Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The first three Indiana Jones’ films Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade are considered classic action films. There’s lots of running, chasing, shooting, swordplay, whipping, and even fry pan play. The films’ actions scenes contain the six ingredients that can make a movie great.
One, it’s got to be exciting. Well, that sort of a given. Action is excitement. But action alone doesn’t always make a scene exciting. I’ve watch movies and TV shows with lots of running and chasing and shooting and things blowing up and not much else. What’s worse, action is repeated like in Alien 3. (How many times did that alien run down the same corridor?) Well, in the Indy films, the action doesn’t repeat. There’s a new surprise around every corner. In Temple’s opening, when all hell breaks lose people are running everywhere, complete chaos, Indy is trying to get the antidote, the diamond getting lost with spilled ice, falling through the awnings, car chases, and finally when Indy thinks it’s safe the big surprise it that they are escaping on the bad guy’s plane.
Two, action scenes need to move the plot a long. In Raiders, At the beginning of the bar fight, Indy is at point A. He doesn’t have the headpiece. When the fight is over, he has the headpiece and a partner. He’s at point B. All scenes in a movie need to move the plot forward action scenes are no different. If it doesn’t, what’s the point of the scene?
Which brings me to three, there has got to be a reason or motive. Why is the hero in trouble? Why is the villain trying to stop/kill/capture or do whatever to the hero? That is the reason or motive behind the action. The Germans are following orders. Indy is trying to stop them. In Temple, he’s trying to save the children.
Four, “Action comes from character.” All action is created by a character and his motives. All actions revels something about the character. The opening of Raiders introduces Indy to the audience. We learn that he is careful, smart, prepared, trusting, and knowledgeable. He knows to check for booby traps and when to run. The Last Crusade opening scene, we learn why Indy is afraid of snakes that he cares about artifacts, history, and about his relationship with his father.
Five, suspense is needed. If you’re not worried about the hero, we’re back at running, chasing, etc. and nothing else. Here’s where all three films fall short. At no time in these films do we worry about Indy getting killed. The only suspense is how is he going to get out of trouble.
Finally, number six, the action has to make sense. (Well, you can have one unbelievable premise—as long as it’s set up right.) But no stupid stuff like falling from airplane in a raft and landing on hard packed snow. I know people have fallen from airplane into snow drifts and live but not on hard pack snow. I would have brought this sense if when they landed they made a crater or even if they had used the raft as a parachute. But not falling that far and landing in the raft on flat ground. Still most of the action in the films was plausible. I had no problem believing that Indy and Short Round would walk into a room and set off the booby trap and that Willie would freak out with the bugs.
Humor in the action scenes made them fun. The challenge with swords and Indy shooting the guy instead then in the next film, he tries it again but no gun. Short Round yelling he didn’t trip the booby trap the second time and making sure that Indy knew it was Willie. Also, the tributes to the old action serials, the conveyor belt fight, the baskets, running on top of trains, rooms that crush…
And with a mighty leap………………
One, it’s got to be exciting. Well, that sort of a given. Action is excitement. But action alone doesn’t always make a scene exciting. I’ve watch movies and TV shows with lots of running and chasing and shooting and things blowing up and not much else. What’s worse, action is repeated like in Alien 3. (How many times did that alien run down the same corridor?) Well, in the Indy films, the action doesn’t repeat. There’s a new surprise around every corner. In Temple’s opening, when all hell breaks lose people are running everywhere, complete chaos, Indy is trying to get the antidote, the diamond getting lost with spilled ice, falling through the awnings, car chases, and finally when Indy thinks it’s safe the big surprise it that they are escaping on the bad guy’s plane.
Two, action scenes need to move the plot a long. In Raiders, At the beginning of the bar fight, Indy is at point A. He doesn’t have the headpiece. When the fight is over, he has the headpiece and a partner. He’s at point B. All scenes in a movie need to move the plot forward action scenes are no different. If it doesn’t, what’s the point of the scene?
Which brings me to three, there has got to be a reason or motive. Why is the hero in trouble? Why is the villain trying to stop/kill/capture or do whatever to the hero? That is the reason or motive behind the action. The Germans are following orders. Indy is trying to stop them. In Temple, he’s trying to save the children.
Four, “Action comes from character.” All action is created by a character and his motives. All actions revels something about the character. The opening of Raiders introduces Indy to the audience. We learn that he is careful, smart, prepared, trusting, and knowledgeable. He knows to check for booby traps and when to run. The Last Crusade opening scene, we learn why Indy is afraid of snakes that he cares about artifacts, history, and about his relationship with his father.
Five, suspense is needed. If you’re not worried about the hero, we’re back at running, chasing, etc. and nothing else. Here’s where all three films fall short. At no time in these films do we worry about Indy getting killed. The only suspense is how is he going to get out of trouble.
Finally, number six, the action has to make sense. (Well, you can have one unbelievable premise—as long as it’s set up right.) But no stupid stuff like falling from airplane in a raft and landing on hard packed snow. I know people have fallen from airplane into snow drifts and live but not on hard pack snow. I would have brought this sense if when they landed they made a crater or even if they had used the raft as a parachute. But not falling that far and landing in the raft on flat ground. Still most of the action in the films was plausible. I had no problem believing that Indy and Short Round would walk into a room and set off the booby trap and that Willie would freak out with the bugs.
Humor in the action scenes made them fun. The challenge with swords and Indy shooting the guy instead then in the next film, he tries it again but no gun. Short Round yelling he didn’t trip the booby trap the second time and making sure that Indy knew it was Willie. Also, the tributes to the old action serials, the conveyor belt fight, the baskets, running on top of trains, rooms that crush…
And with a mighty leap………………
Sunday, October 26, 2008
A MUST SEE!!! IF NOT SEEN ALREADY.....
Iron Man!!!
This movie had high ratings with many viewers and continues to be a favorite among many action movie seekers. Iron Man is a Marvel book masterpeice from beginning to end. Although this is a comic book hero, Iron Man the movie gave excellent exmamples of futuristic technologies in which one day we may use.
On a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being Extraordinary!!!) I would rate Iron Man a 9!!!
This movie had high ratings with many viewers and continues to be a favorite among many action movie seekers. Iron Man is a Marvel book masterpeice from beginning to end. Although this is a comic book hero, Iron Man the movie gave excellent exmamples of futuristic technologies in which one day we may use.
On a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being Extraordinary!!!) I would rate Iron Man a 9!!!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Favorite Action Scenes (in no particular order)
"Balance of Terror" - Star Trek (Classic)
"Best of Both Worlds" - Star Trek TNG
Battle of Helms Deep - Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Marines first encounter with the aliens after entering the colony - Aliens
Ripley rescues Newt - Aliens
The battle at the bridge - Saving Private Ryan
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Eagle Eye!!!
Everyone has to see Eagle Eye in the IMAX Theater. The movie is very fast phase and you cannot really predict what is going to happen like in many others movies. This move is nonstop action with full of excitement scenes. Throughout the whole movie, your heart will be pounding hard because all the sound effects, especially in IMAX Theater. The graphic was amazing and the story line was interesting as well. This is a type of movie that you couldn’t really tell or predict, what is happening or going to happen until end of the story, it all ties up and you get the whole of the movie. I really recommend you to go watch this movie if you enjoyed watching nonstop actions throughout the whole movie then EAGLE EYE is the right movie for you.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Attention!!!
We, Linda, Htoo Htoo, and Denise are inviting everyone to visit our page regularly for weekly updates on the upcoming, new releases, and most memorable ACTION movies. We welcome all comments on ACTION movies listed on our page and also these not mentioned!!!!
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