ACTIONAND ITS DEVELOPMENT

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1920s 1930s

During this era, classic swashbucklingmovies were dominant; they were

movies in which the heroes would battlethe villains with swords. Swashbuckler

films are an action-adventure subgenre,often characterised by swordfighting

and adventurous heroic characters whogo on quests to defeat the bad.Thesemovies were mainly set in WesternEurope, a period between the late

Renaissance and the age of reason. Thecharacters were appropriately dressedwith lavish costumes to suit this time.

By the 1940s and 50s, a greater variety of actionmovies came about: War Movies, Cowboy Movies,and Spy Adventure Films took the stage as the top

action films of the era.

By the 1960s, chase films cameabout such as James Bond. The

movies featured many car chasesand fights.

During the early

1970s, dectective and urbancrime dramas shaped thenew ‘action style’ such asDirty Harry. Inspired by the

car chases that wereintroduced in the 1960s by

James Bond, car chasesbecame a key convention to

action.

Further into the 1970s a new

culture was exposed as the

audience became facinated

by martial arts movies. The

cross over of genres (like

spy­films, war movies,

westerns and detective

dramas) would become the

norm in the 1980s. 

ACTIONERA

THE

During the 1980s, action movies took over

Hollywood ­ becoming a dominant form of

summer blockbuster. Low­budget plots, such

as Lethal Weapons (1989), proved that they could

attract millions of viewers. Moreover, rising

comedians, like Eddie Murphy smashed box

office records with an action­comedy film in 48

hours. After this, an increase in comedy roles

emerged in action. Furthermore, the increase of

ethnicities in action during this era gained a wider

range of audiences. African Americans were

more accepted in block busters due to the

cultural change in the 80s. Stunts were

introduced; explosions and bigger budgets

became the norm for action after this period of time.

The comedy elements in action attracted moreviewers. Action movies with a combination of

comedy, made them more accessible forfemale and a younger audience as the type ofaction pre­1980s was aimed at men over 25years. Action became more enjojable to watch

for females too as it wasn't all about just thebrutal action with fists and guns.

Moreover,more well known Hollywood starsbegan appearing in action movies.

The 90’s became and era of sequels to themost successful action movies of the

1980’s. Hybrid action was also formed. Therevolution in CGI changed the “real-world"

settings used in action, developing newfuturistic environments for the films.The

success of the many Dirty Harry and JamesBond sequels had proven that a singlesuccessful action film could lead to a

continuing action franchise.

During the beginning ofthe 21st Century,

females began to take onthe starring role in anaction movie. Thesemovies became majorblockbusters as theyappealed to a greateraudience.  It is not

shocking to see a femalelead in an action film,nonetheless, most stillhave a starring dominant

malelead.

Old action movies consistedof American gangsters orRussian villains as thevillains since they were

seen as threating stereotypesof villains. However, after the9/11 misfortunate terroristattacks, middle eastern

characters joined the list ofpeople that were seen

as villains by the audienceand real life.

The props used in action movies are

becoming more futuristic and more symbolic

to the storylines being shown. Stunts have

increasingly become exaggerated. The

development has made the impossible

possible. Some action movies still use

classic weapons and classic stunts to add a

less mainstream element to their production

Todays action has moulded all the

elements from action through history.