1. The conclusion to the analysis
of four Action films
By George Irving Frost

2. Introduction
 This is my conclusion to my genre research and film analysis.
As a film genre to research I have chosen Action films. Action
films fall into several sub-genres such as War, Espionage,
martial Arts, Chase films and Disaster Films.
 For my film deconstruction I have chosen four films from four
different decades. I have identified what marks these films out
as action films. When deconstructing these films it was easy to
see what made the individual an action film, but I also looked
to see what they all had in common that marked them out as
action films.

3. The use of Music
 The first thing one notices when comparing the four films I
have analysed is that all four use music. The music however is
not always introduced immediately. Sometimes music is used to
mask the lack of dialog in the first few minutes of the film, it
can be used to raise or create tension or to indicate something
of the films sub-genre. A spy film will use very different music
to a War film.
 Sometimes music can be used to draw our attention to a
particular object, action or character at the beginning of the
film. The way music is played and when it is used is also of
significance. In some films I analysed there was no music for
the majority of the beginning but when it comes it is at a high
volume to attract the audiences attention and highlight a point.

4. The use of Music continued
 The use of music can be as simple as using fast, rhythmic music
to indicate speed. or allowing the music to slowly rise to show
heightened activity, realisation, increased speed/ urgency or
rising importance in the film.
 In many ways music an be said to be a substitute for a narrator
in the beginning of some films, telling us what to think of
certain characters, what the mood of the film will be and the
atmosphere of some areas.

5. The introduction of Characters
 Another striking similarity between all four films is that they
establish or introduce the main characters as soon as possible.
This is to fix them in the minds of the audience. The
establishing of characters however can also include the
foreshadowing of events that will later occur in the film.
 This is true in two of the films I analysed, “The Mummy
Returns” and “Waterloo” the first scene is set many years
before the rest of the story unfolds. This is an attempt to
explain what is at the nub of the plot and from where the action
is to spring to the audience from the outset. This method of
showing the audience the basis for the whole story allows the
film to have a simpler plot as all of the action will stem from
one point.

6. The introduction of Characters continued
 In the film “Zulu” a slightly different technique is used. The
film is introduced by a narrator who sets up the scene before
actors representing the two factions take over the story.
 The method of foreshadowing events, explaining the plot and
introducing the main protagonist is best encapsulated by the
1996 film “The Rock”. In the initial tow minutes of this film
introduce the main protagonist or instigator of the plot and give
the audience some clue to why he is going to do what he “must
do” and in some ways they give a hint to the unpleasant end he
is to meet.

7. The establishment of time
 The final quality that all of the films share is that they establish the
location and or time immediately. This is not always done as in some
films they deliberately misled the audience to create mystery, tension
or suspense. Out of all four films I analysed however the time and
location was established immediately.
 In the film “The Mummy Returns” it is done through costume, the
architecture of the buildings and the narrator.
 In “Zulu” it is achieved by writing across the screen giving the date
and the narrator giving the location.
 “Waterloo” tells us of the time through costume and the location
given through the dialog.
 In “The Rock” the time and location are given by the fluttering
American flag and the contemporary cloths.

8. Conclusion
 In conclusion all action films introduce the main characters and
theme early on as they have fast moving plots focused on physical
action.
 All of the films will have music at some point in their opening and
they will use this to tell us what to think of certain events or
characters. the music is in fact often used as a guide where dialog
would not work.
 They establish the time and location as soon as possible. This all can
create a fast moving beginning that will help establish the rest of the
plot.
 Without a clear beginning an action film may not work and these are
the three methods I have noticed are frequently used in the beginning
of Action films.