This document discusses types of combat and violence seen in films, providing examples for each type. It also examines narrative reasons for combat scenes in films, listing common motivations. Viewers are asked to provide additional examples and suggest other categories for types of combat. An Avengers Assemble fight scene is shared as an example for analysis.

1. COMBAT
AND
VIOLENCE

2. TYPES OF FIGHT
SEQUENCE
Hand to hand combat –Matrix, Rocky, Sherlock Holmes
Traditional weapons – Martial Arts- The Karate Kid, The Last
Samurai, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Military weapons – The Hurt Locker, Jar Head, Three Kings
Futuristic weapons – Avatar, Star Wars
Vehicles (with and on) see Skyfall, Top Gun
Special powers – Superhero genre, Matrix
Assassins – Bourne Identity, Shoot Em Up, Desperado
Discussion: Can you think of other types or examples?

3. NARRATIVE REASONS
FOR COMBAT
The conclusion of a chase sequence- Mission Impossible
A competition or contest – the Karate Kid
A fight to the death to end a war - Troy
To protect more vulnerable characters – Captain America
To save the world from an apocalyptic army/force – Avengers
Assemble
To settle an argument – Face Off
Because of a misunderstanding - The Princess Bride
As part of a crime – Point Break, The Dark Knight
For fun – Fight Club
As a test for the hero/training – Batman Begins
Revenge - Taken

4. TASK
Up date the list with films that you have watched recently:
The conclusion of a chase sequence-
A competition or contest –
A fight to the death to end a war –
To protect more vulnerable characters –
To save the world from an apocalyptic army/force –
To settle an argument –
Because of a misunderstanding –
As part of a crime –
For fun –
As a test for the hero/training –
Revenge –
Extension: Can you think of any other categories?

5. AVENGERS ASSEMBLE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldoAQtUp02A

6. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS
Question 1 Using this extract…
Explain two ways the characters/events in the extract fit the
action adventure genre
Explanation 1
Explanation 2

7. Use the following questions as prompts for each technical
area for question 2.
Camera angles and framing/shot types/movement
• How is the viewer invited to empathise with any particular
character in the sequence? In what ways?
• What kinds of shots are the most prominent|? If close ups are
used, what do they show and why?

8. Editing
• How does the editing contribute to the pace and drama?
• Are there other noticeable editing effects?
• Are there shots filmed at anything other than ‘normal’ speed? If
so what effect does this have?
Cross cutting, action match, whip pan, racked focus, shot
reverse shot, over cranking, under cranking

9. Sound -Listen to the sound mix carefully.
• What elements of the soundtrack seem to be most important
(i.e. dialogue, ambient sound, music, specific sound effects)?
• Are any sounds exaggerated or amplified in volume?
• What kind of music is used in the sequence? Is it used
throughout or introduced at a specific poit? Does it emphasise
the action or contrast with it?
• Is silence used at all for effect?
Diegetic, non diegetic

10. Mise en scene and special effects
• Does the sequence seem real? What aspects contribute most
to this?
• Are aspects of the sequence stylised or unrealistic? Does the
film-maker attempt to convince us that what we are seeing is
real?
• What elements of the mise en scene are intended to add to the
intensity to add to the intensity of the visual experience (such
as lighting, special effects, stunts, etc)?
• Comment on the nature of violence in the sequence. Is it
graphically depicted? Are there elements of comedy?