Action Films Through The Ages
Action films have gone through a lot of changes since they were at their most popular ten to fifteen years ago when Sly and Arnie ruled the silver screen. Fortunately though, the latest incarnation of the action film is sure to keep the genre at the top of the box office takings for some time to come.
What we've seen with films like the Bourne Identity (and sequels) and the Matrix (and sequels) are action movies with real substance. These films rely on the basic principles of traditional action films but they've added intelligent plot lines, gritty realism and a real contemporary twist which are all things that audiences now appreciate.
Gone are the times when cold blooded action, muscle power and cheesy one-liners were key elements. Yes, action fans all own these types of films in their DVD collections, but producers and studios know that this alone won't be enough to bring in the big-bucks at the box-office.
There are the occasional nostalgic interludes into action history, hence why we've seen so many sequels cropping up so many years after their previous outings. However, these films have lost much of their edge and impact but not for the reasons most people mention. For instance, the majority of critics say the cast are too old or the direction isn't as strong. However, the real reason is much simpler; they're just not the kind of films people want any more.
Action films need the ingredients that make up films like the Bourne trilogy in order to be successful. Fans of the genre need to realise that the golden-age hasn't already come and gone but is happening as we speak. Action movies are getting smarter, louder and better than they've ever been.
It's also worth noting that the modern film is normally a concoction of more than one genre. For example, action-adventure, romantic-comedy, sci-fi-thriller etc. Despite there still being pure-action films widely available, hybrid genre films are definitely the future.