The shot was simple: Yen had to block an incoming strike with his pole, while keeping the straight face of a badass wushu master. After about 30 takes, he missed. Please. Right, right. The kicker? 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. We cant be invincible. Oh, no, no, no. It was likeKill Bill. You have to take care of yourself. Now, definitely. 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. Think about it. Well, you got hit. Donnie Yen - Wikipedia Yen himself was nominated for Best Actor at the Chinese Hundred Flower awards.Yen followed this with 'Ip Man 2', a rare example of a sequel that proved a match for its predecessor. When the cameras roll, the old Donnie Yen still kicks in. Its so liberating. In 2019, Yen was working with the director Benny Chan on a cop movie calledRaging Fire, when Chan fell ill during production. Its like, even with the marriage with the husband of so many years. Kicked. Necklace, $20,300, by Cartier. And Ang is like the most quiet spoken. Yen also revealed that his character Caine didn't initially check all of his boxes until director Chad Staheleski made some changes. Often, the typecasting isnt even conscious. And I said, aw, poor you. 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. '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. The producer would come in and say, Thats it. '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. The couple now has two children, a girl and boy, Jasmine and James. We have this mating dance. And I dont want to give away, but it plays a big role. For actors like Yen, who came up in that golden age of kung fu, there were no digital effects. Drop my hands. So that was what the Daniels were trying to they came up to me and said, no, no, no, no. We release every Monday and Thursday. Donnie Yen - Variety500 - Top 500 Entertainment Business Leaders I cant retire, because I still have projects Im committed to, he says. The only way I could find power was through martial arts., His mother opened a martial arts school in the citys Chinatown, and Yen quickly became one of her most promising studentseven as he bristled at her imposing methods. Theyve been here. 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. In Everything Everywhere All at Once, Yeoh plays the superhero: a Chinese American immigrant mother who is called upon to save the world and herself by hopping across multiverses. So, yes, we became better known in America, like Chow Yun-Fat. 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. 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 . When they came to me, they said, they want you to be a Minion. And so, I thought, there was a lot of pressure to make sure they took you seriously. Chasing the Dragon (Chinese: ; Sidney Lau: Jui 1 Lung 4), previously known as King of Drug Dealers, is a Hong Kong-Chinese action crime drama film directed by Wong Jing and Jason Kwan. following the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee. Theres a lot of failure along the line. But the stunt double couldnt hit the mark. I think the hot dog universe is the most beautiful love story going on in all the different universes. (SINGING) When you walk in a room, do you have sway? Yen, broke, would hang around film sets just so he could eat for free. 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. He is not diminished, not yet. (At least not on purpose. Jackie Chan Vs Jet Li: Who Would Win? - Grunge.com Shanghai Knightsarrived during the peak of Jackie Chan's conquest of Hollywood and is widely regarded as one of his best Western action comedies, though it trades the Americanizedelement of Shanghai Noon for a trip across the pond to Victorian England. 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? Even as Hollywood has ignored Asian actors, it has over the years co-opted the visual techniques and tropes of Hong Kong cinema. And as an audience, I think thats what he does for you, is he puts you in so many places, and then he pulls the rug from under you. Oh, yeah. John Wick: Chapter 4 is set for release on March 24. 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 -. Your first big movie is Yes, Madam. Is that correct? And theres more. A half-beat slower. And suddenly, it was much more like, you see? But my own experience, like, I was there, I have many friends who were there. Something similar happened just recently, while makingJohn Wick: Chapter 4. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny' was shot primarily on location in New Zealand, with Yen in the lead role. Not going to happen. You look like youre having much more fun with the hot dog. Its the same attitude that has guided Yen throughout his career. He will be 60 this year. But shes so committed to her role. Oh, my god, I wish I could just flick my head back and zoom. So, what is it you really, really want? Talk tomorrow. 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. Yes. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. . That would scare the hell out of me. 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 . And he heard about it, and he says, oh, get well soon. But do you think it was supposed to change things, I remember. I think I would be nervous to throw a dildo at you. So he had a stunt double wired up, Yen explains. And the mother is trying to convince her otherwise. I mean, the universe of your life, your real life as a martial arts movie star, was very sad. I have, yes, success and fame. I cant do stage. Ist jackie chan strker als donnie yen? - gutefrage.net 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. All rights reserved. The film premiered to great acclaim at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and subsequently received a North American theatrical release from The Weinstein Company.Donnie Yen played 'The Monkey King' in a hit reimagining of the Chinese classic. At the end of the 50 movies, maybe the 48th, 49 moves, he strikes down with his sword. This whole shot was one take, about 50 moves or something. They are meant to be respectful. Which is embodied by the everything bagel in the movie. 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. 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. 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. He said, hes wondering if, you know, you have time to have a quick cup of tea with him. A huge hit for Emperor, the film earned Yen his first Best Action Director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards. He was electric, determined, lightning fast. Growing up, Brad developed an innate love of movies and storytelling, and was instantly enamored with the world of adventure while following the exploits of Indiana Jones, Japanese kaiju, and superheroes. My arms and legs are going in directions that I couldnt even fathom that could happen. It was very competitive. Im not going to be here talking about how to change how people feel about it. 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. It could have been a girl. I want to be a singer. Yen was born in Guangzhou, on the Chinese mainland. But the joy and love to be found in that kind of situation gives you such a sense of self-worth. 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. The film, with Wilson Ip as director and Yuen as choreographer, pitted the title character against legendary boxing champion Mike Tyson. Its not contemporary. At the time, Hong Kong cinemaas personified by Jackie Chanwas producing the most electrifying action movies in the world. Yen was to return to this hard-hitting, urban action style for the later 'Special ID'.Donnie now found himself in demand as a leading man in a series of prestigious period actioners produced for the Chinese market. This is a John Wick movie. 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. The actor subsequently scored big hits including Butterfly and Sword and Wing Chun, with Everything Everywhere All at Once star Michelle Yeoh. Ive witnessed all kinds of unimaginable things, Yen says, recalling tricky years when the phone rang less or when creative misfires doomed projects. Then the wardrobe again oh, mandarin collars. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Is there a universe you didnt like? Theyre giving you an opportunity to do it. Yes, because its all what I love about all the universes. It wasnt a protest, okay, it was a riot, Yen says. Bruce Lee vs. Jackie Chan vs. Jet Li vs. Donnie Yen. But you might never have. It was heralded as a game-changer of how U.S. viewed the Asian film industry. Yen is next set to appear in the highly-anticipated John Wick: Chapter 4 with Keanu Reeves and Sleeping Dogs, an adaptation of the popular video game of the same name. Pokmon Detective Pikachu Sequel Finds Its Writer and Director, and More Movie News, Womens History Month TV and Streaming Guide 2023, All Rocky and Creed Movies Ranked by Tomatometer, RT Fans Crown Jurassic Park the Ultimate Steven Spielberg Movie, Everything Everywhere All at Once Wins the A24 Showdown, RT Users Crown Toy Story the Best Pixar Film Ever, The Most Anticipated TV & Streaming Shows of March 2023, Daisy Jones & The Six Stars Riley Keough and Sam Claflin on Making the Band, Copyright Fandango. I would suspect she was, Im guessing. Special thanks to Shannon Busta, Kristin Lin and Kristina Samulewski. The film, directed by Guillermo del Toro, was a huge hit, earning almost twice the box office of the original 'Blade'.Returning to Hong Kong, Yen found he now had a major contribution to make behind the camera, co-directing the SFX action adventure 'The Twins Effect'. Her face is still Evelyn Wang going, what the heck is going on? Here in America, you are taught you have to be self-sufficient. I think they just announced they have a writer. 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. 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. 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. what it did was I think it changed for a lot of our Asian talent because there were more roles that were written. He grew up absorbing every book, movie, TV show that he could get his eyes on. You fight with, or you dance with, multiple partners. And I think that was one of the light switches that came on. Copyright 2018 Fandango. And perhaps if she was so successful in all that she do, like in the movie universe, she doesnt have a family. And her husband, and father and daughter. John Wick 4's Donnie Yen Shares Experiences Dealing With Asian And Im like, I would bend backwards to talk to him. He started hanging out at other gyms around Boston. Cinemagoers in China are being obliged to watch propaganda videos featuring some of the country's best-loved stars. I went to my friends karate school, or a boxing gym, Yen says. And to invest both his money and his one more valuable resource than moneytimein projects that he loves, likeakra. 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 . 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. A spy from another country. If the Daniels, if you look at them, you go, OK, anything goes. Sliced open. Donnie Yen Vs Jackie Chan: Who Would Win? - Grunge.com 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.. And then you pull back and you go, what the heck do they have at the end of their sleeve? To travel more, to spend time with his family. The Last of Us Episode 7 Introduces a Close Friend From Ellie's Past, While Joel's Life . 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. Now, although these are prop swords, they are still quite pointy. Walk in showers are going to be the new trend, Hong Kong actor, martial artist and action choreographer, Chinese-Singaporean martial artist and actor, While details about the Hong Kong actor's role were kept under wraps following the, 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 (. Will ringmaster Mark Ellis give the W to the Drunken Master, the true Hero,Ip Man himself, or the mother-bleeping Dragon himself? Thats part of life. If you look at all the visual products from big Hollywood movies to TV, Apple or Netflix or whatever, all these action movies, in one way or another, are [influenced by] Hong Kong movies, Yen says. This is not uncommon. Why cant he have a normal name? The Chinese, we all have our way of interpreting the story. More with Michelle Yeoh after the break. 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.. Much like other beloved Chinese actors before him, like Jackie Chan, Jet Li and the late Bruce Lee, Donnie Yen has found Hollywood fame after becoming a big star in Hong Kong action movies. 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. Actors including Jackie Chan, Rogue One's Donnie Yen and Transformers star Li . Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Before he accepts a role, hell ask questions, like, Is the role generic? I could have been blind. Why can't he have a normal name? Why do you have to be so generic? 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. Nothing matters, and therefore be free, or nothing matters, and therefore give up. 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. . Donnie Yen has been punched, in the name of moviemaking, more times than he can count. 10 February 2023; . Donnie Yen: Movies, TV, and Bio - amazon.com Whats the cost? But she never gives up trying, even though her business is failing. Let me take a look." 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'. 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. It wasIp Man that kick-started Yens recent career renaissance, and one reason why, lately, Yen has found himself busier than ever. At the same time, he began spending his nights in Boston's notorious Combat Zone. One of Hong Kong's top action stars, Yen is widely credited for bringing mixed martial arts (MMA) into the mainstream Asian cinema by choreographing MMA in many of his films since the early 2000s. And one of the things that was interesting to me is Ive never seen you in something so silly, which is, I think fantastic. If there was a stunt, you did it yourself. 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. Thrown from horses. Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen recently recalled two different occasions when legendary martial arts actor Jet Li nearly blinded him. When Yen was 16, his parents arranged to send him to train with the famed Beijing Wushu Team, in China. Chan's physicallevel of dedication is also second to none, with Chan incurring one painful injury and broken bone after another, many of them captured for the world to see in the outtakes frequently included at the end of many Jackie Chan movies. Donnie Yen's action choreographers on his and Jackie Chan's lasting And there are so many of these stories to be told, and to be exchanged, and to be and also, what I love about Everything Everywhere All At Once, its about here. And we are very, very much part of you know, the Asians belong. Shes not trying to be funny. Her latest role is no exception she took on a part that was originally written for the actor Jackie Chan. Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News. It's all here A certain restlessness. Anyway, Michelle, this has been a delight. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Beginning with the cop actioner 'SPL', Donnie teamed with helmer Wilson Yip for a series of very different films that Yen would star in and action choreograph and Yip would direct. As he often does on movies that hes directing or producing, Yen fed into every element of production: costumes, sets, music, action choreography. So, its interesting because its a posture of disappointment, in a lot of ways. Maybe now it can happen. If youre in a podcast app already, you know how to get your podcasts, so follow this one. I try to look at it less defensive than before. NEXT: Donnie Yen Should Front A xXx Spinoff Franchise. What Id do is Id use a cotton ball and put it between my back teeth, so they [didnt] knock my teeth out., Today, Yen is one of Chinas biggest actors, the last in a dynasty of martial arts stars that runs from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan to Jet Li. Everything is so staged its fake, he says. 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. It wasnt about her not being rich enough or whatever. The film has been a daunting task. Again, not giving away plot. It was old-school military, Yen says. 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. Yens character, an assassin called Caine, originally went by another name. I gotta say, hot dog fingers might be. '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. Donnie collaborated with Yuen on the action for the film, designing a new on-screen interpretation of Wong Fei-hung's classic 'Shadowless Kick'. In "Everything Everywhere All at Once," Yeoh plays the superhero: a Chinese American. And two, did it do that? Honestly, I would love to be in a musical. Always fighting. Its like when you after I read the script, its like, no one has ever thought of me in a role like this, it is true. You are engaged with that emotional thread connection that keeps going through it. Everybody, one way or the other, knows a Triad, he says. Its these floppy things. 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. 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. And Jamie Lee Curtis plays Deirdre, the I.R.S. Yes. Its basically The Matrix meets LSD trip. And you must try and find joy and happiness. But that was also very, very important that we focus very much on the love between the mother and the son. It took a long time for Yen to become a leading man. Is that correct? They make these [MINION VOICES]. 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. 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. You you have to try and eat healthier. 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. I guess my destiny is to be making movies., For a decade now, hes been talking about retiring. Typical master. The name was Shang or Chang, Yen says. Is it a lonely existence? 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. ), Nevertheless, some hurts still linger. And you should see, Jamie and I, we look at each other and, wahaa! Suddenly, Yen found himself apprenticed to one of the great action directors of what might be the last golden age of kung fu filmmaking. Whats it like to be in such a silly film for you? Hes totally cool, and he loves martial arts movies, Yen says. And its very important that I find the Daniels was so bold and courageous to write the lead of the movie, an aging Asian immigrant woman, and give her such a powerful voice, and turn her into a superhero by going to all these multiverses and discovering that, you know, failures also make us who we are.