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. 01 March . And that was how my journey started. I cant believe you jump from trucks and youre scared of the stage. I mean, I look at life and were only here for a short time, you know? This film was co-directed by Huang Jianxin and Han Sanping, and includes many famous actors such as Andy Lau, Ge You . 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! They grapple and fight dirty. As appetite for Asian cinema has ebbed and flowed among non-Asian audiencesthrough the 90s Chan boom, the postCrouching Tiger wuxia craze, the more recent but short-lived breakouts helmed by the likes of Tony Jaa and Iko Uwaiseven huge stars like Yen have found their opportunities limited. Leeeeeeeeeeeets get ready to rumble in the Bronx. I would suspect she was, Im guessing. The film, which starred two of China's top pop idols, told the tale of young vampire hunters with well-honed martial arts skills. But the Daniels have so cleverly manipulated the situations that, you know, theres always that miscommunication, which creates misunderstandings, which become like, oh my god, oh my god, this is just the train wreck waiting to happen. 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. Its wild, its wonderful, its weird, its everything. She cant accept that. When Yuen Woo-ping is talking, everybody would just listen. And so your body is doing all these wild and wonderful and precise, graceful moves. It's always fun to see Chan dip his toes into new waters and re-invent his persona, and his battle with Donne Yen in Twins Effect II is an example of exactly that in a sword-clashing duel of two martial arts legends. Oh, if I was James Bond? 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. They thats actually very, very interesting, very clever question, because I do work on both. We came into this life naked. The 2000s saw Yen transition to Hollywood with appearances in Blade II as Snowman and Shanghai Knights opposite Jackie Chan. The film was released in North America by The Weinstein Company's Dragon Dynasty label, and remains its biggest hit.Yen also attracted rave reviews when he played an honorable general in 'An Empress and her Warriors' and an offbeat ghost-buster in Gordon Chan's 'Painted Skin'.Yen took his career to a new level when he accepted producer Raymond Wong's suggestion that he play Bruce Lee's teacher, 'Ip Man', in an eponymous film relating the life of the great master. Hes totally cool, and he loves martial arts movies, Yen says. Immerhin hat er in "Die Todeskralle schlgt wieder . So, I remember when I first said because I dont read Chinese. 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. Billie Wang, interpretada por Awkwafina, es la protagonista de 'The Farewell' o Jackie Chan Though Chan isn't performing stunts by diving headfirst off of buildings as much these days, and Yen's Ip Manmovie days have concluded, the pair have left a legacy as action stars and martial artists worldwide, meaningfans of both Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen would be remiss to miss out on both times they've faced off. If there was a stunt, you did it yourself. Each studio was determined to outdo its rivals for the most elaborate action sequences and flat-out dangerous stunts. 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'. Yen previously played a blind character in another big-budget project: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The martial artist, who portrayed Chirrut mwe in the 2016 film, told GQ that he also asked for a redesign of his character after taking issue with him in early script drafts. But the only problem is I cant sing. It will continue to grow. Yen playsGeneral Lone, a warrior out to free the land of Huadu from the tyrannical rule of a sinister Queen. Today we talk about injusticeI mean, back in the days, you cant imagine. People who continue to keep thinking and to go forward no matter what the negativity or setback., Yen was upbeat. 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. [Discussing Hero] I remember there was another choreography where he was wired up with a sword. His mother, Bow-sim Mark, was a kung fu master and his father, Kylster Yen, a newspaper editor and amateur musician. 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. So, they pulled me up, and Barbara came to meet me in Europe. Everything is so staged its fake, he says. But the joy and love to be found in that kind of situation gives you such a sense of self-worth. And with Chuck Norris. Its so liberating. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? An action movie, Master Z. Its a spin-off of Ip Man.. This is a John Wick movie. Everybodys supposed to be cool and fashionable. Its just like youre on LSD the whole time. 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 ofBlade of Kings). So hopefully now they will, you know, get on the horse and really ride out. If there's one thing Donnie Yen is going to do, it is to call out stereotypes when he sees it. Joe Origins, starring. Whereas a younger Yen was once hungry to prove himself, he is no longer excited by offers from Hollywood. So it would have been in that original thing, initially, it was like, I would have played the wife of Jackie Chan. Over time, he learned a few tricks to soften the blows. But when Evelyn makes the trip to the I.R.S., her world is shaken up. Now, although these are prop swords, they are still quite pointy. I kid you not, it was spilling like shower spray. 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. Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen are two of the biggest martial arts stars in the world, and they've clashed twice in kung fu battles over the years. Six stitches again, two times, both sides close to my eyeballs. Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and live smarter with its unparalleled coverage of style, culture, and beyond. 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. 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. Theres one universe where people have floppy hot dog fingers, and another only inhabited by rocks. A huge hit for Emperor, the film earned Yen his first Best Action Director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards. You always put the family first. Suddenly, Yen found himself apprenticed to one of the great action directors of what might be the last golden age of kung fu filmmaking. But then, what she understood was, I can keep learning. A father and daughter, husband and wife. Its a stylish affair, beautifully shot. So, its interesting because its a posture of disappointment, in a lot of ways. 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.. Im looking at his body at his funeral, and it was like: I was just with him yesterday, Yen says. Donnie Yen. I think that was our attitude. Jacket, $3,390, pants, $1,350, and boots, $1,450, by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. So, that was that kind of physical comedy that I had not done before. Think about it. Why is everything so generic? I dont want to get political. Thanks for listening. 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. John Wick: Chapter 4 is set for release on March 24. More: John Wick 4 - Why Donnie Yen Is More Important Than You Think. 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. Sway is a production of New York Times Opinion. Doesnt smile, shared Yen, who suggested making Chirrut mwe blind. Lets have a woman whos comparable to James Bond. 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. This slapstick romantic comedy was produced by Hong Kong's prestigious Cinema City studio.Donnie was subsequently signed by the newly formed D&B Films, and cast in the hit cop actioner 'Tiger Cage'. V3.1. Also, the mother and the daughter-in-law. 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. But sometimes it is the failures that make us who we are because every decision matters, and it has an impact. 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. Instead of coming across, and I'm supposed to block it like this, he comes across horizontally. I received a text message from Jackie because I was not well. Who is the ultimate fighter? And it was like its very much like dancing, if you look at it. Theyve been here. One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. I really, truly appreciate it. If the Daniels, if you look at them, you go, OK, anything goes. Crouching Tiger. Ive worked four or five movies with him already. At that point, it was like, nothing will faze you. Our stories do matter. With a passion for storytelling, his favorite media can give an idea of who he is: Vertigo, Panic Room, Jurassic Park, Lawrence of Arabia. Right. Whats the new approach?. As he often does on movies that hes directing or producing, Yen fed into every element of production: costumes, sets, music, action choreography. And you must try and find joy and happiness. I think the hot dog universe is the most beautiful love story going on in all the different universes. Stephanie Hsu plays this role. And in fact, he knows all he has to do is call. The BBC, CNN, they never talk about that. Kicked. 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. If youre in a podcast app already, you know how to get your podcasts, so follow this one. Their bromance was crystallized in 2016, when Stallone presented the Chinese action icon with an honorary Academy. He came over and he made a few movies. I have no idea. The senior editor of Sway is Nayeema Raza, and the executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Irene Noguchi. There were more stories. A half-beat slower. 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 film was shot last year, outside Shanghai, on a relatively slim budget. When Donnie was just two years old, the family moved to Hong Kong and then, when he was 11, to Boston . And they missbecause Yen knows that sometimes a full-bodied haymaker that doesnt connect is as useful in selling the reality of a scene as a dozen perfectly timed strikes. Lately, Yen has been thinking more about his legacy. One question that had always bugged him, for example: Why doesnt anybody miss? 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. (At least not on purpose. He started hanging out at other gyms around Boston. Theyve been part of this community forever. More News. 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. The Planet Is Burning. Thats not going to happen. So, they said, well, OK, if you want to try action, if it doesnt succeed, thats the easiest thing. And then he said to me, oh, the Daniels came and pitched me the movie in China. He whacked me right on my eyebrow, right? He took the on-screen depiction of the style to new heights with the film 'SPL', released in the US as 'Kill Zone'. And I back up, Jet said, "Donnie, there's blood spilling out of your face." A spy from another country. Both Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen have fought many formidable villains and, from time to time, heroes in their respective action movie careers. 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. 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. an old friend of Wick's who is speculated to . Its comedy. In this conversation, Kara Swisher and Yeoh discuss the film, which Kara describes as The Matrix meets L.S.D. 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. Shirt, $575, by Nili Lotan. Following a high profile Los Angeles premiere, 'Ip Man 3' enjoyed a Los Angeles premiere and a US theatrical release, earning rave reviews in the mainstream American media.Having conquered every territory beneath the Asian skies, Donnie accepted an invitation to join the cast of an entry in the world's biggest film franchise. ", Related: Donnie Yen's Ip Man 2 Has A Secret Jet Li Connection (& It's Genius). . Whats it like to be in such a silly film for you? 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 . The world class creative team gathered by producer Harvey Weinstein included legendary kung fu film director Yuen Woo-ping, acclaimed directors Peter Berg and Morten Tyldum (as producers), 'X-Men' series DP Tom Sigel as well as the Oscar-winning production, costume and FX designers from the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Hobbit' film series.The film debuted in most international territories as a Netflix Original movie, making it the most widely seen wu xia of all time. And he was going to be the principal. 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. Again, not giving away plot. Right, right. I cant do stage. Cinemagoers in China are being obliged to watch propaganda videos featuring some of the country's best-loved stars. I try to look at it less defensive than before. Anyway, Michelle, this has been a delight. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Stop trying to change the other person. And youll get new ones delivered directly to you. You never walk away from someone in need. We're comparing these legends of global cinema across four categories . More recently, he passed on a role in DCsAquaman in order to spend time with his family. Good fight scenes. It's all here Oh, god, you know, with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, that was an Asian movie. Like Li, Yen began his martial arts action career in Hong Kong in the mid-1980s with the Yuen Woo-Ping-directed film Drunken Tai Chi. Yen, broke, would hang around film sets just so he could eat for free. Before he accepts a role, hell ask questions, like, Is the role generic? (Given that series treatment of Jet Liwhose character is called, and Im not joking, Yin Yangyou can imagine why.) 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? But hes never forgotten it. Often, the typecasting isnt even conscious. Youve got to do this, you have to do that. Ihated it. Yen would escape by watching kung fu movies, spending two dollars to catch Bruce Lee double bills at the cinema downtown. 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'. Youre not allowed to ask questions. Ho-hum. Thats why you believe in that universe. I went to my friends karate school, or a boxing gym, Yen says. Jet Li Nearly Blinded Donnie Yen While Filming On Two Different Movies, Donnie Yen's Ip Man 2 Has A Secret Jet Li Connection (& It's Genius), John Wick 4 - Why Donnie Yen Is More Important Than You Think.