Action Speaks Louder: Violence, Spectacle, and the American Action Movie (Wesleyan Film)

For more than 30 years, the action movie has been the film genre that most represents Hollywood to the world, as action films find blockbuster success at box offices internationally. Still, the genre seldom receives the critical attention it deserves. Studying its trends, key components, and visual excesses, this new and expanded edition of Action Speaks Louder traces the genre's evolution to reveal how it has come to assume its place of prominence in American culture. With scores of in-depth case studies—including films such as Dirty Harry, RoboCop, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Armageddon, Spider-Man, War of the Worlds, and The Incredibles— author Eric Lichtenfeld draws on film analysis, production histories, critical responses, studio marketing materials, and original filmmaker interviews. Up-to-date and comprehensive, Action Speaks Louder is the definitive study of the movies’ most kinetic form of fun. Studying Its Various Trends And Visual Excesses, Action Speaks Louder: Violence, Spectacle, And The American Action Movie Traces The Genre's Evolution And Sources To Reveal How It Has Come To Assume Its Place Of Prominence In American Identity And American Life. With Scores Of In-depth Case Studies - Including Films Such As Dirty Harry, Death Wish, Robocop, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Armageddon, And Spider-man - Author Eric Lichtenfeld Draws On Film Analysis, Production Histories, Critical Responses, Studio Marketing, Original Filmmaker Interviews, And Considerations Of The Genre's Weaponry Itself. In This Genre, Myth, History, Culture, And Entertainment Combine With Changing Vogues In Filmmaking Technique To Create A Category Of Films Known For Its Excess, Its Violence, And Above All, A Very Primal Form Of Fun At The Movies. No Previous Book Has Taken On This Subject With Such Rigor, And Few Genre Studies Of Any Kind Synthesize Critical Reaction, Studio Marketing And Advertising, And Filmmaker Interviews. Moreover, The Action Genre Has Never Been Studied With The Dedication That Critics Have Devoted To Other Genres, Such As The Western, Film Noir, And Screwball And Romantic Comedies. Action Speaks Louder Provides A Fresh Perspective On The History And Craft Of A Category Of Films That Are Among Cinema's Most Popular.--jacket. Introduction: A Little Violence Never Hurt Anyone -- Prelude: 1971 -- The Law's Crazy: The Vigilante And Other Myths -- Automatons: Rise Of The Machines -- Enter The Fists: The Body As The Weapon -- Into The Jungle, Out Of The Wasteland: Action In The Wild -- Blowing Up All Those Familiar Places: Terror And The Confined Arena -- Unmitigated Disasters: Old Formulas And The New Spectacle -- Tomorrow's Heroes Today: Action Meets The Fantastic -- Excelsior!: March Of The Superheroes -- Conclusion: Sifting Through The Rubble. Eric Lichtenfeld. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [345]-369) And Index. "Studying its various trends and visual excesses, Action Speaks Louder: Violence, Spectacle, and the American Action Movie traces the genre's evolution and sources to reveal how it has come to assume its place of prominence in American identity and American life. With scores of in-depth case studies - including films such as Dirty Harry, Death Wish, RoboCop, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Armageddon, and Spider-Man - author Eric Lichtenfeld draws on film analysis, production histories, critical responses, studio marketing, original filmmaker interviews, and considerations of the genre's weaponry itself. In this genre, myth, history, culture, and entertainment combine with changing vogues in filmmaking technique to create a category of films known for its excess, its violence, and above all, a very primal form of fun at the movies." "No previous book has taken on this subject with such rigor, and few genre studies of any kind synthesize critical reaction, studio marketing and advertising, and filmmaker interviews. Moreover, the action genre has never been studied with the dedication that critics have devoted to other genres, such as the Western, film noir, and screwball and romantic comedies. Action Speaks Louder provides a fresh perspective on the history and craft of a category of films that are among cinema's most popular."--BOOK JACKET. An authoritative and entertaining history of the action film For more than 30 years, the action movie has been the film genre that most represents Hollywood to the world, as action films find blockbuster success at box offices internationally. Still, the genre seldom receives the critical attention it deserves. Studying its trends, key components, and visual excesses, this new and expanded edition of Action Speaks Louder traces the genre's evolution to reveal how it has come to assume its place of prominence in American culture. With scores of in-depth case studiesincluding films such as Dirty Harry, RoboCop, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Armageddon, Spider-Man, War of the Worlds, and The Incrediblesauthor Eric Lichtenfeld draws on film analysis, production histories, critical responses, studio marketing materials, and original filmmaker interviews. Up-to-date and comprehensive, Action Speaks Louder is the definitive study of the movies' most kinetic form of fun.