New Generation of Action Stars

[Guest Ripper]

I was watching that Steven Segal/DMX movie last night and it got me to thinking.

 

Michael Jai White has the look, he has decent acting skills, he is a trained martial artist and he is built like a brick shithouse. Why is this guy the leading man in basically every new action movie that comes out. Not to shun the Rock and Vin Diesel, but the guy can blow them both out of the water when it comes to acting alone, and he can pull off some damn fine fighting scenes.

 

His performance in "Tyson" should have gotten the offers rolling in, but I just can't figure out why he is a rarity on the screen. Anyone got any theories.

[Guest razazteca]

I was wondering that to but I guess since Weasly Snipes is still doing the Blade movies, Michael Jai White will be seen as just an extra.

 

Another person that has a similar problem is Donnie Yen, of the Iron Monkey movies. I have been a fan of his since I saw the Iron Monkey movie, Why is'nt he the leading man? Donnie Yen has had small parts in the last Highlander movie and Blade 2 being the token Kung Fu fighter.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

I saw some drama movie on HBO a while back with Michael Jai White as the leading man, and he impressed me a lot.

 

Michael Jai White deserves a shot as a leading man in a HUGE action movie, not just Spawn (which is a good movie, aside from what the fanboys say).

[Guest C.H.U.D.]

White seems to be stuck in "only stars in low budget action movies or co-stars in bigger budget films" mode. He needs a big film to become a breakout star, but that may never happen. Vin Diesel got that break with Fast & the Furious.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Vin Diesel got that break with Fast & the Furious.

This is off-topic, but I'd say Diesel's break was in Pitch Black since I think he got top billing on that and I heard a while back that they were making a sequel to it.

 

Anyway, back on topic, I really have no idea who White is, which is more evidence for him needing a name-role to establish himself if he really is good enough that I should know who he is.

[Guest Just call me Dan]

I don't whole-heartedly agree. MJW has a hella lot of skills. Martial arts are sound, he's young, got a good look. But his voice is always like freakin James Earl Jones. The guy sounds like he is trying to hard to make his voice sound macho deep. Watch Exit Wounds, it takes away from his character in the scene where he turns around in the chair and reveals himself as a crooked cop for the first time. His acting is sub-par in most everything I've seen him in( watch Universal Soldier 2, Exit Wounds) but very good in Spawn and Tyson.

 

I'm a bit undecided. I think he could be HUGE, but needs a little acting work and should cut down on the ninja martial arts crap in all his movies (yet another reference to Exit Wounds, the stupid swordfight that ruined it)

 

I realize the guy doesn't write his script, and bad acting is essential to B action flicks, but I really think he should pick and choose his scripts to get movies with more attention on him, and heavier promoted movies (Vin Deisel)

[Guest Ripper]

He also did his thing when he was on Boston Public and even in Ringmaster(so what If is watched it....) He is a proven good actor. Some times you can't make crap sound good(as proven in Exit Wounds and Universal Soldier).

 

Steven Segal was quite possibley the fight Corographer in Exit Wounds, so we know how sucky that would end up being. )

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Who was White in Exit Wounds?

 

(and no, I don't mean Steven Seagal )