Action Adventure Films- Lesson 2

Which of the following films are action adventure films?

Task

Mission Impossible Pirates of the Caribbean Bridget Jones Diary Rambo The Eye

Superman Returns Platoon Pretty Woman

Indiana Jones Jaws Troy

Die Hard Predator Harry Potter

To understand what is meant by ‘action adventure’ and identify sub-genres

To begin identifying the codes and conventions of the different sub-genres

Learning objectives:

Action & Adventure CodesWhat do you associate with Action film? List all the things you have come to expect in Action films. A hero Chases Fighting/combat Explosions Weapons – guns Lots of killingNow list all the things for Adventure genre films Exotic locations Treasure Humour An element of danger – but not as violent or threatening as

Action films THESE ARE KNOWN AS THE GENRE CODES OR ICONOGRAPHY

Action Films - the story is largely told through physical action rather than dialogue. The action typically involves individual efforts

on the part of the hero. Adventure Films - are exciting stories, with new experiences or exotic locations. They are similar to the action genre as they provide an action-filled, energetic experience for the film viewer. However there is less emphasis on violence

and fighting

The Action Adventure Hybrid

Action Adventure Films are a combination of the two genres◦emphasis on travels, ◦conquests, ◦explorations, ◦struggles and ◦situations that confront the main characters or actual historical figures

Genre conventions

Buddy – Men in Black Team - Red Superhero – Spiderman/Superman/Thor,

etc Historical - Gladiator Rom/Com and action adventure –

Romancing the Stone

Action adventure sub genres

Sub - genres

A specific type of genre that has very distinct codes and conventions:

• Fantasy• Disaster• Historical• Quest• Thriller• Swashbuckler

Sub-genresFANTASY DISASTER HISTORICAL

QUEST THRILLER SWASHBUCKLER

Sub-genresFANTASY DISASTER HISTORICAL

The setting is usually a world which bares little reality to our own, very imaginative containing strange creatures and landscapes.

Society is faced with a large scale disaster that looks like the end of mankind such as a plague or hurricane.

May be based on a real story or legend, but is usually based in a real historical time period and place.

QUEST THRILLER SWASHBUCKLER

An expedition or trip undertaken by one or more characters in order to achieve a particular goal.

A tense film which is full of suspense. It is often based around a crime or deception.

Will involve sword-fighting and usually set in the past (though won’t have any basis in reality).

SwashbucklerNARRATIVE CONVENTION – The type of storyline we would expect. Characterised by sword-fighting and

adventurous heroic characters, often set in Renaissance Western Europe

EXAMPLES• The Mask of Zorro• Pirates of the Caribbean• The Three Musketeers

COMMON CODES AND CONVENTIONS Male hero, damsel in distress, romantic

interest, clear morality (hero = good, villain = evil) code of honor, pirates, swords and swordfights, bows and arrows, lavish costumes

DisasterNARRATIVE CONVENTION The characters deal with an impending or

ongoing disaster and its aftermath – this can be man made or natural

EXAMPLES• Armageddon• Twister• Independence DayCOMMON CODES ‘The world is going to end’ message.

Meteors, volcanoes, earthquakes, tidal waves, tornados, fire, alien invasion, war, crashes, sinking ships, large cast of characters, multiple plot lines, usually a happy ending

FantasyNARRATIVE COONVENTIONS Heroic story set in an invented

world which is a more fanciful version of our world or a legendary, mythic past

EXAMPLES Clash of the Titans Star Wars AvatarCOMMON CODES Very varied but could include:

aliens, spaceships, wizards, witches, ghosts, imaginary places, fanciful plots, good versus evil, happy endings

QuestNARRATIVE CONVENTIONS The protagonist goes on an epic search

for an object of value or someone of personal importance

EXAMPLES• Indiana Jones films• National Treasure• Romancing the StoneCOMMON CODES Male hero, multi skilled, romantic

interest, sidekick, exotic locations, travel, villain with same quest, danger, guns, grand finale with moral – hero learns something profound about themselves

ThrillerNARRATIVE CONVENTION An exciting, suspenseful and tense

plot in which the hero usually overcomes a series of distractions set by the villain

EXAMPLES• The Fugitive• Cliffhanger• Die HardCOMMON CODES Male hero, villain/criminal with a

master plan, fight and chase scenes, weapons, gunfights, information kept from audience, mystery, police, hero versus villain finale

HistoricalNARRATIVE CONVENTION An epic story set in a recognisable

historical period or against the backdrop of a famous historical event

EXAMPLES• Gladiator• King Arthur• Braveheart

COMMON CODES Famous events, story based on fact or

real people, historical settings, costumes, personal struggle, romantic interest, battles, huge number of extras

Homework

Due this time next week: Write a 250 word analysis on any

action/adventure film of your choice. You must explain what sub genre it belongs to and the codes and conventions it uses