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Jackie Chan vs Bruce Lee vs Jet Li vs...

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O

ourumov

Member
Ok given these entries of famous "martial artists", rate them:

Entries
lesmoking_11.jpg

Jackie Chan
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Chuck Norris
Bruce%20Lee.jpg

Bruce Lee
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Jean Claude Van Damme
seagal.JPG

Steven Seagal
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Jet Li

Let's make a winner !

I think Bruce Lee should be the winner. I know there is more of a legend than everything in his life but I consider him a devoted "martial arts" student that used the cinema to his purposes.
Second place IMO would be tie between Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris. Despite 30 years of horrid films (and series such as Walker), Chuck Norris was a great martial artist back to his youth. He won several world tournaments and I am sure martial arts fan will remember his duel with Bruce Lee on the Colosseum. I also choose Jackie Chan but not for his recent films but for his filmography from the 80s/90s. It's not he does a showcase of great knowledge but one has to admit that this man was in shape.
Third I would place Jet Li. I really don't like him nor his films but well, this man is good and I can't deny this.
Four would be for Van Damme. Although the latest years he hasn't been in his best moments (addiction to coke), he was a pretty good martial arts performer when he started. He has done ton of crap, but he has better acting talent than most of his competitors (what is not saying much...). Early films like KickBoxer 1 (not the crappy iterations) showed a great Van Damme.
Well, last comes Steven Seagal. Steven Seagal is that kind of actor that makes you wonder if there is anybody that enjoys his films. Not only he has horrible skills (acting /fighting) but also he has the talent to appear as the most-hated character in the movie after 2 minutes of screenplay. There is the urban legend that he entered in a bar and got in trouble and got owned in a couple of minutes and that's why people call him "cristal mouth".

I know there are tons of others, feel free to add them if you want. I'll add Yukari Oshima to the bunch.
oshimayukari.JPG

This woman had incredible skills and horrible luck when it comes to films. She is probably the strongest woman in the world wich would make her the perfect Chun Li for a tentative SF movie not including Van Damme or Raul Julia (rest in peace).
 
D

demon

I don't mean to alarm you but you have dogs on your face
Jet Li would whoop Jackie Chan's ass. Then Bruce Lee would walk in and kick Jet Li's ass. Then Chuck Norris would walk in and get his ass beat by Bruce Lee. Then Steven Seagal would walk in and get his ass beat by Jackie Chan's already beaten ass.
 
O

ourumov

Member
Jackie Chan's worst error has been to come to West when he was too old for it. He was pretty impressing back to when he was young.
 
J

J2 Cool

Member
As far as entertainment and skill goes, Bruce Lee tops the list. He was simply the biggest martial arts star ever in my eyes. When you think of bad ass genius fighters in a movie Bruce Lee's character will always be close to the top. Then I'd go with Jackie Chan. His old stuff was great, The Big Brawl and Drunken Master. He moved so fluidly and was extremely likeable. He just always puts on a show. Not to mention he has an extensive history of good movies and has stayed on the top for so long. He's done comedy, is still doing amazing action at 50 years old, was a huge star in America and across seas. Can't say enough about the guy

After that comes Chuck Norris. Then Jet Li. Van Damme though I heard he has hurt a lot of people in doing his movies and is pretty sloppy. Kickboxer and Bloodsport are his achievments though. And last and least, Steven Seagal. He's far more comedy than he is a martial artist. I give him props though for inspiring the parodies like Mad TV and Family Guy.
 
E

explodet

Member
I'd include Sammo Hung, just for the fact that he would trip on something and then kick Steven Seagal's ass on the way down to the ground.
 
P

Poody

What program do you use to photoshop a picture?
Haha jackie chan is a fake. He doesn't even know elite martial arts.

bruce lee = jet li >>>>> jackie chan.
 
D

demon

I don't mean to alarm you but you have dogs on your face
o shit I forgot Jackie Chan has that magic tuxedo. Chan could kick Lee+Li+Norris+Ditka's ass.
 
M

MASB

Member
Van Damme. lol. One time, someone said they hesitated to call Jean Claude a martial arts actor, because he wasn't good at either one. :p

As for versus, etc. I have a soft spot for Chuck Norris, but I'd have to put Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and maybe Jet Li ahead of him. If he was whispering to himself during the fight like he did in The Octagon, then I'd put Norris over Jet Li. As for Seagal, I don't know what to make of him anymore. All he 'stars' in these days are all black rappers know martial arts genre of flicks. :p
 
S

Shinobi

Member
In terms of martial arts, I've heard Segal is legit. Van Damme meanwhile is more akin to a fucking ballerina. He got his ass stomped by a high charter Hell's Angel some years ago. Doubt his lack of movies after that has been a coincidence.

As far as entertaining movies go, Bruce Lee flicks don't get it done for me. His fights were all completely one sided, which is just boring as hell. And his "duel" with Norris is the most overrated movie battle this side of the sabre fight in Phantom Menace. Segal's fights were also one sided, but at least he cracks me up with his shit talking. Jet Li would rule if he'd cut those stupid wires...really liked his fights in Kiss of the Dragon. Jackie Chan's movies own all for fight scenes...nothing touches Drunken Master II, and the last fight in Who Am I? is incredible. Jackie realizes that taking punishment as well as giving it only helps the battles, as you see how he overcomes the obstacles to persevere. There's no such drama with a Bruce Lee fight.
 
J

Jim Bowie

Member
I'd like to add Chow Yun Fat to the mix.. even if he's not really a martial artist (past CTHD)

Bruce Lee>>>Jet Li>Jackie Chan>Chow Yun Fat>Chuck Norris>Seagal>=Van Damme.

As a correction, Van Damme has never been good for anything. Seagal, on the other hand, provides constant unintentional laughs throughout his gawd awful movies.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm going to kill your bastard son." (Punches a table in half, throws son through window)
 
C

ConfusingJazz

Member
The problem with Chuck is that everybody is gonna remember him for that piece of shit show Walker. Many people forget that he beat the crap out of everybody he faced, and actually retired undefeated professionally. I think in his prime, he probably would have beaten down Jackie in his prime. I hate Van Damme and Segal, so I am going to assume that they both suck.
 
M

ManDudeChild

Member
ConfusingJazz said:
The problem with Chuck is that everybody is gonna remember him for that piece of shit show Walker. Many people forget that he beat the crap out of everybody he faced, and actually retired undefeated professionally. I think in his prime, he probably would have beaten down Jackie in his prime. I hate Van Damme and Segal, so I am going to assume that they both suck.
Click to expand...

Just like how Bart retired from the world of videogames in that boxing match against Homer ;)

Kidding of course :D Chuck rocked back in the day.
 
T

Teddman

Member
I could care less who would win in a fight, Jackie Chan is the most entertaining performer on film.

His hand-to-hand stunt work in movies far surpasses the other guys mentioned in this thread.
 
C

cybamerc

Will start substantiating his hate
Segal could definitely kick Van Damme's ass. Segal IRL is basically the same person as in his movies.
 
C

commish

Jason Kidd murdered my dog in cold blood!
Let's get real here. Bruce would work over Rob Van Damme.

Jet is awesome but he can't wield the chucks like Bruce can.
 
C

ChumsGum

Banned
Yeah, I hear Segal was the real deal. He moved to Japan, was trained by the best, then became the first white champion over there.
 
C

cvkpaladin

Member
Yeah, I think Steven Seagal (back when he was younger - not the now fat Steven Seagal) could whoop some serious ass. Anyways, out of the listed martial artists, my list would go:

Bruce Lee > Jet Li > Jackie Chan > Steven Seagal > Chuck Norris >>>>>>>>> Van Damme.
 
B

Boogie

Member
If we're talking about legitimate ass-kicking ability, it goes like this:

1. Chuck Norris.
2. Bruce Lee.

I'm not sure where Jet Li and Jackie Chan would stand in relation to each other.

Seagal is not near the badass he makes him out to be. He has a reputation for spontaneously hitting people in the balls on set of his movies. Someone needs to tell him that being a jackass is not the same thing as being a badass. When he tried to pull that stunt on Stephen Quadros, the story goes that Quadros blocked Seagal's strike, then they started half-going at it with Seagal unable to do anything to Quadros. Seagal also apparently got choked unconscious by Gene Lebell when he didn't know who Lebell was.

And VanDamme is just a joke all around.
 
B

Boogie

Member
In terms of their films, I rank them thus:

1. Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.

Bruce is a legend, but Jackie was the most hardcore action star in the business.

2. Jet Li

3. Chuck Norris.

4. Steven Seagal

5. Van Damme. Once again, Van Damme is a joke :p
 
S

shuri

Banned
Wait, I think we need to even things out with a team of martial art bad guys!

bennyurquidez.gif

Benny The Jet Urquidez! He had an awesome fight with Jackie Chan one of his movies (meals of wheels?). Maybe not his best pic, but he looked pretty mean back then


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Sonny Chiba!

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Bolo Yeung! The ultimate sub boss of every martial art movies!

special mid-fight appearance by
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Jim Kelly!
 
P

Pimpwerx

Member
Shuri's got it. Bolo has to be one of the best underbosses ever. Every movie he's in, he's awesome. As for the ranking:

Bruce > Jackie > > Jet >>>> Chuck >>>>>>>> Van Damme >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Seagal. JVD has at least made some movies I enjoyed. I can't say that for Steven "I never get hit" Seagal. Someone said it best. You have to take punishment as well as dole it out. Seagal only kicks ass in his movies. How often has he been on the receiving end of an ass-whooping in his movies? He no-sells like the fucking Hulkster. Bruce didn't get his butt whooped, but he did have some great fights. And he's like the originator, so that helps too. Jackie and Jet take punches as well as they give them. It makes their fights more entertaining to watch as there's at least some uncertainty about success. Van Damme might as well to Tai Chi b/c all his moves are done in slow-mo. And Seagal hardly ever gets hit...and he's fat....and a shitty actor...and he fucking sucks. PEACE.
 
B

Blabala

Member
Steven S. is the worst martial artist actor ever born. Van Damme is just a bad actor and mediocre fighter. Bruce L. makes art out of fighting. Jacki Chan makes art out of malabars. Jet Li is the closest to Bruce we can find nowadays but we shouldn't compare them as Jet Li is far away of becoming what Bruce did.

Anyway, if I had to choose a film of one of those "masters" I would choose J. Chan 'cause it's funny and i'm stuck of violence.
 
D

demon

I don't mean to alarm you but you have dogs on your face
I'm going to agree with something somebody above said. Bruce Lee was an unbelievably kick-ass martial artist, but his movies just don't do it for me because this fights are so goddamn one-sided. Has he EVER gotten his ass even slightly beaten in a movie? Not from what I can remember. The best martial arts movies are the ones where the hero might not make it. You never get that feeling from a BL movie. It's always so obvious he could walk through the movie with this feet tied behind his head and still whoop everyone's ass.
 
M

MASB

Member
Boogie said:
If we're talking about legitimate ass-kicking ability, it goes like this:

1. Chuck Norris.
2. Bruce Lee.

I'm not sure where Jet Li and Jackie Chan would stand in relation to each other.

Seagal is not near the badass he makes him out to be. He has a reputation for spontaneously hitting people in the balls on set of his movies. Someone needs to tell him that being a jackass is not the same thing as being a badass. When he tried to pull that stunt on Stephen Quadros, the story goes that Quadros blocked Seagal's strike, then they started half-going at it with Seagal unable to do anything to Quadros. Seagal also apparently got choked unconscious by Gene Lebell when he didn't know who Lebell was.

And VanDamme is just a joke all around.
Click to expand...
I remember hearing that Seagal was the martial arts coordinator on that 1983 Bond movie with Sean Connery. Seagal got mad at Connery for some reason and broke his hand! lol
 
S

Spike Spiegel

Member
So... is this a "who's the most entertaining martial artist on film" debate, or a "which one of these movie martial artists could kick the others' asses" debate?
 
O

ourumov

Member
Rate them according to your personal tastes.
I doubt anybody would deny that if all of them fighted at the age of 50, Jackie Chan would be the winner.
 
A

Azih

Member
Yeah in terms of entertainment Jackie Chan owns everybody on the list.

I don't know anything about actual martial art prowess, but I think Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Steven Segal are the ones that have credibility. Jackie Chan has always been a stunt man.
 
L

Loki

Count of Concision
Segal was actually trained in Japan by Uyeshiba (sp?), a grandmaster who was the founder of the Aikido system, so he's at least somewhat legit. Also, Jet Li was trained at the Shaolin Temple from what I heard before being selected by the government for some police post, though maybe that was just a legend that grew up around him.


In terms of who can kick ass the most, well, I'd say that it's Bruce Lee > Jet Li > Chuck Norris (a legit full-contact champion) > Segal > Jackie Chan > Van Damme.


In terms of whose movies I like the best, it goes: Van Damme (Kickboxer, Double Impact, and Bloodsport do it for me) > Bruce Lee > Segal > Jackie Chan > Jet Li > Norris.


Jet Li in Lethal Weapon 4 takes the cake for the biggest badass EVER (except maybe for Chong Li in Bloodsport :D). The way he walked around carrying those beads was just...cool. :p


Now Benny Urquidez (former kickboxing champion), he could've kicked all their asses with the possible exception of Bruce Lee. His fight with Jackie Chan (I think it was Chan-- I saw the clip years ago) in "Meals on Wheels" was voted "best fight scene ever" in some special a while back; it was very slick from what I recall.
 
S

Spike Spiegel

Member
Loki said:
Now Benny Urquidez (former kickboxing champion), he could've kicked all their asses with the possible exception of Bruce Lee. His fight with Jackie Chan (I think it was Chan-- I saw the clip years ago) in "Meals on Wheels" was voted "best fight scene ever" in some special a while back; it was very slick fromw hat I recall.
Click to expand...
I'd be tempted to throw Norris in there as a "possible exception" too, but yeah - Benny Urquidez's accomplishments as a legit fighter are astounding.

EDIT: Also, what's with all the Steven Seagal hate I'm seeing here? Where's that coming from?
 
S

shuri

Banned
May I recommend to you guys to search for this movie. It's called (warning: cheeze name ahead) The Best of Martial Art Films It was made more than a decade ago, but it's an excellent compilation of fights from tons of great movies, sorted by the main star. Most of the people talked about in this thread are covered in the movie. It may be a bit hard to find, but it's totally worth it if you are a martial art fan. I think its one of those big quintensential (spelling?) martial art compilation tape. Every great fight is in it. Bruce Lee Vs Norris, That Jackie chan vs The Jet fight, and much more.

The tape is presented by John Saxon, aka Roper from Enter The Dragon. He looks and sounds drugged out, but it's a good 2 hours of intense combat. He also talks about a lot of more obscure artists that are kinda forgotten, but it's a great way to discover tons of forgotten classics.

I recently bought Duel to the death dvd for 10$ after seeing several clips that were featured in Best of Martial Art Films.

Check it out!
 
T

Tabris

Member
Anyone who doesn't pick Bruce Lee for the top, no longer should be allowed to post in any martial art movie threads ever again :p
 
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