Codes and Conventions of Action Films

Codes and Conventions

1. More narrative action codes - enigma codes – puzzles
2. Clear binary oppositions – good versus evil, hero verses villain
3. Star Marketing: Audience identification/expectations (Cruise/Pitt/Willis/Thurman/Jolie/Stallone/Craig/
4.     SchwarzeneggeDi Caprio…).
5. Romantic sub-plot, humorous dialogue
6. Relationships with new technology (youth audiences)
7. Use of close up of the villains face, which is often masked
8. Editing at a fast pace
9. sound - diegetic sound of gunshots and explosion. dialogue has a foreign accent.Non diegetic sound - tense music to match the action
10. setting - usually takes place in a busy city where the public could get hurt

Typically cliches in the action genre: A psycho with an eye patch is good, especially if he's a one-eyed giant with a machete.
Nobody drives a car in action films: off-road vehicles only