And I think that was one of the light switches that came on. 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. 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. She was very forceful, old school, like what you see in the movies. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Academically, Yen was a mediocre student. As an outspoken person, I always questioned, Yen says. But Id love to know how you would describe the film. Whats the new approach?. 8 of 134. Everybody's supposed to be cool and fashionable. Really one of the worst times in my career, Yen says. Yen finished the film in his memory. Boots, $1,495, by Christian Louboutin. Always fighting. Whereas a younger Yen was once hungry to prove himself, he is no longer excited by offers from Hollywood. So, talk about being silly because you, you know, in many of your movies, youre dignified, poised, et cetera. 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. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? Shes one hell of a determined woman, even though she fails at so many things. 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. After about 30 takes, he missed. But sometimes it is the failures that make us who we are because every decision matters, and it has an impact. Jackie Chan was on the roster several years ago. So, they pulled me up, and Barbara came to meet me in Europe. '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. Not going to happen. I was the outsider. Chan and Yen's second big-screen fight is the inverse in every way from theirShanghai Knightsbout,being more weapon-based and placing Chan, in particular, into some very new territory. But then, what she understood was, I can keep learning. 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He was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer and died while the film was still in postproduction. We came into this life naked. 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. We release every Monday and Thursday. 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. Jackie Chan Vs Jet Li: Who Would Win? - Grunge.com Im trying to think. Lately, Yen has been thinking more about his legacy. 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. Donnie Yen has also been in the business since the mid-'80s, but didn't truly break until the mid-2000s when he infusedMMA into Hong Kong action movies through Sha Po Lang and Flash Point. I dont want to repeat the same thing that youve seen. Da aber Jackie Chan inzwischen fast 70 Jahre alt ist und Donnie Yen noch keine 60, gehe ich Mal davon aus das zweiteres noch agiler und strker ist. Its more to illustrate what he has faced his whole career, and what he and other Asian actors are up against, even now. Maybe now it can happen. Im very blessed that I still have a lot of speed, explosiveness, power, he says. When Donnie was just two years old, the family moved to Hong Kong and then, when he was 11, to Boston, Massachusetts.There, Master Bow-sim Mark became a pioneer for Chinese martial arts in America, and it was only natural that her only son was trained from early childhood in the same skills. How can I be the worst? And this is like five genres of film mixed into one bagel. No, but I want the gift of a voice that I can because I find it so moving. It was very competitive. The 12 best Donnie Yen fight scenes Flixist Its so liberating. But if you have humanity, if you have empathy, if you have love, you never walk away from family, or you never walk away from friends. The film, which starred two of China's top pop idols, told the tale of young vampire hunters with well-honed martial arts skills. Its comedy. Amazon.com: Blade of Kings : Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Bingbing Fan On an Apple device? Yen calmly warned them to leave them alone, but the thugs opted to attack him, which ended up with Donnie thoroughly kicking their asses in the street. Theyve been here. Heaven or hell, or whatever. Its not just the age thing. You cannot look like you know what youre doing. Donnie also took up hip-hop and break-dancing. This is a John Wick movie. Donnie Yen: The Biggest Action Star Mainstream American - HuffPost And I think thats a cowards way out. Why do you have to be so generic? Then the wardrobe againoh, mandarin collars. At the time, Hong Kong cinemaas personified by Jackie Chanwas producing the most electrifying action movies in the world. Shirt, $535, pants, $775, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. 7 Hong Kong actors who made it big in Hollywood, from Jackie Chan - MSN NEXT: Donnie Yen Should Front A xXx Spinoff Franchise. 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. 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. ), Nevertheless, some hurts still linger. of Cond Nast: This Is No Longer a Magazine Company, The Digital Tools That Aided the Buffalo Gunman and What to Do About Them. Yeah, thats right. In the early drafts of the script, Yens character, Chirrut mwe, was just the same generic martial arts warrior. Donnie Yen criticises original 'John Wick: 4' script for stereotyping 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. In "Everything Everywhere All at Once," Yeoh plays the superhero: a Chinese American. Ist jackie chan strker als donnie yen? - gutefrage.net 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. Its these floppy things. You name it, hes hurt it. One question that had always bugged him, for example: Why doesnt anybody miss? And that was how my journey started. 04 Mar 2023 03:42:41 Follow Brad on Twitter @BradCurran. 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. Yen was born in Guangzhou, on the Chinese mainland. Shes not trying to be funny. In a recent interview with GQ, the actor shared that he's very selective about signing on roles. Why would you want me to do that? My husband will do what I want. Typical master. 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. So, I said, I would love to be able to try I think at that point in that period, the glory years of Hong Kong cinema, it was comedies and action movies that were the best sellers. You learn to be so precisely on point and accurate at every angle, Yen says. Its produced by Nayeema Raza, Blakely Schick, Daphne Chen, Caitlin OKeefe and Wyatt Orne; with original music by Isaac Jones; mixing by Sonia Herrero and Carole Sabouraud; and fact-checking by Kate Sinclair and Mary Marge Locker. His skills behind the camera began developing from his early days in the industry, and he was very much involved with the action choreography of his films for D&B Films. I have been in so many countries in the world, but its not even close. You said you wanted to do it, fine. And shes not trying to be funny. The point is: He might be sore the next day, butfor now, at leasthe can still deliver. Ive been through it all. I think action movies, he says, are a genre that everybody in the world can appreciate.. Are Billionaires the Answer? Right? Everyone was just out there competing, like B-boys or skate crews, to do the coolest shit possible. Both Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen have fought many formidable villains and, from time to time, heroes in their respective action movie careers. Here in America, you are taught you have to be self-sufficient. Donnie Yen Simply Cannot Stop Kicking Ass | GQ I would suspect she was, Im guessing. Ive witnessed all kinds of unimaginable things, Yen says, recalling tricky years when the phone rang less or when creative misfires doomed projects. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. At the time, the demand for martial arts movies was waning, and Yen was determined to innovate within a genre starting to grow stale. Your first big movie is Yes, Madam. Is that correct? Yes. 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. And Jamie Lee Curtis plays Deirdre, the I.R.S. Compared to Chan's usual Buster Keaton-inspired comedic fight scenes throughout Shanghai Knights, his and Yen's kung fu showdown is the movie's most straightforward martial arts fight and really showed what Yen could do better than any American film had managed to at the time. When I first read it, I was like, no, no, no, no, no, no. But he also knows that he cant go on forever being this Donnie Yen. And thats, I think, the tension between the mother and the daughter. In your dreams, buddy. Yens character, an assassin called Caine, originally went by another name. It took a long time for Yen to become a leading man. The 2000s saw Yen transition to Hollywood with appearances in Blade II as Snowman and Shanghai Knights opposite Jackie Chan. So, that was what she was trying to impart to her. 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 . Yen cannot raise his right arm overhead, for example, on account of having been smashed into a brick wall on 1985sMismatched Couples. I have no idea. Because when I was making Crazy Rich Asians, I was doing a Chinese movie at the same time for Master Yuen Woo-Ping. Donnie Yen sobre los personajes asiticos: "Por qu siempre se tienen Most of the people outside of China dont see it until they are there, Yen says. Chinese movies, Hollywood movies, his other business pursuits, including a line of sunglassesthe phone rarely stops ringing. You know what Im saying?, Things are changingeven if progress has been agonizingly slow. Do you play a big role in the next movie? 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. Joy, her daughter, is played by Stephanie Hsu, who was fantastic in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel also. 'Seven Swords' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and proved a hit with worldwide audiences. And the women became the damsel in distress. Jet Li Nearly Blinded Donnie Yen While Filming On Two Different Movies 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. Donnie Yen (Creator) - TV Tropes But he feels it in his body, that he is not quite as quick as he once was. Donnie, can you come in and shoot a close-up? I think the hot dog universe is the most beautiful love story going on in all the different universes. He is not diminished, not yet. I cant believe you jump from trucks and youre scared of the stage. The shot was simple: Yen had to block an incoming strike with his pole, while keeping the straight face of a badass wushu master. I think I would be nervous to throw a dildo at you. Yen recalls getting approached by Disney to appear in the 2016Star Wars prequelRogue One. Meanwhile, Yen continued to produce quality martial arts films in Hong Kong, creating an international hit as the titular kung fu master in Ip Man. . (SINGING) When you walk in a room, do you have sway? Im hanging out with Benny, next thing you know hes gone. When the Daniels first wrote it, its true. Then, what I was watching the fight sequences, and I thought, this looks exactly like a choreographed dance piece. He's only a few months younger than Jet Li, and they entered the . Walking stick, $295, by Scully & Scully. When It Comes to Gun Control, Will Baby Steps Fix Anything? Coat, $1,981, by Lanvin. Why can't he have a normal name? Well just put you right back to the same box. Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen recently recalled two different occasions when legendary martial arts actor Jet Li nearly blinded him. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. And Im like, but they dont talk. I dont understand this. Well, you got hit. Because her husband is the one thats always trying to find happiness and silliness and joy and all those kind of thats why he puts the googly eyes, in hopes that it will make her laugh. John Wick: Chapter 4 is hitting theatres on March 24. Are they respectful of Chinese culture? Did you have a favorite multiverse? Who is the ultimate fighter? To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. I can get up in the morning and do jump kicks. Bruce Lee vs. Jackie Chan vs. Jet Li vs. Donnie Yen Each studio was determined to outdo its rivals for the most elaborate action sequences and flat-out dangerous stunts. 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. Of you as Bond? We do the best we can.. Their bromance was crystallized in 2016, when Stallone presented the Chinese action icon with an honorary Academy. All rights reserved. Ive got to perform. Look at theJohn Wick franchise itself, which would not exist without the influences of John Woo and Yuen. The film won Donnie his third Best Action Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards, as well as a prize for Best Action in a Foreign Language Film at the Taurus Awards.Yen explored different styles of screen combat when he choreographed the stunning kung fu fights for the period actioners 'Legend of the Fist' and 'The Lost Bladesman', the fantasy combat for 'The Monkey King' and the time travel adventure 'Iceman Cometh 3D'.Many fans feel that Yen delivered his best choreographic work to date in Peter Chan's masterful 'Wu Xia', released in the US as 'Dragon'. Is there a universe you didnt like? 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. Its very, very limited. Cinemagoers in China are being obliged to watch propaganda videos featuring some of the country's best-loved stars. 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. Everybodys supposed to be cool and fashionable. Is there any type of roles you havent played yet that you really want to do? You went on to star in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000, which was a mega-hit globally. And walk away. And I remembered when Ang came to me, at that time, I was doing the press . You were an equal match. And two, did it do that? The film was shot last year, outside Shanghai, on a relatively slim budget. 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. Your loss is my gain, bro. 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. The Last of Us Episode 7 Introduces a Close Friend From Ellie's Past, While Joel's Life . Donnie Yen Called Out 'John Wick 4' Asian Stereotypes, Got Script Changes When they came to me, they said, they want you to be a Minion. As an actor I dont want to. And with Chuck Norris. 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. Mein Favorit von allen Film-Kung Fu Schauspielern wre aber allerdings Bruce Lee. The actor subsequently scored big hits including Butterfly and Sword and Wing Chun, with Everything Everywhere All at Once star Michelle Yeoh. I got knocked back about eight feet. 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'. . Beau Deirdre I can never say her name. As a kid from Hong Kong, let alone one whod spent the previous six years in America, he barely fit in. Right? She is the way she is. 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. Yes. Also, the mother and the daughter-in-law. Sway is a production of New York Times Opinion. And shes unrecognizable as Deirdre. Its not contemporary. 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'. I mean, the universe of your life, your real life as a martial arts movie star, was very sad. 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. But hes never forgotten it. Im curious for your perspective on the global industry, though, because youre such an international star and actor. An action movie, Master Z. Its a spin-off of Ip Man.. Yen, broke, would hang around film sets just so he could eat for free. And you must try and find joy and happiness. 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. You are engaged with that emotional thread connection that keeps going through it. But so, Evelyn Wang, when shes pushing her husband out of the way, its like, I have no time for you today. Yen playsGeneral Lone, a warrior out to free the land of Huadu from the tyrannical rule of a sinister Queen. Six stitches again, two times, both sides close to my eyeballs. It became the first foreign language movie to break the $100 million mark in a U.S. box office, and had the most Oscar nods ever for a foreign language film until Roma few years ago from Netflix. Copyright Fandango. The producer would come in and say, Thats it. Its true. Oh, if I was James Bond? It was Yen who suggested making the character blind, and gave him a sense of humor, improvising jokes on the setand, in turn, turning an otherwise straight clich into the soul of the movie. Our stories do matter. He will be 60 this year. We have to learn to listen to each other and show kindness. Im like, I worship the ground he walks on. In t. Yen also revealed that his character Caine didn't initially check all of his boxes until director Chad Staheleski made some changes. Nothing matters, be free, or nothing matters, give up. So, you obviously made your name in Hong Kong action movies. (A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.). Whats it like straddling two different film markets, the U.S. and China? It was old-school military, Yen says. In Hong Kong during those heady early days, there was no real dividing line between the actors and the stunt department. 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. The film won Donnie his second Best Action Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards.He took his on-screen depiction of MMA to new heights in 'Flashpoint', which featured an even longer and more intense final showdown, this time between Yen and 'Matrix Reloaded' actor Collin Chou. All rights reserved. She cant accept that. I could have been blind. Youre right. If the Daniels, if you look at them, you go, OK, anything goes. Jackie Chan and Jet Li are two of the greatest martial arts actors to ever grace the silver screen. No, no, no, no. 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. following the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee. Yen had been hired by Guillermo del Toro to choreograph the movies superhuman fight sequences, as well as to act alongside Wesley Snipes in a minor role. I dont want to get political. 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'.