What is Action?
The action genre is a class of storytelling. It often emphasizes a key hero who faces multiple antagonists in dangerous circumstances. The narratives usually involve fierce conflicts such as battles and escapes which are made to keep viewers at the edge of their seats. Themes such as bravery and heroism capture the overall of a film connecting all of the details shown throughout. Looking closer at the true definition of a film can evoke emotion in viewers. Action has been one of the most popular movie genres for decades, usually targeting any age of people that like that adrenaline rush and suspense.
Genre Conventions - Content:
Throughout Action films, choreography is used when making fight and action scenes. These scenes are designed to be safe for the actors yet still very realistic. During the making of these types of scenes, it takes professional skill actors to be able to bring the action feeling to the screen. Viewers can create a relationship with characters as they grow an emotional connection with them by viewing fight scenes and seeing the characters true personality. In fight scenes, characters are often holding objects that pertain to their personality and background. Most fight scenes tend to be similar, as there is a conflict between two people, tribes, or even countries, and most fight scenes begin when the two characters meet again.
EX: This photograph is from the film Thor: The Dark World where Thor is in battle with his hammer, Mjölnir, a weapon only he can pick up.
Film makers also utilize suspense when creating Action films. Producers want to make viewers feel invested in the story's plot so they create scenes that will enhance the overall experience. Some signs of suspense are cliffhangers. When people are left not knowing what happens next they get more engaged to want to finish the film. Sounds like high pitched tunes right before something happens creates an environment where viewers won't want to look away from the screen. If a character is in battle and the stakes are high viewers are going to be captivated by the scene to see what happens to the character.
Themes connect to the overall presentation of action films. Themes give film characters reasons to act why they do which often makes it easier for viewers to understand what is happening. When the audience understands what is going on with the characters and their struggles, they tend to feel empathetic toward that character more than before. Themes help to connect the overall plot together which constructs a clear lesson that viewers will understand. Without a theme, the plot of films will have no emotional depth making it hard for audiences to understand what is going on.
Genre Conventions - Production Techniques:
Editing and the use of CGI plays a tremendous role in action movies. Fast cuts and cross cutting are commonly used to establish suspense and excitement. Fast cutting keeps the viewers occupied along with rapid transitions that build the audience's determination. Adjusting through action scenes builds up the anxiousness and jittery feeling that most of the time occurs during those thrilling seconds. CGI, or computer-generated imagery helps to create visuals that wouldn't be able to be possible without. With CGI, filmmakers are able to create different scenarios like creatures that don't exist and battles that look very authentic. Producers are able to create almost anything with the use of CGI which brings out the viewers imagination when watching these films.
Institutional Conventions - Marketing
Producers of Action films will often collaborate with popular influencers to promote their movies. On social media, influencers will review a film and its content to give their followers the gist of what they would be watching. Some people typically agree with social media stars just because they are famous so this can help in a way for film makers to tap into fan bases to make their film rise in popularity. Sneak peaks or teasers from scenes that are high in suspense like explosions or fights, can gear audiences in the direction of excitement to see the movie.
Posters and different types of illustrations are commonly used to express a films tone so that viewers can understand it better. Action movie posters usually include things that catch people's eyes like explosions, weapons, fights, or even the star character in the middle with the shadow of antagonists behind them. This causes viewers to focus more on the protagonist and their role of being a heroic symbol. Some posters also may show after battle scenes which can be portrayed by characters looking disheveled, exhausted, and their clothes being dirty or ripped. Characters may also be standing in positions as if they are about to enter battle.
Film Sample 1 - Spiderman No Way Home (2021)
The film Spider-Man No Way Home (2021) is a popular Marvel action movie. The main character or Peter Parker (Tom Holland) gets his identity leaked and has to deal with the consequences. Since the theme is redemption of course Peter then asks Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for help as a chance to redeem himself after exposing himself to the whole world. His idea was to erase everyone's memory, however it goes wrong and unleashes a warp into another universe that releases different villains. Peter meets two other Spider-Men (Andrew Garfield) (Toby Maguire) in the movie that help to stop the villains. Within the movie, many choregraphed fight scenes occur like the bridge scene where Peter fights with Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina). This scene demonstrated the back and forth fight between good and evil. When the final battle in Spider-Man occurred, the rapid camera movements following the characters as they are in battle heightened the suspense and chaos as the fight went on. In the poster shown, it shows Spider-Man with all of the antagonists (Doc Octopus, Electro, Lizard, and Sandman) in a shadow behind him signaling that Spider-Man is the hero in this movie. The Warp in the back is also demonstrating that the villains are not natives to the world Spider-Man lives in and they are from the multiverse.Film Sample 2 - Karate Kid (1984)
The film Karate Kid (1984) grew in popularity in the mid-1980s and is still very popular for many people. Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) was the main character in this coming of age film. The film starts as him and his mother move to Reseada in Los Angelas where Daniel is unhappy about making new friends after leaving his old ones. As the film progresses, Daniel struggles to thrive in his school by a group of bullies specifically Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) who are from a nearby karate dojo. Daniel's first friend is Mr Miyagi (Nariyoshi Miyagi), the reseada electrician, who wants to teach him karate after seeing how Daniel is being treated. Daniel finds his confidence again and eventually wins the all-valley championship against Johnny. Choreographing and camera movement played a big role when developing all of the karate scenes as well as the bullying. all of the fast movement of the camera made the scenes look more realistic and creates eagerness to see what happens next. These fight scenes have to be recorded carefully in order to not actually hurt someone but to still make it look real which lets the viewers feel like they are a part of the thriller. The poster is expressing the main protagonists Daniel and Mr. Miyagi while under is a clip from the final round of the karate championship where Daniel finally beats his main antagonist Johnny in the end of the film. Seeing this poster, it's easy to extract from it that there will be a winner by the end of the film. This film established Daniel's adjust to his new home and the growth of what he has become after achieving great things signaling the coming of age theme. Other Action Film Samples:
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