The Mercenary: Аbsolution (2014)

DaitoSan

Member
I agree, it's really hard to be a Seagal fan these days with all these boring movies. He should try with new directors (or maybe again with Roel Reiné?) and should care more for the result, the latest movies were boring, and "Absolution" looks just terrible compared to "Skin Trade". The last halfway decent movie was maybe "A Dangerous Man", and that was in 2009.

Unfortunately I don't think he would like to make a movie with Van Damme. Hopefully he will make one with Lundgren and I hope he will make a movie in Asia in the near future. But I highly doubt we will ever see a decent movie from him again.


I agree. Seagal should think to work with new directors. When I watch the last Seagal and Waxman's movies, I feel that I simply watch the same movie but with a different title. Why not a totally new and good director? For instance, Van Damme has recently worked for DTV with Peter Hyams, a confirmed action movie director.
 

rastafari

Well-Known Member
I agree. Seagal should think to work with new directors. When I watch the last Seagal and Waxman's movies, I feel that I simply watch the same movie but with a different title. Why not a totally new and good director? For instance, Van Damme has recently worked for DTV with Peter Hyams, a confirmed action movie director.

Eniemies Closer with Joel Silver involved and Hymes directing should have been to high end STV but it was a dull action film

Its funny that people hated MC and FOE because Seagal is not the lead actor yet liked EC when Van Damme is hardly on screen
 

DaitoSan

Member
Eniemies Closer with Joel Silver involved and Hymes directing should have been to high end STV but it was a dull action film

Its funny that people hated MC and FOE because Seagal is not the lead actor yet liked EC when Van Damme is hardly on screen


I don't say that EC is a good movie. I say that Seagal should diversify the directors of his movies. And why not Peter Hyams because he is a good action movies director (much better that Keoni Waxman).
 

JoeDirt

Active Member
It's 2014 folks, the DTV market is low budget (it's not like it was 10 years ago)...As long as the Sensei is kicking ass...I'm happy.

I get that, I really do, but low budget is no excuse for laziness and lack of effort.

Look at something like The Raid, produced for under $1M, less than any Seagal DTV more than likely, and they were able to make one of the most badass and awe-inspiring martial arts action movies ever made.

Dolph Lundgren wrote the script for Skintrade and tried to get it made for years, and now has been able to assemble a great cast around him, a real dramatic director, and from the looks of it one of the better DTV movies in recent years.
That could have only happened because Dolph really pushed the project, and waited for the right time to make it.
I wouldn't be surprised if he declined to get paid his acting fee and instead put the money back into the budget, because he realizes it's a good investment for his career.

After having seen it a few times, I would say that the trailer for Absolution is one of the worst trailers for a Seagal movie I have seen.

You can't tell what the story is about, it seems like not only Steven but the supporting cast too are all whispering and mumbling, it seems to have been filmed in three small and dark rooms and the fight scenes seem to be the usual, Seagal stands in place and waits for the other guys to run up to him, he slaps them a few times and pushes and flips them around, end of fight.
He's capable of so much more, but we rarely see anything else but these generic cookie cutter fist fights and stock aikido moves we've seen a million times before.

During the filming of Maximum Conviction it was rumoured that Seagal only worked 4 hours a day, and I remember Keoni Waxman saying in one of the Q&A's how they filmed a fight scene with Seagal's parts first in only 4 hours, and then the other parts, which would support the rumour that he is indeed only working 4 hours a day.

And frankly, it shows. It only leads to more stunt doubles, more dubbing, and more of these movies that take place in dark rooms, because it's faster to film an indoors scene, especially if you have only 4 hours with your star.

I too hope that Seagal starts working with new directors. I have a feeling that the reason why he's been pretty much working exclusively with Waxman these few years is because it's comfortable for him, he probably doesn't push Steven at all, they just crank these at best mediocre DTV movies out as fast as they can.

The only directors I really feel were able to push Seagal into something more in his DTV career were Don Fauntleroy with Urban Justice, and Roel Reine in Pistol Whipped.

In Urban Justice he was the closest to the badass old school Steven Seagal we all love, and in Pistol Whipped I feel for the first time he really played a flawed character, an alcoholic, pill popping gambler who's a bad father. He wasn't playing the most perfect man in the world with a 20-year old model playing his wife while they make love with him wearing a leather jacket in bed.

I don't think it's a coincidence that he stopped working with Fauntleroy and Reine. He found it easier to work with Waxman. He stopped trying.

No matter how small the budget, it all has to start with Steven himself. He would have to start putting in the effort, but he's not.

We all saw the interview he gave while on tour recently where he had no idea what movie he just did and talked about it with the same passion as if he was talking about his tax report.

Low budget is really no excuse. I watch a lot of independent low budget movies, some action and some not, and there are so many talented young filmmakers out there who are making great movies often with budgets that wouldn't pay for the catering in a "big" DTV movie.
It's because they have passion and drive.

Steven used to have passion and drive, but clearly doesn't anymore.
 

rastafari

Well-Known Member
I get that, I really do, but low budget is no excuse for laziness and lack of effort.

Look at something like The Raid, produced for under $1M, less than any Seagal DTV more than likely, and they were able to make one of the most badass and awe-inspiring martial arts action movies ever made.

Dolph Lundgren wrote the script for Skintrade and tried to get it made for years, and now has been able to assemble a great cast around him, a real dramatic director, and from the looks of it one of the better DTV movies in recent years.
That could have only happened because Dolph really pushed the project, and waited for the right time to make it.
I wouldn't be surprised if he declined to get paid his acting fee and instead put the money back into the budget, because he realizes it's a good investment for his career.

After having seen it a few times, I would say that the trailer for Absolution is one of the worst trailers for a Seagal movie I have seen.

You can't tell what the story is about, it seems like not only Steven but the supporting cast too are all whispering and mumbling, it seems to have been filmed in three small and dark rooms and the fight scenes seem to be the usual, Seagal stands in place and waits for the other guys to run up to him, he slaps them a few times and pushes and flips them around, end of fight.
He's capable of so much more, but we rarely see anything else but these generic cookie cutter fist fights and stock aikido moves we've seen a million times before.

During the filming of Maximum Conviction it was rumoured that Seagal only worked 4 hours a day, and I remember Keoni Waxman saying in one of the Q&A's how they filmed a fight scene with Seagal's parts first in only 4 hours, and then the other parts, which would support the rumour that he is indeed only working 4 hours a day.

And frankly, it shows. It only leads to more stunt doubles, more dubbing, and more of these movies that take place in dark rooms, because it's faster to film an indoors scene, especially if you have only 4 hours with your star.

I too hope that Seagal starts working with new directors. I have a feeling that the reason why he's been pretty much working exclusively with Waxman these few years is because it's comfortable for him, he probably doesn't push Steven at all, they just crank these at best mediocre DTV movies out as fast as they can.

The only directors I really feel were able to push Seagal into something more in his DTV career were Don Fauntleroy with Urban Justice, and Roel Reine in Pistol Whipped.

In Urban Justice he was the closest to the badass old school Steven Seagal we all love, and in Pistol Whipped I feel for the first time he really played a flawed character, an alcoholic, pill popping gambler who's a bad father. He wasn't playing the most perfect man in the world with a 20-year old model playing his wife while they make love with him wearing a leather jacket in bed.

I don't think it's a coincidence that he stopped working with Fauntleroy and Reine. He found it easier to work with Waxman. He stopped trying.

No matter how small the budget, it all has to start with Steven himself. He would have to start putting in the effort, but he's not.

We all saw the interview he gave while on tour recently where he had no idea what movie he just did and talked about it with the same passion as if he was talking about his tax report.

Low budget is really no excuse. I watch a lot of independent low budget movies, some action and some not, and there are so many talented young filmmakers out there who are making great movies often with budgets that wouldn't pay for the catering in a "big" DTV movie.
It's because they have passion and drive.

Steven used to have passion and drive, but clearly doesn't anymore.

You do make some good points like Seagal not caring as much as other stars like Dolph but i think thats been the case for years starting with HPD

However his latest run of films MC,FOE and AGM is the best run of films he has been since his hayday IMO

UJ and PW were good but it it was followed by KS which was a comeple mess

Now I am not saying that these films seagals doing are high end art but like you I watch alot of STV action films and the last 3 hes done are decent STV films

Van Damme made EC which was boring and Bruce Willis made The Prince with John Cusack with I though was terrbile even for a STV film so other actors are making poor films yet on here its like only Seagal is making them

The trailer for Absolution looks poor but I dont think its the real trailer that Voltage will put out
 

Seagalzilla

Active Member
@JoeDirt
"Steven used to have passion and drive, but clearly doesn't anymore."

No offense, buddy and I can understand you very well. But if WE = THE FANS have no faith anymore - who do you think anyone can re-animate Seagal's own passion for making?

Someone has to support him. We as humans have an individual consciouness and no hive mind. And due to this fact, if a person suffers the illness we can call "depression" and no one helps, the illness will spread and grow and grow.

I see Seagal at a very critical point, too. We have no proof that he is doing his recent movies just for his paychecks. All we do is interprete, we have no solid facts. But despite all this, I will always believe in him. Without Seagal I wouldn't be the person I am.
If you have the chance to meet him and talk, do you think you will really: "Steven, that you work only 4 hours a day is inexcusable". No, I can't imagine that you will do this.

If I would have the chance, I would bow to him in respect, shake his hand and say "Thank you for many, many, many hours of wonderful entertainment. If you don't mind, I would like to talk about martial arts, asian philosophies and blues music." If a true discussion would start, maybe than I would ask him, about his work with other directors, his impressions and so on. But these are only optional. I want to talk with him about things that he likes and the chance of positive energy is given.

If you ask me, what could help Seagal is this:

1st. International admission from movie-critics
2nd. International admission from other martial artists that he is a master of aikido
3rd. That all the wrong rumors and accussations were no things worthy of considerations to anyone (especially his physical appearance)
4th. That Seagal is Seagal. Respect and honorful behaviour = to all non-fans, you don't have to like him, but to be respectfull.
5th. International admission that he cares for nature, animals and children
6th. Admission for his non-screen police work
7th. Only solid facts should be treated seriously
8th. He should be invited to open discussions where he can - if he will - explain his views and believs more thorough
9th. No papparazzi will intimidate him and his family
10th. He is martial artist and not William Shakespeare
11th. And all these should be done in all kinds of media, especially social media were harassments seem to be standard = ill-ridden amok running

This is responsible and rational behaviour in combination with honor and respect. No other way is possible, this applies to me. Whatever you all think, I am interested to read your opinion.
 

lee nicholson

Well-Known Member
I get that, I really do, but low budget is no excuse for laziness and lack of effort.

Look at something like The Raid, produced for under $1M, less than any Seagal DTV more than likely, and they were able to make one of the most badass and awe-inspiring martial arts action movies ever made.

Dolph Lundgren wrote the script for Skintrade and tried to get it made for years, and now has been able to assemble a great cast around him, a real dramatic director, and from the looks of it one of the better DTV movies in recent years.
That could have only happened because Dolph really pushed the project, and waited for the right time to make it.
I wouldn't be surprised if he declined to get paid his acting fee and instead put the money back into the budget, because he realizes it's a good investment for his career.

After having seen it a few times, I would say that the trailer for Absolution is one of the worst trailers for a Seagal movie I have seen.

You can't tell what the story is about, it seems like not only Steven but the supporting cast too are all whispering and mumbling, it seems to have been filmed in three small and dark rooms and the fight scenes seem to be the usual, Seagal stands in place and waits for the other guys to run up to him, he slaps them a few times and pushes and flips them around, end of fight.
He's capable of so much more, but we rarely see anything else but these generic cookie cutter fist fights and stock aikido moves we've seen a million times before.

During the filming of Maximum Conviction it was rumoured that Seagal only worked 4 hours a day, and I remember Keoni Waxman saying in one of the Q&A's how they filmed a fight scene with Seagal's parts first in only 4 hours, and then the other parts, which would support the rumour that he is indeed only working 4 hours a day.

And frankly, it shows. It only leads to more stunt doubles, more dubbing, and more of these movies that take place in dark rooms, because it's faster to film an indoors scene, especially if you have only 4 hours with your star.

I too hope that Seagal starts working with new directors. I have a feeling that the reason why he's been pretty much working exclusively with Waxman these few years is because it's comfortable for him, he probably doesn't push Steven at all, they just crank these at best mediocre DTV movies out as fast as they can.

The only directors I really feel were able to push Seagal into something more in his DTV career were Don Fauntleroy with Urban Justice, and Roel Reine in Pistol Whipped.

In Urban Justice he was the closest to the badass old school Steven Seagal we all love, and in Pistol Whipped I feel for the first time he really played a flawed character, an alcoholic, pill popping gambler who's a bad father. He wasn't playing the most perfect man in the world with a 20-year old model playing his wife while they make love with him wearing a leather jacket in bed.

I don't think it's a coincidence that he stopped working with Fauntleroy and Reine. He found it easier to work with Waxman. He stopped trying.

No matter how small the budget, it all has to start with Steven himself. He would have to start putting in the effort, but he's not.

We all saw the interview he gave while on tour recently where he had no idea what movie he just did and talked about it with the same passion as if he was talking about his tax report.

Low budget is really no excuse. I watch a lot of independent low budget movies, some action and some not, and there are so many talented young filmmakers out there who are making great movies often with budgets that wouldn't pay for the catering in a "big" DTV movie.
It's because they have passion and drive.

Steven used to have passion and drive, but clearly doesn't anymore.

THE RAID, featured acrobatic actors half Seagal's age. I agree that low-budgets shouldn't necessarily hinder a movie. But THE RAID was all about young (up-and-coming) martial artists starting out. I'm not sure what sort of action movies THESE guys will be making 25+ years into their career....But I highly doubt they'll have the longevity of Seagal?

The problem with THE RAID is that it peaked too soon (the perfect example of such, being the brilliant-but-bloated sequel) This kind of hyper-kinetic action will be hard to top...making further sequels (however welcome) redundant.....A victim of their own initial brilliance, I guess?
You need only look at the SKIN TRADE trailer, to see that Tony Jaa didn't quite live up to his initial hype either.....and seen him hit the DTV skids a lot earlier than he should have. Seagal was never acrobatic to start with, and is now 62 years of age. THE RAID was just as refreshing upon release, as ABOVE THE LAW was. But realistically, it's impossible for Seagal to match his kind of stuff, at this stage in the game.

Would I like to see Seagal working with other (better) directors?.......Of course!
And I hear what you're saying about budgets being used to better effect on THE RAID. However, I feel that choice of directors and budgets are out of Seagal's hands nowadays (as much as he'd have you think he calls the shots) Seagal's next 6 films have probably been bought/sold long before they've been made....In the sad, but true nature of the DTV market nowadays. Seagal is unfortunately a DTV cash-cow nowadays...So the best we can hope is that there's more DRIVEN TO KILLS than KILLSWITCHES, I guess?

I'd love to see Seagal work with the director of THE RAID. But I doubt Seagal himself has the passion anymore for the work ethic required to film something along these lines. Plus (as previously mentioned) I think the director of THE RAID will be looking for younger, more acrobatic 'leads' if he wishes to continue in this business of (faster, noisier, louder) modern-day action movies?

But to be fair to Seagal, I think his fight scenes have gotten longer in recent years (as opposed to his earlier movies) This may be down to padding out scenes/doubles/studio interference (etc) But he actually seems to be pretty quick, and also throwing a lot more kicks than he used to? My only gripe is the filming of his fight scenes.

And the reason I defend (what seems to be a lacklusture trailer for) ABSOLUTION is because, right or wrong....Seagal is still kicking ass, and that's more than enough for me. (I watch a Pacino movie, if I want depth) You might like Seagal's music.....or his philosophy...Or his policework....whatever.....But ultimately, the common ground for all of his fans is his martial artistry. Like I said, his earlier movies weren't exactly KING LEAR either. As long as Seagal kills the bad guys (and it's him....not a double) then I'm a happy bunny! :)

Yes, I'm sure ABSOLUTION will probably take place in darkly lit nightclubs (and other visually 'ugly' locations) but (however bad) it's an improvement over stuff he was putting out nearly ten years ago (FLIGHT OF FURY, anyone?)

As for the SKIN TRADE trailer (despite the cast) it looks boring too. Whilst I admire Dolph's determination....I find him an awfully stoic actor/fighter. As good as this cast is, I fear that it'll be no less less generic than other DTV stuff.
 
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rastafari

Well-Known Member
THE RAID, featured acrobatic actors half Seagal's age. I agree that low-budgets shouldn't necessarily hinder a movie. But THE RAID was all about young (up-and-coming) martial artists starting out. I'm not sure what sort of action movies THESE guys will be making 25+ years into their career....But I highly doubt they'll have the longevity of Seagal?

The problem with THE RAID is that it peaked too soon (the perfect example of such, being the brilliant-but-bloated sequel) This kind of hyper-kinetic action will be hard to top...making further sequels (however welcome) redundant.....A victim of their own initial brilliance, I guess?
You need only look at the SKIN TRADE trailer, to see that Tony Jaa didn't quite live up to his initial hype either.....and seen him hit the DTV skids a lot earlier than he should have. Seagal was never acrobatic to start with, and is now 62 years of age. THE RAID was just as refreshing upon release, as ABOVE THE LAW was. But realistically, it's impossible for Seagal to match his kind of stuff, at this stage in the game.

Would I like to see Seagal working with other (better) directors?.......Of course!
And I hear what you're saying about budgets being used to better effect on THE RAID. However, I feel that choice of directors and budgets are out of Seagal's hands nowadays (as much as he'd have you think he calls the shots) Seagal's next 6 films have probably been bought/sold long before they've been made....In the sad, but true nature of the DTV market nowadays. Seagal is unfortunately a DTV cash-cow nowadays...So the best we can hope is that there's more DRIVEN TO KILLS than KILLSWITCHES, I guess?

I'd love to see Seagal work with the director of THE RAID. But I doubt Seagal himself has the passion anymore for the work ethic required to film something along these lines. Plus (as previously mentioned) I think the director of THE RAID will be looking for younger, more acrobatic 'leads' if he wishes to continue in this business of (faster, noisier, louder) modern-day action movies?

But to be fair to Seagal, I think his fight scenes have gotten longer in recent years (as opposed to his earlier movies) This may be down to padding out scenes/doubles/studio interference (etc) But he actually seems to be pretty quick, and also throwing a lot more kicks than he used to? My only gripe is the filming of his fight scenes.

And the reason I defend (what seems to be a lacklusture trailer for) ABSOLUTION is because, right or wrong....Seagal is still kicking ass, and that's more than enough for me. (I watch a Pacino movie, if I want depth) You might like Seagal's music.....or his philosophy...Or his policework....whatever.....But ultimately, the common ground for all of his fans is his martial artistry. Like I said, his earlier movies weren't exactly KING LEAR either. As long as Seagal kills the bad guys (and it's him....not a double) then I'm a happy bunny! :)

Yes, I'm sure ABSOLUTION will probably take place in darkly lit nightclubs (and other visually 'ugly' locations) but (however bad) it's an improvement over stuff he was putting out nearly ten years ago (FLIGHT OF FURY, anyone?)

As for the SKIN TRADE trailer (despite the cast) it looks boring too. Whilst I admire Dolph's determination....I find him an awfully stoic actor/fighter. As good as this cast is, I fear that it'll be no less less generic than other DTV stuff.

Good Post

Can I ask what do you think of Seagals recent work Post 2007 compared to other DTV stars like Van Damme,Dolph,Willis etc?

I watch between 7-10 STV action movies a year and I dont notice a big difference between Seagals work other rival actors yet he on this site its although seagals making terrible films compared to others which I just dont agree with....to me the last truly bad Seagal movie was KS which was taken out of Seagals hands anyway.
 

lee nicholson

Well-Known Member
Although I'm biased towards Seagal, I think Van Damme and Lundgren have made some equally boring movies. Seagal has more presence than either. I know Van Damme made some blockbusters in his day, but he never struck me as a 'star' (He's never managed to shake off 'that' accent, and his attempts at treating every new movie, as some kind of tortured-soul...is just plain boring nowadays) That party piece was fine in JCVD....But I'd sooner he went back to making fun action movies again. He's too lightwieght (in my opinion) to be sooooooo serious.

Dolph, is Dolph. Everyone likes a trier....And I can't/won't knock his ambitions. But he was never really a big star in his heyday. I can tolerate him in small doses, but a lot of his DTV output is really boring.

Willis, just sort of dips his toes in and out of the DTV pool. He signs up for that many projects, that occasionally, one or two of them go straight to video. Willis (for all his faults) has still got a healthy cinema career to fall back onto. Yet he seems even more disinterested in certain movies than Seagal does?

Sure Seagal has made some stinkers in his past, but after a minor blip with KILLSWITCH, I've enjoyed all of his stuff (even AGAINST THE DARK) But I do find the TRUE JUSTICE stuff a bit fragmented and (dare I say) boring. I think Seagal should just concentrate on making good quality STV movies. Turn up for Scenes, fights and ADR. He seems to have found a niche' in portraying burly tough-guy mercenary types. And whilst it's no great stretch (acting-wise) it's a step up from FLIGHT OF FURY or ATTACK FORCE. And unlike his peers, I think it's a part he can convincingly pull off at his age and size.

For what it's worth, I think DRIVEN TO KILL is one of Seagal's best movies (theatrical or otherwise) and I'd love to see a sequel to such.
 

rastafari

Well-Known Member
Although I'm biased towards Seagal, I think Van Damme and Lundgren have made some equally boring movies. Seagal has more presence than either. I know Van Damme made some blockbusters in his day, but he never struck me as a 'star' (He's never managed to shake off 'that' accent, and his attempts at treating every new movie, as some kind of tortured-soul...is just plain boring nowadays) That party piece was fine in JCVD....But I'd sooner he went back to making fun action movies again. He's too lightwieght (in my opinion) to be sooooooo serious.

Dolph, is Dolph. Everyone likes a trier....And I can't/won't knock his ambitions. But he was never really a big star in his heyday. I can tolerate him in small doses, but a lot of his DTV output is really boring.

Willis, just sort of dips his toes in and out of the DTV pool. He signs up for that many projects, that occasionally, one or two of them go straight to video. Willis (for all his faults) has still got a healthy cinema career to fall back onto. Yet he seems even more disinterested in certain movies than Seagal does?

Sure Seagal has made some stinkers in his past, but after a minor blip with KILLSWITCH, I've enjoyed all of his stuff (even AGAINST THE DARK) But I do find the TRUE JUSTICE stuff a bit fragmented and (dare I say) boring. I think Seagal should just concentrate on making good quality STV movies. Turn up for Scenes, fights and ADR. He seems to have found a niche' in portraying burly tough-guy mercenary types. And whilst it's no great stretch (acting-wise) it's a step up from FLIGHT OF FURY or ATTACK FORCE. And unlike his peers, I think it's a part he can convincingly pull off at his age and size.

For what it's worth, I think DRIVEN TO KILL is one of Seagal's best movies (theatrical or otherwise) and I'd love to see a sequel to such.

I agree with a DTK sequel and I would not mind a MC sequel although i seem to be in the minority about liking that film on here

The thing ive noticed is Seagal almost playing the anti-hero in recent films like DTK,FOE,AGM and UJ in which he isnt the goody too shoes lovable guy from his 90s days and i think those roles suit him better now hes in his 60s

Also agree about Van Damme his recent films in which he suddenly thinks hes a great actor are just dull

Dont get me wrong im not a big Van Damme fan but some of his 90s stuff like Maximum Risk,Hard Target,Timecop were decent but he is taking himself far too seriously now

I think the best film too sum up recent Van Damme is Full Love which a saw a screener of about 3 years ago......It was utter dud of a film which was trying to mix his early work(fighting) with a more serious plot(dull) and the mix did not work at all....yet 4 years later he is still trying to release it under a different name after he re edited it because for some reason he sees it as a masterpiece....Its a bit like Seagal spending 4 years trying a get KS released which even in its original form would have been average it best
 

lee nicholson

Well-Known Member
I just don’t like it, or at least it don’t fit with the trailer in my personal opinion.

But I think it won’t be in the movie anyway…

Yeah, Robert Plant and co, aren't overly keen on licensing their music at the best of times (which is why I think this isn't the official trailer?)
 

DiDa

Super Moderator
Staff member
Guys, I can confirm that this is not the official trailer, but a bootlegged market trailer (check the Waxman update thread)
 

Mason

Well-Known Member
Crappy trailer 2. :rolleyes: This movie will fail BIG time! Two crappy trailers is enough to convince me NOT to see this movie.

I hate to say it, but I agree. Two bootleg marketing trailers and still no official trailer. Both marketing trailers are a big disappointment, the shots looks to gritty, the images are to dark and those European location sets doesn't make it any better, I hope Seagal gets a better director and some better locations for his next movie.
 

JoeDirt

Active Member
Quality issues aside, I don't think I can stomach another generic plot where Seagal plays an ex-mercenary/ex-CIA/ex-something or other who has to go to Bulgaria/Romania to fight the Eastern European mafia/drug traffickers/Vinnie Jones with the obligatory scene at a night club, the obligatory 20-year old scantily clad model who somehow has the hots for Seagal and the power hungry main bad guy who is snorting coke and saying cliched lines like "I want him dead!".

We've all seen the same movie a hundred times.

Enough already.

And I'm not just talking about Seagal movies, DTV movies need new fresh ideas if they want to keep making them.

I just read an article in The Hollywood Reporter about how the market has changed since the market crash of 2008. DVD sales have plummeted and DTV movies are dying. We have already seen the budgets diminish significantly and it's not getting any better.

In the article a German distributor said that previous years they might have bought 20 low budget genre movies, but this year they'll only buy 5 movies maybe, and they'll have to be higher quality higher caliber movies.

The producers of these DTV movies are shooting themselves in the foot when they keep churning out these generic cookie cutter movies.

audiences have more and more choices these days, you have Netflix, Hulu, all the VOD services, cable, internet etc. etc. They can't expect to sell a movie anymore only due to the fact that it has Steven Seagal on the cover holding a gun.

They need better stories and better filmmakers with fresh ideas.

A good example of this is Universal Soldier Day of Reckoning, it was a polarizing movie for sure, but I liked it a lot and so did a lot of other people. It was a worthy sequel to the franchise, it had good action and an interesting new angle to the story.

Sadly John Hyams hasn't directed another movie since then and is now directing The Asylum's new Walking Dead rip-off Z-Nation for Syfy. I guess that's saying a lot about the state of the business.

How about Seagal in a sci-fi movie? I think that would be interesting to see. Just something different.
 
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