Guns of the Silver Screen: V21N9
By Kyle Shea
Sting of the Black Widow
If there is a studio that is dominating the film industry right now, it is Marvel. Marvel’s Cinematic Universe is hugely popular and is still going strong. It all started with 2008’s “Iron Man,” followed by “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger” and finally, “Marvel’s The Avengers.” “The Avengers” was an outstanding film, becoming one of the highest grossing films of all time and was well received by critics and fans alike. Three years later, the sequel, “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” was released. It did well in the theaters, though there were a few problems.
In both movies one of the members of the Avengers is the character Natasha Romanoff, AKA the Black Widow, who is played by the actress Scarlett Johansson. Originally a spy for another country, Natasha joined the organization S.H.I.E.L.D. and later joined the Avengers in helping them stop an alien invasion. She has no real powers, but she is an excellent martial artist and skilled shooter. When she first appeared in the comics, she was a villain, but over time, she became a great hero.
In “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Black Widow carries a pair of Glock 26s, though she is only seen using one. Glock Pistols are among the best in the world, manufactured by the company of the same name. The company itself was founded by Gaston Glock, an engineer from Vienna, Austria. There are countless variants, and they are used in in 59 countries, especially in the United States where they are popular with both law enforcement and private citizens.
The 26 variant of the pistol is one of a number of concealment types. It shoots 9x19mm Parabellum from a 10-round magazine, though there is a special magazine that holds two more rounds. The gun is light and easy to shoot, with little recoil. Like most of its family, the Glock 26 has a “Safe Action” safety system, where the safety is on the trigger. Black Widow’s Glocks were permanently blanked by Bapty, Ltd.
The best scene where the Black Widow uses her guns is a scene in a partially destroyed church, where the Avengers find themselves fighting back-to-back against Ultron and his drones. It is an amazing scene that I wish lasted longer, where the Avengers really shine. In an earlier scene, Black Widow uses a Glock 19 against robots under the control of Ultron.
Most of the other guns in the movie are pistols, including another early variant of the Glock, the Glock 17, as well as the Walther PPK and P99, Smith & Wesson M&P, Makarov PM and Browning Hi-Power. In the beginning of the film, the Avengers storm a terrorist stronghold, where their opponents use a number of weapons, including a DShK heavy machine gun (Dishka), a Browning M2HB and some H&K416 assault rifles. During a featured fight between the Hulk and Iron Man in South Africa, local soldiers arrive, armed with the Vektor R5 short Galil variant.
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” is a good movie, but it has a number of problems. One of the biggest is the character of Ultron. While in other versions he is a far more terrifying villain, here he comes across more as a comedian than a villain. There are things in this movie that are not well explained, and the Ultron drones are too easily beatable. Still, the action is great, and the Avengers themselves are still fun to watch. Not as good as its predecessor, but it is definitely worth a watch.
Special thanks to the movie wizards at Bapty, Ltd in London, UK.
This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V21N9 (November 2017) |
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