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Codes and conventions of the action genre

For AS Media Studies coursework

Fights/violenceThe main plot of an action film revolves around the protagonist battling the main villain in order for the story’s problem to be resolved by the former character.

There is often hand-to-hand combat (often through punches, kicks and jiu jitsu/karate & other martial arts-like moves) and use of guns and explosives, such as in the James Bond and Mission Impossible franchises.

Female victim/love interest

Most films of the action genre feature a female character who has the role of the damsel in distress (referred to as the ‘princess’ by Propp) and/or the love interest of the hero, often doing little else.

James Bond films are well known for featuring ‘Bond girls’ who engage in romantic relationships with the titular hero, while in the first Fast and Furious film, one of the main characters has a love interest who is also skilled in mechanics and driving, therefore challenging this convention.

Sinister villainMany villains of action films are distinguished through their actions and motives (often revenge or power) expressed in the story. There is also the common stereotype of these character types coming from Russia and other European countries, e.g. Ernst Stavro Blofield in Spectre.

The protagonists have to face up against this character in order to drive the plotline and restore equilibrium to the story.

Weapons

Action films largely revolve around saving people and killing antagonists and guns are symbols of death and violence, so it is a well known symbol of the genre.

The most common of these is guns and firearms, mainly used by spies like James Bond and numerous characters in the Mission: Impossible series, but also by other types of people e.g. CIA, soldiers.

ChasesOften in action films, a pursuit takes place between the villain and/or their henchmen and the protagonist – some films have pursuits in vehicles (the most common being cars), while others take place on foot and a few feature a combination of both.

Some films have pursuits in vehicles (the most common being cars), e.g. the Fast and Furious series, while others take place on foot, e.g. Jason Bourne & James Bond, and a few feature a combination of both, e.g. Black Widow’s pursuits in some of the Marvel films.

DeathSome of the villain’s henchmen, and often the main villain themselves, meet their demise during or after the events of an action movie, resolving the problem of the story and bringing equilibrium (Todorov).

However, a friend, love interest, ally or relative of the protagonist can also die – this is the case for M, James Bond’s mentor, in Skyfall, and in The Bourne Supremacy, Jason Bourne’s girlfriend meets the same fate.

SettingsMost action films take place in modern cities and urban areas, such as Taken (Paris) and Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift – this setting is where most of a film’s fights and chases will take place.

Other settings that may be used are deserts/desert-like areas, as seen in Mad Max: Fury Road and one scene in Spectre.