The action movie genre has lost the charm it once had. The days where the onscreen action was accompanied by memorable characters, interesting plots and cohesiveness are long gone. Now, two hours of nonsensical explosions, loud blaring sound effects and scenes constructed entirely (and needlessly) in CGI have become the norm. Directors such as Michael Bay are continuously given astronomical despite producing utterly forgettable movies. His success at the box office justifies this for the producers and studios (and points to a much larger problem with the moviegoer’s standards), but it also further justifies the production of mediocre film. Fortunately, there are a few people in the industry who are still passionate about their craft, and are talented enough to challenge the status quo. Edgar Wright rightly belongs in this category. As a relatively young filmmaker, he has managed to create action movies with great, cohesive plots, unique directing and great choreography. …show more content…
His parents, who were both art teachers, further fanned his fiery passion for movies. They encouraged him to make movies, and bought him his first Super 8 camera, which he used to create shorts with. He spent much of his time in the cinema, due to his parents not being able to afford babysitters, and electing to instead drop him and his brother off at a theatre. The passion, bordering on obsession, he had early on his life for movies goes on to become an important staple of his future career. He cites a few directors as major influences, such as Alfred Hitchcock, Sam Raimi, and the Coen
2. According to Sobchack, contemporary screen violence greatly differs than portrayals of violence in years past. Today, violent scenes are careless and lack significance because we as audiences have become calloused and desensitized to any acts of violence. She states that there is “no grace or benediction attached to violence. Indeed, its very intensity seems diminished” (Sobchack 432). Senseless violence, gruesome acts, and profound amounts of gore are prevalent in movies today, and because even this is not enough, it must be accompanied by loud blasts and noise, constantly moving scenes to keep audiences stimulated and large quantities of violence for viewers to enjoy what they are watching. Decades ago, it was the story that was engaging to audiences and filmmaking was an art.
Beginning the mid 1920s, Hollywood’s ostensibly all-powerful film studios controlled the American film industry, creating a period of film history now recognized as “Classical Hollywood”. Distinguished by a practical, workmanlike, “invisible” method of filmmaking- whose purpose was to demand as little attention to the camera as possible, Classical Hollywood cinema supported undeviating storylines (with the occasional flashback being an exception), an observance of a the three act structure, frontality, and visibly identified goals for the “hero” to work toward and well-defined conflict/story resolution, most commonly illustrated with the employment of the “happy ending”. Studios understood precisely what an audience desired, and accommodated their wants and needs, resulting in films that were generally all the same, starring similar (sometimes the same) actors, crafted in a similar manner. It became the principal style throughout the western world against which all other styles were judged. While there have been some deviations and experiments with the format in the past 50 plus ye...
Every weekend moviegoers flock to the theatres and video stores alike to catch a ride on one of society's most entertaining elements. Action films are a rush to some enthusiasts such as myself. It doesn't take long before we find ourselves on the edge of our seats frantically munching popcorn as our mind is flooded with stimuli. The box office as well as the population were shaken to the core with the releases of two new hit action movies, Friday Night Lights and V for Vendetta. Whether you enjoy the realistic on-edge action of Friday Night Lights or the poetic elocution of a historical hero in V for Vendetta this analysis is for you.
Despite the critical misgivings about Simpson/Bruckheimer productions, audiences still tend to flock to their brand of mayhem, hyper masculinity, thunderous sound effects, and cutting edge special effects. And while they have had their share of bombs (like the dismal “Days of Thunder” or “Gone in 60 Seconds”) more often than not, they make movies the public seems to love.
This conception sparked the start of their vital filming realm.When they actually started getting into this profession, they still had to buy films. Harry, the oldest of the Warner brothers, sent Sam to find films, but instead he found Marcus Loew. Marcus bought films and stored them instead
Some would say watching horror movies and being scared out of your wits is a fun way to spend their hard earned money. They go see these movies on average once a week, each time choosing a newer version of a trilogy like “Chucky” or “The evil Dead”. Film making has come a long way over the last few decades, the graphic...
Gina Marchetti, in her essay "Action-Adventure as Ideology," argues that action- adventure films implicitly convey complex cultural messages regarding American values and the "white American status quo." She continues to say that all action-adventure movies have the same basic structure, including plot, theme, characterization, and iconography. As ideology, this film genre tacitly expresses social norms, values, and morals of its time. Marchetti's essay, written in 1989, applies to films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark and Rambo: First Blood II. However, action-adventure films today seem to be straying farther away from her generalizations about structure, reflecting new and different cultural norms in America. This changing ideology is depicted best in Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers (1994), which defies nearly every concept Marchetti proposes about action-adventure films; and it sets the stage for a whole new viewpoint of action in the '90's.
In Hollywood today, most films can be categorized according to the genre system. There are action films, horror flicks, Westerns, comedies and the likes. On a broader scope, films are often separated into two categories: Hollywood films, and independent or foreign ‘art house’ films. Yet, this outlook, albeit superficial, was how many viewed films. Celebrity-packed blockbusters filled with action and drama, with the use of seamless top-of-the-line digital editing and special effects were considered ‘Hollywood films’. Films where unconventional themes like existentialism or paranoia, often with excessive violence or sex or a combination of both, with obvious attempts to displace its audiences from the film were often attributed with the generic label of ‘foreign’ or ‘art house’ cinema.
despite him being my favorite director and I just watched it few weeks ago. By watching that film you can see his unique style and the technique he used to shot that film which is amazing.
Action films contain lots of physical stunts, chase scenes, rescues, fights, humour, destructive disaster (Explosions, floods, fires, natural hazards), escapes, and non-stop action. People expect the stunts when they come to see an action film, because the stunts and fights are what make the film so popular. Action films are normally set in either popular cities or glamorous islands. I watched a film to see if it fitted the expectations of what id expect from a typical action film, the film I watched was twister. Twister doesn't fit the expectations of an action film entirely, it is different to what I would expect from an action film, however it does
“Entertainment has to come hand in hand with a little bit of medicine, some people go to the movies to be reminded that everything’s okay. I don’t make those kinds of movies. That, to me, is a lie. Everything’s not okay.” - David Fincher. David Fincher is the director that I am choosing to homage for a number of reasons. I personally find his movies to be some of the deepest, most well made, and beautiful films in recent memory. However it is Fincher’s take on story telling and filmmaking in general that causes me to admire his films so much. This quote exemplifies that, and is something that I whole-heartedly agree with. I am and have always been extremely opinionated and open about my views on the world and I believe that artists have a responsibility to do what they can with their art to help improve the culture that they are helping to create. In this paper I will try to outline exactly how Fincher creates the masterpieces that he does and what I can take from that and apply to my films.
Grace Gama Amind435 1/25/2017 Film Response: The Mission The Mission is a remarkably symbolic film about the perception of native indians throughout history. The Guarni indians in this film do not speak english and are largely represented by both Rodrigo Mendoza and Father Gabriel in the time frame of 1740. The two are Spanish missionaries who have set off to build missions to introduce civilization into native life.
Many people don’t think about it so much, but movies (or just film in general) have become such a big part of our lives that we don’t think much of it because it just feels like a usual part of living. But have you ever wondered why this is, and how far back film started? Movies and film have been around for a long time, have developed in big ways throughout time, and has advanced in such a big and new way to this day.
The film industry has always been somewhat of a dichotomy. Grounded firmly in both the worlds of art and business the balance of artistic expression and commercialization has been an issue throughout the history of filmmaking. The distinction of these two differing goals and the fact that neither has truly won out over the other in the span of the industry's existence, demonstrates a lot of information about the nature of capitalism.
...n able to reach otherwise. With unlimited possibilities and the creative minds in the world, the film industry is likely to consider seeing drastic changes. Like the world has in the past, peoples’ likes and dislikes will change with the ever-changing technological world. What we enjoy as a society in 2005 is likely to be considered as bland as we consider the black and white silent films, in the years to come.