I know, I know, Steven Seagal would appear to be the sort of man whose talents are such as to make critique virtually pointless. His mastery of aikido is almost metaphysical allowing him to deflect laughable, yet oddly persistent, allegations of organized crime connections and sex trafficking whilst maintaining his position amongst the top (largely ceremonial) Deputy Reserve Rinpoche Sheriffs in Hollywood. His internationally travelled band, “Thunderbox” has released two multi-selling albums and his energy drink, “Steven Seagal’s Lightning Bolt,” is the unrelenting challenge to the taste buds you’d expect from the high-octane star. This sensual Blitzkrieg is continued with Seagal’s quasi-mythical bottled man smell “Scent of Action” and then of course, we have the movies, the perfect showcase for his singular talent as a martial artist.
The decision to become a martial arts movie star puts you into a 35mm ring with some pretty big hitters. Say, Bruce Lee, for example. The scene below is from Enter the Dragon and it’s notable for being one of the first attempts by a Western director to capture a “Kung-Fu” scene:
Note the static camera and reliance on single shot set pieces. This isn’t really a problem since Lee, as well as being a sublime martial artist, also possesses an uncanny sense for the cinematic. Jackie Chan on the other hand works closely with choreographer, editor and director to compile complex, perhaps more technically impressive scenes like this from Drunken Master 2:
Now, lets look at this scene from Seagal’s Under Siege. Bear in mind this is the dénouement of his first proper blockbuster and apex of his career thus far:
Basically he fights like an 8-year-old girl. Undoubtedly Seagal’s real genius lies in the art of hyperbole, for rarely has an empire been hung on such a shoogly peg.
I think you’re not being entirely fair to Seagal’s body of work. Take, for example, his brilliant turn in “Out for Justice”. Only a true genius could make such a violent revenge-fantasy of a film. The point isn’t his martial arts skills, or lack thereof, but his insane bloodlust and equally wack sense of moral justification for said bloodlust. Doi.
KOR you maybe right. If his parfum was called “Insane Bloodlust” I think I’d be more tempted to try it.