I heard about this scene but couldn't believe it was as ridiculous as it sounded, boy was I wrong...
You think even the actor having to play the aggressive redneck barfly, causing sh!t in Seagal's face (an actor who in the same year went from Ed Wood to this!) might have told Seagal just how stupid this whole scene plays? It's one of the many flaws of this film but great unintentional entertainment, nearly on par with 'The Room'.
I can't believe even Seagal agreed to use that line or scene.
shareThere used to be a Brut commercial where Kelly LeBrock talked about the "essence of man".
Kelly LeBrock also costarred with Segal in Hard to Kill. Segal uses brute force to defeat his enemies. Everything comes around full circle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osT1ECTSRh0
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A dope trailer is no place for a kitty.
I actually liked the scene. I thought it was quite moving. Or at least I liked the raw idea. The wording "essence" was stupid. I like the idea of "how much does it take to change a man".
shareI just watched it, it was so forced, cliched, stereotypical, and "feel good" it was cringe worthy. Not just the "essence of a man" nonsense but how it was set up. I can't believe even Steven Segal or the actor playing the a hole would agree to it. It checks every guilt ridden feel good PC stereotype cliche, the way over done white racist bully of course, the innocent minority victims who he attacks for no reason, the silly insults and pushing around which of course makes the audience just hate the unrealistic antagonist and root for the guy to set him straight, then you have 1 guy beating up I lost count 5, 6, or 7 other guys who suddenly can't fight and attack Segal one at a time instead of all at once. Even for Hollywood chiche bad guys this one was way over the top it was laughable.
The whole movie was just a big PC cliche of big business/oil companies and how "evil" they are, I am sure Segal and all the people who made this don't drive cars, own anything with a combustible engine, or own any plastic products.
Jesus Christ, Seagal movies are about elbow breaking, wrist cracking, and beating up bad guys mostly unscathedly. It needs to have bad guys, plot (just different from the previous films) and slightly different choreography, and setting. Nevermind the rest of the *beep* you all are nitpicking. It's a *beep* Seagal movie, and it that respect it's okay! Sure it has flaws, the slaping game with the dude was absolutely ridiculous, although the scene "what does it take to change" was okay.
Still, it's a Seagal movie. It deserves a 6. Rest of his work deserves 7.
Quite honestly, I thought the idea behind the slap-hands scene fit the overall theme of the movie (ie, bullies like oil companies need to be taught a lesson), but it was poorly executed and the "what does it take to change the essence of a man" line is pretty cringey.
I think it would have made a more emotional impact if the redneck bully had a 10 yr. old son with him in the bar and watched Seagal kick the snot out of his Daddy. The tears would well up in the kid's eyes because he realizes his Daddy is a tough-talking wimp and a fraud. Then Seagal asks him "What does it take to change a man?" --- the bully responds by saying "I just need time ... I need to show my son what a real man is supposed to be". The bully then hugs his son and they have a good cry, and then they go over to the Eskimo man to apologize and hug him, too. Seagal watches all this with tears in his eyes, because he know he changed the essence of that redneck. That would've been a real tear-jerking scene!