What is an action? The origins of the popularity of this genre

What is an action? It is not difficult to answer this question. The term denoting this genre is derived from the corresponding English word, which means "action." It is the action, the rapid change of external circumstances, the sequence of the most diverse adventures, which underlies the films of this genre. And everything else takes a back seat and is only used as needed. It's hardly necessary to take seriously the statements of those who admit to their antipathies to this genre. They either lie or flirt, but the militants look with unchanging interest.

What is an action for the average viewer?

Perhaps, no other genre of cinema has such commercial success and such dizzying budgets as different kinds of insurgents and adventures. The answer to the question about what is an action for the ordinary spectator and the source of its unquenchable popularity lies in the depths of the subconscious. Perhaps the main thing here is the intersection with the realm of imaginary being, which ordinary man is completely deprived of in his ordinary existence. This is an accessible window to the world of deadly danger and unpredictable, but dizzying twists of fate. And people want adrenaline. Especially when you do not need to push aside a packet of popcorn or a bottle of beer to get the next dose. Of course, the genre of action is far from homogeneous. In all the abundance of cinematographic products, based on an adventure basis, you can find a considerable number of masterpieces, sharply stand out from the average level. A very special fate for the main characters of your favorite films. They break out of the scenes and take on a cult dimension for many people. Entire generations around the world were brought up on the heroic adventures of the characters of Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jason Statham. A holy place, as you know, is not empty. And some characters are soon replaced by others, exceeding all previous levels of steepness. And they have to explain to the viewer what an action is and how to get out of it as a winner. If possible, not posthumously.

A little bit about the evolution of the genre

Adventure films were born at the same time as the birth of cinema. Enterprising people could not fail to appreciate the beyond commercial potential of this genre, even when it was just a mute moving picture on an improvised screen with invariable accompaniment of the piano, changing its pace depending on the intensity of events on this screen. Further development of the genre was explosive. And it is characteristic here that even well-made films became obsolete rather quickly. Technological progress quickly translated the whole arsenal of special effects into the category of yesterday. But the best action movies have forever entered the golden fund of world cinematography. They are still interesting today. Starting from mute westerns with jumping cowboys and ending with overloaded special effects space gunmen. The talent of actors, directors and screenwriters can not be canceled by any technical means.