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When it comes to movie stars in the martial arts, one has to wonder who is better, Steven Seagal or Jean Claude Van Damme. They each have their own talents, and they each have areas where they are, let's admit it, lacking. Let's take a few areas and let them go head to head and 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.
As to which is the better actor, I actually think that Van Damm has the edge. Van Damme plays a variety of characters, always trying to adapt to different roles. Seagal, on the other hand, is always Seagal, he lays in wait, then bullies his way to victory just because he is so bad.
As to which actor ages best on the screen, I would have to say Van Damme. Seagal, let's face it, has a bit of the chub. He tries to cover it with bad coats, he is famous for his bad coats, but it doesn't work.
Van Damme ages better in real life, too. His martial arts actually seem to get a little better with age. He actually looks like he is trying to do more than just the splits and punch. and he is gaining in technique.
Which has made the better movies. This is a toughie, for Van Damme has made a couple of classics, and Seagal, at least in the beginning, had better production values. I think I might, in spite of his latter atrocities, give the edge to Seagal, though if you argued with me over this you wouldn't encounter much fight.
Which has more charisma, I think has to be Seagal. He had charisma in the beginning, and, though his last movies have spiraled down into the dump heap, he still has a certain amount of screen presence. If he'd stop producing, directing, writing, playing the music for, singing in, being the gaffer and the cameraman and the boom operator and everything else, and get off his self image, he might shine again.
So, even though you might think I'm doing the weasel, I think it's a tie game. Truth, though I am having a bit of fun with them, they both have offered cinema fun and unique perspectives on the martial arts. Forget about their mistakes and cook up the popcorn, that's what I say.
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.
As to which is the better actor, I actually think that Van Damm has the edge. Van Damme plays a variety of characters, always trying to adapt to different roles. Seagal, on the other hand, is always Seagal, he lays in wait, then bullies his way to victory just because he is so bad.
As to which actor ages best on the screen, I would have to say Van Damme. Seagal, let's face it, has a bit of the chub. He tries to cover it with bad coats, he is famous for his bad coats, but it doesn't work.
Van Damme ages better in real life, too. His martial arts actually seem to get a little better with age. He actually looks like he is trying to do more than just the splits and punch. and he is gaining in technique.
Which has made the better movies. This is a toughie, for Van Damme has made a couple of classics, and Seagal, at least in the beginning, had better production values. I think I might, in spite of his latter atrocities, give the edge to Seagal, though if you argued with me over this you wouldn't encounter much fight.
Which has more charisma, I think has to be Seagal. He had charisma in the beginning, and, though his last movies have spiraled down into the dump heap, he still has a certain amount of screen presence. If he'd stop producing, directing, writing, playing the music for, singing in, being the gaffer and the cameraman and the boom operator and everything else, and get off his self image, he might shine again.
So, even though you might think I'm doing the weasel, I think it's a tie game. Truth, though I am having a bit of fun with them, they both have offered cinema fun and unique perspectives on the martial arts. Forget about their mistakes and cook up the popcorn, that's what I say.
About the Author:
Al Case has practiced the martial arts for more than 40 years. You can view his Monster Martial Arts at Monster Martial Arts.
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