That would scare the hell out of me. His characters deploy mixed martial arts. Not like, oh, now suddenly I have. Well just put you right back to the same box. When it first came, I was like, no, no, no, no, no. I cannot do stage. He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. Youre a super heroine, and in no time you will be back on your feet again. (SINGING) When you walk in a room, do you have sway? I try to look at it less defensive than before. And walk away. Special thanks to Kristin Lin and Kristina Samulewski. 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. And we have learned to OK, we have to step back. A half-beat slower. And he heard about it, and he says, oh, get well soon. Whats it like straddling two different film markets, the U.S. and China? The schoolwhich, as well as producing national champions, holds Harlem Globetrottersstyle tours across the countryhas cranked out a number of elite martial artists and movie stars; among Yens contemporaries was Jet Li. Nothing matters, be free, or nothing matters, give up. It was likeKill Bill. Then, what I was watching the fight sequences, and I thought, this looks exactly like a choreographed dance piece. When It Comes to Gun Control, Will Baby Steps Fix Anything? So, you cannot say, well, I want to do this. 'Chinese people are the worst': 'Genshin Impact' streamer under fire after racist tirade during stream, Ralph Macchio defends Karate Kid from very white criticism, Curtis Waters is more than a TikTok gimmick: 'There's so much amazing sh*t that I have yet to do', BLACKPINK announce title track Shut Down and ticket sale info. But for brevitys sake, heres just one. 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. And thats what we all do. It was crazy macho stupidity, Yen says. It was horrendous, says Yen. Its a movie its about the Chinese culture. 01 March . Everybody, one way or the other, knows a Triad, he says. But not Yen. (Given that series treatment of Jet Liwhose character is called, and Im not joking, Yin Yangyou can imagine why.) And it was like its very much like dancing, if you look at it. . I do all of them, unless I mean, if its asking me to jump off the third floor, then I dont do that anymore. When I didBlade II I had a horrible time, man. More than 5,000 NPC deputies and members of the CPPCC National Committee attend this year's #TwoSessions. Which is embodied by the everything bagel in the movie. Yeah. At the end of the 50 movies, maybe the 48th, 49 moves, he strikes down with his sword. If Bruce Lee could do it, I could do it, you know?, Movies also opened Yens eyes to martial arts styles outside of his mothers traditional forms of tai chi. Theres a love story. Fortunately, every time I go to set, the whole Donnie Yen act just kicks in, he says. He started hanging out at other gyms around Boston. I dont know. And it could be rough and tough. auditor, who is fantastic. And the rhythmbop-bop-bop-bopis perfectly timed. But when Evelyn makes the trip to the I.R.S., her world is shaken up. If there's one thing Donnie Yen is going to do, it is to call out stereotypes when he sees it. Academically, Yen was a mediocre student. 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. Im going to go [out] naked. I went to my friends karate school, or a boxing gym, Yen says. I dont understand this. But Id love to know how you would describe the film. You must not give up. Talk tomorrow. Ive been through it all. Our stories do matter. So it was very different because, at the end of the day, when she comes back into her own universe, she is still Evelyn Wang but with extra skills. Are Billionaires the Answer? You know, inHero we did all the poetic shots and beautiful color and posingits been done, Yen says. This slapstick romantic comedy was produced by Hong Kong's prestigious Cinema City studio.Donnie was subsequently signed by the newly formed D&B Films, and cast in the hit cop actioner 'Tiger Cage'. Sliced open. I did that . Your first big movie is Yes, Madam. Is that correct? One of Hong Kong's top action stars, Yen is widely credited for bringing mixed martial arts (MMA) into the mainstream Asian cinema by choreographing MMA in many of his films since the early 2000s. Jackie Chan and Li have known each other for a long time. Why can't he have a normal name? Anyone can read what you share. Most of the people outside of China dont see it until they are there, Yen says. Whats the cost? Although, if theres a villain in the movie, the real evil here is nihilism. 8 of 134. Guillermo was a total gentleman. And suddenly, it was much more like, you see? 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. Yen also revealed that his character Caine didn't initially check all of his boxes until director Chad Staheleski made some changes. At the same time, Donnie was influenced by his parents' love of music and reached a high level of proficiency as a pianist. 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. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny' was shot primarily on location in New Zealand, with Yen in the lead role. ALSO READ:John Wick: Chapter 4 gets longest runtime in the series, clocking near 3 hours, John Wick: Chapter 4 gets longest runtime in the series, clocking near 3 hours. The film was a huge success in Hong Kong and China, and 'Ip Man' went on to find favor with audiences worldwide. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he says. Youre right. And thats, I think, the tension between the mother and the daughter. The Planet Is Burning. 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. 'Ip Man 2' was the biggest local hit of the year in China, and enjoyed a limited theatrical release in the US.The film's success led to Donnie being cast as a number of legendary Chinese heroes: He played General Qin-long in Daniel Lee's '14 Blades', Guan Yu in 'The Lost Bladesman' and reprised Bruce Lee's Chen Zhen role in Andrew Lau's 'Legend of the Fist'. More with Michelle Yeoh after the break. Yeah, thats right. But beneath the silliness is a universal story of love and belonging and family. Yeah, its a good idea. His journey takes him on an adventure with many allies and enemies along the way until he finally meets the last man standing in his way, Chan's Lord of Armour. Every day: pain. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. How can I be the worst? Not going to happen. You know What? Well, there might be. 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 (. I kid you not, it was spilling like shower spray. Do you play a big role in the next movie? Tune in to find out, and let us know who you think is the greatest of the great in the comments. Jet Li Nearly Blinded Donnie Yen While Filming On Two Different Movies. In 2019, Yen was working with the director Benny Chan on a cop movie calledRaging Fire, when Chan fell ill during production. He was eventually forced to borrow money from loan sharks. 7 Hong Kong actors who made it big in Hollywood, from Jackie Chan - of course - and Donnie Yen in Star Wars and John Wick, to Reminiscence star Daniel Wu 28/10/2021 Kim accused of damaging . Lets have a woman whos comparable to James Bond. She knows these kind of women, and their jobs, and the responsibility of that job, and how it can really turn so many lives upside down. Jacket (price upon request), by Willy Chavarria. Suddenly, Yen found himself apprenticed to one of the great action directors of what might be the last golden age of kung fu filmmaking. Donnie Yen was a martial artist who became a performer. My husband will do what I want. Being Chinese, the closest person, obviously, was Bruce Lee, Yen says. . I never say no to him. All rights reserved. In 'Iron Monkey', Yen played the father of Wong Fei-hung, and its success prefigured that which he would later enjoy as another pugilistic patriarch in 'Ip Man'. [Discussing Hero] I remember there was another choreography where he was wired up with a sword. Also, the mother and the daughter-in-law. Sunglasses, his own. Pokmon Detective Pikachu Sequel Finds Its Writer and Director, and More Movie News, Womens History Month TV and Streaming Guide 2023, All Rocky and Creed Movies Ranked by Tomatometer, RT Fans Crown Jurassic Park the Ultimate Steven Spielberg Movie, Everything Everywhere All at Once Wins the A24 Showdown, RT Users Crown Toy Story the Best Pixar Film Ever, The Most Anticipated TV & Streaming Shows of March 2023, Daisy Jones & The Six Stars Riley Keough and Sam Claflin on Making the Band, Copyright Fandango. I had a very respectful experience working onJohn Wick. Its okayIm going to shoot you from one side. Yen laughs. So, yes, we became better known in America, like Chow Yun-Fat. The publication also noted that Yen has become more selective when offered Hollywood roles and asks if the roles are respectful to Chinese culture and unique. Both Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen have fought many formidable villains and, from time to time, heroes in their respective action movie careers. Although Jackie Chan began to move away from making American action movies in the mid-2000s, he still found time for a quick cameo in the first Twins Effect, which Donnie Yen co-directed alongside Dante Lam.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 of Blade of Kings). Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? It's all here More from NextShark: Curtis Waters is more than a TikTok gimmick: 'There's so much amazing sh*t that I have yet to do'. Yes, yes. When Evelyn Wang walks, she is slightly bent over and slightly humped on the side because thats the years of hard work that has created this posture. Now, your Hollywood breakthrough was when you played a Bond and Im not going to use the term girl because Wai Lin was not a girl in the 1997 movie Tomorrow Never Dies. Can you talk about I love Bond movies, and I thought you were fantastic in it. Thats in part why hes trying to be more selective with his work. Here in America, you are taught you have to be self-sufficient. The name was Shang or Chang, the Ip Man star said. So what happened was there was a shot where Jet Li was wired up and we both have these poles, these bamboo poles about this thick. We were all Chinese, but I was outside.. These people belong to another dimension, right? 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. And then he said to me, oh, the Daniels came and pitched me the movie in China. 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'. Stephanie Hsu plays this role. Thankfully, Lin pops up for an explosive assist at the last moment that fits right in with the silliness the Shanghai movies pride themselves on. Shes one hell of a determined woman, even though she fails at so many things. 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. Here are both Jackie Chan vs. Donnie Yen fight scenes and the movies in which they feature. Ive got to perform. Thanks for listening. Your body knows what its doing because its just extracted this key information. It didnt change things because its a period piece. I dont even know how that would work in this story because . It will continue to grow. Even then, I noticed a couple of Asian diners nearby quietly freaking out. I could have been blind. Sway is produced by Nayeema Raza, Blakeney Schick, Daphne Chen, Caitlin OKeefe and Wyatt Orme, and edited by Nayeema Raza; fact-checking by Kate Sinclair and Mary Marge Locker; music and sound design by Isaac Jones; mixing by Carole Sabouraud and Sonia Herrero; audience strategy by Shannon Busta. Or you have a family. Yen's final reel duel with Sammo Hung is now regarded as a classic of the genre. All rights reserved. You learn to be so precisely on point and accurate at every angle, Yen says. 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. This is the first time youre seeing an older Asian immigrant woman being the superhero, having the opportunity to demonstrate these kind of martial arts skills. Im not going to be here talking about how to change how people feel about it. Typical master. Yes, poise. Both Chan and Yen are still making action movies, though Chan's roles are now far less stunt-intensive due to the countless injuries he's gone through in his career. I think I would be nervous to throw a dildo at you. 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. Yeah, so its a silly premise, but the heart of it is not silly. The film, about an amnesiac warrior returning to his home village, has become a bona fide cult classic.As director, Donnie followed 'Legend of the Wolf' with a very different venture, 'Ballistic Kiss', an urban thriller about a conflicted assassin. The modernization. Id never been to Beijing before. It was old-school military, Yen says. Special thanks to Shannon Busta, Kristin Lin and Kristina Samulewski. The Chinese, we all have our way of interpreting the story. 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. If there was a multiverse universe that you can jump into, I want to be a rock star. I dont want to get political. Star and director subsequently teamed to create the comic book inspired fantasy actioner 'Dragon Tiger Gate' and the gritty police thriller 'Flashpoint', in which Donnie created what fans feel is the definitive on-screen MMA action scene. In Hong Kong during those heady early days, there was no real dividing line between the actors and the stunt department. You have to take care of yourself. Why do you have to be so generic? 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. If you like this interview and want to hear others, follow us on your favorite podcast app. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. But Im there, you know?, Yens Chinese patriotism can get him into troublemost notably during the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, during which Yens pro-Beijing stance prompted many cinemagoers in his home city to boycott his movies. 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. Right, because she finds that ridiculous. I have something to say to you. He was electric, determined, lightning fast. He will be 60 this year. But adapting to life in the United States as new immigrants was difficult; for a while, the family lived off food stamps. We will see. So what they did was, like, lets switch the roles because its not been done. Then the wardrobe againoh, mandarin collars. And did you approach the performance differently? But in general, its always an older man. Often, the typecasting isnt even conscious. So that was what the Daniels were trying to they came up to me and said, no, no, no, no. Its where you want to go, right? He went, "Boop!" But she never gives up trying, even though her business is failing. 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 . The 59-year old will not be taking on Hollywood roles that are deemed "generic" and if it doesn't respect his Chinese culture. The film played at the prestigious Udine Festival in Italy, and took home awards at several other events, including the Japanese Yubari International Action Film Festival.Donnie's body of work had by then attracted the attention of Hollywood, and Yen was approached to choreograph the action for the mainstream franchise films 'Highlander: Endgame' and 'Blade 2'. When Yuen Woo-ping is talking, everybody would just listen. 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. But theyve never been to China. But its not the only version of her, which is interesting. Shirt, $535, pants, $775, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. Stop trying to change the other person. And I think what, in 96, 97, when they were doing that, it was because I think the movement of where women were like, OK, I want to go and watch a Bond movie where Im not just sexualized, all right? David Axelrod, Sarah Longwell and Preet Bharara on What to Look For in the Jan. 6 Hearings, The Elon That Were Seeing Today Is Not the Same One We Saw a Couple Years Ago, David Ellison on Top Gun: Maverick, Working With Tom Cruise and Hiring John Lasseter. 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. Why can't he have a normal name? I would suspect she was, Im guessing. The film has been a daunting task. Now, thats the real test. The kicker? After 20 or 50 moves, he keeps missing, Yen says. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? And Ive been in that world forever. Our latest episode of Vs.might be our most epic yet as we pit the four biggest martial artists/movie stars of all time against each other in one stats-heavy battle royale: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Donnie Yen. It could be a mother, an auntie, a grandmother that goes by unnoticed because shes so puts her head down, just goes about her day to do the things to ensure that shes making a better life for her family, and you know, the running the errands. This movie was for Jackie Chan originally and then switched very quickly to you. NEXT: Donnie Yen Should Front A xXx Spinoff Franchise. Boots, $695, by Alessandro Vasini. Its normally, yes, for a younger version. Shes not trying to be funny. I can get up in the morning and do jump kicks. 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. A dildo? 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. Copyright 2018 Fandango. John Wick: Chapter 4 is set for release on March 24. All rights reserved. And its a science fiction. 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. Although Jackie Chan beganto move away from making American action moviesin the mid-2000s, he still found time for a quick cameo in the first Twins Effect, which Donnie Yen co-directed alongside Dante Lam. When Yen was two years old, he and his father, a newspaper editor, moved to Hong Kong. One, why do you think it took so long? I guess thats not the same thing, Animation? The producer would come in and say, Thats it. Because when I was making Crazy Rich Asians, I was doing a Chinese movie at the same time for Master Yuen Woo-Ping. It could have been a girl. Not only is he the director and executive producer, he also plays the lead and, in flashbacks, his characters father. Theyve been here. 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. Her latest role is no exception she took on a part that was originally written for the actor Jackie Chan. Crouching Tiger. Ive worked four or five movies with him already. I have stage fright. 'Jackie Chan made me want to become a stuntman,' says Kenji Tanigaki, but he learned filmmaking working with Donnie Yen - lessons he's applied to Snake Eyes: G.I. Jin Yongs novels are beloved in China, sprawling multivolume epics. We talked about the way you prepped and trained for the movie, and the Daniels had to tell you to be worse at fighting and things like that because youre such, again, also an elegant and specific fighter, the way you do stunts, whether its in Shang-Chi or Crouching Tiger.. There was a rumor youd get a Bond spin-off, though that didnt happen. Last take, the guy overshot and cracked Yen in the face, slicing open his brow a quarter-inch from his eye, nearly blinding him. I dont know how long that will last, he says. Anyway, Michelle, this has been a delight. Really one of the worst times in my career, Yen says. Well, you got hit. Look at theJohn Wick franchise itself, which would not exist without the influences of John Woo and Yuen. You fight with, or you dance with, multiple partners. So, the movie borrows from, obviously, martial arts movies in a very cheeky way. Even as Hollywood has ignored Asian actors, it has over the years co-opted the visual techniques and tropes of Hong Kong cinema. You know what Im saying?, Things are changingeven if progress has been agonizingly slow. And one of the great things about cinema, he says, is how unifying it can betranscending barriers of both language and culture. His mother, Bow-sim Mark, was a kung fu master and his father, Kylster Yen, a newspaper editor and amateur musician. And this is like five genres of film mixed into one bagel. Its a major project for Yen. Why cant he look cool and fashionable? he continued. 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. Why is everything so generic?. Theres a lot of failure along the line. The senior editor of Sway is Nayeema Raza, and the executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Irene Noguchi. And this idea of nothing matters, you can go two ways. This film was co-directed by Huang Jianxin and Han Sanping, and includes many famous actors such as Andy Lau, Ge You . said Yen. But then, what is it youre giving up? The name was Shang or Chang, Yen says. And with Chuck Norris. But the joy and love to be found in that kind of situation gives you such a sense of self-worth.
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