2. History Development
Action films started in the 1920s and 1930s, action-based films were often
"swashbuckling" this involved a lot of sword fighting. The plots for these films
were usually a damsel in distress and a romantic element. Then in the 1940s
and 1950s action films were now seen to be war fighting and cowboy films.
The war films were associated with warfare; these were either naval, air or
land battles taking place. The plot for the war films consisted of a prisoner
was being held by an enemy during or after the war. Then in the 1960s the
long-running success of the James Bond films or series introduced a staple of
the modern-day action film: the resourceful hero. Then in the 1970s James
Bond gained competition against gritty detective stories and urban crime
dramas as they began to evolve and fuse themselves with the new "action"
style, which all featured in having an intense car chase. The 1980s would
see the action film take over Hollywood to become a dominant form of
summer blockbuster. "The action era" was popularized by actors such as
Sylvester Stallone. By the end of the 1980s, the influence of the successful
action film could be felt in almost every genre.
3. Audience
The main target audience for action films are young adult males who
commonly have an interest in action, thrills and excitement. They usually watch
these films because they contain things that are stereotypically "masculine”.
This includes things such as car chases, explosions, gun/knife fights etc.
4. The Different Types of Action
films• Action comedy - A subgenre involving action and humour e.g. Big mommas house
• Action horror - A subgenre combining the intrusion of an evil force, event, or supernatural
personage of horror movies with the gunfights and frenetic chases of the action genre. Themes or elements
often prevalent in typical action-horror films include gore, demons, vicious animals, vampires and, most
commonly, zombies e.g. Dawn of the dead
• Disaster film - Having elements of thriller and sometimes science fiction films, the main conflict of
this genre is some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes,
etc. e.g. The day after tomorrow
• Martial arts - A subgenre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between
characters e.g. The karate kid
• Sci-fi action - Sharing many of the conventions of a science fiction film, sci-fi action films
emphasizes gun-play, space battles, invented weaponry, and other sci-fi elements weaved into action film
premises e.g. The island
• Spy film: In which the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against
agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. They often revolve around spies who are involved
in investigating various events, often on a global scale e.g. xXx
• Action thriller - Featuring guns, cool explosions, and amazing set pieces. These films often feature
a race against the clock, lots of violence, and a clear—often flamboyantly evil—antagonist e.g. Snakes on the
plane
• Superhero film - Usually having elements of science fiction and fantasy, they focus on the actions
of one or more superheroes, who usually possess superhuman abilities and are dedicated to protecting the
public e.g. Superman
5. Typical Character Types
They always contain the recognisable heroic type character who always seems to
overcome incredible odds and save the day.
6. Narrative
The narrative for an action film usually follows this path:
1.Opening: establishes setting and introduces character
2.Build up: Relationships established. Development of characters and their world
3.Problem: a dilemma or series of complications. Characters are faced with an
obstacle to overcome a mystery to solve, or often more than one
4.Events: a series of events/action as characters try to overcome obstacle, solve
problem, discover truth and so on. Further complications may arise in the
process
5.Resolution: the protagonists are victorious, problems are solved, truth revealed
6.Ending: characters reflect on events, reinstate relationships and look forward.
