Features of Action films

Conventions of Action films

• Fight scenes with fast pace editing builds excitement and keeps audience on the edge of their seats.
• Explosions, usually uses multiple camera shots to build effect.
• Guns/weapons, excites a male audience and builds tension seeing characters ready weapons.
• usually a clear good guy and bad guy, with the bad guy having simple motives about why there doing something, and the good guy trying to save a love interest and save the world.
• chase scenes, builds excitement and tension, good way to show off gadgets and setting, and keeps audience on the edge of their seat.
• city or urban setting, are common as their are lots of people and places for action to take place.
• Exotic locations, provides the audience with a getaway from the real world.
• good tension building music, makes the audience excited.
• High tech gadgets

Sub-genres:

• action comedy, usually has a combination of action and humour, it was popular during the 80's and rarely involve death or injury to the protagonist, includes films like: Bad boys
• action horror, usually involves zombies includes chases and gunfights and includes movies like World war Z
• Disaster films,usually has elements of thrillers, with the main action caused by natural or artifical disasters, films like: 2012
• Martial arts, contains numerous action sequences, fast paced editing and shots, known for storytelling and character development, usually has actors who are martial arts experts. Films like: The raid:redemption
• Sci-fi action, usually has the features of a sci-fi film but there is more emphasise on the gun battles and technology. Films like: Star Trek Into Darkness
• Spy film, Usually a government agent who takes on either rival governments or terrorists, only films with frequent action sequences are considered Action while others are in the thriller genre. films include: The James Bond series
• Action Thriller, features most conventions of action films and feature a race against the clock, violence and a clear antagonist, stories often take place in limited locations such as buildings, planes and trains, and the protagonist has to use stealth to bring down the bad guys. Films include: Air Force One.
• Superhero movies, usually focuses on the origins of a superhero, who has superhuman abilities and there arch nemesis. Films like: The Avengers