Gun Fights and Films - The Matrix Trilogy

Gun Fights and Films - The Matrix Trilogy

Today we have decided to take a look at The Matrix Trilogy. Known for incredible graphics, plot twists and amazing martial arts, The Matrix also features a hail of gunfire in all three films. The first film was released in 1999 and was written and directed by The Wachowski Brothers. In these flicks we watch as Neo has his everyday world shattered as he discovers the truth behind the smoke screen of The Matrix. We are also introduced to Agent Smith, Morpheus & Trinity. Presented with a blue pill and a red pill, Neo must decide if he wants to enter this rabbit hole or walk away. Our hero takes the red pill, finds out who he really is and our adventure in thrilling science fiction begins. This journey takes us through two more films, a dystopian society and reveals Zion. Today we focus on the best scenes featuring gun fights. 

#1 The Matrix: Karate, amazing weapons, bending spoons to realize there is no spoon, fights with Agent Smith, these are the first things that come to mind when I think of this film. In particular I think about the scene in the lobby between Neo, Trinity and tons of guards. A variety of guns are used in this extended scene so we'll look at a couple of them. 

                             

Neo picks up a Heckler & Koch MP5K in the virtual armory.

   In the lobby scene, Neo uses a pair of Heckler and Koch MP5Ks to eliminate the first set of guards.

We see Trinity picking out guns in the virtual armory as well and it gives a glimpse as to just what's in it. 

Behind Trinity: On the top shelf are six Heckler & Koch MP5Ks, six Glock pistols, and six Beretta 92FS pistols. On the second shelf are four M16 rifles (one with a 30 round magazine), three Australian Owen Submachine guns with Late War Camo paint pattern, two M1928A1 Thompsons, an M1928 Thompson with a 30 round magazine, an M1A1 Thompson, another M1928A1 Thompson, and an M1 Garand.

The guards had some intense weapons as well, but that doesn't really help them out since Trinity manages to grab their guns. In the lobby shootout scene, a number of soldiers are armed with Franchi SPAS-12 shotguns, one of which is commandeered by Trinity and used against its original owner. The versions used by the soldiers have a solid fixed stock/pistol grip combination. One of them is seen firing the SPAS-12 in semi-auto mode -- a rare sight in movies. However, quick bursts of M16 fire are mistakenly dubbed over instead of the appropriate shotgun report.

                                           Franchi SPAS-12 with fixed stock - 12 Gauge

               Trinity kicks his SPAS-12, rolls it over his shoulder, and fires it into his back.

I love this movie. It's filled with action, adventure and amazing visuals. Futuristic cinematography and great dialogue make this film a slam dunk as it was ahead of it's time in both concept and storyline. The lobby scene can be viewed here  https://youtu.be/iuslUzbJEaw  but I recommend watching the whole film again and rooting against Agent Smith with a big bowl of popcorn. To see what other guns were used go check out http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/The_Matrix

#2 The Matrix Reloaded: In 2003 The Wachowski Brothers presented us with this follow up film. This sequel was lighter with the gun fire but is heavily laced with other weaponry and even more intense martial arts sequences. In this film we find that Neo has a limited time frame to save the woman he loves as well as the world he now lives in. Let's not forget that this time he is facing Sentinels and he is still battling the now rogue Agent Smith in addition to the other Agents sent after this group of Sci-Fi vigilantes. 

The scene I'd like to focus on is the opening of the film where Trinity is involved in a fire fight with an Agent.  You can view the opening sequemce here but again, the whole film is worth the watch https://youtu.be/DTNEIKm0Dno. 

Trinity opens the film by diving out of a high-rise office building's window while wielding two IMI Micro Uzis, firing them at a pursuing Agent. While falling Trinity catches a bullet and we see Neo flex his awesome powers. 

                         

 Trinity fires a pair of IMI Micro Uzi's while falling from a window

This movie continues to deliver intense action scenes and we watch Neo and his crew fight bad guy after bad guy. Two of the baddest bad guys are albino twins with dreadlocks, they wield a couple guns as well in a chase scene on the freeway. 

            One of the Twins fires his Heckler & Koch UMP-45 at the protagonists in their Cadillac.

Thrills, kills and spills Reloaded keeps you on your toes. If you haven't seen this film, it's about time to do so. If you haven't watched it in awhile, it's time for a movie marathon. To see the other weapons used go to http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/The_Matrix_Reloaded for more info. 

#3 The Matrix Revolutions: Released only six months after Reloaded, this part of the trilogy opens with finding out Neo is now stuck in between two worlds. The film continues on to reveal that Agent Smith is still lurking and Zion is ready to go to war. Once again, the Wachowski Brothers serve up amazing graphics and tantalizing action scenes that feature skill, precision and gun fights within the first 30 minutes of the film. For me personally, the scene in Club Hell was my favorite in this film. 

Trinity, Morpheus and Seraph ( from the second film) are trying to find out how to release Neo from his purgatory and decide to infiltrate a night club to get answers. You can watch this sequence here https://youtu.be/tqZex5h76tg. The gunfights that ensue happens while guards walk the ceiling and bullets are flying, it's complete chaos. Let's focus on our main characters, though. 

During the standoff at the Club Hell, Morpheus can be seen with a Heckler & Koch P9S which he takes from one of the guards.

             Morpheus holds the Heckler & Koch P9S on a guard armed with a Beretta 92FS.

Trinity begins a standoff in Club Hell by disarming one of the guards of his Beretta 92FS Brigadier Inox and holding it to the Merovingian's head, demanding Neo  be freed from the train station.

                                      Trinity holds the Brigadier Inox on the Merovingian

Neo makes it out of the train station only to be pushed in a million different directions to salvage what's left of his world. It's tough being "The One". For further info on all the weapons used in this movie go to http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/The_Matrix_Revolutions and find out what other guns were used. 

Do you have a favorite scene in these three movies??? Feel free to share in the comments section. 

www.CactusTactical.com

www.USGunWorks.com

Shawn in the Korengal Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

For more info on these and other weapons
Technical specs compiled from:
http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/Active_FM.html
http://world.guns.ru/index-e.html
https://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.militaryfactory.com/
http://www.olive-drab.com/
http://www.army.mil/
http://dok-ing.hr/products/demining/mv_4?productPage=general
http://www.peosoldier.army.mil/

"The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement."

Guns & The Godfather

Gunfights in Cinema

Guns & Godfather's

Today we look at firearms in the Godfather Trilogy. Adapted for film, it was based on the crime novel written by Mario Puzo. The first film featured Marlon Brando and won an Academy Award for both best picture and best actor. The Godfather was released in 1972 and had a distinct impact on mafia films for decades following. The second film in the franchise was released in 1974 and delivered a look into the origin story of both Vito Corleone as well as it looks into the life of Michael.

The second film was also heralded, but did not have the same impact as the original. The third film was released in 1990 and has met with much criticism but shows our anti-heroes ( Michael Corleone) trying to repent for his past sins. This trilogy covers a spectrum of themes and dynamics of family, friends, business and loyalty. We see the careers of Vito, Michael and then Vincent Corleone and their effect on their family, friends and neighborhoods. A myriad of firearms were used in these films but we're going to focus on the most iconic gun scenes in these movies.

The Godfather: Scenes featuring firearms in this film are numerous so we had to narrow it down to two crucial scenes. The first is when Vito Corleone  is nearly assassinated in 1945, Michael Corleone volunteers to murder the man responsible, Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo (Al Lettieri). He also proposes to kill Captain McCluskey (Sterling Hayden), a police captain who removed his father's bodyguards from the hospital, presumably to set up his father to be killed. Although it is normally a hard-and-fast rule in the Mafia that law enforcement officials are not to be harmed, Michael successfully convinces his older brother Sonny (James Caan) that since McCluskey is serving as Sollozzo's bodyguard, he is considered fair game.

 The scene is set up at a restaurant where a gun has been planted in the restroom so that Michael can assassinate the two men. Michael knows they will search him for a weapon at this meeting so the only way they could possibly pull off this coup. The gun is a Smith & Wesson Model 36, a .38 special that is planted behind the toilet so that in the midst of the meeting Michael can maneuver his way to the bathroom in order to shoot the men upon his return. This scene is pivotal in the sense that this is when we see Michael commit to the family and the lifestyle he will now have to lead. Corleone is successful in his mission and proceeds to hide out in Italy for some time. This film is iconic for brilliant gun scenes and story line and is a masterpiece in Frances Ford Coppola's collection of amazing films.

https://youtu.be/kSQqv2UuvC0

    Smith and Wesson Model 36 - .38 special

  Michael fires the revolver.

If you haven't had a chance to see this film you definitely want to make time to do so. If you haven't seen it in awhile, it might be time to dust it off for a viewing.

The second scene we'll take a look at is the scene with Sonny Corleone and the massive shoot out that takes his life. In this scene Sonny takes a phone call that requires him to leave the safety of the Corleone mansion. When Sonny gets to the toll booth, he realizes he has been set up and is now in a trap filled with continuous gunfire. The primary weapon used in this scene is often called the Tommy Gun.

Barzini's hitmen use Thompson M1928's with drum magazines when gunning down Sonny Corleone (James Caan) at the toll booth.

 One of the hitmen kicks Sonny's head after killing him.

This scene and especially this film, is filled with the riveting action that makes us love a crime drama. The plot line takes us through the Corleone family and it's magnificent legacy. Truly an iconic piece of American cinema.

https://youtu.be/gw5qPQ79DxA

The Godfather 2: The second film from the trilogy, The Godfather 2 was one of few sequels to earn public praise and a Best Picture award. Released in 1974, this film takes us through the origins of Vito Corleone and we glimpse into the present situations of Michael Corleone. There aren't as many iconic gun scenes in this flick but the plot line is strong and I'm a fan of the cinematography. The most memorable scene is where we have a flashback to a young Vito Corleone in the beginning of his illustrious career taking care of a matter with a gentleman named Don Fanucci.

During the 1921 flashback, Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) uses a Webley Mk VI, wrapped in a cloth to slightly suppress the shots when he confronts Don Fanucci (Gastone Moschin) in his apartment building. Vito is then seen going to a rooftop to break the revolver apart and scatters the part

Vito places the Webley in the mouth of Don Fanucci

This is the beginning of the Mafia lifestyle for Vito, who eventually becomes Don Corleone. The second Godfather film fills in the blanks of the history of the Corleone's and their Mob kingdom. There are many great scenes in this flick but this one really sets the tone for the lives to come of our main characters. 

Watching these films is like peering into the complex history of a dynasty, the stuff of legends. Brilliantly written, Puzo made his mark in cinematic history with Director Coppola. 

https://youtu.be/em7EcaXPJF8

Godfather 3: The final chapter in Michael Corleone's life. We follow Corleone as he attempts to legitimize his business dealings. The film also interweaves a fictionalized account of two real-life events into its plot: the 1978 death of Pope John Paul I and the Papal banking scandal of 1981–1982; both are linked to Michael Corleone's business affairs. We are introduced to Sonny's illegitimate son Vincent Mancini. Michael ends up taking Vincent under his wing and shows him the life he has an ambition for. One of the best scenes in the film is a barrage of gunfire from helicopters but another intregal scene feature's Mancini thwarting two would be assassins in his home. 

Vincent Mancini (Andy Garcia) pulls a Beretta Cheetah when confronted by assassins sent by Joey Zasa (Although the pistol turns into a Walther PP for a close-up).

Vincent aims the Cheetah at the other thug.

https://youtu.be/Ju4vhscaYII

We watch the rise and fall of an empire through this trilogy. It's a great way to spend a weekend or a rainy day. Entertaining, gripping crime drama at it's finest these three films capture the heart of the Mafia film genre. Which one was your favorite? 

www.CactusTactical.com

www.USGunWorks.com

Shawn in the Korengal Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

For more info on these and other weapons
Technical specs compiled from:
http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/Active_FM.html
http://world.guns.ru/index-e.html
https://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.militaryfactory.com/
http://www.olive-drab.com/
http://www.army.mil/
http://dok-ing.hr/products/demining/mv_4?productPage=general
http://www.peosoldier.army.mil/

"The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement."