Discussion on the Action Film as a genre

Very interesting stuff from Ken Hite.

The Action Film can be defined by example as "that film that is of the form of Die Hard." Quintessentially (and recognizing that there are canonical examples that depart from this form, usually for ironic purposes) the Action Film form is as follows: The hero is a figure of order (cop, Navy Seal, private eye, neighborhood watch) who is separated (or alienated) from social order (out of his jurisdiction, insane, retired for murky reasons, a robot, unfrozen in the future, works for hateful bosses). The hero is drawn (almost always accidentally or against his will) into conflict with an evil anti-social force, usually represented by a mastermind, a level boss, and an army of mooks. In many cases, the evil anti-social force is disguised as, or burrowed into, the legitimate order. (Even in Die Hard, the criminals' plan turns on both impersonating guards and using the FBI's order against it.) Although the hero is a more skilled fighter than any mook, he is almost always wounded during the struggle, and usually defeats the level boss by sheer guts rather than superior technique. (Thus differing from the Swashbuckler or Martial Arts Film.) Exposure of the mastermind is often enough to stop him, although shooting him or leaving him to die (often by falling symbolically back into Hell) is very satisfactory. The Action Hero almost always uses (and is comfortable with) guns, although not inevitably. At the end of the crisis, the hero is reabsorbed into society (reunited with his wife, reinstated on the force, or at least happily married), making the Action Film fundamentally a comedy in the classical sense.