Samuel L. Jackson’s ‘S.W.A.T.’ Gets Destroyed by Firearms Expert

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As a long-time action movie enthusiast who has seen more bullets fly than I care to count, I find myself both amused and disheartened by Patrick McNamara’s analysis of Hollywood action films for Business Insider’s podcast series. On one hand, it’s refreshing to see an expert like him dissect the technical aspects of these movies, pointing out the errors that even the most casual viewer might miss. On the other hand, it’s a bit of a bummer when he lays into some of my favorites, like Samuel L. Jackson’s S.W.A.T., which I still think is a fun and exciting action flick despite its numerous inaccuracies.

That being said, I have to admit that McNamara has a point about the handling of weapons in many films not matching up with reality. However, I do believe that sometimes, a little artistic license can go a long way in making an action sequence more exciting and visually appealing. After all, who doesn’t love seeing our heroes roll across the floor in slow motion while firing two guns at once?

In a perfect world, maybe we could have both realistic gun handling and over-the-top action sequences. But until then, I’ll continue to enjoy my action movies with a critical eye and a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll see a movie that manages to blend the two seamlessly, making even the most hardcore action fans like myself say, “Wow, they really nailed it!”

Oh, and on a lighter note, I can’t wait for Samuel L. Jackson to roll across the screen again in his next action flick… or maybe he could teach McNamara a thing or two about handling guns? That would be quite the spectacle!

In a recent episode of Business Insider’s “How Real Is It?” podcast series, firearms expert Patrick McNamara scrutinized the handling and precision of guns in 13 action movies from Hollywood. The video showcases McNamara’s analysis of various aspects, such as how characters wield different weapons, reload ammo on-the-go, shoot two guns simultaneously, and so forth. Remarkably, two films starring Samuel L. Jackson were featured: the 2003 movie “S.W.A.T.”, alongside Colin Farrell and Jeremy Renner, and the classic “Pulp Fiction”, which also features John Travolta and Bruce Willis.

Jackson is renowned for his action roles, such as Mace Windu in Star Wars, Nick Fury in Marvel productions, and the memorable flick Snakes on a Plane. Yet, even his impressive action scenes couldn’t prevent one film from receiving negative reviews by McNamara. The movie S.W.A.T., based on the 1975 crime drama of the same name, was a box office hit, generating $207.7 million against its production budget of $70 million. However, it received a lukewarm reception from critics, scoring only 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s technical advisor gave S.W.A.T. a harsh one-star rating out of ten, criticizing numerous inaccuracies and unrealistic portrayals.

I’d give this video a 1. Action films often require you to ignore reality, but when it comes to depicting police or military, I believe they should strive for greater authenticity. Unfortunately, this particular video seemed overly comedic and lacked realism.

While watching the SWAT training scenes in the show S.W.A.T., McNamara commented, “One of the SWAT officers performs a small roll while moving from point A to point B. That seems illogical. The purpose of transitioning from one location to another is simply to arrive […] You don’t roll during that.” He also expressed skepticism about the portrayal of shooting range drills in the film:

This version attempts to maintain the original meaning while making it more conversational and easier for a wider audience to understand.

As a seasoned gun owner with years of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that encountering a “failure to eject” is a common issue one might face during shooting sessions. The round extracts, but it stubbornly refuses to eject, creating an unusual sound and feeling that’s hard to ignore. If you keep firing the gun in this state, you risk getting stuck in an endless cycle of squeezing the trigger without any result.

It’s not a catastrophic malfunction by any means, but it’s one that’s relatively easy to resolve. As a responsible gun owner, I make sure to always carry a cleaning kit with me and take the necessary steps to clear the jam as soon as possible. It’s essential to address these issues promptly to ensure the safety of myself and others around me while maintaining the longevity of my firearm.

You can watch the full video below.

Quentin Tarantino’s movie “Pulp Fiction” received a relatively low score of 3 out of 10 due to its questionable direction and mistakes. On the other hand, McNamara surprisingly gave a high rating of 8 out of 10 to “John Wick: Chapter 2”, considering it one of the finest action films from the 2010s. He admires the character’s attention to detail, such as checking his weapon and handling unpredictable situations with ease. McNamara appreciates that Keanu Reeves seems to grasp the workings of the gun and its use, which is reflected in the movie’s high score.

Upcoming Action Movies to Look Out for in 2025

Action movie enthusiasts are eagerly looking forward to the new year, as 2025 promises a multitude of action-packed films. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to debut not one but two thrilling movies – “Captain America: Brave New World” early in the year and “Thunderbolts” later on, both brimming with action scenes, weaponry, and hand-to-hand combat. In the realm of combat, the long-awaited “Mortal Kombat 2” is slated for release in October. This film serves as a sequel to 2021’s “Mortal Kombat” and marks the fourth installment in the mixed martial arts fantasy series.

2025 will bring us the next installment in the series, titled “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning“, which is a follow-up to “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning” set for release in 2023. Tom Cruise, an action genre veteran, promises to deliver pulse-pounding action sequences and awe-inspiring stunts that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats. In addition, Liam Neeson returns to the action scene with a comical twist in the rebooted “The Naked Gun“, inspired by the beloved comedy franchise and TV series “Police Squad!“. Lastly, the upcoming movie “Love Hurts” blends humor and violence, starring Ke Huy Quan as a charming yet deadly character.

In the upcoming movie “Novocaine,” Jack Quaid takes on a unique spin on Liam Neeson’s “Taken” role. The plot revolves around a man who, despite being unable to feel physical pain, uses his unusual condition to his advantage in a fight to save the woman he loves from kidnappers. This is one of many action-packed titles to watch out for in 2025. It’ll be intriguing to see which films McNamara recommends next!

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2024-12-31 19:02