"hordes of sword-wielding Orcs"

Man, I love assonance.

Anyway, I think that action films can have great emotional resonance (something I try very hard to do within my set pieces). For example, take the climax of JAWS - Brody is still terrified of the water, yet brave enough to climb and take the one shot he know he has, even at the risk of falling from his perch into the deadly water below.

I see no reason that emotional set pieces and action spectacle can't be blended into a cohesive unit.

It's my goal, anyway. : )