Action films feature heroes who face physical challenges and threats to their lives as they struggle against overwhelming odds. They involve scenes of fighting, violence, and frantic chases as the hero battles a villain or dangerous pursuit. Though the first action film was in 1903, the genre developed especially in the 1970s with the rise of stunts and special effects in films featuring detectives, spies, war, and science fiction stories that incorporated action sequences and subgenres.

2. What is Action Film?
Action film is a film genre in which one or more heroes are thrust into a
series of challenges that typically include physical feats, extended fight
scenes, violence, and frantic chases. Action films tend to feature a
resourceful character struggling against incredible odds, which include
life-threatening situations, a villain, or a pursuit which generally concludes
in victory for the hero. (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_film )

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arvr7eKs_k
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The first action film was by Edwin S. Porter
called The Great Train Robbery in 1903.

4. • In the 1920s and 30s, action based films usually involved
wielding swords in period films or western.
• In the 1940s and 50s war and cowboy films were introduced to
the film industry which incorporated action.
• Film genres such us; science fiction, adventure and thriller
mostly have action sequences which introduced sub genres.
• In the 1970s James Bond was introduced which is detective
stories and urban crime dramas. These are seen to be action
films but it changed from the 1920s where it was mainly sword
fights in period times. Action film genre began to develop in the
1970s along with the increase of stunts and special effects. The
genre is closely associated with the thriller and adventure film
genres.

5. • The 1980s was known as “ the action era”. Action films
took over Hollywood and dominant the film industry.
• In 1990 CGI (computer generated imagery) started to
become popular and well executed. Also there was a rise
in both budgets and number of sequels a film generally
had.
• In the 2000s action film still were popular and was still a
medium budget genre films.

6. Action
Comedy
Action
Horror
Science
fiction
action
Sub-genre with action involved usually
Spy
Films
Action
Thriller
Superhero
films

7. Conventions of an Action Film
Fight scenes
Cat and mouse chase
Explosions and crushes
Weapons
Missions
Deaths
Tension building music
Good guy
Villain
Good guy always wins
Usually the settings is in the city or a built up area