January 27th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I am a big fan of martial arts movies. I did Taekwando years ago getting a blue belt (with a red stripe), should have gone on to get my black belt and am kicking myself for it now. If I were to do it again, I’ll have probably to start from the very beginning (I think).
I am a big fan of Steven Seagal as I like his style of martial arts i.e. Aikido (he has a 7th Dan Black Belt in Aikido). However, in his last 10 movies or so, he has somehow changed his way of fighting — to a more Kung Fu way. My question is… why? He looks real stupid fighting in a style that he is unaccustomed with and with that really makes him look like an amateur martial artist.
Got to admit that kick-em-up martial arts fighting movies are so 80s and 90s, the movie industry is just not interested in it anymore. I think the only person that can make decent money on making martial arts films right now it Jet Li. Even he knows it as he claims to have made his last true martial arts movie last year and concentrating on just action movies.
I looked up Steve Seagal on Wikipedia and it seems that he is making his comeback on the big screen this year. Lets hope he goes back to basics of what made him a unique action movie star - his slick Aikido moves that really kicks butt.
14 Responses to “Steven Seagal needs to go back to basics”
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
yoshi said: @ 7:14 pm
January 27th, 2007
I used to love Steven Segal. If he does come back with the old school stuff, I’d love to see it. But I’m not gonna hold my breath.
As for Jet Li, yes, he rocks. (holy crap i almost typed that as “rawks” *shaking head*) So making only action movies…makes me think, will that be movies like Romeo must die? If so, kudos to Jet Li.
kristarella said: @ 7:17 pm
January 27th, 2007
I’m not really familiar with him, of course I know who he is but I haven’t seen many (if any) of his films. Perhaps there were choreographers working on those films that he had to abide by?
I imagine if you went back to martial arts you would have to start at the beginning, although you might get fast-tracked if you pick the stuff up quickly an remember it all. Still a lot of work to get to black belt though :) Then again, it’s not about the destination, it’s what you learn along the way.
The Foo said: @ 7:37 pm
January 27th, 2007
yoshi: yes I won’t hold my breath. Jet Li rocks! Hope he does more like Romeo must die. It looks like he chooses his movies nicely, not just making a film for the sake of it like Seagal and Van Damme. He is smart enough to try stay away from the solely beat-em-up type movies and add a variation on his roles.
kris: These are his classic ones you might want to rent to see his classic style … Above the Law, Hard to Kill, Marked for Death, Out for Justice and Under Siege .. it was pretty much downhill from there. Although I loved Glimmer man but everyone else seems to hate it. The guy can fight but he needs to fight in his own style.
I didn’t add that I *restarted* Taekwando twice right from the beginning, first time I went all the way to a blue belt and red stipe and then stopped (this was when I was 12) because I wanted to play tennis instead. Then about 8-9 years later I went all the way to a blue belt and then stopped because I was in college and had too much to juggle. Now its about 12 years later and I want to do it again, maybe I will go all the way to a black belt now. I think I’ll start it again later in the year or early next year — maybe try another martial art. If I stuck to it when I was 12, I’ll be at least a black belt with 3th or 4th Dan by now. (kicking myself again). “it’s not about the destination, it’s what you learn along the way”… I like that quote.
Paddy Tan said: @ 1:43 am
January 28th, 2007
I think just last year there were several direct-to-tv movies by Steven Seagal and sad to say, none of them good at all. I missed those few movies that propelled him to fame, with good fighting scenes, quick moves, a great level of ‘coolness’.
Now it is just, painful to watch.
tiggerprr said: @ 6:13 pm
January 28th, 2007
I am a HUGE martial arts fanatic. HUGE. I loved Steven Segal’s first films, but sadly he almost seems like a caricature of himself now. The photos I’ve seen of him lately are near Brando-esque, he really looks like he let himself go.
Jet Li, he does “rawk” ::giggles at Yoshi::! I love his movies and agree that he does seem to choose his films wisely. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Kudos to you for thinking of starting martial arts training again. I took Karate in Japan when I was in first grade, and the instructor broke a kid’s nose while demonstrating something in front of the class and blood flew everywhere. I started taking piano lessons after that. I really wish he hadn’t scared me so, I would have liked to finish. :)
Paddy Tan said: @ 8:12 pm
January 28th, 2007
Anyone watch Jet Li’s recent movie ‘Fearless’, it’s good. Was one of the most popular show when shown here in Singapore.
Paddy
kristarella said: @ 12:57 am
January 29th, 2007
tigerprr - that’s appaling that a karate instructor broke a child’s nose while demonstrating. I’ve seen bruises on adults from demonstrations and broken noses on adults from sparring but and instructor should have more control. Sorry it scared you away.
thethinker said: @ 6:43 pm
January 29th, 2007
I’m a fan of Jet Li’s movies. I’ve heard of Steven Seagal, but never seen him in action.
The Foo said: @ 10:52 pm
January 29th, 2007
Kris: yes that was appalling, a karate instructor should be skillful enough to have enough control — especially with kids.
thethinker: I am surprised how many people don’t know Steven Seagal. Guess he is not as famous a martial arts guy as I thought he was.
Paddy Tan said: @ 10:54 pm
January 29th, 2007
Perhaps cos he is more of the 80s/90s era actor :)
Paddy
The Foo said: @ 10:58 pm
January 29th, 2007
I guess that means I’m old!
Paddy Tan said: @ 11:05 pm
January 29th, 2007
No no .. not old but just that we were young when we watched him on screen! hahahaha.
Me born in 1975, now is the prime. hahah!
Paddy
The Foo said: @ 1:37 am
February 3rd, 2007
born in 1974… i feel old!
Paddy Tan said: @ 1:46 am
February 3rd, 2007
Come on! :)
Years we are born are just only a figure. It is the way we act and behave that justify all that.