The two words on everyone’s lips this week: The Avengers.
And of course the other two words on everyone’s mind: Joss Whedon. Many kudos for delivering a record-breaking tent-pole with equal parts fun, entertainment, spectacle. And all without a moping teenage girl in the lead role. Wow.
But here, today, I’d like to give thanks for two other words: Mr. Armorer.
An oft under-appreciated position, Mr. Armorer is someone who can make or break the realism of a film. Yes, there is a god, an armored flying suit and an angry green monster (and more!) in The Avengers, but still… for those characters who don’t have super-powers, realism can go a long ways.
Thank you, Mr. Armorer for handing Black Widow a pair of thigh-holstered Glock 26s for her foray into arguably the largest battle since sometime in 1944.
In today’s hyperbolic age of more is more “is more” (but actually isn’t), she could just as easily been outfitted with two massive hand canons that might have looked more impressive on screen. But someone – ahem: Mr. Armorer – on team-Avengers was considering her character when they made her final weapon selection.
A spy with no super powers? Hmmm. Let’s delve into her psyche… her backstory… her long history of infiltration missions… Could it be that she’d be using an easily concealable, extremely reliable, sub-compact handgun with an internationally available caliber? Yes…
Or maybe they just look good in her hands. Then again, a lot of guns probably look good in Scarlett’s hands.
Either way, this realism fan appreciated your work Mr. Armorer.
And for the other part of me which appreciates crazy, over the top weaponry for my bad guys, well, there’s always the TDI Vector, and the Noveske Rifleworks Diplomat which both make cameo appearances. For the full run down, always worth checking out: http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Avengers,_The_(2012)
Let’s meet again on the far side of Prometheus and drool over future realistic weapons.
P.

