Lets do it. We came into this life naked. '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. Whats the new approach?. Donnie Yen called out John Wick 4 Asian stereotypes, got script changes But because at that time, there were no scripts that really cast us as a important enough character, you could be like a co-star or a guest star or whatever it is. Donnie Yen recently revealed that the production team behind "John Wick: Chapter 4" redesigned his character Caine after he spoke out against it being an Asian stereotype. That isnt, he says, a criticism directed solely atJohn Wick. John Wick: Chapter 4 is hitting theatres on March 24. I feel that way when I think about Black Panther and everything else. Right? Joy, her daughter, is played by Stephanie Hsu, who was fantastic in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel also. I think they just announced they have a writer. Half a day, a couple of hours. A couple of hours? 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. Yeah, thats right. But your face has to register, its like, why, do what, how, you know. You picked up a lot of your stunt training early in your career in Hong Kong. The 2000s saw Yen transition to Hollywood with appearances in Blade II as Snowman and Shanghai Knights opposite Jackie Chan. Because of the years of having to carry heavy loads of things, her body is not always upright. Shes one hell of a determined woman, even though she fails at so many things. At first, youre looking at the fingers. It wasnt a protest, okay, it was a riot, Yen says. And if there was a close-up of someone getting hit? Here in America, you are taught you have to be self-sufficient. They think theyre serving Chinese food. Donnie Yen. I was able to perform like a robot., The Hong Kong studio system was a strict no bullshit environment. Born in China, Yen moved with his family to Boston, where his mother, a tai-chi . And he said to me, I want to make Sense and Sensibility with martial arts. In Hong Kong in those years, he explains, someone on every movie would have mafia connectionsit was a necessity, just to be able to film in certain locations. Why would you want me to do that? Because thats how we are wired, in so many ways. How Michelle Yeoh Took Jackie Chans Role, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/14/opinion/sway-kara-swisher-michelle-yeoh.html, Behind the Scenes of Sway With Kara Swisher, Venture Capitalists Are Going to Turn Into Vulture Capitalists, and Other Predictions From Andrew Ross Sorkin. Hes totally cool, and he loves martial arts movies, Yen says. Naturally, his old pal Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson) is back to lend Chon and hand and continuously mispronounces his name as "John Wayne", while Chon's sister Lin (Fann Wong) also signs up for the mission. I dont want to. This video is a playful and imaginative tribute to three of the world's greatest martial artists, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Donnie Yen, but with a twist. 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. 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. Yeah. He was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer and died while the film was still in postproduction. Yen, broke, would hang around film sets just so he could eat for free. But she did not say, OK, lets just wrap it up and call it a day. 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. Whats it like to be in such a silly film for you? This article was first published in Geek Culture. It comes with the jobyou dont carve out a 40-year career kicking ass in Hong Kong action cinema without also getting your own kicked occasionally. There was the Yuen clan, the Jackie Chan clan, and the Sammo Hung clan, Yen says. From the Triads! Yen says with a grin, relishing the story. And I remembered when Ang came to me, at that time, I was doing the press . At the time, the demand for martial arts movies was waning, and Yen was determined to innovate within a genre starting to grow stale. I Thought Mentalphysics Was New-Age Nonsense. 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. Most of the people outside of China dont see it until they are there, Yen says. Why is everythingso generic? Why do you have to be so generic? You you have to try and eat healthier. He will be 60 this year. Hong Kong action superstar Donnie Yen Ji-dan is revered globally for his martial arts prowess in films such as the Ip Man series and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story . I was the outsider. what it did was I think it changed for a lot of our Asian talent because there were more roles that were written. But I think its Barbara Broccoli, Michael Wilson, the producers who realize, its like, yes, lets do something different. The next day, the director called. 04 Mar 2023 03:42:41 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.. Stephanie Hsu plays this role. That mahjong scene was something else. So, she has to work so hard into creating and achieving that American dream that they talked about when they first came here. Her face is still Evelyn Wang going, what the heck is going on? The film, which starred two of China's top pop idols, told the tale of young vampire hunters with well-honed martial arts skills. Stop trying to change the other person. Yeah. Who is the ultimate fighter? 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'. Yeah. Donnie Yen has been punched, in the name of moviemaking, more times than he can count. 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. That was the old Hong Kong way. As Yen grew in confidence, he and Yuen would regularly fall out. When It Comes to Gun Control, Will Baby Steps Fix Anything? With a passion for storytelling, his favorite media can give an idea of who he is: Vertigo, Panic Room, Jurassic Park, Lawrence of Arabia. And it could be rough and tough. In 2016, he starred in Netflix's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny opposite Harry Shum Jr. and Michelle Yeoh. Im curious, what did that movie did that change things for you in terms of roles coming in? At the same time, Donnie was influenced by his parents' love of music and reached a high level of proficiency as a pianist. Yen also didn't establish himself in the West to the extent that Chan had until much later on, but he's every bit as recognizable now, and today, Yen has grown into one of the biggest and most revered martial arts stars in the world. Now, definitely. Chinese kung fu star, Donnie Yen, is listed as a member of National Committee of CPPCC. And I think that was one of the light switches that came on. 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. Jackie Chan Vs Jet Li: Who Would Win? - Grunge.com The first Chinese UFC champion Zhang Weili states that Yen . When I didBlade II I had a horrible time, man. Donnie Yen, born in 1963, is one of the present masters of the martial arts action film, according to Black Belt Magazine, and Jackie Chan, born in 1954, per Biography, has been acting in several movie genres since he was eight, including musicals. following the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee. Why cant he have a normal name? It will continue to grow. Will ringmaster Mark Ellis give the W to the Drunken Master, the true Hero,Ip Man himself, or the mother-bleeping Dragon himself? Very scary. You know what Im saying?, Things are changingeven if progress has been agonizingly slow. Although his success in the West has been inconsistent, arguably Yen's most well-known role outside of Hong Kong is Chirrut mwe in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Youll be able to catch up on Sway episodes you may have missed, like my conversation with Andrew Garfield. I mean, the universe of your life, your real life as a martial arts movie star, was very sad. 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. We have to give each other the space and be who they are, and accept them. Always fighting. One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. 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. susie on Twitter: "More than 5,000 NPC deputies and members of the It was likeKill Bill. 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. Theyre giving you an opportunity to do it. Our stories do matter. We're comparing these legends of global cinema across four categories . Theres a lot of failure along the line. I think the hot dog universe is the most beautiful love story going on in all the different universes. Talk tomorrow. Now, definitely. 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. He's only a few months younger than Jet Li, and they entered the . 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. How can I be the worst? 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. The companys first two movies,Legend of the Wolf andBallistic Kisswhich Yen cowrote, produced, directed, and starred intanked at the box office. 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. So, they pulled me up, and Barbara came to meet me in Europe. Anyway: [Li] hurt himself. So, they said, well, OK, if you want to try action, if it doesnt succeed, thats the easiest thing. And I just went, when? Oh, if I was James Bond? Chinese movies, Hollywood movies, his other business pursuits, including a line of sunglassesthe phone rarely stops ringing. (A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.). Joe Origins, starring. Chinese cinemagoers must watch propaganda clips before films But my own experience, like, I was there, I have many friends who were there. Shirt, $535, pants, $775, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. You can see after the huge success of Crazy Rich Asians, can you imagine the weight on our shoulders at that point? V3.1. Is there any type of roles you havent played yet that you really want to do? You learn to be so precisely on point and accurate at every angle, Yen says. I have something to say to you. Why can't he have a normal name? That discussion between her and the man she left behind. Theyve been part of this community forever. But interestingly and maybe this is wrong because its been reported different places. Youre not allowed to look at the camera. Donnie Yen - Rotten Tomatoes John Wick: Chapter 4 is set for release on March 24. 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. Bruce Lee vs. Jackie Chan vs. Jet Li vs. Donnie Yen. Not only is he the director and executive producer, he also plays the lead and, in flashbacks, his characters father. Because the mother-daughter relationship is central to the story. She was very forceful, old school, like what you see in the movies. I have no idea. James Bond is James Bond. You almost get sort of boxed and wrapped up in this beautiful thats what Michelle Yeoh represents, elegance and beauty, and refined and dignified. Jackie Chan was on the roster several years ago. And shes not trying to be funny. The film received a wide US theatrical release from Miramax, and remains one of the most successful foreign language titles ever distributed in the America market.Donnie returned to Hong Kong to choreograph the smash hit fantasy-horror-comedy 'The Twins Effect', and went on to enjoy his most productive partnership with a director. 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. I want to be a singer. And I think thats a cowards way out. 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. NEXT: Donnie Yen Should Front A xXx Spinoff Franchise. Its like, even with the marriage with the husband of so many years. Yen also revealed that his character Caine didn't initially check all of his boxes until director Chad Staheleski made some changes. In this movie, you were a singer. 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. And in fact, he knows all he has to do is call. A lot of people might not be happy for what Im saying, but Im speaking from my own experience., Where once, Hollywoods attitude toward Chinese filmmakers might have angered him, today Yen is more accepting. Some people dont know, he says. 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. And did you approach the performance differently? This is aJohn Wick movie. So, you obviously made your name in Hong Kong action movies. 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. auditor, who is fantastic. But hes never forgotten it. Yen was on the set of Tsui Harks now classic 1992 sequelOnce Upon a Time in China II, filming the kind of action scene they really dont make anymore. In Hong Kong during those heady early days, there was no real dividing line between the actors and the stunt department. Because in 2020, Chinas film market became the worlds biggest box office. I cannot do stage. Donnie Yen says he fought for his 'John Wick,' 'Star Wars' characters When Yen was two years old, he and his father, a newspaper editor, moved to Hong Kong. Her latest role is no exception she took on a part that was originally written for the actor Jackie Chan. It could have been a girl. 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. More: John Wick 4 - Why Donnie Yen Is More Important Than You Think. Bad Movies: The 100 Worst Movies of All Time, Netflixs 100 Best Movies Right Now (March 2023), 100 Best Netflix Series To Watch Right Now (March 2023). of Cond Nast: This Is No Longer a Magazine Company, The Digital Tools That Aided the Buffalo Gunman and What to Do About Them. 01 March . He got one of his producers to make an introduction, borrowed the money. As he often does on movies that hes directing or producing, Yen fed into every element of production: costumes, sets, music, action choreography. Besides his on-screen performance, Donnie was also called on to choreograph the dynamic duel between himself and MMA champion Cung Le. And Im like, I would bend backwards to talk to him. 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. Because action movieswhich is what I do bestaction movies take a certain fire, a passion, and that is relative to physical ability, he says. Donnie Yen's action choreographers on his and Jackie Chan's lasting Donnie Yen criticises original 'John Wick: 4' script for stereotyping Its normally, yes, for a younger version. Im trying to think. Thats why you believe in that universe. When the cameras roll, the old Donnie Yen still kicks in. The characters are there, but its more about the love rather than just the playing around, the pranks that they would do on the poor girl poor Constance, and you know. In a recent interview with GQ, the actor shared that he's very selective about signing on roles. And her husband, and father and daughter. Then the wardrobe againoh, mandarin collars. So, talk about being silly because you, you know, in many of your movies, youre dignified, poised, et cetera. No, no, no, no. The film was shot last year, outside Shanghai, on a relatively slim budget. It doesnt look real at all.. I kid you not, it was spilling like shower spray. Its not like a Marvel universe where you can understand and you find it relatable. Please. Gloves, $140, by Ernest W. Baker. But shes so committed to her role. Wire work. And in that universe, if you just have a very close-up of Jamie and myself holding each other, you see two women in love. All rights reserved. Yes, but you have, OK money in the bank. 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. Why cant he look cool and fashionable? With Yens influence, the director Chad Stahelski agreed to change the name and the wardrobe. Which is embodied by the everything bagel in the movie. I do all of them, unless I mean, if its asking me to jump off the third floor, then I dont do that anymore. Ten Questions with Flash Point Star Donnie Yen - Rotten Tomatoes All of them are under attack by an evil force in the form of a giant spinning everything bagel you heard that right and Evelyn is being recruited to save the world. Well, you got hit. Ive been through it all. Really one of the worst times in my career, Yen says. It wasIp Man that kick-started Yens recent career renaissance, and one reason why, lately, Yen has found himself busier than ever. The film was a huge success in Hong Kong and China, and 'Ip Man' went on to find favor with audiences worldwide. 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! On his phone, he has about a dozen group chats going, connecting him to the various departments, so that when he inevitably wakes up at 4 a.m. with ideas, he can make changes from afar. But he also knows that he cant go on forever being this Donnie Yen. But as it happened, his mother had a connection to the Hong Kong kung fu director Yuen Woo-ping. 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. But in Hollywood? Donnie Yen confirms Ip Man 4 will be his final kung fu film As a former student of the wing chun grandmaster, Lee also features in Ip Man 4, this time played by Hong Kong actor Danny Chan -. They are meant to be respectful. I dont want to get political. Like, running and taking off my things and going, OK, now Im going on a plane, and fly straight back to China in Shanghai to be with him. 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. I have so many injuries, Yen says, laughing. And then, to just let loose and to be able to go, bleh, and then all of us just went we were so committed to making this because, when you read it, it is wacky. For actors like Yen, who came up in that golden age of kung fu, there were no digital effects. From her high-flying kicks in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to her unconventional take on a Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies, Michelle Yeoh has had a multidecade career defying stereotypes. Leeeeeeeeeeeets get ready to rumble in the Bronx. Or you have a family. And I back up, Jet said, "Donnie, there's blood spilling out of your face." It didnt change things because its a period piece. I received a text message from Jackie because I was not well. And you know, you carry it with you everywhere you go. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . But not Yen. Is there a universe you didnt like? More from NextShark: 'Chinese people are the worst': 'Genshin Impact' streamer under fire after racist tirade during stream. Its so liberating. One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. The Chinese, we all have our way of interpreting the story. But in general, its always an older man. 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'. But he always kept at it. These kinds of opportunities occasionally come up: You want to be in this? It doesnt mean anything, he says. Jackie Chan vs Donnie Yen#martialarts#jackiechan#donnieyen 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. Boston itself was not always welcoming. Boots, $1,495, by Christian Louboutin. Thanks for listening. A huge hit for Emperor, the film earned Yen his first Best Action Director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards. But sometimes it is the failures that make us who we are because every decision matters, and it has an impact. Everyone was just out there competing, like B-boys or skate crews, to do the coolest shit possible. His debut film immediately established him as a viable leading man, and Yen has remained a major figure in Chinese action cinema to this day.Yen skills as a street dancer were to the fore in his second starring role, 'Mismatched Couples', in which he showed off his breakdance moves, as well as his general athleticism. I think I would be nervous to throw a dildo at you. You went on to star in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000, which was a mega-hit globally. It wasnt about her not being rich enough or whatever. And then we just attacked it. I cant retire, because I still have projects Im committed to, he says. Suddenly, shes thrust into a multiverse where she can jump between different versions of her life. 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. 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. . Oh, yeah. Jackie Chan's 20-Year Quest to Share the Screen With Lifelong Friend 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. Is it a lonely existence? Yes. You have to take care of yourself. Whether you're a fan of the original stars or excited to see them in a new light, this video is sure to captivate and inspire. Sliced open. 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. Donnie Yen 'very disappointed' by Tarantino's Bruce Lee And its a science fiction. Yen's final reel duel with Sammo Hung is now regarded as a classic of the genre. He is not diminished, not yet.
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