Bullying a Dragon: Donnie has an anecdote in which he and his girlfriend were harassed in a Hong Kong club in the 1990s by a troublesome gang. Donnie Yen was born in Guangzhou, China. Also, the mother and the daughter-in-law. But I think its Barbara Broccoli, Michael Wilson, the producers who realize, its like, yes, lets do something different. Whats it like to be in such a silly film for you? Beginning in the early 80s, Li made a name for himself as one of the top martial artist action stars in Hong Kong cinema with films including Born to Defence and Shaolin Temple 3: Martial Arts of Shaolin.Li solidified himself as an icon in the genre with his . He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. Yen playsGeneral Lone, a warrior out to free the land of Huadu from the tyrannical rule of a sinister Queen. Every day: pain. And I think that was the biggest leap of empowerment. And we have learned to OK, we have to step back. Donnie Yen Ji-dan (Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhn Zdn; born 27 July 1963) is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, and action director. Right? Its the first Hollywood movie since the early 90s to have a modern story and all-Asian casts. Yes. It was very competitive. But then, when it came to the late 70s and early 80s, it switched over to much more masculine dominated with you know, the Jackie Chan, the Jet Lee, the Donnie Yen. Its these floppy things. We cant be invincible. The senior editor of Sway is Nayeema Raza, and the executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Irene Noguchi. The emotion, the commitment, its real. Her latest role is no exception she took on a part that was originally written for the actor Jackie Chan. Necklace, $20,300, by Cartier. But adapting to life in the United States as new immigrants was difficult; for a while, the family lived off food stamps. As Bitcoin Busts, Whats the Future of Web3? Global fans will recognize him from the likes ofStar Wars spin-offRogue One, as well as this months fourth outing in the phenomenally successfulJohn Wick franchise. Given that he was by now a serious practitioner of modern Wu Shu, his parents decided to send him to Beijing to train at the Chinese capital's famed Wu Shu academy.It was when Yen returned to Hong Kong en route back to Boston that he met the famed martial arts movie director Yuen Woo-ping.Donnie exploded onto the Hong Kong movie scene when he was cast in the lead role of director Yuen Woo-ping's 'Drunken Tai Chi'. If youre in a podcast app already, you know how to get your podcasts, so follow this one. Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen talks about his favorite martial arts films, his extensive career, and infusing his latest film, Flash Point, with the styles of Mixed Martial Arts. Did you have a favorite multiverse? Donnie Yen was a martial artist who became a performer. Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen are both action movie legends - and here's a look at when the two have done battle in fight scenes with each other. We were completely, completely, as a family, committed. Are Billionaires the Answer? Theyve been part of this community forever. Why is everythingso generic? This is a very good question because you know, at that time, especially in the 80s, it was past the Shaw Brothers era where we had a lot of swordswomen who carried themselves but doing martial arts sword fighting. 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. This article was first published in Geek Culture. Yes, yes. Well, you got hit. He took the on-screen depiction of the style to new heights with the film 'SPL', released in the US as 'Kill Zone'. Always fighting. Kicked. Im curious, what did that movie did that change things for you in terms of roles coming in? And I dont want to give away, but it plays a big role. But in Hollywood? Doesnt smile, shared Yen, who suggested making Chirrut mwe blind. Yes. The women became the character that needs to be provided for and protected and all those kind of things. I had a very respectful experience working on John Wick. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he said. Im hanging out with Benny, next thing you know hes gone. Doesnt smile, shared Yen, who suggested making Chirrut mwe blind. As you get older you feel it more and more., Another actor might have hung it up by nowor at least dialed back the physical side of things. John Wick: Chapter 4 is set for release on March 24. V3.1. Youre not allowed to look at the camera. But hes never forgotten it. You were an equal match. Most of the people outside of China dont see it until they are there, Yen says. He received his first full action directing credit on the Michelle Yeoh, kung fu drama 'Wing Chun', in which he also starred.Yen further developed his style of choreography in the high pressure world of Hong Kong television, where he created the action for his hit series 'Kung Fu Master' and 'Fist of Fury', and as a low-budget film-maker, when he directed, starred in and choreographed the movies 'Legend of the Wolf' and 'Ballistic Kiss'.It was after Yen had helmed his first two Chinese features that Hollywood made its first serious bid for his services. And I back up, Jet said, "Donnie, there's blood spilling out of your face." I had a very respectful experience working onJohn Wick. But I know that once You know what, Donnie? Let me take a look." 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. And then it didnt. Yen recalls getting approached by Disney to appear in the 2016Star Wars prequelRogue One. Yes. And youll get new ones delivered directly to you. Typical master. When It Comes to Gun Control, Will Baby Steps Fix Anything? Over the course of his very long career,kung fu star Jackie Chan has brought audiences equal amounts of thrills and laughter with his penchant for comedy-laced action movies packed full of martial arts and death-defying stunts. As he often does on movies that hes directing or producing, Yen fed into every element of production: costumes, sets, music, action choreography. Theyve been here. The world class creative team gathered by producer Harvey Weinstein included legendary kung fu film director Yuen Woo-ping, acclaimed directors Peter Berg and Morten Tyldum (as producers), 'X-Men' series DP Tom Sigel as well as the Oscar-winning production, costume and FX designers from the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Hobbit' film series.The film debuted in most international territories as a Netflix Original movie, making it the most widely seen wu xia of all time. TAGGED AS: Action, Film, films, Martial Arts, movie, movies. The kicker? Our stories do matter. After premieres in New York and Los Angeles, the film enjoyed great acclaim from the American critics, and won a prize at that year's Taurus Awards, an event held to celebrate action in cinema.After working on a number of independent features, Yen went on to enjoy huge success on the small screen when he accepted a lucrative offer from Hong Kong's ATV to film a series based on the Bruce Lee classic 'Fist of Fury'. Something similar happened just recently, while makingJohn Wick: Chapter 4. While details about the Hong Kong actor's role were kept under wraps following the films announcement in June 2021, a trailer released in November 2022 revealed that he will face off against Keanu Reeves suave, suit-wearing titular assassin. 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. Why would you want me to do that? Why do you have to be so generic? I had a very respectful experience working on John Wick. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he said. And Ang is like the most quiet spoken. It doesnt look real at all.. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Right? At first, youre looking at the fingers. 'Iron Monkey' was all the more remarkable in that, years after its Asian release, it was acquired by the American studio Miramax, re-cut, re-scored and given a wide release in US theatres. All rights reserved. Yen went on to lead three successful sequels featuring the likes of Sammo Hung and Mike Tyson, making the actor a household name all over the world. I do all of them, unless I mean, if its asking me to jump off the third floor, then I dont do that anymore. Walk in showers are going to be the new trend, Hong Kong actor, martial artist and action choreographer, Chinese-Singaporean martial artist and actor, While details about the Hong Kong actor's role were kept under wraps following the, Additional details also revealed that Caine will be joining the ranks of antagonists such as Cassian (hip-hop rapper Common) from Chapter 2 and Zero (. And it could be rough and tough. All these interests would have a manifest influence on Yen's later life.In his teens, Donnie defined his own persona by rebelling against his parents edicts. And all these things keep coming at you. With Chon being the kind of underdog that Chan usually embodiesin stunt-heavy action comedies such asPolice Story, Wu Chow proves to be a much stronger opponent than he's ever previously faced (despite his proclivity for jump-spinning kicks and tiger claw strikes). The only way I could find power was through martial arts., His mother opened a martial arts school in the citys Chinatown, and Yen quickly became one of her most promising studentseven as he bristled at her imposing methods. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-ready videos to electric live events, GQ meets millions of modern men where they live, creating the moments that create conversations. You are engaged with that emotional thread connection that keeps going through it. We literally spent the entire day coming up with moves, and then Yuen Woo-ping would say, Not cool enough. The entire day, without coming up with one shot., Those early films with Yuen provided Yen with a crash course in the art of making action movies. So, I remember when I first said because I dont read Chinese. Ho-hum. So that was what the Daniels were trying to they came up to me and said, no, no, no, no. Jackie Chan and Sylvester Stallone have a long-running Hollywood friendship. Is there any type of roles you havent played yet that you really want to do? Its so liberating. And you know, you carry it with you everywhere you go. The film out-performed all the previous movies featuring the character of Ip Man, smashing box office records throughout Asia. It will continue to grow. Born July 27, 1963 in Canton, China. Its all like a bunch of jazz musicians, Yen says. It wasnt about her not being rich enough or whatever. Shirt, $535, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. They are not in my life. And Im like, I would bend backwards to talk to him. More than 5,000 NPC deputies and members of the CPPCC National Committee attend this year's #TwoSessions. 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. In addition to Ip Man and Rogue One, Yen rose to fame by appearing in films such as Hero," Iron Monkey,". What are you willing to walk away from? They make these [MINION VOICES]. I witnessed gangsters fight on the set. The film premiered to great acclaim at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and subsequently received a North American theatrical release from The Weinstein Company.Donnie Yen played 'The Monkey King' in a hit reimagining of the Chinese classic. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Is it a lonely existence? Waymond is played by Ke Huy Quan. trip. They chat about how films like Crazy Rich Asians have catapulted change in Hollywood, and how Yeohs career has bridged two of the biggest movie markets in the world, from the United States to China. With only one film in the massive long-running franchise, Yen's role as the blind fighter proved to be one of the more popular characters since Star Wars' return to cinema with Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. We will see. At that point, it was like, nothing will faze you. Look at theJohn Wick franchise itself, which would not exist without the influences of John Woo and Yuen. So, what is it you really, really want? Its basically The Matrix meets LSD trip. And Im like, are you kidding me? I went on to do like Memoirs of a Geisha.. The name was Shang or Chang, the Ip Man star said. Why cant he have a normal name? Then, what I was watching the fight sequences, and I thought, this looks exactly like a choreographed dance piece. Then the wardrobe again oh, mandarin collars. 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 dont want to. So, I wanted to talk to Yeoh about how she tapped into the emotional core of the story, and how this film might signal a shift in the Hollywood zeitgeist. Suddenly, shes thrust into a multiverse where she can jump between different versions of her life. Yen co-starred in action films with Jet Li and Jackie Chan and continued to play the leading role in many martial arts and action films including Tsui Hark's "Seven Swords" (2005) and crime . I dont want to do that again. Brad also offers philosophical musings on martial arts and the filmographies of everyone from Jackie Chan to Donnie Yen on Kung Fu Kingdom, where he's also had the privilege of interviewing many of the world's great stunt professionals, and hearing plenty of gripping stories on injuries incurred in their line of work and the intricacies of designing the acts of death defiance he first thrilled to as a youngster. He said, hes wondering if, you know, you have time to have a quick cup of tea with him. Everyone was just out there competing, like B-boys or skate crews, to do the coolest shit possible. Some people dont know, he says. Actors including Jackie Chan, Rogue One's Donnie Yen and Transformers star Li . Mm-hmm. Guillermo was a total gentleman. The film has been a daunting task. I was trying to find an identity. And then he said to me, oh, the Daniels came and pitched me the movie in China. 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 its all about rhythm, precision and timing, all that things put together. The film was shot last year, outside Shanghai, on a relatively slim budget. 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. In Hong Kong I spent two weeks shooting this stuff!I think its a lack of respect, and a level of not understanding, not appreciating what we do.. 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. Lately, Yen has been thinking more about his legacy. Boston itself was not always welcoming. And I think it really shows because the scenes that I have with Stephanie, she is looking for her mother in every universe. Have you been in animation? 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. He whacked me on one side and 10 years later, he whacked me on the other side. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. Then the wardrobe again oh, mandarin collars. I've already done Jackie Chan's best fights and Jet Li's best fights, so with the domestic release of Dragon (), it's time to look at the best fights from the current king of Hong Kong action movies, Donnie Yen.. I went to my friends karate school, or a boxing gym, Yen says. 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. But he always kept at it. Ad Choices, Nearing 60, the last of a golden era of martial arts stars looks back on an unparalleled careerand forward, to his role in the new, Donnie Yen Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters, The Essential Michelle Yeoh Viewing Guide. Donnie also received a Best Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Its so funny. Although Yen is widely known and respected in the West, having worked in Hollywood on and off since the late 90s, its nothing compared to how he is recognized in Asia, where his prodigious output made him a giant in the world of Chinese-language cinema. So theres so much this film, and I really urge everyone to see it because its a very different film than most films that are out there, even though its an action film. The actor subsequently scored big hits including Butterfly and Sword and Wing Chun, with Everything Everywhere All at Once star Michelle Yeoh. And thats what we all do. More from NextShark: Curtis Waters is more than a TikTok gimmick: 'There's so much amazing sh*t that I have yet to do'. Shes looking for the mother that she can connect with. I mean, I look at life and were only here for a short time, you know? And you can sing to many, or you can just sing to one. Its the same attitude that has guided Yen throughout his career. Its too easy to take that route. Shanghai Knightsarrived during the peak of Jackie Chan's conquest of Hollywood and is widely regarded as one of his best Western action comedies, though it trades the Americanizedelement of Shanghai Noon for a trip across the pond to Victorian England. Its very, very limited. Donnie Yen is a martial-arts master and one of the top leading men in the new style of Hong Kong action cinema. These days, Yen is more selective with the Hollywood movies that he takes on. And this idea of nothing matters, you can go two ways. And that is the big beating heart of this film. You went on to star in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000, which was a mega-hit globally. of Cond Nast: This Is No Longer a Magazine Company, The Digital Tools That Aided the Buffalo Gunman and What to Do About Them. He's only a few months younger than Jet Li, and they entered the . The film saw Donnie bring his own unique flair to classical Shaw Bros style kung fu action.Donnie brought traditional Chinese martial arts into the modern era with 'Kung Fu Jungle', for which his work won yet another Best Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards.Away from the cameras, Yen entered into the most rewarding partnership of his life when he married former beauty queen, Cissy Wang. Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen are two of the biggest martial arts stars in the world, and they've clashed twice in kung fu battles over the years. So what they did was, like, lets switch the roles because its not been done. Chinese kung fu star, Donnie Yen, is listed as a member of National Committee of CPPCC. Whats the new approach?. The reception forShanghai Knightsclearly showed that it had outdone Shanghai Noon's blend of Wild West action and anachronistic comedy, but not enough credit is given to Wu Chow's defeat being of the funniest moments of either movie. You know, inHero we did all the poetic shots and beautiful color and posingits been done, Yen says. Youre right. In 2019, Yen was working with the director Benny Chan on a cop movie calledRaging Fire, when Chan fell ill during production. 04 Mar 2023 03:42:41 Jackie Chan was on the roster several years ago. But he feels it in his body, that he is not quite as quick as he once was. You can play, you can playjust come in and jam., But that free-flowing collaborative style meant that when Yen started getting jobs as an action choreographer in the US in the early aughts, he rubbed up against the compartmentalized way that Hollywood studios ran things. You can see after the huge success of Crazy Rich Asians, can you imagine the weight on our shoulders at that point? Jackie Chan and Li have known each other for a long time. But because she is so focused and weighed down by the sheer sense of responsibility of a failing business, and then being audited, and the daughter and then the father shows up on her doorstep, the one who is always disapproving, disappointed. So, a movie musical, not a Broadway musical. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? But shes so committed to her role. There were more stories. Typical master. But not Yen. You picked up a lot of your stunt training early in your career in Hong Kong. Here is the full quote below: "[Discussing Once Upon a Time in China II] The most significant experience workingwas one time that I had an injury [that] almost blinded me. Its a major project for Yen. When Yen was 10, the family was reunited and moved to Boston, where his father had landed a posting as an editor for a Chinese newspaper. Shes one hell of a determined woman, even though she fails at so many things. And Jamie Lee Curtis plays Deirdre, the I.R.S. Half a day, a couple of hours. A couple of hours? Over time, he learned a few tricks to soften the blows. Ive witnessed all kinds of unimaginable things, Yen says, recalling tricky years when the phone rang less or when creative misfires doomed projects. Everybodys supposed to be cool and fashionable. So, they pulled me up, and Barbara came to meet me in Europe. A huge hit for Emperor, the film earned Yen his first Best Action Director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards. You said you wanted to do it, fine. And it was like its very much like dancing, if you look at it. He notably turned down a role in The Expendables franchise due to how Jet Li, who played the character Yin Yang, was portrayed in the first film. 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. Thrown from horses. Yes, I think this is a love story, in a lot of ways, between also a mother and a daughter. The movie, which premiered at the London Film Festival, paid tribute to the great history of Hong Kong martial arts cinema.During the shooting of his ambitious, time travel themed action fantasy 'Iceman 3D', Yen was approached to revitalize the greatest brand in the history of Chinese martial arts cinema. I cant do stage. Jet Li Nearly Blinded Donnie Yen While Filming On Two Different Movies, Donnie Yen's Ip Man 2 Has A Secret Jet Li Connection (& It's Genius), John Wick 4 - Why Donnie Yen Is More Important Than You Think. Yes, because its all what I love about all the universes.