Boycott SEAGAL!!

[Mason]

I dont think we can compare Steven Seagal to any other actor because they are there own indivual ...they all good at what they do... sure he aint perfect no one is BUT it would be nice to think that he will deliver the best he can ....thats all iam saying

Exactly!!

 

[rastafari]

I think after over a decade of second rate DTV films, Seagal's fans do have some justification in being hard on his films. Granted Van Damme has made his fair share of terrible films too but at least for the most part he looks like be is trying. He at least looks like an action star and that's even after having a suspected heart attack while shooting Assassination Games, a project that Seagal was originally going to star in. Van Damme has also managed to make a comeback with the likes of JCVD, Expendables 2, the Universal Soldier sequels and his worldwide advertising campaign with Coors Beer ('there's cold, and there's Damme cold'). Seagal has never managed to make that comeback. Sure some of his DTV films have been decent and he had Machete but it's never consistent.

I think fans accept Seagal for who he is now, basically a DTV action star. We all know the chances of him ever appearing in a theatrical release again are slim to none. However that doesn't mean we are stuck in the past. And it doesn't mean we should accept rubbish DTV films from him. Not when we know that solid action films can and are being made with the same sort of budgets that Seagal gets for his films.

Perhaps you could point me in the direction of some good Van Damme fan sites?



Exactly right buddy, Seagal doesn't even look like he's trying now, most of the time in his recent films he looks bored and like he can't be bothered.



You're right, his TV series was such a missed opportunity. Instead of being widely available on one of the major channels it was only shown on a specialist one. Although given the quality of it, that's hardly surprising and perhaps for the best.



I've had enough of watered down Seagal too, with his films being shot so they are safe for TV. It's just another sad stage in his career. Even in some of his weaker films I used to take a certain pleasure in Seagal bullying the bad guys and giving them vicious, bloody and bone breaking beatings, something which has been missing more recently.

However that doesn't mean we are stuck in the past. And it doesn't mean we should accept rubbish DTV films from him.

for me DTK,MC,PW,UJ,BOTB,ITS and Machete are all IMO acceptable STV films on level with other stars so I think he has made decent films in the last 10 years...that said he has also made some crap but like i said above so have all the STV stars and I include AG has one of Van Dammes crap films and one im glad seagal did not do..6 bullets was better

If it was up to me and in an ideal world than id like seagal to do one 15M film a year which he is the main star has a decent support cast,shoots for 5 weeks(30 days) minimum and has a decent action director

what I dont want is either another tv series or seagal to do a bit part cameo(5 minutes) in a film or to do cheap crappy STV films like he did with films like submerged/flight of fury

 

[marky96]

I dont think we can compare Steven Seagal to any other actor because they are there own indivual ...they all good at what they do... sure he aint perfect no one is BUT it would be nice to think that he will deliver the best he can ....thats all iam saying

I think that's all any of us want, Seagal to deliver the best performance he can.

 

[marky96]

However that doesn't mean we are stuck in the past. And it doesn't mean we should accept rubbish DTV films from him.

for me DTK,MC,PW,UJ,BOTB,ITS and Machete are all IMO acceptable STV films on level with other stars so I think he has made decent films in the last 10 years...that said he has also made some crap but like i said above so have all the STV stars and I include AG has one of Van Dammes crap films and one im glad seagal did not do..6 bullets was better

If it was up to me and in an ideal world than id like seagal to do one 15M film a year which he is the main star has a decent support cast,shoots for 5 weeks(30 days) minimum and has a decent action director

what I dont want is either another tv series or seagal to do a bit part cameo(5 minutes) in a film or to do cheap crappy STV films like he did with films like submerged/flight of fury

Perhaps if Seagal had done Assassination Games with Van Damme then it wouldn't have been so crap?

I agree with you on what Seagal should be doing now and what he should avoid let's just hope it happens.

 

[bens85]

I dont think we can compare Steven Seagal to any other actor because they are there own indivual ...they all good at what they do... sure he aint perfect no one is BUT it would be nice to think that he will deliver the best he can ....thats all iam saying

Yeah this is what it comes down to, Seagal being genuinely engaged with his future projects and putting in his best effort. I think that is what everyone wants here and why there are disputes particularly of late. I stand by my feeling that calling for a boycott is a little too strong, but continuing to have critical discussions about his work and forthcoming projects is always reasonable.

 

[ORANGATUANG]

I think that's all any of us want, Seagal to deliver the best performance he can.

Having said what i have i think we can express how disappointed we are some times in 'kindness' rudeness just dont cut it ... and that way he knows that we care and for him to try harder and i bet its not always his fault when it comes to his movies ..blame can be laid on others too

 

[marky96]

Having said what i have i think we can express how disappointed we are some times in 'kindness' rudeness just dont cut it ... and that way he knows that we care and for him to try harder and i bet its not always his fault when it comes to his movies ..blame can be laid on others too

I accept that sometimes over the past decade the fault will not have been with Seagal when one of his films turns out sub-standard. However Seagal has had those years to gain experience of working in the DTV industry. Therefore now, in what must be the final years of his action career, it's up to him to make informed choices about what films he will appear in. And after so many DTV films I would personally rather he wait till the right project came along rather than make something that is below standard.

 

[rastafari]

Perhaps if Seagal had done Assassination Games with Van Damme then it wouldn't have been so crap?

I agree with you on what Seagal should be doing now and what he should avoid let's just hope it happens.

Assassination Games when Seagal was involved was not with Van Damme but Vinnie Jones

it was only months later that Van Damme and Adkins became involved with the film

also when it was Seagal and Jones it was also a different director(I forget who it was but it wasnt Waxman)

 

[ORANGATUANG]

Going to be abit cheeky fans are still talking about Steven making under seige 3 well if he is stuck for ideas he can always ask me as my short story under seige 3 : payback seems to be getting an few hits so Steven if your stuck ...i have some real good ideas..

 

[marky96]

Assassination Games when Seagal was involved was not with Van Damme but Vinnie Jones

it was only months later that Van Damme and Adkins became involved with the film

also when it was Seagal and Jones it was also a different director(I forget who it was but it wasnt Waxman)

I still think with Seagal and Jones it would have been a better film. If Seagal was willing we may have finally got to see a fight between the two that was absent from Submerged.

 

[lee nicholson]

Seagal is never going to change.

Unfortunately guys (and gals) this 'boycott' rant is too late in the game. To be honest, a boycott should have been issued as soon as OUT FOR A KILL was released. The signs were there for all to see. Once Seagal ditched the 'studios' (or was it vice-versa?) he clearly saw that lower-budgeted set-ups (wanting his name for pure marquee value, and nothing else) allowed him to call the shots (unlike the 'majors' that tired of his antics) So given Seagal's ego, it's a mutually beneficial set-up. He's pretty much burnt his bridges with Warners & Millenium, so the lower end of 'Voltage Pictures' will probably support him (his ego, and his filmography) until he retires. Seagal could be a star tomorrow, if his ego would allow criticism. However, his ego won't allow it (he only got away with so much with WB because he was still bringing home the revenue) so it makes sense that Seagal still gets to be the 'star' and has his say (albeit in lower-budget fare) It's a fair enough trade for a man with this big an ego.

This shouldn't really be an excuse for shoddy movies however. In fact, the main gripe amongst fans, is that his movies aren't generic enough, and are ludicrously padded with complex pointless subplots.
Me, I'd be happy to see him make cheesy, violent pot-boilers for the next ten years. Bronson did some great stuff stuff with 'Cannon' in his sixties...Seagal should be looking for this kind of pigeonhole in his career.
Just as long as the studios actually record what Seagal is saying when he's on set (there's no excuse for that) and film whatever fight scenes he does (and not add other stuff to pad it out) If Seagal hasn't filmed a fight scene...then producers should either ask him to, or leave them out altogether.
His weight, at this stage in the game...is a tricky thing to dictate. Seagals weight goes up and down with each new movie. It's not detrimental to his fighting ability.....the real fault lies in the roles he portrays (and the inevitable "How great he is" remarks that only add injury to his visual) PISTOL WHIPPED worked in his favour, because it played to Seagals strengths (and more importantly...weaknesses) and it's probably Seagal's most believable role. The change should come from the outside (i.e, his choice of role) that could accommodate his advancing years/size. Despite a bit of a gut, I think Seagal looks well for a guy in his sixties (don't you?)

Calling the shots during filming (as I'm sure Seagal does) is not the same as calling the shots afterwards. Any faults with ATTACK FORCE (for example) are not down to Steven Seagal. The guy does what he is paid to do, and then moves on. The tinkering afterwards (from greedy, incompetent film-makers/producers) is what has ruined many a Seagal DTV in the last ten years. These guys probably want Seagal off the set, faster than he wants off. Pointless body-doubles are added, probably because the directors haven't the foresight/timeframe to ask Seagal to film his own 'linkage' scenes...Once again, a lot of this is not Seagal's fault.

What Seagal needs to do (in fact ALL HE EVER NEEDED TO DO) is to make coherent movies that showcase his brutal martial-artistry....that's all I want (I go to Pacino or Hoffman if I want range or depth) and that's all that's needed.
Seagal has rarely been animated in ANY of his movies (apart from maybe ATL and OFJ) so I wouldn't go expecting an eleventh hour change in direction because of half a dozen disgruntled fans are ten years slow on the uptake. It's not going to happen folks. Let's just hope he makes more DRIVEN TO KILLS than FLIGHTS OF FURIES, eh?

For the record, IMO, I think Seagal has made more hits than misses in the last decade. Both DTK and ADM are in my top 5 fav Seagal movies list. I prefer either one to (say) Under Siege or Fire Down Below.

I know people want the best for Steven around here, but you'd all do well to remember that at this stage in the game, he's a sixty two year old multimillionaire, who's not had to answer to anyone for the last 20-30 years. The formula he works from is fine (let's face it, he's pretty much played the same role since 1988) it's the behind-the-scenes tinkering that's ruining his product of late. He needs to get back to making 'meat and potatoes' movies. His limitations are actually his strengths, as long as he's still busting heads, in a semi-coherent manor, he'll always make money. He's not going to change, and anyone expecting otherwise should maybe 'boycott' this site, and do something less boring instead?

That's not a criticism...that's just an unavoidable fact.....Handle it folks!

 

[DiDa]

Good post, Lee!

 

[marky96]

Seagal is never going to change.

Unfortunately guys (and gals) this 'boycott' rant is too late in the game. To be honest, a boycott should have been issued as soon as OUT FOR A KILL was released. The signs were there for all to see. Once Seagal ditched the 'studios' (or was it vice-versa?) he clearly saw that lower-budgeted set-ups (wanting his name for pure marquee value, and nothing else) allowed him to call the shots (unlike the 'majors' that tired of his antics) So given Seagal's ego, it's a mutually beneficial set-up. He's pretty much burnt his bridges with Warners & Millenium, so the lower end of 'Voltage Pictures' will probably support him (his ego, and his filmography) until he retires. Seagal could be a star tomorrow, if his ego would allow criticism. However, his ego won't allow it (he only got away with so much with WB because he was still bringing home the revenue) so it makes sense that Seagal still gets to be the 'star' and has his say (albeit in lower-budget fare) It's a fair enough trade for a man with this big an ego.

This shouldn't really be an excuse for shoddy movies however. In fact, the main gripe amongst fans, is that his movies aren't generic enough, and are ludicrously padded with complex pointless subplots.
Me, I'd be happy to see him make cheesy, violent pot-boilers for the next ten years. Bronson did some great stuff stuff with 'Cannon' in his sixties...Seagal should be looking for this kind of pigeonhole in his career.
Just as long as the studios actually record what Seagal is saying when he's on set (there's no excuse for that) and film whatever fight scenes he does (and not add other stuff to pad it out) If Seagal hasn't filmed a fight scene...then producers should either ask him to, or leave them out altogether.
His weight, at this stage in the game...is a tricky thing to dictate. Seagals weight goes up and down with each new movie. It's not detrimental to his fighting ability.....the real fault lies in the roles he portrays (and the inevitable "How great he is" remarks that only add injury to his visual) PISTOL WHIPPED worked in his favour, because it played to Seagals strengths (and more importantly...weaknesses) and it's probably Seagal's most believable role. The change should come from the outside (i.e, his choice of role) that could accommodate his advancing years/size. Despite a bit of a gut, I think Seagal looks well for a guy in his sixties (don't you?)

Calling the shots during filming (as I'm sure Seagal does) is not the same as calling the shots afterwards. Any faults with ATTACK FORCE (for example) are not down to Steven Seagal. The guy does what he is paid to do, and then moves on. The tinkering afterwards (from greedy, incompetent film-makers/producers) is what has ruined many a Seagal DTV in the last ten years. These guys probably want Seagal off the set, faster than he wants off. Pointless body-doubles are added, probably because the directors haven't the foresight/timeframe to ask Seagal to film his own 'linkage' scenes...Once again, a lot of this is not Seagal's fault.

What Seagal needs to do (in fact ALL HE EVER NEEDED TO DO) is to make coherent movies that showcase his brutal martial-artistry....that's all I want (I go to Pacino or Hoffman if I want range or depth) and that's all that's needed.
Seagal has rarely been animated in ANY of his movies (apart from maybe ATL and OFJ) so I wouldn't go expecting an eleventh hour change in direction because of half a dozen disgruntled fans are ten years slow on the uptake. It's not going to happen folks. Let's just hope he makes more DRIVEN TO KILLS than FLIGHTS OF FURIES, eh?

For the record, IMO, I think Seagal has made more hits than misses in the last decade. Both DTK and ADM are in my top 5 fav Seagal movies list. I prefer either one to (say) Under Siege or Fire Down Below.

I know people want the best for Steven around here, but you'd all do well to remember that at this stage in the game, he's a sixty two year old multimillionaire, who's not had to answer to anyone for the last 20-30 years. The formula he works from is fine (let's face it, he's pretty much played the same role since 1988) it's the behind-the-scenes tinkering that's ruining his product of late. He needs to get back to making 'meat and potatoes' movies. His limitations are actually his strengths, as long as he's still busting heads, in a semi-coherent manor, he'll always make money. He's not going to change, and anyone expecting otherwise should maybe 'boycott' this site, and do something less boring instead?

That's not a criticism...that's just an unavoidable fact.....Handle it folks!

I agree with you that really a boycott should have been organised about 10 years ago. After Out for a Kill we all should have been worried, like you say all the signs were there. However I don't think most of us wanted to admit that just two years after Exit Wounds, Seagal's career was already in trouble. And then came chance after chance, so many opportunities where Seagal could have got back into cinemas or made a really standout DTV action film. Instead here we are 10 years later with the majority of his fans unhappy with Seagal's recent films and the man himself making watered down versions of his earlier films for Voltage.

Like you say he could easily get back on top of the DTV film market if he just concentrated on what he is good at and that's simple, solid, violent action films where he records his own dialogue and does his own fight scenes. Charles Bronson is a good example of what Seagal could be doing. The films he made with Cannon in the 1980s while in his sixties are some of his best and most brutal. That's what Seagal needs to be aiming for now and also what most of us would be happy with.

 

[JoshStern]

Seagals problem is that he acts like he is still on top when he really is at the bottom. He's living in a fantasy world. If he retired today 90% of the world wouldn't care. His fire has gone out completely.

 

[lee nicholson]

I don't think that Seagal's weight is a problem. And I cringe at the thought of him coming to these pages and reading such rude (not to mention, personal) comments about his appearance.
If anything, I'd ask him to maybe invest a bit more time on set, and possibly demand viewings of the dailies, when filming future movies. If he had it written into his contract that if film-makers want to re-write/re-film sequences...then he should have first refusal to go back and re-film the stuff required.
Whether he'd actually WANT to...is another matter altogether. But such a clause in his contract, would certainly clear (or confirm) any doubts about his commitment towards his movies and the fans?

 

[marky96]

Seagals problem is that he acts like he is still on top when he really is at the bottom. He's living in a fantasy world. If he retired today 90% of the world wouldn't care. His fire has gone out completely.

I agree with you that Seagal does come across like he is still a major star but I think some of that is down to the studios he works with. They are still willing to have him headlining there films and pay him as such. I also think he's lost touch with reality when it comes to knowing what people want from his film. You look at some of his DTV work and it's just no where near acceptable. And of course that's not all Seagal's fault but when he works with those studios again he is partly responsible. The other explanation of course is that Seagal just doesn't care what his films come out like.

I don't think that Seagal's weight is a problem. And I cringe at the thought of him coming to these pages and reading such rude (not to mention, personal) comments about his appearance.
If anything, I'd ask him to maybe invest a bit more time on set, and possibly demand viewings of the dailies, when filming future movies. If he had it written into his contract that if film-makers want to re-write/re-film sequences...then he should have first refusal to go back and re-film the stuff required.
Whether he'd actually WANT to...is another matter altogether. But such a clause in his contract, would certainly clear (or confirm) any doubts about his commitment towards his movies and the fans?

The problem is that Seagal would never come to these pages. That's because the interaction he has with his fans is virtually non existent. We live in a digital age of Facebook and twitter etc and yet Seagal is not embracing that. Plenty of other actors do including those of Seagal's generation like Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Lundgren and Van Damme. Stallone in particular is using twitter as a way of keeping us up to date with the Expendables 3 and asking his fans their opinions with his ideas. That makes people feel involved and that he cares about the project. If Seagal were to do a bit of this I think it would really help him. I know he is a busy man with a young child and his acting and charity work but it only takes 5 minutes to write a tweet out. If he kept us up to date with what he's working on, showed some enthusiasm and was open and honest when things don't turn out right it would actually seem like he cared about his career and about his fans.

 

[BarbaraAnn101]

I have noticed that the later movies have been getting hokier. I watched Above the Law and Hard to Kill the other night. They were classics. He has a new series called "True Justice" that is on the "Reelz" channel and not available on my Comcast. Why didn't he just put it on a regular channel? Now I will never see it.

Some Cable providers wont pick up the Reelz channel, I had to switch to a satellite dish service to be able to see True Justice at all...it's not up to Seagal...it's up to the television service provider powers that be what channels they offer...

I know Cox cable, (provider I once had) STILL won't carry Reelz

 

[lee nicholson]

Right but he always has time to interact with a burger or two. Apparently its more importent to him to sit and eat himself into a fat face and fat belly than it is to interact with his fans. He is and will always be a porker

So the question now is....Why are you here Boyd?

No offence dude....but we *get it* (you clearly hate Seagal)
Unless you like devoting your time to stuff you (clearly) dislike.....There's only so many times before your rants become as tiresome to fans (as Seagal has become to you)

Move on amigo...your constant "Seagal is fat" jibes aren't adding anything new to the table

 

[Mason]

So the question now is....Why are you here Boyd?

No offence dude....but we *get it* (you clearly hate Seagal)
Unless you like devoting your time to stuff you (clearly) dislike.....There's only so many times before your rants become as tiresome to fans (as Seagal has become to you)

Move on amigo...your constant "Seagal is fat" jibes aren't adding anything new to the table

Agree, we can do without all the bashing.