The Latest from Cactus Tactical: Gunfights and Films: The Fast and Furious Franchise

Gunfights and Films: The Fast and Furious Franchise

The name is this film franchise says it all, these movies move fast and furious. From the first film to the current 7th film this franchise is the gift that kept on giving. Car chase scenes that were pure magic to watch, colorful yet gritty cinematography, wild characters and epic dialogue have carried these movies into being iconic. Let's take a look at two of my favorites, the first and the fourth.

The Fast and the Furious is a 2001 action film starring Vin Diesel as Dom Torreto, a street racer who is suspected to be the head of a crew of hijackers. Paul Walker co-stars as Brian O'Conner, an undercover police officer who has to make a decision on whether or not to expose Torreto's deeds. Directed by Rob Cohen, the film would spawn a franchise of films and there are currently 7.

We open the film with a helmeted racer leads a gang of stunt drivers who hijack shipments of electronics. As we move into our next sequences we meet Brian O'Conner who is an undercover police officer, driving supercharged cars and trying to infiltrate Dominic Toretto's gang, who are suspects in the robberies. He visits Dominic's cafe, where he makes conversation with Dominic's sister, Mia, and tries to make inroads with the gang by selling performance equipment. Vince is jealous, and a fight breaks out. His girlfriend Letty begs Dom to break it up, who does so, threatening to get Brian fired.

At night, racers gather for street racing. We are introduced to more racers in this seedy underworld. Brian meets Hector, and they wait for Dom. Brian offers his car in a bet, and Dom's tech Jesse checks his car out. The spectators line the streets, lighting the way. Brian and Dom race with Johnny Tran and Edwin. Dom wins, showing Brian superior driving and timing. The racers pick up a police alert on the scanner, and everyone flees. Dom parks his car and flees on foot, and Brian helps him escape. Dom has researched Brian, but as they chat, they are surrounded by uzi-wielding bikers, who escort them to an empty lot. Johnny Tran admires Brian's car and refers to a race in the desert next month. He and his goons shoot up Brian's car, which explodes from the NOS (Nitrous Oxide) onboard.

Dom and Brian escape harm this time but have to hoof it to Dom's. When the unlikely duo arrive, a party is already in progress. Dom yells at his gang, saying Brian was the only one to help him. Vince is upset that Brian is back, and Mia breaks it up. The tensions are high but Brian is finding himself attracted to Mia and already falling in deep with Dom's core group.

The next day Brian's boss, Sgt. Tanner , briefs him on the activity on the case up to that point. Truckers are getting nervous about the robberies, and the FBI are involved. They keep hearing about modified Honda Civics in the robberies. Brian brings Dom a wrecked Toyota Supra with a powerful engine, and starts working in Dom's garage. Vince continues to be angry with Dom's friendship with Brian, and Mia teases him.

The next day, Hector buys parts for Honda Civics from Brian, and Brian gets suspicious. He breaks into Hector's garage, but Vince and Dom have followed him. Brian convinces them he's spying on the competition for Race Wars next month. Vince is suspicious, but Dom thinks it's a good idea, and they break into Tran's garage. Brian spots possible stolen goods. Tran and his goons arrive, and Dom, Brian and Vince watch as they torture local fence Ted about stolen engines.

Brian tells the FBI, but wants to resist moving in on Tran until they have more evidence. His boss thinks he's too soft on Torretto and has gone too deep into his cover. The two have more heated exchanges throughout the film.

The next day, Dom takes Brian into confidence and shows off his supercharged 1970 Dodge Charger, one he never drives. Dom says it has too much power. As they spend time with the Charger Dom reveals to Brian the story of how Torreto ended up in jail and how he pummeled a man after he found out his father died.

Over dinner, Brian and Mia talk about Dom, then Mia shows off her driving skills. At the same time, another robbery is in progress, and Brian gets a call from his boss that they are moving in on Tran in the morning. The raid goes off with Brian wearing a hood to keep his identity hidden, but Tran's gang gets out for lack of evidence as the suspicious goods proved to be purchased. Sgt. Tanner cautions Brian about falling for Mia, and tells him Dominic is the next suspect.

The next day, Brian and Dom take the rebuilt Supra for a spin, and smoke a Ferrari. Over lunch, Brian asks to get in on Dom's next job, but Dom wants to see how Brian does at Race Wars first.

We cut to a scene depicting a raucous event rife with loud music, fast cars and even faster women. Race Wars begins. Letty wins, but Jesse loses his car to Tran and refuses to pay. Tran accuses Dom of being an informer, and a fight breaks out between the two men. That night, Mia is upset with Dom, who is obviously going on another robbery. Brian confesses that he's a cop, and asks Mia to help him warn Dom about the truckers arming themselves and the FBI operations. Brian calls for a trace of Dom's cell phone. Letty's intuition has her feeling nervous about the upcoming job, but they go ahead with it. Vince jumps on the truck, but is shot at by the trucker. Lenny crashes, and Leon rescues her. Brian risks his life to save Vince as the trucker reloads his shotgun. Dom arrives and hears Brian calling for a medical helicopter, identifying himself as a cop. Dom is stunned, but Vince is the first priority. After Vince is stabilized, Dom storms off with Mia following.

Back at Dom's house, Brain confronts Dom. Jesse returns, and Tran shoots him in a drive-by. Brian gives chase, and Dom gets in the Charger to pursue as well. Dom stops in front of one of the motorcycles, sending the goon into a field, and Brian shoots Tran. Brian sees Dom fleeing, and pursues in the Supra. They race, and Dom's car begins destroys itself from the massive torque in the motor. They finish the race, but Dom hits a truck pulling out from a side street. The Charger is wrecked, and Dom is injured. As the police sirens are heard in the distance, Brian gives Dom his car and Dom escapes.

So much thrill and excitement in this film. It was the beginning of the franchise and it's still one of my favorite movies of all time. The high speed chase scenes are so well executed that everytime I watch this film I have a new found appreciation for stunt drivers and fast cars. They also use a lot of weapons in this movie so let's take a look at some of those featured in The Fast and Furious.

Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) carries a Colt Commander as his sidearm during his confrontation with Dom. He is seen firing the pistol when chasing down Johnny and Lance.

Colt Combat Commander - .45 ACP.

Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) holds his Commander on Dom.

The Commander-style hammer is visible as Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) shouts at Brian.

During the chase, Brian fires his pistol at Johnny Tran and Lance.

To watch the scene with the drive by Dom's house you can do so here:

Johnny Tran (Rick Yune) and Lance Nguyen (Reggie Lee) use suppressed Micro Uzis when they pull over Brian and Dom, later using them to shoot up and cause Brian's car to explode. Lance later uses one during the climax, using it in the drive-by at Dom's house, and when being chased by Brian.

Micro Uzi with 32 rd magazine - 9x19mm

Lance reveals his suppressed Micro Uzi.

Lance Nguyen (Reggie Lee) shows Dom and Brian his suppressed Micro Uzi.

Lance Nguyen (Reggie Lee) holds the suppressed Micro Uzi on Dom and Brian .

To watch the scene where we first meet Johnny Tran you can go here:

Several LAPD SWAT officers, including Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker) use Heckler & Koch MP5A2s with flashlights and Navy Trigger Groups when they hit Johnny Tran's house.

Heckler & Koch MP5A2 9x19mm with Surefire 628 dedicated forend weaponlight and Navy trigger group, used in S.W.A.T.

On the left, several SWAT officers carry the MP5A2.

Brian with his MP5A2.

Brian holds the MP5A2 during the raid.

To see the scene where they raid Tran's house you can watch it here:

To see what we're carrying this week in military grade and law enforcement tactical gear you can go to our site here: Tactical Mic Klips from Cactus Tactical

For more information on the weapons used in this film you can go to this site: http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/The_Fast_and_the_Furious

This film was pretty ground breaking at the time as far as action sequences involving so much action with cars and racing. Action packed from start to finish. I recommend clearing the weekend because this movie is just the beginning of your Fast and Furious franchise adventure.

Fast and Furious

is the fourth film in the Fast and Furious franchise. In the 2009 action sequel, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) comes out of hiding to have revenge on a drug dealer who is believed to have murdered his girlfriend. In order to do so, he reluctantly reteams with Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) who's now working for the FBI. Together they try to take on the drug dealer by infiltrating his smuggling circuit. The film was directed by Justin Lin, who also directed The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Fast Five and Fast & Furious 6.

After a successful run at hijacking fuel tanks on the highways of the Dominican Republic, Dom Toretto leaves his girlfriend Letty and his gang, as he is now an international criminal. Eventually, Dom's partner Han flees to Tokyo, causing Dom to also flee. One day, in Panama, Dom receives a phone call from his sister Mia, who tells him that Letty was just murdered. Dom returns to Los Angeles, California, to find out who murdered Letty. After Letty's funeral, Dom asks his sister to take him to the site where Letty's accident occurred. At the scene, Dom finds traces of nitromethane residue that can only be purchased at one body shop in L.A.. At the body shop, he finds one of his old racing counterparts that, after being coerced, leads him to a man named David Park. Dominic finds Park and hangs him out of a window threatening to drop him and vowing to kill anyone that stands in his way of avenging Letty. He receives the information that only through a street race, arranged by Ramon Campos, can he gain access to the man responsible for Letty's death.

Meanwhile, Brian O'Connor, now an FBI agent, is assigned to track down a notorious drug lord named Arturo Braga. Brian, after chasing down a criminal on foot, receives information also leading to David Park. Both Dominic and Brian, having received the same information, are led to the underground entrance race that guarantees them a spot on the team that traffics heroin across the United States-Mexico border. During the race, Dominic and Brian outlast all of their competitors until the two of them remain and head towards the finish line neck and neck, Dominic sideswipes Brian's car ensuring that he comes in first, securing his spot on the team so that he can seek justice on Letty's behalf. Having lost the race, Brian uses his influence at the FBI to ensure that one of the other members on Braga's team, Dwight Mueller, gets arrested for "distribution of methamphetamine," in order to usurp his spot of the team. At a party, Ramon Campos, Braga's right hand man, welcomes them to the team and gives them a GPS device that will alert them to where they will begin their race. Dominic ends up in a confrontation with a racer identified as Fenix, the driver of the car that collided with Letty before firing the shot that killed her.

Dominic and Brian both receive the coordinates to meet with Campos and are transported, along with their cars by semi-trailer to the Mexican border to receive the heroin that they are to transport, from there they are to follow Fenix's lead to the other side through an underground tunnel so they aren't seen by the satellite images and forward looking infrared used to monitor the borders. After the transport, Dominic realizes that the drivers are thought of as disposable and that after successful trafficking of the product they are shot and killed in order to avoid paying them. Letty, having been in the same situation was the only driver to get away when they attempted to shoot her, it was the pursuit that led to the car crash and subsequent shooting causing her death. Dom anticipated the double-dealing because of the warning given by Gisele, Braga's liaison, in the form of the Spanish phrase "vaya con dios", set his car to explode by discharging nitrous oxide with the spark from the cigarette lighter in his car after he learns from Fenix that he was responsible for killing Letty with no remorse. Brian hijacks one of the Hummers carrying the heroin, escaping the gunfire, and heads back to the U.S., where Dominic learns that Brian was contacted by Letty, who agreed to infiltrate and collect information leading to Braga in exchange for clemency for Dominic. Brian speaks to his superiors about a plan that he has devised to trade the heroin for Braga if they will pardon Dominic.

An exchange is arranged with Campos, 6 million dollars for the heroin, provided that Braga be the one to deliver the money personally. The FBI is poised to arrest Braga at the exchange site, however, Dominic and Brian both realize that Campos is in fact Braga before the FBI does and the raid is botched. Braga evades capture and flees over the Mexican border out of the FBI's jurisdiction. Brian and Dominic head after him on their own and find him in a cathedral praying for salvation. They kidnap Braga with intent to take him back to the United States where he can be tried and imprisoned for drug trafficking, but after having taken him captive they are chased by Braga's henchmen. The chase leads to the same underground tunnels that they went through in order to transport the drugs into the United States. Once on the United States side of the border, Dominic kills Fenix by crushing him with his car and Braga is finally apprehended by the FBI, as is Dominic.

Dominic is tried for his crimes and, though Brian appealed to the courts on his behalf, is sentenced to "25 years to life without the possibility of early parole." The movie concludes with Brian, Mia, Tego, and Rico racing towards the prison bus transporting Dom to the Lompoc Penitentiary.

FBI Special Agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) carries a Glock 17 as his sidearm throughout the film. He wields it on several occasions, most notably during the chase in the beginning.

2nd-generation Glock 17 - 9x19mm

FBI Special Agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) chases a suspect in downtown L.A. with his Glock drawn.

O'Conner (Paul Walker) holds the Glock on a suspect.

O'Conner holds his Glock on Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), to his surprise. Note good trigger discipline in this shot.

Fenix Calderon (Laz Alonso) uses a highly customized 1911 as his sidearm throughout the film. His 1911 has a black frame, a golden-plated and engraved slide, raised sights and custom grips.

Pre-War Colt M1911A1 Pistol Commercial - .45 ACP

Calderon cocks the hammer of his 1911. Note the custom grips and the slightly raised military-style sights.

Calderon holds the 1911 on O'Connor during the climax.

Calderon holds the 1911 as he spots Toretto speeding towards him.

To watch the scene for the first fight between Dom and Fenix in the desert you can do so here:

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Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) uses a Mossberg 590 Mariner shotgun a couple of times when he's in Mexico with Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker). This is quite possibly supposed to be the same shotgun he carries in the first film.

Mossberg 590 Mariner - 12 Gauge

Dom holds his Mossberg on Campos in Mexico.

Dom aims the Mariner.

Toretto shoots out a tire with the shotgun.

To watch the final scene between Dom, Brian and Fenix you can do so here:

From the opening sequence with the gas truck to final scenes this movie is get up and go. A wild and entertaining ride, Grab some corona's and set up get ready for your heart to race as you watch this film this weekend.

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To see the other weapons used in this film you can go here: http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Fast_%26_Furious

Labels: action films, ammo, cinema, fast and furious, film franchise, gunfights, guns, movies, paul walker, vin diesel, weapons