We will be focusing on the following topics:
• The genre in terms of film history
• Generic conventions (what is expected in the action genre)
• Notable films
• The genre in more than one culture
• Subgenres
Many action films can engage with other genres too, genres included with the action film can involve comedy, drama, horror, war, crime and science fiction. Action is the backbone of the entire film industry, after all, who can name one movie that does not have a single stunt in the entire film? According to IMBD (Internet Movie Database), the top action movies include Star Wars, Saving Private Ryan and the Terminator series. As you can see, action films are very closely linked with any other genre, and are considered to help create the horror and the adventure genre.
The first full feature film with a story line to have ever been created was released in 1906, it was called "The Story of the Kelly Gang", its about an Australian Outlaw called Ned Kelly who wears metal armor to rob banks and was considered an action film by critics, this shows how major the action genre is.
Our IB Film list for action films contain:
• The Seven Samurai
• Dr No
• Bullitt
• First Blood
• Die Hard
• The Killer
• The Rock
The stereotypical action movie involves excessive amounts of blood, violence, weapons, explosions and usually involves a really strong many with large muscles who is bit of a hard ass... For example, the "Rambo" series. However, this is true, people enjoy watching violence, but the director uses techniques to explain the story really well that it gets us hooked on to every second of the movie, much like "Gladiator". From an early era, we already know that people used violence as entertainment, watching fights being held in the Colosseum. Action goes back quite a long way.
I am looking forward to the watch the "Die Hard" series because I enjoy Bruce Willis's preformance as the extreme action "hard-ass" in the movie. His role is a law enforcer who cannot get out of the difficult situations that envolve heavily armed gangs because he just happened to be there.
However, the "Die Hard" series are not my favourite action movies, and it is a difficult situation to select which movie would have to be my most favourite action movie, because I'm such a big fan of action films.
Perhaps "Saving Private Ryan" would have to be my favourite action film, or film, period! With an amazing cast including Tom Hanks and outstanding directing by Steven Speilberg, you cannot disagree that "Saving Private Ryan" is one of the best films ever, even if you hate Tom Hanks (Mr. Parker...).
"Saving Private Ryan" is a story of a platoon commanded by Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) who receive orders to find Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) when three of his other brothers have been killed in action.
The risk of 8 soldiers saving 1 behind enemy lines is absolutely ridiculous as they risk their lives for one many, they don't even know.
The D-Day scene in the beginning of the movie is perhaps my favourite scene of the entire movie. It has so much detail that I actually believed I was in the action, not only were the actors performance so good, but the accuracy of the film towards history was incredible. The fact that the scene was of a very memorable historic moment could have effected how incredible this scene is.
Here is the D-Day scene in three clips.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Action movies I have seen since September:
-The Incredible Hulk
-The Dark Knight
-First Blood
-Rambo II
-Rambo III
-Rambo IV
-Gladiator
-Saving Private Ryan
-The Patriot
-300
-The Last Action Hero
-Tango and Cash
-Demolition Man
-Blade
-Blade II
-Terminator II
-Scorpion King
-Four Brothers
-The Big Hit
-Mission Impossible II
-Mission Impossible III
