Chat! culturecrossfire.slack.com

Greatest Action Hero Tournament: Last Men Standing

Laz

Making dumb observations since 2002
Messages
19,837
Reaction score
2,572
Points
253
Location
Music City
WHO IS THE GREATEST?
Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Jackie Chan

It's finally come down to this. The greatest action hero of the West versus the greatest of the East. The man who defined what an action hero was versus the man who redefined Hong Kong cinema to a global audience.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was born on July 30, 1947, in the village of Thal, Styria, in the nation of Austria. As a young man, Arnold was subjected to physical and mental abuse by his father, a police chief and former Nazi officer (though one not involved in the actual atrocities). He was an average student, but one who stood out in class for being cheerful and humorous. At 14, he began pursuing bodybuilding as a hobby, and decided at 15 to make it a career, winning his first Mr. Universe title at the age of 20 and going on to win the Mr. Olympia title a record 7 times (1970-1975, 1980). After his natural charisma shone through in the documentary Pumping Iron Hollywood came calling, first casting him in the exploitation flick Hercules in New York. His breakthrough success would come in 1982's Conan the Barbarian, followed soon after by the role that would define his career: James Cameron's 1984 classic The Terminator.

Following a meeting with Joel Silver, who was impressed by his natural charisma that was unlike his screen presence up to that point, Arnold was cast as the lead in Commando, a film and role that went on to define the American action hero. After that, he continued his acting career until the 2003 California recall election, where he became the first Austrian-born Governor of the state, serving until 2011, after which he returned to cinema.

SUGGESTED VIEWING: The Terminator (1984), Commando (1985), Predator (1987), The Running Man (1987), Total Recall (1990), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), True Lies (1994)

---

Jackie Chan, born Chang Kong-sang, came into this world on April 7, 1954, to refugees from the Chinese Civil War. His parents served the French Ambassador during Jackie's early years, nicknaming him Pao-Pao ("cannonball") for his propensity to roll around. At the age of 6, Jackie was enrolled in a Peking Opera boarding school, an academy focused on teaching the elements of Peking Opera (a Chinese artform that combines acrobatics, singing, acting, dancing, and mime), where he, along with many other future Hong Kong cinema stars, learned martial arts and stunt work, as well as faced corporal punishment for misdeeds.

By his late teens, Chan became part of the elite Seven Little Fortunes troupe, taking the stage name Yuen Lo in honor of his master, Yu Jim-Yuen. During his time with the Fortunes, Chan became close friends with fellow performers Sammo Hung and Yuen Bo, going on to form the Three Brothers (alias Three Dragons) group with them. It was alongside Sammo Hung that Chan trained in hapkido under the tutelage of grand master Jin Pal Kim, eventually attaining a black belt in the style. Along the way, Chan also studied Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, and Jeet Kune Do.

Chan's early film career (ad the lead) saw filmmakers desperate for him to become the next Bruce Lee, casting him in similar stoic roles that undermined his natural charm and personality. It was not until 1978's Snake in the Eagle's Shadow where Chan was allowed to display his trademark humor by adding physical comedy into his fight choreography, a practice that continued with Drunken Master that same year. Soon, Chan (and his stunt team) became the go-to of the style, crafting memorable action scenes in the Police Story franchise. It was 1995's Rumble in the Bronx that cemented Chan's global superstardom, filled with his trademark blend of humor, insane stunt work (that he performed himself, to various levels of injury), and charismatic performances. By 1998, his back catalogue of films had achieved true Western cult status, paving the way for the immense success of his greatest Western franchise, pairing with comedic actor Chris Tucker in Rush Hour.

SUGGESTED VIEWING: Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), Drunken Master (1978), Police Story (1985), The Protector (1985), Supercop (1993), Rumble in the Bronx (1995), Rush Hour (1998)
 

King Kamala

Integral Poster
Messages
60,438
Reaction score
8,296
Points
293
Location
Vacationland
As great as Jackie is and he may have an edge on worldwide impact, Arnold Schwarzenegger is synonymous with the action genre to me. GET TO THE CHOPPER(, TSM Action Hero Tournament Trophy)
 

HarleyQuinn

Laugh This Off... Puddin'!
Staff member
Messages
22,077
Reaction score
1,990
Points
313
As Kamala said, Arnold is so iconic and so associated with the action genre he's probably the closest equivalent of any other actor to John Wayne and Westerns in terms of Actor + Genre. With Arnold you could very easily tack on other 'action' fare such as The Running Man or even Last Action Hero within the Suggested Viewing.

Jackie is incredible but Arnold is to the 1980s/1990s action scene as what kids today probably think of Tom Cruise or The Rock as in terms of the action genre.
 

King Kamala

Integral Poster
Messages
60,438
Reaction score
8,296
Points
293
Location
Vacationland
Predator is awesome and my first and maybe still favorite Arnold but Running Man should've been added to the list in lieu of listing it twice ;)

Any movie where Arnold Schwarzenegger faces off with the GOAT Family Feud host is an all time great.
 

Laz

Making dumb observations since 2002
Messages
19,837
Reaction score
2,572
Points
253
Location
Music City
King Mutumbo Classic said:
Predator is awesome and my first and maybe still favorite Arnold but Running Man should've been added to the list in lieu of listing it twice ;)
I actually meant to list it and wrote Predator twice by accident. Fixed.
 

Epic Springs

Epic Reine
Messages
12,611
Reaction score
1,879
Points
253
Location
NYC
Arnold. There's no one that's more iconic and consistent with the genre.
 

Brocklock

Integral Poster
Messages
9,187
Reaction score
1,593
Points
228
Location
Illinois
Arnold is gonna win, but I'm going with Jackie. If I was to make a list of the ten best fight scenes ever, Jackie probably has more than half. Hell, he probably has half of the best action scenes ever. I'm gonna go with dedication, work ethic, and mastering the craft over presence, popularity, and one liner ability.
 
Messages
17,633
Reaction score
697
Points
263
I'm going with Jackie because it's a lot closer with Arnold than it was between Sylvester Stallone and Harrison Ford
 

Gary

Darker Handcraft
Messages
15,160
Reaction score
803
Points
253
Location
Perdition City
I gotta give it to Jackie. Arnold may be more iconic, but Jackie has been involved in the best action scenes of all time.
 

King Kamala

Integral Poster
Messages
60,438
Reaction score
8,296
Points
293
Location
Vacationland
Well now it's tied. I am fine with Jackie winning especially since "Real American" won the WWE Theme Songs tournament and we should try and prove that TSM is NOT a racist message board.
 

cobainwasmurdered

Waiting for Kamala to honour bets since June 2020
Staff member
Messages
24,571
Reaction score
3,859
Points
333
Location
Abbotsford, BC
I haven't voted until now (aside from the tie breaker) but this is too important not to.

Jackie Chan. I don't dislike Arnie but I love Jackie to bits and the fact he does his own stunts means a ton to me.
 

tekcop

TSM's Finest
Staff member
Messages
6,959
Reaction score
1,407
Points
228
Jackie. 100%. Great choreography. Personality for days. Some of the best stunts in movie history. My personal #1 action star of all time.
 

Baby Shoes

Baby Shoes
Messages
25,399
Reaction score
2,222
Points
293
I STAND WITH ARNOLD

No idea how you could leave The Tuxedo of the man Chan filmography
 

Brocklock

Integral Poster
Messages
9,187
Reaction score
1,593
Points
228
Location
Illinois
The Art of Rasslin' said:
I was gonna pick Jackie but I just remembered the Turbo Man so now I am reconsidering.

That's more of a plus for Arnold when he wins the TSM best comedian tourney than Best Action hero.
 

Laz

Making dumb observations since 2002
Messages
19,837
Reaction score
2,572
Points
253
Location
Music City
I tried to only pick good movies. That's why I left my favorite bad Xmas movie off, as well as garbage like the rest of the Terminator franchise.

I will, however, defend Sixth Day. Very, very underrated.
 

Brocklock

Integral Poster
Messages
9,187
Reaction score
1,593
Points
228
Location
Illinois
That and T2 I think are both really good performances. He did actually improve a lot as an actor. Watch him in something like Commando or Raw Deal or The Running Man then watch him a few years later in True Lies, T2, or Total Recall. It's a big improvement.

He's actually turned in some really good late career performances in Maggie and Aftermath, although the movies themselves aren't great.
 

Laz

Making dumb observations since 2002
Messages
19,837
Reaction score
2,572
Points
253
Location
Music City
100% agree. I was pleasantly surprised with how well he and Stallone handled Escape Plan, though.
 

Brocklock

Integral Poster
Messages
9,187
Reaction score
1,593
Points
228
Location
Illinois
King Mutumbo Classic said:
True Lies I would say is the last great Arnold movie.

SLEEPING ON JERICHO CANE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sqkbM4Yu7I
 

Epic Springs

Epic Reine
Messages
12,611
Reaction score
1,879
Points
253
Location
NYC
King Mutumbo Classic said:
True Lies I would say is the last great Arnold movie.

5110YSEXJAL._AC_SY445_.jpg


Excuse me?
 

Baby Shoes

Baby Shoes
Messages
25,399
Reaction score
2,222
Points
293
https://youtu.be/Eo03TTWgga0

Also no one is bringing up the classic film that included both these finalists

A1G0XqWCXNL._SX1200_.jpg
 

tekcop

TSM's Finest
Staff member
Messages
6,959
Reaction score
1,407
Points
228
They did sorta do a movie together a while back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOeSod1SeAY

Pretty sure that's the total runtime of their scenes together.
 

King Kamala

Integral Poster
Messages
60,438
Reaction score
8,296
Points
293
Location
Vacationland
Springtime for Epic said:
King Mutumbo Classic said:
True Lies I would say is the last great Arnold movie.

5110YSEXJAL._AC_SY445_.jpg


Excuse me?
I watched Jingle All The Way before last Christmas. As someone who was target age for that movie when it came out and who actually likes Arnold's other comedies, I've always thought that movie kind of stinks other than the 2 or 3 scenes that have become kind of memes.

Erasers is an acceptable answer for last great Arnold film since it had Arnold fighting gators but other than that, it's definitely second tier Schwarzenegger.
 

Brocklock

Integral Poster
Messages
9,187
Reaction score
1,593
Points
228
Location
Illinois
Jingle All The Way is not a legit good movie, but I'll watch it a few times every year and be incredibly entertained. I think Phil Hartman is really funny in it and totally committed to the sleaze ball character.

Eraser was alright but sort of forgettable. I'd probably have it 3rd or 4th tier with the one Arnold did with Jim Belushi as well as Raw Deal.
 
Top