Rec and Sports

The Fight Between Steven Seagal or Jean Claude Van Damme?

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.

When it comes to aging on the screen, I would have to say Van Damme is the winner. Seagal, I have to say it, looks out of shape. Those bad coats, for which he is famous, don’t really cover up his belly.

As to which ages better in real life, I would have to, again, say Van Damme. He looks like he works out every day, and, truth, his martial arts actually seem to get a little better. He actually looks like he is gaining in technique and trying to do more than just the splits and punch.

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, when it comes to screen presence, has more wattage. Though his last movies have spiraled down into the dumpster, he had charisma in the beginning, and he still has a certain amount of screen presence. If he’d stop directing, producing, playing the music for, writing the script, 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.