marky96
Active Member
Having read the original thread on which this one is based, I think when both these great fighters, Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal were in their prime a match up between the two of them would have been a sight to see. However now I think it would be like two old dinasaus grappling with each other similar to John Wayne and Forrest Tucker's fight at the end of Chisum (1970). Though a fight between these two would possibly be entertaining, it would no doubt be unsightly. For a long while it was unlikely to ever happen given that Seagal at least was still commanding 6 figure wages. However films like The Expendables (2010) and its upcoming sequel, the latest sequels to Universal Soldier (1992) in 2009 and 2012 and next years The Tomb mean that match ups between old school action stars can and are happening.
http://www.steven-seagal.net/xen/index.php?threads/chuck-vs-steven.6579/
I think however a more relevant way to compare Norris and Seagal is in terms of their respective careers. Both of them have a background in actual martial arts rather than acting, and both were very highly regarded in there own field (karate for Norris, Aikido for Seagal) and in their early films at least demonstrated tactically sound martial arts. Both also had large successes in the earlier years of their careers but struggled later on. As Norris is that much older than Seagal (11 years to be precise), I think his career is a good signpost as to how Seagal's will or could go.
Chuck Norris broke into films in the 1970s, being paricularly memorable for his fight with Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon (1972). Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s he rose to stardom in a series of violent action thrillers which untilised his martial arts skills to good effect. Most notable are Missing In Action (1984) and its sequels (1985, 1988) Code of Silence (1985), directed by Andrew Davies and The Delta Force (1986) alongside legendary screen hard man Lee Marvin in his final appearance. By the late 1980s however his star had waned and he was becoming far less bankable. For example the grosses for the sucessive Missing in Action films are approximately 22m, 10m and 6m US$ respectively. Also at this time the company that produced Norris' films, The Cannon Group went out of business. The films that he made at the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s were largely forgettable and like Seagal's do now would probably have gone direct to video if they had been released today. In 1993 however, Norris made the move to television with Walker, Texas Ranger, which ran with huge success on CBS from 1993 -2001 and was also heavily syndicated. This show gave Norris a nationwide regular profile and allowed him to keep working on feature films which were released both theatrically (Top Dog, 1995) and on video (Forest Warrior, 1996).
I think that a move into televison could have been such a positive one for Seagal at this time in his career, like it was for Norris before him. Along with his Lawman reality show it could have given him regular income and regular work which would help keep him in shape. It could also have given him national weekly exposure and as a producer he could be able to use the programme to promote issues close to his heart. For example his own music career, environmental issues and aikido. He could also have been more likely to be considered for bigger budget cinema releases if he could have made the TV series a success. I long advocated on these boards that the hidden gem Ticker (2001) is a an ideal candidate to be made into a film. Seagal himself plays an interesting character Frank Glass, who is ably matched with Tom Sizemore's Ray Nettles character. Sizemore himself would have likely welcomed the regular work given his personal problems over the past decade including arrests, drug convictions and an appearance in a pornographic film. As demonstrated with 2002's Robbery Homicide Division, he also has no qualms about appearing on TV. The film also had a good cast of supporting characters and the Bomb Squad theme is even more relevant now than then. The format that was chosen for Seagal's TV series however did not have such an original plot nor stand out supporting characters. In fact True Justice as it became has had nothing to really make it stand out from many of the other TV shows with a similar theme despite having a former action star as its lead actor. Worse than that is that by using many of the same directors, producers and production team as Seagal's recent DTV action thrillers all that has happened is the same poor quality that characterises those films has been imported onto TV for weekly viewing. Unsurprisingly further big screen roles have not been forthcoming.
Chuck Norris decided to end Walker, Texas Ranger on a high in 2001. Despite CBS's pleas for him to carry on for another two years, till Norris was 63, he wanted to spend more time at home with his new arrivals, opposite-sex twins Dakota Alan and Danilee Kelly born in August 2001 by his second wife Gena O'Kelly. Since then Norris has slowed his work rate, yet continued to appear in made for TV action movies, most notably The President's Man (2000) and its sequel (2002) and a 'Walker' reunion Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005). Despite these all being made for TV, these movies have none the less retained high production values and interesting storylines. This should also be something for Seagal to note. Perhaps in the long runnhe would be better off in the world of television once his DTV career is finally over. With that moment rapidly approaching and it becoming evident that he is a spent force in terms of cinema worthy films, television might well become his last arena. However in order for him to survive there he must look at the quality of the productions he is appearing in. Simply making a TV show or television movie with the same production values as the majority of his DTV career will not do.
Although he made only television movies for a number of years, Chuck Norris returned with The Cutter in 2005 produced by Nu-Image. Despite only making this one film in 2005 it was still able to generate far better reviews than any of the 4 films that Seagal appeared in that year (Into the Sun, Submerged, Today You Die and Black Dawn). Since then Seagal has appeared in a further 14 films, only one of which, Machete (2010), was released theatrically, whilst Norris has taken a break from acting. This year however he will return to the big screen with an appearance in The Expendables 2. Looking lean and I'm shape despite his 72 years in recent publicity photos and clips Norris has been offered lead roles in The Novice (2013) and a final installment in his signature Missing in Action franchise (also 2013). Although a possible role for Seagal in a third Expendables film has been talked about by Seagal himself whether this actually happens this remains to be seen given that Avi Lerner will no doubt still be producing and Seagal has vowed never to work with him again. Also given Seagal's current physical fitness it remains to be seen whether he would even be offered a role. After all Norris and the rest of the cast have at least maintained a level of fitness which makes them beliveable as action stars something which Seagal has failed to do. I feel that if he was in better shape and more willing to work as part of a team with a variety of producers a role in film like The Expendables would be more likely as would further roles and perhaps another installment to his signature Under Siege franchise, something that looks very remote now.
http://www.steven-seagal.net/xen/index.php?threads/chuck-vs-steven.6579/
I think however a more relevant way to compare Norris and Seagal is in terms of their respective careers. Both of them have a background in actual martial arts rather than acting, and both were very highly regarded in there own field (karate for Norris, Aikido for Seagal) and in their early films at least demonstrated tactically sound martial arts. Both also had large successes in the earlier years of their careers but struggled later on. As Norris is that much older than Seagal (11 years to be precise), I think his career is a good signpost as to how Seagal's will or could go.
Chuck Norris broke into films in the 1970s, being paricularly memorable for his fight with Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon (1972). Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s he rose to stardom in a series of violent action thrillers which untilised his martial arts skills to good effect. Most notable are Missing In Action (1984) and its sequels (1985, 1988) Code of Silence (1985), directed by Andrew Davies and The Delta Force (1986) alongside legendary screen hard man Lee Marvin in his final appearance. By the late 1980s however his star had waned and he was becoming far less bankable. For example the grosses for the sucessive Missing in Action films are approximately 22m, 10m and 6m US$ respectively. Also at this time the company that produced Norris' films, The Cannon Group went out of business. The films that he made at the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s were largely forgettable and like Seagal's do now would probably have gone direct to video if they had been released today. In 1993 however, Norris made the move to television with Walker, Texas Ranger, which ran with huge success on CBS from 1993 -2001 and was also heavily syndicated. This show gave Norris a nationwide regular profile and allowed him to keep working on feature films which were released both theatrically (Top Dog, 1995) and on video (Forest Warrior, 1996).
I think that a move into televison could have been such a positive one for Seagal at this time in his career, like it was for Norris before him. Along with his Lawman reality show it could have given him regular income and regular work which would help keep him in shape. It could also have given him national weekly exposure and as a producer he could be able to use the programme to promote issues close to his heart. For example his own music career, environmental issues and aikido. He could also have been more likely to be considered for bigger budget cinema releases if he could have made the TV series a success. I long advocated on these boards that the hidden gem Ticker (2001) is a an ideal candidate to be made into a film. Seagal himself plays an interesting character Frank Glass, who is ably matched with Tom Sizemore's Ray Nettles character. Sizemore himself would have likely welcomed the regular work given his personal problems over the past decade including arrests, drug convictions and an appearance in a pornographic film. As demonstrated with 2002's Robbery Homicide Division, he also has no qualms about appearing on TV. The film also had a good cast of supporting characters and the Bomb Squad theme is even more relevant now than then. The format that was chosen for Seagal's TV series however did not have such an original plot nor stand out supporting characters. In fact True Justice as it became has had nothing to really make it stand out from many of the other TV shows with a similar theme despite having a former action star as its lead actor. Worse than that is that by using many of the same directors, producers and production team as Seagal's recent DTV action thrillers all that has happened is the same poor quality that characterises those films has been imported onto TV for weekly viewing. Unsurprisingly further big screen roles have not been forthcoming.
Chuck Norris decided to end Walker, Texas Ranger on a high in 2001. Despite CBS's pleas for him to carry on for another two years, till Norris was 63, he wanted to spend more time at home with his new arrivals, opposite-sex twins Dakota Alan and Danilee Kelly born in August 2001 by his second wife Gena O'Kelly. Since then Norris has slowed his work rate, yet continued to appear in made for TV action movies, most notably The President's Man (2000) and its sequel (2002) and a 'Walker' reunion Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005). Despite these all being made for TV, these movies have none the less retained high production values and interesting storylines. This should also be something for Seagal to note. Perhaps in the long runnhe would be better off in the world of television once his DTV career is finally over. With that moment rapidly approaching and it becoming evident that he is a spent force in terms of cinema worthy films, television might well become his last arena. However in order for him to survive there he must look at the quality of the productions he is appearing in. Simply making a TV show or television movie with the same production values as the majority of his DTV career will not do.
Although he made only television movies for a number of years, Chuck Norris returned with The Cutter in 2005 produced by Nu-Image. Despite only making this one film in 2005 it was still able to generate far better reviews than any of the 4 films that Seagal appeared in that year (Into the Sun, Submerged, Today You Die and Black Dawn). Since then Seagal has appeared in a further 14 films, only one of which, Machete (2010), was released theatrically, whilst Norris has taken a break from acting. This year however he will return to the big screen with an appearance in The Expendables 2. Looking lean and I'm shape despite his 72 years in recent publicity photos and clips Norris has been offered lead roles in The Novice (2013) and a final installment in his signature Missing in Action franchise (also 2013). Although a possible role for Seagal in a third Expendables film has been talked about by Seagal himself whether this actually happens this remains to be seen given that Avi Lerner will no doubt still be producing and Seagal has vowed never to work with him again. Also given Seagal's current physical fitness it remains to be seen whether he would even be offered a role. After all Norris and the rest of the cast have at least maintained a level of fitness which makes them beliveable as action stars something which Seagal has failed to do. I feel that if he was in better shape and more willing to work as part of a team with a variety of producers a role in film like The Expendables would be more likely as would further roles and perhaps another installment to his signature Under Siege franchise, something that looks very remote now.
