Action And Adventure

This exciting collection addresses action and adventure from the silent to the contemporary period exploring diverse questions of aesthetics, industry and ideology. Action has established itself as one of the leading commercial genres of the New Hollywood cinema, generating extensive debate in the process. Contributors consider how action might best be defined, how it has developed historically, and how it works formally. The critical reception and standing of action and adventure cinema is considered in relation to questions of national culture, violence and the 'art' of cinema. Themes explored include genre and definitions; early action, sensation and melodrama; authorship and action; national and transnational action-adventure traditions; action aesthetics; spectacle and narrative; stars and bodies; class; gender; race and ethnicity. Attempting to evaluate the significance of this type of filmmaking for both popular cinema and film studies, the book underlines the central place of action and adventure within film history.

The Hollywood Action and Adventure Film presents a comprehensive overview and analysis of the history, myriad themes, and critical approaches to the action and adventure genre in American cinema. Draws on a wide range of examples, spanning the silent spectacles of early cinema to the iconic superheroes of 21st-century action films Features case studies revealing the genre’s diverse roots – from westerns and war films, to crime and espionage movies Explores a rich variety of aesthetic and thematic concerns that have come to define the genre, touching on themes such as the outsider hero, violence and redemption, and adventure as escape from the mundane Integrates discussion of gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality alongside genre history Provides a timely and richly revealing portrait of a powerful cinematic genre that has increasingly come to dominate the American cinematic landscape

What accounts for the massive global popularity of action films and adventure literature? How do men and women respond to iconic screen stars such as Jackie Chan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steve McQueen, and Charlton Heston? Action genres have been Hollywood's most profitable global exports for most of its history, their male heroes the subject of much fascination and derision. Bestselling literary thrillers, from The Hunt for Red October to Into Thin Air , have also contributed markedly to popular understandings of male activity. Action Figures takes stock of action narratives' many appeals and recognizes how contemporary crises of gender identity manifest themselves in popular commercial texts.

The difference between getting the shot and missing the shot comes down to split seconds and how you manage your gear and your technique. In Outdoor Action and Adventure Photography professional adventure sports photographer Dan Bailey shows readers how to react quickly to unfolding scenes and anticipate how the subject and the background might converge. Capturing those significant moments to produce powerful imagery that evoke the feel and mood of adventure requires specialized skills and a wide variety of creative ideas. This book teaches photographers how to think geometrically and how to pull together the elements that make for a successful shot, all while being immersed in the action. The practical manual will improve your technique for creating more compelling adventure imagery, whether you’re shooting ultra-marathoners splattered in mud, rock climbers in a crevasse, or mountain bikers hurtling past you. In this book, you’ll: • Discover the necessary equipment for shooting action, learn how to use it to its full potential, and develop a comprehensive adventure photography camera system that you can adapt to different shooting situations. • Learn specific techniques and creative ideas that help you freeze the moment and create images that convey excitement, mood, and the feel of adventure. • Learn advanced skills that can help you start defining your own particular style of action photography and create a "brand" of photography that’s based around your passion and your vision. • Examine case studies that break down the process for shooting different types of action subjects and see the nuts and bolts of how to create powerful imagery from start to finish.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series comes a thrilling novel featuring LAPD K-9 Officer Scott James and his German shepherd, Maggie. Nine months ago, a shocking assault by unidentified men killed Scott James' partner, Stephanie, nearly killed him, and left him enraged, ashamed, and ready to explode. He is unfit for duty—until he meets his new partner. Maggie is not doing so well, either. A German shepherd who survived two tours in Afghanistan sniffing explosives before losing her handler, her PTSD is as bad as Scott’s. They are each other’s last chance. And they’re about to investigate the one case no one wants them to touch: identifying the men who murdered Stephanie. But what they find could ultimately break them both. One of Booklist's 10 Best Crime Fiction Books of the Year

FROM THE #1 EBOOK BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF CALL ME MUMMY 'Gripped my throat and didn't let go until the final, searing sentence' - CAROLINE ENGLAND A nightmare jolts Debs awake. She leaves the kids tucked up in their beds and goes downstairs. There's a man in her kitchen, holding a knife. But it's not an intruder. This is her husband Marc, the father of her children. Once, their differences were what drew them together. Him, the ex-army officer from a good family. Her, the fitness instructor who grew up over a pub. But now they grate to the point of drawing blood. Marc screams in his sleep. And Debs hardly knows the person she's become, or why she lets him hurt her. Neither of them is completely innocent. Neither is totally guilty. Marc is taller, stronger, and more vicious, haunted by a war he can't forget. But he has no idea what Debs is capable of when her children's lives are at stake... This gripping read about a relationship built on passion, poisoned by secrets and violence will keep you turning the pages all night. Perfect for readers of Blood Orange and Big Little Lies. 'A slow-burn thriller, both horrifying and touching' - CATHERINE COOPER

Husband-and-wife team Sam and Remi Fargo come up against an old enemy while searching for a treasure that has been lost for centuries in this exciting adventure in the bestselling series by the Clive Cussler, Grand Master of Adventure. Ten years ago, a chance meeting at the Lighthouse Café in Redondo Beach led Sam Fargo and Remi Longstreet on the adventure of a lifetime, hunting the legendary riches stolen from the Persian King Croesus in 546 B.C. But they weren't the only ones. Someone else is after the gold, and he's willing to kill anyone who gets in his way. When Sam and Remi run afoul of a criminal drug-running operation, their hopes of finding the treasure are dashed. But with Sam's ingenuity and Remi's determination, they survive their confrontation with the drug runners, and manage to send one of the key players to prison. Though the cache of gold is never found, life goes on. Sam and Remi marry--and years later return to Greece to find the one treasure that got away. Time becomes their enemy when the kingpin they helped send to prison over a decade ago is released--and he has two goals in mind. Find the legendary hoard of King Croesus, and kill Sam and Remi Fargo. The Fargos know that as long as this gold is out there, no one is safe. They return to Greece for a final showdown--and one last chance to find that elusive treasure.

"So, you like to take on a character and interact with other RPG buddies? Role-Playing Games will help readers up their skills, explore further, and load up on more loot. They'll also love learning about game designers and innovators and how they made a lifestyle into a life"--Provided by publisher.