The focal point of this paper is to examine two films (Shaft and Hero) under the genre of Action and Adventure and determine whether there is evidence of significant variation from one film to the next. It would also be determined the extent to which this variation indicates an evolution of style, structure, or content in the genre. Additionally, forces influencing or guiding this change would also be determined. There are several differences between the movies, however, only three would be considered.
The shaft is predominantly black and all the perceptions and perspective presented in the movie is distinctively black. It could be mentioned that this movie easily surpassed supplementary black stereotypes with its presentation of black gangsters and black activists at the same time along with urban junkies who are black. In the movie, we see time and again that the central character Shaft is making it a point with specific measures that he is dead against racialism and all sorts of racial hypocrisy. On the other hand, Hero represents all aspects that are generally associated with Chinese movies.
Some characters are moral, both heroes and villains as in Chinese movies, and martial artists, who fly around trees fighting. This is extremely stereotyped. Thus, one film breaks all stereotypes and the other follows it.
One curious aspect of this movie is the multiple dimensions of truth used in the movie. The assassin is presenting his versions of his achievements to the emperor to gain access to him and these are more always presented in half-truths and lies which the Emperor is to decipher. These half-truths and lies are represented in the movie as costumes and sets are pained in base colors like green, blue and red. Whereas the truth or the true versions of the incidents are presented in complete milk-white.
Apart from the aspects of philosophy and political correctness, the basic theme of the movie, the thing most significant about the movie is the breathtaking photography and action sequences. On the other hand, Shaft has almost a monochrome approach with little or no variance of truth. Truth in Shaft is mono-dimensional and facts present in it are either true or false. There are no shades present in Shaft.
Another distinctive difference is the setting. The shaft is an urbane protest movie under the parameter of Action and Adventure films. Logically enough the texture of this movie is dark and deep colors like red and black are used frequently to ascertain the mood of the movie. Additionally, multiple scenes present the background in steel grey thus providing a cold and lethal look to the movie. Heroin’s sharp contrast is full of vibrant colors including white and black in contrasting backgrounds as the prime objective of this Action and Adventure film is to determine the true nature of truth amidst confusion and dilemma. In sharp contrast, Hero represents rural settings in with the main attraction being the landscape.
It could be mentioned in the conclusion that the transition of Action and Adventure in these movies are not the amount of action or explosions involved in these films but it is more of a transition that starts with physical violence in Shaft and completes the cycle with the adventures of the mind in Hero along with its physical martial skills.