Today you will LEARN: Why? To develop your understanding of the history of the action adventure genre and its generic conventions. This will develop your understanding of a key media genre. Progress will be demonstrated by showing You can define what generic conventions are in relation to Action Films You can identify sub-genres from their conventions which you have previously defined. You can identify subgenres from their conventions and apply that knowledge and you can identify genre developments by analysing real media examples.
Media Studies A History of Hollywood Blockbusters: An Action / Adventure Induction Quiz
1) The Mark of Zorro (1920) Recently remade starring Antonio Banderas, what Action/ Adventure sub-genre does this sword-fighting film belong to?
2) Captain Blood (1935) Set upon the High Seas, what sub-genre do you think this film belongs to?
3) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) Another film starring Errol Flynn, what subgenre of Action / Adventure do you think this film falls into?
The three previous films all came from the same sub-genre. What elements, or conventions do you think they shared: 4. Where were they set? 5. When was the time period? (and how could you tell this?)
6. What gender was the main lead? 7. & 8. What role or function did men and women have? 9. How do you think the main characters dealt with problems or enemies?
10) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) How do you think this film differs from earlier texts in the same genre?
11) Dr No (1962) was the first outing for which famous action/ adventure hero? Which actor played him?
12) Bullitt (1968), who starred in this film, renown for its spectacular car chases through San Francisco?
13) Our Man Flint (1966), follows in the 60 s take on Action / Adventure films. What do you think this subgenre is called?
The last 3 films all fell into a broadly similar action/adventure sub-genre. 14. Where were these films set? 15. What time period where they set in? (how can you tell that?) 16. How would a hero sort out problems in these films?
17. What roles do you think males took? 18. What sort of roles do you think women took? 19. What sort of events usually took place before the hero triumphed?
Name: 20) The Film 21) The Actor 22) The year
23) Lethal Weapon (1987) who are the stars of this film? 24) What makes this film different from previous films in this sub-genre?
25) Who are these 2 big action / adventure stars of the 80s? 26) What do you think their appeal says about their target audience? 27) How do these heroes differ from those of the 1930s?
28) Considering previous 80s action films, what elements in Top Gun (1986) may have helped to widen its appeal?
Tom Hanks reputedly said, if you were a kid in 63 you knew this was the greatest movie ever made. 29) What is the film? 30) What genre does it belong to?
This 1960 film was typical of its sub-genre. 31) Name the film, 32) the subgenre 33) and the leading actor.
Said to have been inspired by the previous clip, 34) name this film 35) and its main actor. 36) Why do you think this subgenre has now come back after 30 years?
37) This clip comes from which famous trilogy? 38) Name the director 39) Name the famous author
40) Seemingly with its cast of thousands, which sub-genre does this particular fantasy / adventure film have more links with?
A classic Action / Adventure film. Name: 41) The film & the character 42) The actor
Starring Michael Douglas & Kathleen Turner 43) name this 1984 film which capitalised on the interest in Adventure films.
Coming a decade after the last 2 films 44) who was the star? 45) what was the film? 46) why do you think the locations are important to this sub-genre?
47) Name the film & the character. 48) Name the actress. 49) What makes this film different to other films in this sub-genre?
Character name Lt. Ellen Ripley. 50) Name the film 51) How do you think this role has changed Action / Adventure films?
52) Name the film 53) Name the 3 main stars 54) Name the sub-genre this film belongs to
55) Name the two stars shown of X-Men 2 (2003). 56) What factors help make films like this a big box office success? 57) Are they different to the macho films of the 80s?
58) Name this Jet Li martial arts film. 59) Which cult US director s name was linked to this film?
60) Name this Oscar winning Ang Lee film 61) What is different in terms of male & female roles in films of this genre?
62) The creators of the Star Wars films have said that the films drew from classic Action Adventure films, what similarities can you think of in terms of location, characters, themes and audience?
63. Kick Ass (2010) How does this film play with the comic book hero sub-genre?
64. The Dark Knight (2008) Yet another iconic comic book character re-boot. What does this trilogy say about modern action audiences?
65. Avatar (2009) The highest grossing film of all time. Should this film be considered amongst the canon of action movies?
Characters & Actors Visuals & SFX Action Adventure Narrative Events Locations & Props