Genre+descriptions

Comedy: Lefferts Comedy films are meant to lighten peoples' moods and make light of a situation that otherwise may have been upsetting. Such as breaking up, failing school and other things that can be serious but are made to laugh at for the movies. Comedys also can be funny because of how random and unlikely the situation in the film is.

Action: Lefferts Ever since the Matrix rolled around, action movies have been required by audiences to have slow motion fight scenes. Parts where the viewer sees a man's face punched in so slowly you see their face ripple. The Matrix set this all up with their world renowned bullet dodging sequence (although Blade claims they were the first to have one). From that day forth nearly all action films have had slow motion fight scenes.

Action: (WillMac) Action films almost always have a resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, life-threatening circumstances, or an evil villain, with victory or resolution attained by the end after physical feats and violence (fist fights, gunplay). Action films have traditionally been aimed at male audiences, ages 13 to the mid-30s in both American and world-wide markets. Good action movies out recently include Casino Royale, Blood Diamond, and Rocky Balboa.

Action films are those that contain heart-pounding scences such as stunts, car chases, battles, and hero[s]. All action films contain one or more obstacles that have to be overcome some how, using strength of the mind or body. An action film is cutting, with wit and a journey of the hero. When one thinks of an action film, they typically think of a sweet "James Bond roll" or moves from the Matrix. Early action movies usually focused on police officers when its genre became established in the 60s, and the action film that we know today became popularized by Schwarzenegger and Willis in the 80s-90s. Today action movies focus on fight scences and the overcoming of immense obstables. There are 3 main sub-genres of an action film: Action-Comedy, Action-Adventure, and Action-Thriller. Most action movies are a blend of all there sub-genres into one film.
 * Action: Melissa**

Adventure: (WillMac) Adventure films are exciting stories, with new experiences or exotic locations. Adventure films are very similar to the action film genre, in that they are designed to provide an action-filled, energetic experience for the film viewer. Rather than the emphasis on violence and fighting that is found in action films, however, the viewer of adventure films can live through the travels, conquests, explorations, creation of empires, struggles and situations that confront the main characters, actual historical figures or protagonists.

(Andrew Peekema) These types of films have more of a focus on the location and plotline than the action genre, which specializes in fighting. However, an adventure movie generally has elements of an action movie, and vice versa. This genre also has more of a romantic element in it, where an action movie is generally in a more modern setting instead of out roughing it in the wilderness type feel. Here is a good site for its description: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_film
 * Adventure:**


 * Comedy (Shannon):** Comedy films are designed to make people laugh. They exaggerate something in the film, such as the situation, the language, or the characters, to make fun of this aspect and make people laugh. Sometimes comedy films focus on specific things that make normal people frustrated in order to bring a more light-hearted view on the subject. Although the humor is usually light-hearted, sometimes comedy films focus on more serious or are more of a hopless kind of humor.

There are 6 kinds of comedy: 
 * 1) Slapstick
 * 2) Deadpan
 * 3) Verbal Comedy
 * 4) Screwball
 * 5) Black/Dark comedy
 * 6) Parody/Spoof/Satire




 * (Nicholas):** Comedy films exist for two reasons. The first is the simple task of amusement, eeking out cheap laughs from tired jokes. Usually. The second reason is a surreal look at reality, using such techniques as satire and humorous situations to develope characters and ideas to the same extent of those in drama film.

Crime/Gangster:
 * Lisa-** crime and gangster films are developed by the actions of the criminals and gangsters. If often depicts the life of a criminal. The gangsters are self-destructive and immoral. It is common that there are conflicts between gangster groups. The stories are developed with how gangsters are caught by police, or other secret agents. Crime Gangster Film can fall into many other genres like drama.

Drama: Drama films portray the human character having a traumatic event in their life. They show the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between. They show real life situations between the main character and other characters in the movie. They are also they most broad genre of films because there are multiple different ways of demonstrating drama.
 * Sami**-

(Nathan)- Dramas are serious and have a fast paced plot with realistic characteristics and settings. These movies tend to not focus on comedy, action or romance but try and tell a more serious story. Lisa - Dramas depict the life situations of realistic characters. This is the most used film genre because it can be mixed with any other film genres. Their themes are anything related to issues that people go through. It can be current issues, racial prejudices, poverty, fight between teenage girls, etc.

Epics/Historical: Spencer- Epic movies are usually set in a different universe. Sometimes the characters are not human. They are typically dressed up in elaborate costumes. Often times they have battles or fights in them. Epics are usually about myths or legends. Typically heroic stories.

(WillMac) Epics are also usually based on novels. The story line in the book is too huge to fit in a 2 hour movie so they water it down a lot and epic movies a never as good as the books. The advantage of making a movie out of the book allows people who don't read often to still be entertained by the story. Also people who like to actually see the characters instead of having to image them have a better time with the movie.

Horror:


 * Horror (Jordan):** Horror films are designed to scare the audience. The film uses a combination of visual effects and sounds to make a person jump or scream. Visual effects can include flashes of scary or violent content. Sound effects can include a sudden noise or suspenseful music. Often, horror films have a long plot to make the content even more scary because the audience feels for the main characters.

Horror films are designed to scare or frighten the audience. They often depict the life of an evil character, an evil event, or show something supernatural. Critics generally do not like horror films, as they claim them to be of low class, B-movies. However, they still pull a huge audience. Famous horror films include Dracula, Frankenstein or The Phantom of the Opera.
 * Sami**-

Musicals:

The three main ideas to any musical movie are the lyrics, the music, and the script. Musicals can range in a wide length of time. Some will be short one-act, entertaining stories, while others are several hours in length. However, the most typical musical is about 3 hours long. Usually a movie will start with a song, that will set the tone for the rest of the movie to come. Some of the most famous musicals include __//A Westside Story//__, //__Phantom of the Opera__//, and //__Sound of Music__//.
 * Sami-**

Julie- This genre uses music to entertain the audience. It may just be a simple story that takes place in a simple place, but breaks out into song to help tell the story. Normally there is a dance of some kind that is featured during the songs. Without the songs, the movie would be just a regular film, but the music makes it a musical!

A musical is defined as a play that contains music, song, and dance. Musicals are an art that bring emotions to life using elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color. Most people associate a musical with Broadway performances, but many famous musicals are brought to life on the screen. Musicals are created using strong feelings, which come alive in song. They have a strong theme or center that they focus around, and that theme in prominant in most, if not all of the songs. The actors [who are also singers and dancers] tell the story with minimal dialouge and express the true story through their song and dance. The effect of a musical is, in my opinion, more effective than that of a regular film or play. While there are many powerful plays and movies out there, a musical is more easily remembered with its catchy music, and powerful imagery and will stick with the audience longer than the effects of a regular film/play. Musicals contain more thought and emotion than a regular performance because they have to tell the story in three different ways - dance, song, and words.
 * Melissa**

(Nathan)- Musical’s main part is singing. Based on what the story is changes what the songs will be about and how the main person is feeling. If the mood changes in the story the music may change sharply to convey an emotion.


 * Science Fiction**:


 * (Spencer)-** Si-Fi movies are typically set in a different time or place. They often use futuristic tools and advanced technology. They usually take place in space with different weapons. The special effects are usually a big part of Sci-Fi movies. They use different techniques, mostly computers. Most of the time they are in a different world.

The main idea of this genre is a world that, at least in one way, is different than our present world. They often include—but not always—space travel, new technology, flying vehicles, or extraterrestrials. Science Fiction movies usually also involve the sciences. Science Fiction is often combined with Science Fantasy, depending on the person. They can cover a wide variety of different adventures, however the most common is space travel.
 * Sami-**

Science Fiction Films are of course about science and are of course not factual, though you never know (maybe one day we can shrink down to the size of molecule like in //Honey I Shrunk the Kids//). Science Fiction Films are usually fantasy, allowing you to use your imagination and create settings totally out of this world (literally). Some films can take place on the moon or to far away planets or the galaxy like in //Star Wars// or //Star Trek//. Many SF films include time travel or fantastic journeys like in //Back to the Future// or //the Lost World//. But Sci Fi films aren’t just fun; sometimes they convey serious messages about the power of knowledge and if not used correctly can have dangerous consequences like the potential of technology to destroy humankind as in //The Day the Earth Stood Still//. Furthermore, Sci Fi expresses our anxiety of how our actions will result in dire consequence in the future like in //Soylent Green//. Science Fiction films can sometimes overlap with horror particularly when alien life forms or technology turns evil like in M. Night Shyamalan”s //Signs//. Science Fiction films can also have a lot of action in them. Superhero films such as Spiderman can be science fiction. So Science Fiction can encompass a lot of genres.
 * Brittany**:

Science fiction sucks. Mostly kidding, there. No, good science fiction bounces common drama themes off of a science-fiction setting. And isn't that was life is all about? Yeah. Yeah, it IS.
 * (Nicholas)**
 * War: (Spencer) -** War movies are designed to talk about a certain war or battle. It often describes the war from a soldier’s point of view. Sometimes it portrays the war from a different side or country. War movies are usually very violent and gory. They usually always provide insight to a certain time period.


 * (Wes Lind) -** War movies are usually about war or battle. War films can also be about normal life during a film. They can be used to show the horror and intensity of war and home life, or just for entertainment values. There can also be war commercials which are designed to inflict emotion to be in that situation.

Westerns: Westerns demonstrate the 19th century United States, Mexico, or Australian Outback. They also show the idolized western, not what actually occurred most of the time. Western movies reached their peak in the 1970’s, since then the interest in them has declined. They often depict the life of a cowboy through the wilderness, but not always. They also show amazing landscape, while their dialogue, in generally, is less amazing.
 * Sami**-

(Nathan)- Westerns are about the early days of American history usually involving the expansion west. These types of movies have been around for the longest and have the most popularity among most people. They usually have tons of action and fighting in them. There usually are the basic western materials in them such as horses, cowboys and Indians.

Crime/ Gangster: (**Spencer**)- Crime/Gangster movies are usually for entertainment purposes. They are also used for educational purposes. Usually they portray the viciousness and brutality of the streets. Drugs are almost in every crime/gangster movie. Guns are also a key item in getting the feel of the ghetto. Violence also plays a key role. These types of movies show the struggles and hardships in a gangster's life. (WillMac) Gangsters in movies are usually materialistic, street-smart, and self-destructive. Rivalry with other criminals in gangster warfare is often a significant plot characteristic. Crime plots also include questions such as how the criminal will be caught by police, private eyes, special agents or lawful authorities, or mysteries such as who stole the valued object. They rise to power with a tough cruel facade while showing an ambitious desire for success and recognition, but underneath they can express sensitivity and gentleness.

Crime-dramas explore the darker side of human existence and often try to explain the criminal drive, the rationalization of crime to the criminal, or the sheer horror of a destructive life-style. Martin Scorsese’s Goodfella’s touches on all of these. More recent films, however, tend to use gangs as a backdrop to drama, say, Gangs of New York.
 * (Nicholas)**

Film noir is a term used to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particulary focused on sex and corruption. Film noir type films were popular in the 1940s and 1950s. In that era films were usually black and white. Storylines were based off of hardboiled school of crime fiction, popular during the Depression. The term “film noir” was first coined by French critic Nino Frank and literally means “black film” in French. Film noirs occupy a variety of genres from gangster to "social problem picture" (those film that focus on social issue topics) to science fiction(sci-noir). Since film noir includes such a diversity of genres, it more considered a style rather than a genre. Film noir is usually associated with an urban setting, but some noirs take place in suburbia and rual areas. Characters identified with film noir are usually the private eye and femme fatal even though most noirs do not have these. Some examples of film noir include “White Heat”(1949) and “Kiss Me Deadly”(1955). Neo-Noir refers to modern film noir such as “L.A. Confidential” and “Pulp Fiction.”
 * Film noir:**
 * Brittany-**