The companys first two movies,Legend of the Wolf andBallistic Kisswhich Yen cowrote, produced, directed, and starred intanked at the box office. In addition to Ip Man and Rogue One, Yen rose to fame by appearing in films such as Hero," Iron Monkey,". 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. 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. According to Today, the two are actually very good friends, and even fought each other in 2008's Forbidden Kingdom, where Li's stock "serene monk" character faced off against a version of Chan's famous drunken master archetype in a battle of moves so intense that the director actually asked them . So that was what the Daniels were trying to they came up to me and said, no, no, no, no. Of you as Bond? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News. 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. More than 5,000 NPC deputies and members of the CPPCC National Committee attend this year's #TwoSessions. The same is true of Yen as an actor. I think the hot dog universe is the most beautiful love story going on in all the different universes. 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. 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. But Id love to know how you would describe the film. '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'. Jin Yongs novels are beloved in China, sprawling multivolume epics. Then the wardrobe again oh, mandarin collars. Youre not allowed to ask questions. Donnie Yen was born in Guangzhou, China. Yuen ended up signing Yen, then just 18 years old, to a three-year, multi-movie deal. ", Related: Donnie Yen's Ip Man 2 Has A Secret Jet Li Connection (& It's Genius). Wire work. These kinds of opportunities occasionally come up: You want to be in this? It doesnt mean anything, he says. 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. 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. It was only a matter of time before this happened. Her face is still Evelyn Wang going, what the heck is going on? Hes totally cool, and he loves martial arts movies, Yen says. Why is everything so generic? Bravura martial arts choreography. I think they just announced they have a writer. V3.1. Would You Upload Your Consciousness to the Cloud? 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. Yen was born in Guangzhou, on the Chinese mainland. And in fact, he knows all he has to do is call. He started hanging out at other gyms around Boston. There were more stories. I was wondering, when you were doing that, were you held to a different standard than the men? But that touches and goes places. But she did not say, OK, lets just wrap it up and call it a day. Everything is so staged its fake, he says. Well, you did. You said you wanted to do it, fine. So, none of us go in saying, Im going to make you laugh purposely, you know. Theyre not serving Chinese foodbecause they never had authentic Chinese. Its comedy. But do you think it was supposed to change things, I remember. John Wick: Chapter 4 is set for release on March 24. They thats actually very, very interesting, very clever question, because I do work on both. As he often does on movies that hes directing or producing, Yen fed into every element of production: costumes, sets, music, action choreography. You went on to star in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000, which was a mega-hit globally. Do you think its a new phase or not? The steps are choreographed. Now, definitely. The film, which starred two of China's top pop idols, told the tale of young vampire hunters with well-honed martial arts skills. Shirt, $535, pants, $775, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. At the end of the 50 movies, maybe the 48th, 49 moves, he strikes down with his sword. Today, Brad channels his thoughts on all manner of movies, from comic book films, sci-fi thrillers, comedies, and everything in between through his writings on Screen Rant. I dont want to do that again. Donnie Yen was a martial artist who became a performer. You know, whats the value of life? Its so funny. You said Matrix on LSD. What are you willing to walk away from? Actor, Producer, Director, Writer. The Founding of a Republic is a Chinese historical drama produced in 2009 to mark the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China and was made to portray the final years of the Chinese Communist Revolution that followed the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). Mein Favorit von allen Film-Kung Fu Schauspielern wre aber allerdings Bruce Lee. But that was also very much about how the cultural because if you are born and raised and only live in Asia versus if you are American-born Chinese or Asian, because here the whole mentality, the whole educational process, the whole upbringing is very different. Yen also shared during his interview that he was able to pay homage to his idol, Bruce Lee, through Caines new look. Yen, broke, would hang around film sets just so he could eat for free. Because in 2020, Chinas film market became the worlds biggest box office. That was the old Hong Kong way. As Yen grew in confidence, he and Yuen would regularly fall out. Why do we do this? Sunglasses, his own. Its all like a bunch of jazz musicians, Yen says. Right? On an Apple device? It wasIp Man that kick-started Yens recent career renaissance, and one reason why, lately, Yen has found himself busier than ever. Talk tomorrow. So, its interesting because its a posture of disappointment, in a lot of ways. Yeoh plays Evelyn Wang, the hardworking owner of a failing laundromat whos too busy to tend to the little but important things in life. I cant do stage. Right, right. But as a martial artist? The film, with Wilson Ip as director and Yuen as choreographer, pitted the title character against legendary boxing champion Mike Tyson. '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. Donnie, can you come in and shoot a close-up? About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . The 59-year old will not be taking on Hollywood roles that are deemed "generic" and if it doesn't respect his Chinese culture. A dildo? One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. Yes, but you have, OK money in the bank. And youll get new ones delivered directly to you. When It Comes to Gun Control, Will Baby Steps Fix Anything? '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. So, they pulled me up, and Barbara came to meet me in Europe. 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. And he heard about it, and he says, oh, get well soon. This film was co-directed by Huang Jianxin and Han Sanping, and includes many famous actors such as Andy Lau, Ge You . Shirt, $575, by Nili Lotan. Everybody, one way or the other, knows a Triad, he says. But she never gives up trying, even though her business is failing. Im curious, what did that movie did that change things for you in terms of roles coming in? The same handful of tired old stereotypes: the sage warrior, the stern general, the one-dimensional villain. Crouching Tiger. Ive worked four or five movies with him already. 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. So, you obviously made your name in Hong Kong action movies. Jackie Chan and Jet Li are two of the greatest martial arts actors to ever grace the silver screen. Yes. Yes, I think this is a love story, in a lot of ways, between also a mother and a daughter. 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. Yeah, so its a silly premise, but the heart of it is not silly. But in general, its always an older man. Suddenly, shes thrust into a multiverse where she can jump between different versions of her life. 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. Ich denke eine direkte Antwort kann man darauf nicht geben. Mm-hmm. In a recent interview with GQ magazine, Yen revealed that he wasn't originally keen on accepting the role of Caine - a blind assassin and friend of the lead protagonist - after deeming that it perpetuated Asian stereotypes. James Bond is James Bond. Brandon Louis is a TV/Movie news writer. Its about whats happening in our society. 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. But I know that once You know what, Donnie? With Chon being the kind of underdog that Chan usually embodiesin stunt-heavy action comedies such asPolice Story, Wu Chow proves to be a much stronger opponent than he's ever previously faced (despite his proclivity for jump-spinning kicks and tiger claw strikes). 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. He took the on-screen depiction of the style to new heights with the film 'SPL', released in the US as 'Kill Zone'. They think theyre serving Chinese food. This is not uncommon. Because of the years of having to carry heavy loads of things, her body is not always upright. ), Nevertheless, some hurts still linger. But he also knows that he cant go on forever being this Donnie Yen. Today, Yen is one of China's biggest actors, the last in a dynasty of martial arts stars that runs from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan to Jet Li. 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.. 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. And I think that was the biggest leap of empowerment. My husband will do what I want. I have stage fright. Its a major project for Yen. You are getting fat. I kid you not, it was spilling like shower spray. Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and live smarter with its unparalleled coverage of style, culture, and beyond. Look at theJohn Wick franchise itself, which would not exist without the influences of John Woo and Yuen. You are engaged with that emotional thread connection that keeps going through it. How did they get this opportunity? '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. I cant take it with me, Yen says. You cannot look like you know what youre doing. Nothing matters, be free, or nothing matters, give up. Given that he was by now a serious practitioner of modern Wu Shu, his parents decided to send him to Beijing to train at the Chinese capital's famed Wu Shu academy.It was when Yen returned to Hong Kong en route back to Boston that he met the famed martial arts movie director Yuen Woo-ping.Donnie exploded onto the Hong Kong movie scene when he was cast in the lead role of director Yuen Woo-ping's 'Drunken Tai Chi'. In addition to Ip Man and Rogue One, Yen rose to fame by appearing in films such as Hero," Iron Monkey," Raging Fire, Once Upon a Time in China," Blade II," Chasing the Dragon opposite Andy Lau, "Shanghai Knights opposite Jackie Chan, and Mulan opposite Liu Yifei. Yens character, an assassin called Caine, originally went by another name. The producer would come in and say, Thats it. 04 Mar 2023 03:42:41 In China, Yen can play drug lords, animated monkeys, romantic leads, soldierseven sing. Anyway: [Li] hurt himself. It was such a sensation. Donnie Yen Ji-dan (Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhn Zdn; born 27 July 1963) is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, and action director. He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. Their bromance was crystallized in 2016, when Stallone presented the Chinese action icon with an honorary Academy. And its a science fiction. Drop my hands. His mother, Bow-sim Mark, was a kung fu master and his father, Kylster Yen, a newspaper editor and amateur musician. Jackie Chan was on the roster several years ago. 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'. Not like, oh, now suddenly I have. Speaking with GQ, Yen admitted that he was nearly blinded by Li while filming with him on two different movies. These people belong to another dimension, right? He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. I have been in so many countries in the world, but its not even close. Both Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen have fought many formidable villains and, from time to time, heroes in their respective action movie careers. 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. 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. 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? The film has been a daunting task. Besides his on-screen performance, Donnie was also called on to choreograph the dynamic duel between himself and MMA champion Cung Le. While details about the Hong Kong actor's role were kept under wraps following the films announcement in June 2021, a trailer released in November 2022 revealed that he will face off against Keanu Reeves suave, suit-wearing titular assassin. And Im like, I would bend backwards to talk to him. I dont know how long that will last, he says. Then the wardrobe againoh, mandarin collars. But you might never have. From the Triads! Yen says with a grin, relishing the story. Well, there might be. 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. And this idea of nothing matters, you can go two ways. It didnt change things because its a period piece. RELATED:Police Story: The Stunt That Almost Killed Jackie Chan. I know seven, eight is going to be the close-up. Yen demonstrates, throwing little blocks and jabs as if training at the wooden dummy. Shirt, $535, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. 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. 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! And I remembered when Ang came to me, at that time, I was doing the press . And thats what we all do. 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 -. Ive witnessed all kinds of unimaginable things, Yen says, recalling tricky years when the phone rang less or when creative misfires doomed projects. After about 30 takes, he missed. The video features a collection of photos showcasing these iconic actors in their new female personas, highlighting their incredible skills and talent in the world of martial arts. We came into this life naked. No, but I want the gift of a voice that I can because I find it so moving. Wed broken each others staffs, so we were holding two, one in each hand. The prop staffs werent up to the task, so they were using real bamboo, solid, heavy as hell.. Im Kara Swisher, and youre listening to Sway. My guest today is Michelle Yeoh, the actor whose nearly four-decade career has included roles in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Crazy Rich Asians. But only now has Yeoh gotten her first Hollywood top billing in Everything Everywhere All At Once, a new movie by a pair of filmmakers known as the Daniels. I got knocked back about eight feet. 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. Thrown from horses. I do all of them, unless I mean, if its asking me to jump off the third floor, then I dont do that anymore. I have no tendons in the shoulder, he says. He will be 60 this year. I witnessed gangsters fight on the set. Each studio was determined to outdo its rivals for the most elaborate action sequences and flat-out dangerous stunts. We have this mating dance. 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. And with Chuck Norris. Although Yen is widely known and respected in the West, having worked in Hollywood on and off since the late 90s, its nothing compared to how he is recognized in Asia, where his prodigious output made him a giant in the world of Chinese-language cinema. But I think its Barbara Broccoli, Michael Wilson, the producers who realize, its like, yes, lets do something different. Do you play a big role in the next movie? Im very blessed that I still have a lot of speed, explosiveness, power, he says. They are not in my life. 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. More from NextShark: Curtis Waters is more than a TikTok gimmick: 'There's so much amazing sh*t that I have yet to do'. I saw stars. 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. Thanks for listening. Oh, god, you know, with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, that was an Asian movie. But he feels it in his body, that he is not quite as quick as he once was. Oh, no, no, no. And the women became the damsel in distress. So, people listening to this will be like, a bagel? Yen also revealed that his character Caine didn't initially check all of his boxes until director Chad Staheleski made some changes. It's all here Sometimes a little intimidating and scary. When I first read it, I was like, no, no, no, no, no, no. And I think that was one of the light switches that came on. If youre in a podcast app already, you know how to get your podcasts, so follow this one. Born July 27, 1963 in Canton, China. I could have been blind. Gloves, $140, by Ernest W. Baker. Yeah, its a big beating heart, but this woman is in great pain. 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. Li solidified himself as an icon in the genre with his historical fiction epic Once Upon a Time in China as folk hero Wong Fei-hung. Yen was eventually able to pay off the debt. 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. Tune in to find out, and let us know who you think is the greatest of the great in the comments. . I know exactly where the camera is. Donnie also took up hip-hop and break-dancing. 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. Why can't he have a normal name? Why do you have to be so generic? The modernization. Shes not trying to be funny. And suddenly, it was much more like, you see? Ive been through it all. But I think at the core of the story, really, its a very ordinary, average a woman that you walk by every day. The point is: He might be sore the next day, butfor now, at leasthe can still deliver. 01 March . Doesnt smile, Yen says. 10 February 2023; . [You can listen to this episode of Sway on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.]. Take it and run with it, or sink. Theyve been part of this community forever. But I am by myself and with a white-haired martial arts expert that you know, tells you exactly what to do. I have, yes, success and fame. We never had a storyboard. Chinese kung fu star, Donnie Yen, is listed as a member of National Committee of CPPCC. She barely notices Waymond, her husband, who tries to make her smile by sticking googly eyes on the laundry bags, or her lesbian daughter Joy, whos struggling to come out to her grandfather with absolutely no support from her mother. Of his 80-odd movies, most remain unseen by American audiences outside of hard-core martial arts fans but are nonetheless classics of the genre: films likeIron Monkey,SPL, andFlash Point. Youre a super heroine, and in no time you will be back on your feet again. I gotta say, hot dog fingers might be. I dont understand this. I want to be a singer. So, a movie musical, not a Broadway musical. Necklace, $20,300, by Cartier. Also, the mother and the daughter-in-law. Its the first Hollywood movie since the early 90s to have a modern story and all-Asian casts. Its these floppy things. In Hong Kong I spent two weeks shooting this stuff!I think its a lack of respect, and a level of not understanding, not appreciating what we do.. 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.. 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. Ho-hum. what it did was I think it changed for a lot of our Asian talent because there were more roles that were written. Does this open up opportunities for you, do you think? RELATED: Why Jackie Chan Never Joined Stallone's Expendables Movies. Anyway, Michelle, this has been a delight. But your face has to register, its like, why, do what, how, you know. Yeah. Do you know theres auto-tune? He shows me a rough cut of the trailer forakra. Its just like youre on LSD the whole time. And I almost chained up life. Your loss is my gain, bro. And that is the big beating heart of this film. 'Seven Swords' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and proved a hit with worldwide audiences. More News. How can I be the worst? Its too easy to take that route. Ad Choices, Nearing 60, the last of a golden era of martial arts stars looks back on an unparalleled careerand forward, to his role in the new, Donnie Yen Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters, The Essential Michelle Yeoh Viewing Guide. Who is the ultimate fighter? following the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee. Its so liberating. In a recent interview with GQ, the actor shared that he's very selective about signing on roles. (Given that series treatment of Jet Liwhose character is called, and Im not joking, Yin Yangyou can imagine why.) Yes, because its all what I love about all the universes. But the joy and love to be found in that kind of situation gives you such a sense of self-worth. We do the best we can.. And to invest both his money and his one more valuable resource than moneytimein projects that he loves, likeakra. The second time we spoke, Yen was energized to see Michelle Yeoh, a friend and costar of Yens for decades, win a Golden Globe forEverything Everywhere All at Once after being critically ignored for so long. The shot was simple: Yen had to block an incoming strike with his pole, while keeping the straight face of a badass wushu master. So it would have been in that original thing, initially, it was like, I would have played the wife of Jackie Chan. In 2019, Yen was working with the director Benny Chan on a cop movie calledRaging Fire, when Chan fell ill during production. So is that what do you think being successful is? 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Sword of Destiny' also played at selected Imax theatres in North America, and enjoyed a wide theatrical release in China, where it was screened in its 3D version.Yen reteamed with his former mentor Yuen Woo-ping for the hugely popular 'Ip Man 3'. And I think it really shows because the scenes that I have with Stephanie, she is looking for her mother in every universe. But the stunt double couldnt hit the mark. Ridiculous athleticism. It was very competitive. A huge hit for Emperor, the film earned Yen his first Best Action Director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards. You picked up a lot of your stunt training early in your career in Hong Kong. And then you pull back and you go, what the heck do they have at the end of their sleeve? Yen joined Li in the sequel as the villainous Commander Lan. In this movie, and his follow-up features for the company ('In the Line of Duty 4', 'Tiger Cage 2'), Yen showed off his own unique form of contemporary screen combat, a form that included elements of rapid fire kicking, Western boxing and grappling moves.Having established a worldwide fan base, Yen moved on to star in a string of independent Asian action features before director Tsui Hark tapped him to co-star in 'Once Upon A Time In China 2'.