Do you think its a new phase or not? Global fans will recognize him from the likes of. Donnie Yen, born in 1963, is one of the present masters of the martial arts action film, according to Black Belt Magazine, and Jackie Chan, born in 1954, per Biography, has been acting in several movie genres since he was eight, including musicals. And I back up, Jet said, "Donnie, there's blood spilling out of your face." Donnie Yen was born in Guangzhou, China. Waymond is played by Ke Huy Quan. Its true. If there's one thing Donnie Yen is going to do, it is to call out stereotypes when he sees it. But the Daniels have so cleverly manipulated the situations that, you know, theres always that miscommunication, which creates misunderstandings, which become like, oh my god, oh my god, this is just the train wreck waiting to happen. Yuen ended up signing Yen, then just 18 years old, to a three-year, multi-movie deal. Yen could regale you with stories of his scrapes for hours. Thats part of life. Because Master Yuen Woo-Ping is like my mentor, my guru. Yuen Woo-ping, Yen says, was trying to make another Jackie Chan. Yen was heading back from Beijing to Boston to see his family but arranged to stop off in Hong Kong to audition. Stephanie Hsu plays this role. Over the years, Yen has helped to drag the martial arts movie away from the world of pristinely choreographed period pieces into something messier and more authentic. Ive got to perform. Right, because she finds that ridiculous. Anyone can read what you share. More with Michelle Yeoh after the break. Again, not giving away plot. It was horrendous, says Yen. Its like when you after I read the script, its like, no one has ever thought of me in a role like this, it is true. In addition to Ip Man and Rogue One, Yen rose to fame by appearing in films such as Hero," Iron Monkey," Raging Fire, Once Upon a Time in China," Blade II," Chasing the Dragon opposite Andy Lau, "Shanghai Knights opposite Jackie Chan, and Mulan opposite Liu Yifei. With Jackie Chan's penchant for comedy and Yen's combat versatility seen in his MMA movies, their first showdown has more of a light-hearted spin on it, with their second taking Chan outside of his usual comfort zone with bladed weaponry coming into play, too. She cant accept that. I mean, I look at life and were only here for a short time, you know? She calls herself a loser. Chasing the Dragon (Chinese: ; Sidney Lau: Jui 1 Lung 4), previously known as King of Drug Dealers, is a Hong Kong-Chinese action crime drama film directed by Wong Jing and Jason Kwan. One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. And you must try and find joy and happiness. And if you think three years ago when Crazy Rich Asians came out, prior to that, it was Joy Luck Club, which was 20-something years ago, before we had an all Asian cast. My first movie was an action film, but I played the normal damsel in distress where I was a social worker and bullied by the juvenile delinquents. Half a day, a couple of hours. A couple of hours? In your dreams, buddy. Li solidified himself as an icon in the genre with his historical fiction epic Once Upon a Time in China as folk hero Wong Fei-hung. So he had a stunt double wired up, Yen explains. I know exactly where the camera is. And Im like, are you kidding me? But when Evelyn makes the trip to the I.R.S., her world is shaken up. Theres drama. The film brought Yen his first real attention as a thespian and he was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category at that year's Hong Kong Film Awards.Tsui Hark went on to produce a remake of King Hu's classic 'New Dragon Inn', which provided another showcase role for Donnie as the film's apparently invincible villain.Donnie was reunited with director Yuen Woo-ping for 'Iron Monkey', a film which brought Yen's acting and action skills both into focus. Both Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen have fought many formidable villains and, from time to time, heroes in their respective action movie careers. But I am by myself and with a white-haired martial arts expert that you know, tells you exactly what to do. So, she has to work so hard into creating and achieving that American dream that they talked about when they first came here. All rights reserved. Chan isn't exactly known for wuxia-style action and wire fu, but the formerEnter the Dragonstuntman handles the somewhat foreign territory well alongside Twins Effect's downplayed emphasis on comedy and pratfalls. Are Billionaires the Answer? Its all like a bunch of jazz musicians, Yen says. The second time we spoke, Yen was energized to see Michelle Yeoh, a friend and costar of Yens for decades, win a Golden Globe forEverything Everywhere All at Once after being critically ignored for so long. He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. Its about whats happening in our society. Oh, I was a Chinese opera singer. It was because she suddenly realized thats when I dont have Waymond and I dont have Joy. Yen was born in Guangzhou, on the Chinese mainland. Donnie Yen is making his "John Wick" debut in the upcoming fourth installment as Caine, a blind assassin caught between his ties to the villainous High Table and his friendship with Keanu. Her latest role is no exception she took on a part that was originally written for the actor Jackie Chan. Everybodys supposed to be cool and fashionable. I have no tendons in the shoulder, he says. The next day, the director called. Its about you going out there and making your own life. He was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer and died while the film was still in postproduction. Oh, no, no, no. That would scare the hell out of me. 'Seven Swords' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and proved a hit with worldwide audiences. Im curious, what did that movie did that change things for you in terms of roles coming in? You must not give up. Donnie Yen has been punched, in the name of moviemaking, more times than he can count. Why cant he look cool and fashionable? he continued. Chan's physicallevel of dedication is also second to none, with Chan incurring one painful injury and broken bone after another, many of them captured for the world to see in the outtakes frequently included at the end of many Jackie Chan movies. Jackie Chan and Li have known each other for a long time. You always put the family first. I have, yes, success and fame. Yes, yes. Jaycee chan was great, he comes across very humble , Jackie chan had a small role in this film just like donnie yen which was a disappointment but none the less still enjoyable. I was wondering, when you were doing that, were you held to a different standard than the men? Jacket, $4,700, pants, $1,650, and belt, $830, by Gucci. Why is it this way? [Yuen] said, Youll know when youre a director., Yen eventually started to exert more of his own control, first of stunt choreography, then assuming directing duties. The steps are choreographed. When the cameras roll, the old Donnie Yen still kicks in. The film's two action highlights saw Donnie's character duel the legendary martial arts master Wong Fei-hung, played by his old friend Jet Li. And thank god I heard it was because one of the writers in the room turned on and said, oh, theres this actress from Hong Kong, actually, he said, who does her own action. You can sing in those. Were comparing these legends of global cinema across four categories Box Office, Tomatometer and Audience Scores, Iconic Moments, and a special Wild Card Round to see who is the one man left standing when all the dust has settled/limbs have been snapped/henchmen have been felled. Nothing matters, be free, or nothing matters, give up. Exclusive: Donnie Yen on 'Raging Fire,' 'John Wick 4,' How Yuen Woo-ping Discovered Him, and More By Steve Weintraub Published Aug 29, 2021 Plus, Yen shares what it was like making director. And that is the big beating heart of this film. Shirt, $535, pants, $775, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. This film was co-directed by Huang Jianxin and Han Sanping, and includes many famous actors such as Andy Lau, Ge You . I think what the strong core of the message, apart from the very familial connections, is that no matter how tragic or how despair or frustrated you are, its you cannot give up. There was a move where he spun around 360 degrees, he swings at me and I block it. Oh, yeah. And there are so many of these stories to be told, and to be exchanged, and to be and also, what I love about Everything Everywhere All At Once, its about here. Im Kara Swisher, and youre listening to Sway. My guest today is Michelle Yeoh, the actor whose nearly four-decade career has included roles in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Crazy Rich Asians. But only now has Yeoh gotten her first Hollywood top billing in Everything Everywhere All At Once, a new movie by a pair of filmmakers known as the Daniels. In an interview with GQ, Yen, 59, shared that he spoke to "John Wick: Chapter 4" director Chad Stahelski about making adjustments to Caine, a blind assassin whose first iteration allegedly employed several Asian tropes. And so your body is doing all these wild and wonderful and precise, graceful moves. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Legendary Hong Kong martial arts actor Jet Li reveals nearly blinding Ip Man star Donnie Yen while filming fight sequences in two different movies. I was trying to find an identity. So, its interesting because its a posture of disappointment, in a lot of ways. Answer (1 of 2): Even if you equalized their ages, my vote would go to Donnie Yen because he is a competent grappler with a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a 2nd dan in judo and has trained some in MMA. Its like, even with the hot dog fingers, when you look at them, youre going, what? Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. As a result, there is certainly a sense of fulfillment here as Chan and Yen go head-to-head in Twins Effect II (released in the West ofBlade of Kings). Today, Brad channels his thoughts on all manner of movies, from comic book films, sci-fi thrillers, comedies, and everything in between through his writings on Screen Rant. I had a very respectful experience working onJohn Wick. Then the wardrobe again oh, mandarin collars. Its comedy. Ich denke eine direkte Antwort kann man darauf nicht geben. Donnie Yen appears as the film's secondary villain, Wu Chow, sent to assassinatethe Royal Familyto getChina's Imperial Seal. Well, there might be. The name was Shang or Chang, the Ip Man star said. Growing up, Brad developed an innate love of movies and storytelling, and was instantly enamored with the world of adventure while following the exploits of Indiana Jones, Japanese kaiju, and superheroes. Yuenknown in Hollywood for his choreography on films such asCrouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon;The Matrix; andKill Billhad helped to revive Jackie Chans career, directing the cult classicsDrunken Master andSnake in the Eagles Shadow. Chinese kung fu star, Donnie Yen, is listed as a member of National Committee of CPPCC. Shes literally busy. It was old-school military, Yen says. For actors like Yen, who came up in that golden age of kung fu, there were no digital effects. But I know that once You know what, Donnie? And he was going to be the principal. Its basically The Matrix meets LSD trip. What Id do is Id use a cotton ball and put it between my back teeth, so they [didnt] knock my teeth out., Today, Yen is one of Chinas biggest actors, the last in a dynasty of martial arts stars that runs from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan to Jet Li. The film stars Donnie Yen as Crippled Ho, based on real life gangster Ng Sik-ho and Andy Lau reprising his role as Lee Rock from the film series of the same name.The film is about an illegal immigrant from . And I dont want to give away, but it plays a big role. (Given that series treatment of Jet Liwhose character is called, and Im not joking, Yin Yangyou can imagine why.) In this conversation, Kara Swisher and Yeoh discuss the film, which Kara describes as The Matrix meets L.S.D. And its very important that I find the Daniels was so bold and courageous to write the lead of the movie, an aging Asian immigrant woman, and give her such a powerful voice, and turn her into a superhero by going to all these multiverses and discovering that, you know, failures also make us who we are. Your character doesnt know martial arts in her universe, but she can tap into her skills of a different Evelyn in a universe where shes a martial arts movie star which is basically your real life, by the way. Lashana Lynch might become that, but well see. Immerhin hat er in "Die Todeskralle schlgt wieder . Not like, oh, now suddenly I have. After a period where he was based in Los Angeles, Donnie returned East by way of the West when Jackie Chan requested that Yen play his nemesis in the hit 'Shanghai Knights', a shoot that took the star from Prague to London.Yen returned to China to co-star in director Zhang Yimou's epic wu xia master work 'Hero'. Yes, but you have, OK money in the bank. Hong Kong action superstar Donnie Yen Ji-dan is revered globally for his martial arts prowess in films such as the Ip Man series and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story . Joe Origins, starring. But interestingly and maybe this is wrong because its been reported different places. (Caines redesigned look is, Yen says, partly an homage to his hero Bruce Lee.). He arrives at the Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill in London wearing a leather Alexander McQueen jacket and sweats, the brim of his baseball capblazoned with the motivational slogan You Can Do Itpulled low. Yen was to return to this hard-hitting, urban action style for the later 'Special ID'.Donnie now found himself in demand as a leading man in a series of prestigious period actioners produced for the Chinese market. But the stunt double couldnt hit the mark. ", Related: Donnie Yen's Ip Man 2 Has A Secret Jet Li Connection (& It's Genius). Its normally, yes, for a younger version. At that point, it was like, nothing will faze you. From the Triads! Yen says with a grin, relishing the story. The conclusion of their duel also sidesteps there being an actual victor and places more emphasis on the two finding a mutual respect as General Lone reaches the pinnacle of his mission. The film brought Yen his first real attention as a thespian and he was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category at that year's Hong Kong Film Awards. Shanghai Knights (2003) Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen Shanghai Knights (2003) Its not like a Marvel universe where you can understand and you find it relatable. Nothing matters, and therefore be free, or nothing matters, and therefore give up. "The name was Shang or Chang. It wasIp Man that kick-started Yens recent career renaissance, and one reason why, lately, Yen has found himself busier than ever. Because in 2020, Chinas film market became the worlds biggest box office. My arms and legs are going in directions that I couldnt even fathom that could happen. But because at that time, there were no scripts that really cast us as a important enough character, you could be like a co-star or a guest star or whatever it is. In a recent interview with GQ, the actor shared that he's very selective about signing on roles. The film followed Ip's life journey to Hong Kong, where he faces both rival kung fu masters, led by the film's choreographer, Sammo Hung, and a brutal foreign boxer, portrayed by the late Darren Shahlavi. This is aJohn Wick movie. So it would have been in that original thing, initially, it was like, I would have played the wife of Jackie Chan. To travel more, to spend time with his family. And he heard about it, and he says, oh, get well soon. You are engaged with that emotional thread connection that keeps going through it. And we are very, very much part of you know, the Asians belong. In a recent interview with GQ magazine, Yen revealed that he wasn't originally keen on accepting the role of Caine - a blind assassin and friend of the lead protagonist - after deeming that it perpetuated Asian stereotypes. I said, "Really? You never walk away from someone in need. But adapting to life in the United States as new immigrants was difficult; for a while, the family lived off food stamps. Thrown from horses. If you place the camera over there, I already know exactly where the frame is. Later, as Yen began to work on his own choreography, he learned to compose the film as he went, editing in his head, so that when I moveokay, I move this way towards this medium shot, then I reserve this movement, four, five, and six, to the wider shot. So, you obviously made your name in Hong Kong action movies. Yen also shared during his interview that he was able to pay homage to his idol, Bruce Lee, through Caines new look. The biggest stars - Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen - kung fu and wuxia, the leading martial arts film directors, and the best films to watch. And blood was spilling. In 2016, he starred in Netflix's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny opposite Harry Shum Jr. and Michelle Yeoh. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? Shes looking for the mother that she can connect with. And I almost chained up life. Bad Movies: The 100 Worst Movies of All Time, Netflixs 100 Best Movies Right Now (March 2023), 100 Best Netflix Series To Watch Right Now (March 2023). I would suspect she was, Im guessing. Like Li, Yen began his martial arts action career in Hong Kong in the mid-1980s with the Yuen Woo-Ping-directed film Drunken Tai Chi. And What Even Is Web3? He went, "Boop!" Youre not allowed to look at the camera. Zero CGI. Ive been through it all. Joy, wait. This is not uncommon. Think about it. Its about are you going to be able to take in and accept and embrace all these new rules that you cannot put yourself first. Take it and run with it, or sink. Because the mother-daughter relationship is central to the story. If there was a stunt, you did it yourself. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny' was shot primarily on location in New Zealand, with Yen in the lead role. And, while hes still known for his fight scenesno actor better understands or displays the balletic beauty of raw, human combathe no longer has to take shots in the face. Yes. The 2000s saw Yen transition to Hollywood with appearances in Blade II as Snowman and Shanghai Knights opposite Jackie Chan. And I think, you know, the last two years, especially with the intensity and the tragedy of the pandemic, how its affected us, its really, really highlighted how much we need this human connection. Five seconds later I said, "Wait!" Yeah, so its a silly premise, but the heart of it is not silly. I Thought Mentalphysics Was New-Age Nonsense. Special thanks to Shannon Busta, Kristin Lin and Kristina Samulewski. At first, youre looking at the fingers. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. A huge hit for Emperor, the film earned Yen his first Best Action Director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards. This presented Yen asa relatively fresh face to Western audiences, and thus a perfect foil for the A-list presence of Chan and Owen Wilson in Shanghai Knights. You cannot look like you know what youre doing. Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Jackie Chan, Tony Jaa, Jean Claude Van Damme, Jason Statham, Vin Diesel, Sylvester Stallone, Action movie. Yeah, its a big beating heart, but this woman is in great pain. Are they respectful of Chinese culture? Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Ridiculous athleticism. So is that what do you think being successful is? Donnie starred opposite screen legend Chow Yun-fat in the film, which smashed box office records in Mainland China.Showing his versatility, Yen went on to play a kung fu master facing challenges in the modern era in director Teddy Chen's 'Kung Fu Jungle'. (Yens mom had taught Yuens sister.) And theres more. You were an equal match. So, they pulled me up, and Barbara came to meet me in Europe. At the same time, Donnie Yen, still years away from his Western fame followingRogue One: A Star Wars Storyand the spy moviexXx: Return of Xander Cage, hadonly done two other American movies at the time in Highlander: Endgame and Blade II. That mahjong scene was something else. Picking up in 1887, Shanghai Knights sees Chan's Chon Wang, now Sheriff of Carson City, Nevada, on a mission in London to avenge his father's murder and stop a Royal assassination plot. Following a high profile Los Angeles premiere, 'Ip Man 3' enjoyed a Los Angeles premiere and a US theatrical release, earning rave reviews in the mainstream American media.Having conquered every territory beneath the Asian skies, Donnie accepted an invitation to join the cast of an entry in the world's biggest film franchise. I witnessed gangsters fight on the set. The film, which starred Adrian Paul and Christopher Lambert, was produced by the US studio Dimension, and enjoyed a successful worldwide theatrical release.Having relocated to Los Angeles, Yen paid his dues by directing action scenes for the Dimension action thriller 'Stormbreaker' and providing the fight sequences for the German TV series 'The Puma'.Donnie agreed to both action direct and cameo in the major New Line action franchise entry 'Blade 2', starring Wesley Snipes. Even with the Crazy Rich Asians one, we sort of diverted from the original book. And I think thats a cowards way out. The film, directed by Guillermo del Toro, was a huge hit, earning almost twice the box office of the original 'Blade'.Returning to Hong Kong, Yen found he now had a major contribution to make behind the camera, co-directing the SFX action adventure 'The Twins Effect'. They are meant to be respectful. Yen also used the lighter side of his screen persona to good effect in two installments of the hit Hong Kong comedy movie series 'Alls Well Ends Well'.Yen was cast opposite Tang Wei and Takeshi Kaneshiro in director Peter Chan's 'Wu Xia' (aka 'Dragon'), a dark, elegant period martial arts murder mystery. Joy, her daughter, is played by Stephanie Hsu, who was fantastic in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel also. Yen recalls getting approached by Disney to appear in the 2016Star Wars prequelRogue One. Oh, god, you know, with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, that was an Asian movie. All rights reserved. I feel that way when I think about Black Panther and everything else. I know seven, eight is going to be the close-up. Yen demonstrates, throwing little blocks and jabs as if training at the wooden dummy. He would spend countless hours developing hisfa jing, or explosiveness, practicing high kicks on the heavy bag until he knocked it down. And then you pull back and you go, what the heck do they have at the end of their sleeve? She barely notices Waymond, her husband, who tries to make her smile by sticking googly eyes on the laundry bags, or her lesbian daughter Joy, whos struggling to come out to her grandfather with absolutely no support from her mother. The video features a collection of photos showcasing these iconic actors in their new female personas, highlighting their incredible skills and talent in the world of martial arts. Ten years later, the pair starred in the epic Hero when Li cuts Yen again, this time above his right eye. Yen and fellow martial arts legend Jet Li go at it with bamboo poles, literally bringing down the building around them. Actor, Producer, Director, Writer. A father and daughter, husband and wife. You cant do that anymoreIll hang it up., Oliver Franklin-Wallis is the features editor atBritish GQ, A version of this story originally appeared in the March 2023 issue of GQ with the title Hong Kongs Ageless Action Hero, PRODUCTION CREDITS:Photographs by Puzzleman LeungStyled by Jacky TamHair by Little WhiteSkin by Kenji NgTailoring by Mrs. LamProduced by Jolene Lin, Apply Bed Bath and Beyond Coupon and save 25% Off your entire purchase, Target Circle: up to 50% Off with Target promo code, Save 25% on your purchase of Spring Styles with Asos Coupon, Michael Kors Promo Code: sign up for KORSVIP + Get 10% Off on First Order, 2023 Cond Nast.