Introduction: Violence and much more
The controversies, the crisis, and the films. The history of a modern crisis
The modern American action film
The audience. The need for speed : the appeal of fast-paced story telling
Mirror image : finding a personal, social, and moral identity in the action film
Man talk : managing the modern male identity (crisis) in the genre
The opposition : men with a challenge
managing a well-deserved "crisis"
What women want : women talk about modern masculinity in the action film
Bloody fun : the appeal of watching violence
Conclusions: I'll be back? The future of action and masculinity in popular culture.