the church at 3:00. While drawing the next name for the lottery - which happens to be Tim Messenger, the church clock strikes 3:00. Nicholas stops what he's doing and quickly runs behind the church - but once again it's too late. It appears that a large part of the church roof has fallen on Messenger and decapitated him. Frank quickly rules it an accident but Nicholas suspects otherwise.

At this point Nicholas is furious at the rest of his department - who are still believing that the deaths are accidents. But Frank reassures him otherwise, and while Nicholas is busy putting the pieces together of these horrific crimes, the rest of the department informs him that it's Danny's birthday.

Nick goes to the local flower shop to buy a peace lily for Danny as a birthday present. He is surprised to see the shop's proprietor, renowned for her horticultural skills, leaving town. She tells him that the land she owns was to be bought by the businessman with the assistance of the Thespians. Then, when they were both killed, the reporter informed her that her land was much more valuable than what the businessman offered her, so she has sold her shop to a land developer from the city. She also reveals her connections to Skinner. When Nick briefly goes outside to his car, the dark cloaked figure stabs the woman to death with her garden shears. Nick gives chase but cannot catch up to the villain, who was wounded in the escape. Convinced that Skinner's connection to the property deal and attitude toward those murdered is sufficient evidence against Skinner, Nick takes the police force to confront him. But Skinner has no wound and his store's surveillance tapes establish that he was on the premises all day. Conveniently it all wraps up as to make Nick look appear to be some kind of mad man for the insinuation.

Nick is prepared to give up when it occurs to him that instead of a single murderer, several dark-cloaked murderers might be working together. This theory is confirmed when he is attacked in his hotel room by one of Skinner's employees, who is wearing a dark cloak. Nick defeats him and then impersonates him when Skinner radios to see if Nick has been killed. Nick traces Skinner to a castle outside of the village. There he finds the Neighborhood Watch Alliance, clad in the dark cloaks, chanting ritualistically. The NWA reveals that they have all been behind the murders, with their motive simply being civic pride, "for the greater good". Nick tries to arrest them but Frank and Danny appear in support of the NWA. They chase Nick through the grounds of the castle, where he finds the remains of other people the NWA has killed. The NWA surrounds Nick, and Danny steps forward and stabs him. Danny takes Nick's body away in the boot of his car.

At a safe distance, he lets the quite-alive Nick go -- they had faked Nick's death using ketchup packets for blood and Nick's notebook to avoid actual skin penetration. Danny refuses to believe his father and the NWA are responsible for murder and persuades Nick to take his car and return to London. In London, Nick sees a collection of action film videos and, inspired, returns to Sandford to put an end to the NWA. This sequence is one of the best gun fights in film. The multiple shooters, the secret spots, it's just a fun gun fight. He takes the arsenal from the police evidence room and confronts many of the NWA members in the town square. They are equally as well armed as he is, and he vanquishes them only through the timely assistance of Danny.

In the local pub (whose owners are also NWA members), Frank and the other constables, in full riot gear, surround Nick and Danny. But Nick is able to persuade the constables that he is in the right. Frustrated, Frank runs away. Nick and the other officers go to the supermarket to apprehend Skinner, but when his employees put up a spirited fight, Skinner is able to escape with Frank. Danny and Nick give pursuit in their police car, and in the process find the runaway swan. Skinner and Frank are forced to abandon their car, and Nick and Danny give chase on foot. Nick and Skinner fight in a scale replica of the village, and Nick wins when Skinner falls and impales his chin on model of the village church, though this doesn't kill him. Frank tries to flee in Nick and Danny's car, but crashes into a tree when the swan attacks him.

Nick's former London superiors arrive in Sandford to congratulate him and ask him to return, as London has become crime ridden in his absence. Nick refuses because he has made such good friends and finally learned to enjoy life in Sandford. However, at the station, the last remaining member of the NWA tries to kill him. Danny takes the full brunt of the gun blast, and in the ensuing chase, the sea mine is detonated, destroying the station house.

No one actually ends up dead but do get wounded. However, we see that Danny is promoted to Sargent and Nick becomes the Inspector. Danny and Nick continue to patrol the streets of Sandford together with idolizing the heroes Marcus and Mike from the Bad Boys films.

Simon Pegg does a great job with all his films but this one has such an epic gun fight sequences I'll include three but to watch the first one go here:

Let's take a look at some of those weapons!

Amanda Paver pulls out a pair of .380 ACP Walther PPKs from her bicycle basket and proceeds to shoot them while cycling towards Sgt. Angel

Walther PPK - .380 ACP

Paver is never without her Walther PPKs, or her thermos.

Early on in the film Sergeant Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) fires a round from his Heckler & Koch G36C fitted with a standard G36 carry handle, laser pointer and tactical flashlight during a CO19 operation.

Heckler & Koch G36C with an attached G36K-type carry handle - 5.56x45mm

Angel checks the stairs with his G36C at the ready

When Sergeant Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) takes on the town, he brings the British variant of the FN FAL, the L1A1 SLR. This is an early model L1A1 with wooden furniture and the original cylindrical wood carry handle.

L1A1 SLR, early model with wood furniture and cylindrical carry handle - 7.62x51mm NATO

Joyce Cooper (Billie Whitelaw) uses a World War II-vintage Austrian Steyr-Solothurn S1-100 (or better known as the "MP34" in WWII German service) submachine gun when Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) starts to take on Sandford. PC Doris Thatcher (Olivia Colman) uses the same S1-100/MP34 for the rest of the film.

Steyr-Solothurn S1-100/MP34 submachine gun - 9mm.

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Joyce fires the Steyr-Solothurn S1-100.

This movie has great dialogue and is cleverly written. There are a lot more weapons but you can view those here: http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Hot_Fuzz

Grab a date, grab some snacks and watch some other films with Simon Pegg.

2. Transporter 2

Released in 2005 this is the second in a trilogy of tales of a mercenary named Frank Martin, who specializes moving goods of all kinds, this time in Miami, Florida when he's implicated in the kidnapping of the young son of a powerful USA official

Frank Martin has relocated from southern France to Miami, Florida. As a favor, he becomes a temporary chauffeur for the wealthy Billings family. The marriage of Jefferson and Audrey Billings is under great strain due to the demands of his high profile government job. Frank bonds with their son, Jack, whom he drives to and from elementary school in his new Audi A8 W12. Later, a somewhat drunk Audrey shows up at Frank's home and tries to seduce him, but he tactfully sends her home. Frank prepares for the arrival of Inspector Tarconi (François Berléand), his detective friend from France, who has come to spend his holiday in Florida with Frank. When Frank takes Jack for a medical checkup, he realizes barely in time that impostors have killed and replaced the doctor and receptionist. A lengthy fight erupts between villains, led by Lola, and the unarmed Frank. Frank is able to escape with Jack, but just as they arrive at Jack's house, he receives a phone call informing him he and Jack are in the sights of a sniper capable of penetrating the car's bulletproof glass. Frank is forced to let Lola into the car; they speed away with Jack, shaking off many pursuing police cars. They arrive at a warehouse, where Frank meets Gianni the ringleader of the operation. Frank is ordered to leave without Jack. He discovers an explosive attached to the car and succeeds in removing it prior to detonation. Jack is returned to his family after the payment of a ransom, but unknown to them and Frank, Jack has been injected with a deadly virus that will eventually kill anyone who the child breathes on. Suspected by everyone except Audrey of being one of the kidnappers, Frank tracks down one of the fake doctors, Dimitri (Jason Flemyng), with Tarconi's assistance. Frank pretends to infect Dimitri with the same virus, then lets him escape. Dimitri panics and hurries to a lab to get the cure killing Tipov, with Frank following behind. Frank kills Dimitri, but when Frank refuses to bargain with him, the doctor in charge of the lab hurls the only two vials containing the antidote out of the window into traffic. Frank manages to retrieve only one vial intact. Frank sneaks back into the Billings home and tells an already ailing Audrey what is happening. He uses the antidote on Jack. Meanwhile, a coughing Jefferson, the director of National Drug Control Policy, addresses the heads of many anti-drug organizations from around the world at a conference. Frank drives to the house of Gianni, who has decided to inject himself with the remaining supply of antidote as a precaution. After dispatching Gianni's many henchmen, Frank has the archvillain at gunpoint. Gianni explains that a Colombian drug cartel is paying him to get rid of its enemies, and that Frank cannot risk killing him, for his death would render the antidote unusable. Then an armed Lola shows up, leading to a Mexican standoff. Gianni leaves Lola to deal with Frank. Frank finally manages to kill her by kicking her into a wine rack with sharp metal points. Frank tracks Gianni, who is making an escape in his helicopter to a waiting jet. Using a Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster from Gianni's garage, Frank speeds to the airport and boards Gianni's jet by driving onto the runway and climbing onto the jet's nose gear. Frank gets into the interior of the plane and confronts Gianni, who pulls a gun on him. When they wrestle for it, a round kills the pilot and the plane crashes into the ocean. Frank incapacitates Gianni by paralyzing him (rendering him immobile while preserving the antidote in his system), then pushes his captive and himself out of the sinking plane. Boats converge to pick them up. The Billings are given the antidote. When Frank visits them in the hospital, before entering their room, he sees them with Jack, who is joking with them. He silently walks back to his car, where Tarconi is waiting. He drops his friend at the airport. Alone, Frank receives a call from a man who needs a transporter.

There are a lot of scenes filled with different fighting styles and with different types of weapons but let's take a look at a couple that were pretty prevalent.

In several scenes, a gunslinging femme fatale named Lola (Kate Nauta) wields twin Glock 17s modified to fire full auto and fitted with suppressors, laser sights, and extended high capacity magazines; even using one to shoot down a Miami PD helicopter. The Glocks, and several other weapons in the film, seem to fire some kind of tracer round, as the rounds can be seen flying through the air. Most definitely an effect added in post production as no film crew in their right mind would use live ammunition for a shoot.

Glock 17 9x19mm with 33-round extended magazine

Lola drawing one of her Glocks on the nurse.

To watch the doctor's office scene you can do so here:

The U.S. Marshals Frank encounters at the doctor's office and the FBI agents at the Billing's residence can be seen carrying SIG-Sauer P226 pistols, though are quickly relieved of them via Frank's martial arts skills. Dimitri (Jason Flemyng) can be also be seen using one when Frank raids his apartment. He fires it at Frank (who easily dodges the shots) and he throws it away when it jams on him. A stainless SIG-Sauer P226 can be seen in the trunk of Frank's Car, along with a few magazines, a tactical knife, smoke grenades, and a few spare suits.

SIGSauer P226 9x19mm

U.S. Marshal Brown (Marc Macaulay) with a SIG-Sauer P226.

Dimitri loading his P226 as he is packing his stuff in his apartment

When Frank (Jason Statham) makes his raid on Gianni's home, he carries a stainless steel Jericho 941 R pistol.

Jericho 941 R - 9x19mm

We get a look of the Jericho's business end as Frank prepares to drop it.

To see more of the weapons used in this film you can go to: http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Transporter_2

There are three different films in the Transporter franchise with a fourth in the works. Each film leads in chase scenes, innovative fight scenes and highly choreographed action. I love these films. Grab all your friends make some Madelines and enjoy some Jason Statham in your life.

Labels: action, action movies, british actors, cinema, comedy, english films, films, gunfights, jason statham, simon pegg, weapons