CONVENTIONS OF THE ACTION/ADVENTURE NARRATIVE

The narrative is central to defining the Action Adventure genre. It is filled with
excitement and danger, building up to a dramatic ending. It generally
involves a conflict between good and evil with the former always triumphing
in the end.

At the centre of this narrative is a heroic and resourceful character (usually
male) that has some sort of mission/task to accomplish. Naturally, the hero
always overcomes all kinds of perils and wins against the odds.

The narrative involves tense and exciting scenes which often involve
spectacular action sequences such as chase scenes, fights, battles,
explosions, rescues etc.

Settings tend to be exotic or on a grand scale. Examples may include deserts,
mountain ranges, underwater locations, oceans and tropical islands,
glamorous cities

Also:

- Usually involve straightforward story of good guy versus bad guy,
where usually the disputes are resolved by physical force.

- Usually heroes in Hollywood films are patriotic Americans.

- Bad guys in Hollywood films tend to be drug lords, terrorists or some
other sort of criminal rather than a Nazi or a Communist like in the
past.

- Usually requires big budget special effects and stunt work.

- Damsel in distress tends to be used but in recent movies female
characters have become stronger in action/adventure movies and
even work alongside the strong male characters.

- It is more than likely that a chase scene will feature somewhere in
the movie, whether it is by foot, car, boat etc.

- The good guys always win.

These are not realistic films, although the characters must be believable.
They are set in a stereotypical world of the not too distant past e.g the
1930s, or the fictional world of storybook adventures e.g. The high seas of
the 19th century.
A main protagonist who is a recognisably normal guy; who just happens to
have amazing powers of endurance in the face of extreme danger; he is
also very clever. Indiana Jones is an archaeology lecturer in an US
university. Captain Jack Sparrow is at first an ordinary good for nothing
pirate with incredible agility and luck, although he later takes on
supernatural powers.
There are always helpers who are a team of innocent characters who
happen to get caught up in the action.
Humorous dialogue often diffuses taught and sometimes frightening
situations.
The characters take the twist and turns of the plot very seriously as they
are often in mortal danger from an assortment of unusual animals,
machines and monsters orchestrated by an evil antagonist.
Exotic locations where the characters have to contend with extremes of
climate, as well as evil forces.
The aim is to please the audience by keeping them on the edge of their
seats through a series of mind boggling chases, exotic locations and hair
raising adventures in historically inaccurate but somehow elementally
possible settings.
Action Adventure films are designed to create an action-filled, energetic
experience for the audience who can live vicariously through the exotic
locations, conquests, explorations, struggles and situations that confront
the main characters.