Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Lets have a woman whos comparable to James Bond. I can get up in the morning and do jump kicks. V3.1. Actor, Producer, Director, Writer. Actors including Jackie Chan, Rogue One's Donnie Yen and Transformers star Li . Again, not giving away plot. 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. 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). While it is great that Staheleski is open to making changes and removing stereotypes as per Yen's request, we still see one big issue though: How is having a Hong Kong action star appearing as a blind martial arts expert in Hollywood movies isn't in itself a stereotype? Fortunately, every time I go to set, the whole Donnie Yen act just kicks in, he says. And blood was spilling. 8 of 134. And that is the big beating heart of this film. Then the wardrobe againoh, mandarin collars. I was doing the press for Tomorrow Never Dies. They said, oh, you know this director, Ang Lee? Mm-hmm. So, thats a big problem, you know when youre doing Chinese movies and not being able to read the script, and not really being able to say the language. Blood sprays like a horror movie. An ambulance came; Yen received six stitches. Besides his on-screen performance, Donnie was also called on to choreograph the dynamic duel between himself and MMA champion Cung Le. Yen playsGeneral Lone, a warrior out to free the land of Huadu from the tyrannical rule of a sinister Queen. At the same time, Donnie was influenced by his parents' love of music and reached a high level of proficiency as a pianist. Why cant he have a normal name? That mahjong scene was something else. John Wick: Chapter 4 is set for release on March 24. My arms and legs are going in directions that I couldnt even fathom that could happen. Yes, poise. I would love to do like a Moulin Rouge because thats the dancer-performer in me. 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. He grew up absorbing every book, movie, TV show that he could get his eyes on. Due to restrictions imposed by the Mao government of the era, Yens motherBow-sim Mark, a nationally renowned wushu grandmasterwas not permitted to accompany them. Donnie also received a Best Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards. But interestingly and maybe this is wrong because its been reported different places. Suddenly, Yen found himself apprenticed to one of the great action directors of what might be the last golden age of kung fu filmmaking. (I told you: ageless.). And Im like, are you kidding me? But that was also very, very important that we focus very much on the love between the mother and the son. It's all here There was the Yuen clan, the Jackie Chan clan, and the Sammo Hung clan, Yen says. The women became the character that needs to be provided for and protected and all those kind of things. They think theyre serving Chinese food. Why can't he have a normal name? It is very easy to walk away and just turn a blind eye because then you are not involved emotionally, physically, or you know, any way. And we have learned to OK, we have to step back. I guess my destiny is to be making movies., For a decade now, hes been talking about retiring. I was trying to find an identity. They are meant to be respectful. Her face is still Evelyn Wang going, what the heck is going on? Jackie Chan and Jet Li are two of the greatest martial arts actors to ever grace the silver screen. Before he accepts a role, hell ask questions, like, Is the role generic? Theres a lot of failure along the line. It could have been a girl. Shirt, $535, pants, $775, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. 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. Its why he relishes every action sceneevery bump, every bruise. By the time he arrived, Hong Kong was long-established as the epicenter of Chinese-language cinemaand also the locus of the most frenetic and daring action films on the planet. And to invest both his money and his one more valuable resource than moneytimein projects that he loves, likeakra. Today we talk about injusticeI mean, back in the days, you cant imagine. In this conversation, Kara Swisher and Yeoh discuss the film, which Kara describes as The Matrix meets L.S.D. She was very forceful, old school, like what you see in the movies. 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 . Both Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen have fought many formidable villains and, from time to time, heroes in their respective action movie careers. Jacket (price upon request), by Willy Chavarria. 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.. Instead of coming across, and I'm supposed to block it like this, he comes across horizontally. He was electric, determined, lightning fast. Every day: pain. Everybody's supposed to be cool and fashionable. Her latest role is no exception she took on a part that was originally written for the actor Jackie Chan. They thats actually very, very interesting, very clever question, because I do work on both. 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. I went on to do like Memoirs of a Geisha.. I cannot do stage. A few years ago, for example, he turned down a role in theExpendables franchise. We have to give each other the space and be who they are, and accept them. Yes, but you have, OK money in the bank. Nothing matters, be free, or nothing matters, give up. At that point, it was like, nothing will faze you. 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. Ho-hum. 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. But she never gives up trying, even though her business is failing. It was very competitive. But thats another discussion. Gloves, $140, by Ernest W. Baker. Not only is he the director and executive producer, he also plays the lead and, in flashbacks, his characters father. 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. Jacket, $2,800, vest, $590, shirt (vintage), and pants, $690, by Double RL. Its like, even with the hot dog fingers, when you look at them, youre going, what? 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. 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 (Wu Assassins star Mark Dacascos) from Chapter 3., More from NextShark: Ralph Macchio defends Karate Kid from very white criticism, Yen noted during his GQ interview that his actions were not a form of criticism toward Chapter 4.. 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. 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. And thats, I think, the tension between the mother and the daughter. Burnt. 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. And I think that was one of the light switches that came on. 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 same is true of Yen as an actor. Its not like a Marvel universe where you can understand and you find it relatable. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? She calls herself a loser. Oh, I was a Chinese opera singer. Right, because she finds that ridiculous. Yens character, an assassin called Caine, originally went by another name. Why do we do this? 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. Yen is the latest Asian action star to find Hollywood fame, following the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee. Yen's duel with Jet Li brought his skills to the emerging Mainland Chinese theatrical audience, and paved the way for Donnie to become the country's biggest action star. 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. More from NextShark: 'Chinese people are the worst': 'Genshin Impact' streamer under fire after racist tirade during stream. Certain camera tricks. Jin Yongs novels are beloved in China, sprawling multivolume epics. Every Jackie Chan Vs Donnie Yen Fight Scene, Why Jackie Chan Never Joined Stallone's Expendables Movies, Yen's combat versatility seen in his MMA movies, Police Story: The Stunt That Almost Killed Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen Should Front A xXx Spinoff Franchise. And shes unrecognizable as Deirdre. Cinemagoers in China are being obliged to watch propaganda videos featuring some of the country's best-loved stars. The actor subsequently scored big hits including Butterfly and Sword and Wing Chun, with Everything Everywhere All at Once star Michelle Yeoh. When Yen was 16, his parents arranged to send him to train with the famed Beijing Wushu Team, in China. Of you as Bond? 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. Everyone was just out there competing, like B-boys or skate crews, to do the coolest shit possible. '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'. Look at theJohn Wick franchise itself, which would not exist without the influences of John Woo and Yuen. Right? Well, there might be. 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. And I just went, when? I try to look at it less defensive than before. And we are very, very much part of you know, the Asians belong. The film was shot last year, outside Shanghai, on a relatively slim budget. Yes, I think this is a love story, in a lot of ways, between also a mother and a daughter. The film was a huge success in Hong Kong and China, and 'Ip Man' went on to find favor with audiences worldwide. 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. 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Yen also revealed that his character Caine didn't initially check all of his boxes until director Chad Staheleski made some changes. But I think its Barbara Broccoli, Michael Wilson, the producers who realize, its like, yes, lets do something different. 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. And the women became the damsel in distress. Although Yen had a steady career throughout the decade, he didn't truly make a name for himself until his role in Li's Once Upon a Time in China II. . About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . I have been in so many countries in the world, but its not even close. The BBC, CNN, they never talk about that. . Thrown from horses. Anyway, Michelle, this has been a delight. When they came to me, they said, they want you to be a Minion. what it did was I think it changed for a lot of our Asian talent because there were more roles that were written. 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. Yen certainly has a point and as seen in John Wick 4's marketing materials of the actor donning massive sunglasses and a black suit (no Mandarin collars! Chinese movies, Hollywood movies, his other business pursuits, including a line of sunglassesthe phone rarely stops ringing. 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 . Everything is so staged its fake, he says. Are Billionaires the Answer? Because the mother-daughter relationship is central to the story. 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. They are not in my life. Because Master Yuen Woo-Ping is like my mentor, my guru. You are engaged with that emotional thread connection that keeps going through it. Jacket, $3,390, pants, $1,350, and boots, $1,450, by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. Between you and Jamie Lee Curtis. TAGGED AS: Action, Film, films, Martial Arts, movie, movies. 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. The first Chinese UFC champion Zhang Weili states that Yen . Right now hes editing the final cut of his new film akra, a lush adaptation of the novelDemi-Gods and Semi-Devils,by the bestselling wuxia author Jin Yong. Yeah. 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. And I made other things here in America. I dont want to repeat the same thing that youve seen. Born in China, Yen moved with his family to Boston, where his mother, a tai-chi . And the mother is trying to convince her otherwise. He can stillgo. I think if you dont have a big beating heart, its so easy to just say, well, youre already a grown-up. I dont want to do that again. But you might never have. Youre a super heroine, and in no time you will be back on your feet again. 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. Im trying to think. 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. following the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee.