Action Adventure Genre Conventions

Codes and Conventions of Action Adventure Films

Narrative

What makes all Action Adventure Films similar is that they use the same sort of narrative structure. The narrative structure is how a story is organised and shaped in terms of time and events. Think about the rules of narrative structure in Pirates of the Caribbean or Indiana Jones films.

• A defining feature of Action Adventure is the high degree of narrative closure, with all problems resolved and the hero triumphant.
• Linear structure from problem to crisis to resolution
• Oppositional structure as a fight between good and evil.

Task: Explain how one film of your choice follows this narrative structure.

Main Characters

Example of Captain Jack Sparrow (Main character from Pirates of the Caribbean)

Task: Find an image of a main character from an Action Adventure Film and copy it onto your page. Label the character with all of the rules of the hero.

Oppositional Characters

Action Adventure films tend to feature characters that play opposite the key central character, for example either in the form of a relationship (hero/heroine) or in conflict (hero/villain)
Task: Who is the oppositional character to your chosen main character? Add them to your notes.

Journey/Quest

Action Adventure films often involve central characters working towards a final goal (such as seeking treasure). These narratives take place against a backdrop of a variety of exotic and sometimes glamourous locations. These can range from desert landscapes to urban settings. Not only can their use provide the audience with visual pleasures, but the location itself can serve an important narrative function as central characters find themselves battling with the challenges presented by it. For example: surviving earthquakes, struggling through jungles or deserts or surviving in war zones.
Task: Find a variety of settings that are used in Action Adventure films and refer to these examples.