Conventions of the Action genre

The action genre is very fast pace, and it contains high energy throughout.Action films have a very large budget, this is so that they are able to afford all the different stunts, costumes and props needed to conform to the genre of the film and to make the film effective. The protagonist of the film is involved in numerous amounts of violence, for example, close combat fights. The general plot of an action film is that there is a fight between a hero and a villain, the result is victory for the hero.

Sub Genres

Action Comedy – This is all the elements of the Action genre, however, humour is incorporated.Action Drama – All of the conventions of an action film, combined with the Drama genre. This sort of genre also contains elements of Romance and Comedy.Action Adventure – This is a hybrid genre, which takes action on an adventure.Action Horror – A combination of both Action and Horror, whereby, supernatural forces and evil are combined with gunfights and chases.

The history of the Action genre

The Action film genre was discovered in the 1920’s, this genre was mainly in Western films, where gun fighting and horse-back chases took place. However, as the years progressed into the 1940-50’s the Action genre was portrayed through cowboy films.Historians consider the first American Action film to be ‘The Great Train Robbery’

Examples of Films that contain the Action genre include:

During the 1960’s this the James Bond collection arise, this collection of films is now one of the most famous Action films.

In the 1970’s, films such as, martial arts one became very popular with the Western genre, martial arts films are now

Codes and Conventions

Within an action film, there will always be a ‘Hero’ and a ‘Villain’

Explosions and Crashes

Sinister, upbeat, pacey music

The abduction of, or the killing of a loved one

Weapons – Guns, bombs, knives, tools..

A mission needing to be completed by the hero

Chases – Car, running and jumping off buildings, plane..

Near the end of the plot, nothing seems to be going right for the hero, and it seems as though evil will prevail

A natural disaster- Tsunami, tornado, flood..