Donovan (communication, Saint Peter's College, New Jersey) draws on interviews to explore how male and female fans view the genre of male action/adventure films and to provide insight on the
socialization process that draws people to the action film. Men and women explain their personal values in relation to action films, bolstering the argument that media violence must be analyzed
within a moral context. Two chapters are devoted to men talking about the crisis of masculinity as reflected in the action film. Other chapters look at attitudes and preferences of female
action fans, and attitudes of male and female fans to different types and contexts of onscreen violence. The book is of interest to fans of the genre and to scholars of film, history, poplar
culture, gender studies, and audience research. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
