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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.
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.
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, I hope you don't think I'm doing the weasal, I think they tie. And, let's face it, though I am poking a bit of fun with them, they both have offered moviedom some fun and unique perspectives on the martial arts. So let's ignore their foibles and cook up a mess of popcorn, with lots of butter, and enjoy them.
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.
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, I hope you don't think I'm doing the weasal, I think they tie. And, let's face it, though I am poking a bit of fun with them, they both have offered moviedom some fun and unique perspectives on the martial arts. So let's ignore their foibles and cook up a mess of popcorn, with lots of butter, and enjoy them.
About the Author:
Al Case has studied the martial arts for over more than 40+ years. You can view his Monster Martial Arts at Monster Martial Arts.
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