Adventure is a classic genre that has entertained many throughout the years. But what makes an Adventure and Adventure?
Who Wants an Adventure?
To figure this out, we must first ask who is watching this genre? The adventure genre is defined simply as a hero or protagonist going on an epic journey, learning about themselves or the world. This is why this genre can appeal to younger kids, teens, and even young adults. For example, Peter Pan is an adventure movie that targets young children. It showcases brave young children following the fun and cool Peter Pan to a mystical world called Neverland. There they learned important morals and values that all young children should learn. Meanwhile, Rango was more about the main character, Rango, learning about himself and who he is during his journey and character arc. This would be more directed towards teens and young adults who already have morals and are now just trying to figure out their path in this world.
Narrowing the target audience down even further, many adventure movies have action within them. Even sweet adventures like The Princess Bride will have intense action littered throughout its adventurous love story. Whether they are fighting, escaping, or defying the odds, there are some sort of action elements within the adventure genre. Those elements gravitate to action-seekers and fans of the thrill. They enjoy some violence within a film. That is not to say adventure enjoyers are violent, but more enjoy the thrill of watching it.
What's in an Adventure?
The adventure genre is filled with conventions and cliches, especially revolving around the Hero's Journey. This means the protagonist of the story typically goes on a journey to then face many challenges that help push their personal growth and help define the theme. Adventure films are filled with exotic locations that help give a visually appealing and dynamic setting to the story. There are usually physical challenges, rivalries, and a clear antagonist the protagonist must face within the story. The theme usually surrounds the idea of discovery and exploration.
On the production side, there is usually the use of multiple wide shots to showcase the scenery and location the characters find themselves in. There will be many dynamic camera movements to help demonstrate the protagonist's feelings towards themselves and the area they find themselves. The soundtrack will assist in making the film immersive and make the audience feel what the character is. Action scenes will be edited face-paced to represent the intensity of a scene but then go into a slower pace to help the audience and in turn the character fully take in the setting of the film.
Adventurous Marketing
Overall, the marketing of an adventure tends to be very simple. Trailers usually are action-packed to get people excited to see it, as well as showing different extreme long shots of the film to help capture the beauty of the world they are trying to show, real or not. Posters tend to be light and vibrant to help give a sense of wonder and to welcome the audience into watching it. Social Media will also have a huge key in interacting with the fans or future fans as the managers of the accounts will engagingly interact with the public while still advertising their film.
This The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe trailer showcases how the main characters are a part of the new world that they must venture through. It also shows all the challenges, actions, and dangers they will face. This trailer heavily showed off the setting/environment. These elements put together give the viewer a sense of wonder, adventure, and even some tension.
This Willow DVD cover/poster as an example. It is a very vibrant cover, highlighting the important characters while showcasing the large landscape behind them. Everything about this cover represents the idea of an Adventure.
'The Goonies' follows a group of seven kids who are searching for pirate treasure and explore a deep cave.
The Goonies fit the Adventure genre characteristics because of the evident hero's journey, the beautiful and exotic locations, and the character growth through friendship. The group of kids are all unique with differing personalities/skills. Together, they face challenges and change as people as they all follow the hero's journey. Although some weren't friends or even kind to each other they slowly became more considerate and caring with each other. adventure goes through various locations including a pirate ship, cave, and underground passageway, showing exploration and discovery. The story is key on the bonds between the group as they grow together closer, learning more about themselves and the others. All of their lives and friendships are changed through their friendship by the end.
The cinematography of the film is full of different and dynamic camera angles with many sweeping motions as the characters move through their environment. This production quality helps fully capture the excitement of this adventure. The musical is also very crucial to conveying the adventure as it sounds very upbeat, but also mysterious, showing off the different adventurous aspects of each scene. The pace of The Goonies is quick during the action scenes to highlight agency but slows as important scenes of growth appear.
At its core, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, is just like Goonies and fits into the Adventure genre and its conventions perfectly. Like The Goonies, this film follows a group on an adventure, but this time in a fantasy world and on a journey to destroy the evil power sealed within a ring.
Frodo, the main character, has a fulfilling and long hero's journey even continuing into the other movies (books). Frodo starts off as a normal day hobbit with no real urge to be a hero, but eventually, the challenges he and the fellowship he face, do indeed make him grow into a courageous hero stopping at nothing to destroy the ring's power and help save the world, but more importantly the world. The film is set in a fantasy landscape, so the gorgeous world is shown off and helps elevate the story. The journey the fellowship takes is very long, so many different locations are shown off to show the passage of time and the change both the characters and the world go through. Finally, the film's themes are full of sacrifice and friendship, showing how the characters support and sacrifice for each other.
The shots are similar to The Goonies, with sweeping wide shots and dynamic movements throughout the entire film. The music feels powerful to show off the power within the characters and their actions, as well as the powerful settings they enter. Also like The Goonies, the editing is fast with the intense action, but slows for the character reflection and growth that the movie truly relies on.
Overall, action is about growth and a journey. It will rely on its characters and its beautiful locations to showcase the themes and morals of the growth and change that takes effect.
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