The Fight between Jean Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal?
Posted on June 29, 2009
Filed Under Fitness |
In the battle of the martial arts cinema stars one has to wonder who is better, Jean Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal. They each have obvious talents, and they each have areas where they have…less talent. So let’s match them up and see who’s better.
As to who the better martial artist is, Jean Claude has muscles, can do the splits, and likes to bop heads. Steven Seagal, on the other hand, trained to 6th degree in Aikido. Though they studied different arts, judging by the technique thy display on film, I would have to give the edge to Seagal.
I think that Van Damme is better when it comes to acting. Van Damme trys to be act in his roles, and he always plays a variety of characters. Seagal just bills himself as bad, and wades in and bullies his way to victory.
When it comes to aging on the screen, I would have to say Van Damme has the edge. Seagal, not to be cruel, has a bit of the belly. He is famous for those bad coats, which are a sad attempt to cover his belly, but it doesn’t work.
Van Damme looks like he ages better when it comes to real life, too. His martial arts actually seem to be improving as he gets older. He does more than just the splits and punch. and he actually shows a it of techniques now and then.
Now we come to the all important question of who makes the better movies. Van Damme has put out a couple of classic movies with Kick Boxer and Bloodsport, but Seagal, at least for his first few movie, really had Hollywood behind him. I think I might, in spite of his last few flicks, give the edge to Seagal, though if you threatened me with a karate chop I’d give up pretty quick.
Seagal has more wattage when it comes to screen presence. Though his last movies have rivaled garbage for their consistency, he had charisma in the beginning, and he still has a bit of screen presence. If he’d stop being the gaffer, directing, playing the music for, writing the script, producing, singing in, being the cameraman and the boom operator and everything else, and get off his opinion of himself, he might shine again.
So, hate to weasel on you, but it’s a tie game. Truth, though it seems like I am having a bit of fun with them, they both have offered cinema unique and fun perspectives on the martial arts. Forgive them their mistakes and pass the popcorn, that’s my motto.
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