Gloves, $140, by Ernest W. Baker. You fight with, or you dance with, multiple partners. This presented Yen asa relatively fresh face to Western audiences, and thus a perfect foil for the A-list presence of Chan and Owen Wilson in Shanghai Knights. Is there a universe you didnt like? Born July 27, 1963 in Canton, China. So I went in the day after, and I finished the scene., Yen is not telling this story for the sake of some misguided bravado but more to explain the heady Hong Kong film scene of the 1980s and 90s. He was electric, determined, lightning fast. When Donnie was just two years old, the family moved to Hong Kong and then, when he was 11, to Boston, Massachusetts.There, Master Bow-sim Mark became a pioneer for Chinese martial arts in America, and it was only natural that her only son was trained from early childhood in the same skills. If Im not allowed to have my creative control, Yen says, its not worth my time., Yen is proudly Chinese (its been reported that he gave up his US citizenship in the late aughts; he has since described himself as 100 percent Chinese) and is still amazed at the progress that he has witnessed in his home country during his lifetime. Typical master. 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 -. My mom and I were separated for eight years, Yen says. Its these floppy things. Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen recently recalled two different occasions when legendary martial arts actor Jet Li nearly blinded him. It could have been a girl. 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. Right, because she finds that ridiculous. Well, you did. So, she has to work so hard into creating and achieving that American dream that they talked about when they first came here. 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. So, I said, I would love to be able to try I think at that point in that period, the glory years of Hong Kong cinema, it was comedies and action movies that were the best sellers. 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. I had a very respectful experience working on John Wick. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he said. Why can't he look cool and fashionable?" Its too easy to take that route. Theyre not serving Chinese foodbecause they never had authentic Chinese. 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. following the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee. 'Ip Man' confirmed Donnie's position as China's greatest action hero, and he was immediately signed to lead a strong ensemble cast for Teddy Chen's 'Bodyguards and Assassins', produced by Peter Chan. 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. One question that had always bugged him, for example: Why doesnt anybody miss? 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. If youre listening on The Times website and want to get each new episode of Sway delivered to you, along with the chance to dance with Jamie Lee Curtis, download any podcast app, then search for Sway and follow the show. She is the way she is. He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. Its so liberating. 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. Theres a love story. So theres so much this film, and I really urge everyone to see it because its a very different film than most films that are out there, even though its an action film. We cant be invincible. . 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. So, thats a big problem, you know when youre doing Chinese movies and not being able to read the script, and not really being able to say the language. what it did was I think it changed for a lot of our Asian talent because there were more roles that were written. Most of the people outside of China dont see it until they are there, Yen says. The producer would come in and say, Thats it. And then it didnt. You you have to try and eat healthier. But interestingly and maybe this is wrong because its been reported different places. And that was how my journey started. 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 article was first published in Geek Culture. Billie Wang, interpretada por Awkwafina, es la protagonista de 'The Farewell' o Jackie Chan But as a martial artist? Why can't he have a normal name? 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. In the early drafts of the script, Yens character, Chirrut mwe, was just the same generic martial arts warrior. Speaking with GQ, Yen admitted that he was nearly blinded by Li while filming with him on two different movies. 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. And I almost chained up life. So, I remember when I first said because I dont read Chinese. 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. Before he accepts a role, hell ask questions, like, Is the role generic? Really one of the worst times in my career, Yen says. 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! 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. . 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. trip. They chat about how films like Crazy Rich Asians have catapulted change in Hollywood, and how Yeohs career has bridged two of the biggest movie markets in the world, from the United States to China. My first movie was an action film, but I played the normal damsel in distress where I was a social worker and bullied by the juvenile delinquents. The 2000s saw Yen transition to Hollywood with appearances in Blade II as Snowman and Shanghai Knights opposite Jackie Chan. She calls herself a loser. So it would have been in that original thing, initially, it was like, I would have played the wife of Jackie Chan. Both Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen have fought many formidable villains and, from time to time, heroes in their respective action movie careers. Oh, yeah. After starring in blockbusters like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the live-action Mulan in recent years, the next franchise the actor is putting his . The film, with Wilson Ip as director and Yuen as choreographer, pitted the title character against legendary boxing champion Mike Tyson. When the Daniels first wrote it, its true. Five seconds later I said, "Wait!" Yeah, thats right. 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'. An action movie, Master Z. Its a spin-off of Ip Man.. But not Yen. In this movie, you were a singer. Yen also shared during his interview that he was able to pay homage to his idol, Bruce Lee, through Caines new look. My arms and legs are going in directions that I couldnt even fathom that could happen. And Ang is like the most quiet spoken. And then he said to me, oh, the Daniels came and pitched me the movie in China. Right. 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). Im hanging out with Benny, next thing you know hes gone. 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 . I was wondering, when you were doing that, were you held to a different standard than the men? So, you cannot say, well, I want to do this. Necklace, $20,300, by Cartier. 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. Yes. Its a movie its about the Chinese culture. I think if you dont have a big beating heart, its so easy to just say, well, youre already a grown-up. These people belong to another dimension, right? He was eventually forced to borrow money from loan sharks. As Bitcoin Busts, Whats the Future of Web3? 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. Doesnt smile, shared Yen, who suggested making Chirrut mwe blind. 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. And you should see, Jamie and I, we look at each other and, wahaa! Yen details his famous fight scene in 1992's Once Upon a Time in China II when Li cut his left brow with a large bamboo staff, causing him to get stitches. Whats the cost? 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. Right, which the daughter is doing. Shirt, $535, pants, $775, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. But he always kept at it. Oh, if I was James Bond? Everything is so staged its fake, he says. Yes. 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. Sliced open. He is not diminished, not yet. Is there any type of roles you havent played yet that you really want to do? The couple now has two children, a girl and boy, Jasmine and James. Why is it this way? [Yuen] said, Youll know when youre a director., Yen eventually started to exert more of his own control, first of stunt choreography, then assuming directing duties. There were more stories. Or you have a family. Half a day, a couple of hours. A couple of hours? I have so many injuries, Yen says, laughing. Im curious, what did that movie did that change things for you in terms of roles coming in? I cant believe you jump from trucks and youre scared of the stage. 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. They are meant to be respectful. Donnie Yen sobre los personajes asiticos: "Por qu siempre se tienen que llamar Shan or Chang?" . I mean, I look at life and were only here for a short time, you know? Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he says. We have to learn to listen to each other and show kindness. Chinese kung fu star, Donnie Yen, is listed as a member of National Committee of CPPCC. And youll get new ones delivered directly to you. It was such a sensation. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. And I remembered when Ang came to me, at that time, I was doing the press . Yen recalls getting approached by Disney to appear in the 2016Star Wars prequelRogue One. What a charming little film, I enjoyed watching this film , it had a good story line , the actors played out the parts very well. 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. When Yen was 16, his parents arranged to send him to train with the famed Beijing Wushu Team, in China. And shes not trying to be funny. Donnie Yen is making his "John Wick" debut in the upcoming fourth installment as Caine, a blind assassin caught between his ties to the villainous High Table and his friendship with Keanu. And then we just attacked it. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. 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. 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). I would suspect she was, Im guessing. Instead of coming across, and I'm supposed to block it like this, he comes across horizontally. The schoolwhich, as well as producing national champions, holds Harlem Globetrottersstyle tours across the countryhas cranked out a number of elite martial artists and movie stars; among Yens contemporaries was Jet Li. Not like, oh, now suddenly I have. Because the mother-daughter relationship is central to the story. 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. So hopefully now they will, you know, get on the horse and really ride out. And its a science fiction. 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. 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 for brevitys sake, heres just one. Yes. And it was like its very much like dancing, if you look at it. Everybodys supposed to be cool and fashionable. But she did not say, OK, lets just wrap it up and call it a day. So, people listening to this will be like, a bagel? 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny' was shot primarily on location in New Zealand, with Yen in the lead role. 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. And this idea of nothing matters, you can go two ways. That isnt, he says, a criticism directed solely atJohn Wick. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. 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. He shows me a rough cut of the trailer forakra. And he was going to be the principal. You can be auto-tuned. Tune in to find out, and let us know who you think is the greatest of the great in the comments. Will ringmaster Mark Ellis give the W to the Drunken Master, the true Hero,Ip Man himself, or the mother-bleeping Dragon himself? He took the on-screen depiction of the style to new heights with the film 'SPL', released in the US as 'Kill Zone'. More: John Wick 4 - Why Donnie Yen Is More Important Than You Think. This is my schedule, Yen says, showing me the calendar app on his phone, a grid of colored squares so stuffed that it looks like a Tetris endgame. Right now Ive gotta take three cups of double espresso, do a couple of warm-ups. Yen laughs again. Which is embodied by the everything bagel in the movie. And so your body is doing all these wild and wonderful and precise, graceful moves. Ive been through it all. Ich denke eine direkte Antwort kann man darauf nicht geben. 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. I would love to do like a Moulin Rouge because thats the dancer-performer in me. Yeah. Yes, yes. Jacket, $2,800, vest, $590, shirt (vintage), and pants, $690, by Double RL. 01 March . He said, hes wondering if, you know, you have time to have a quick cup of tea with him. But do you think it was supposed to change things, I remember. He will be 60 this year. Kicked. I gotta say, hot dog fingers might be. She cant accept that. Between you and Jamie Lee Curtis. I never say no to him. From the Triads! Yen says with a grin, relishing the story. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. And Im like, but they dont talk. John Wick: Chapter 4 is hitting theatres on March 24. But the producer walked by me, wouldnt even talk to me. On set, Yen would devise intricate martial arts routines, only to be told to wrap it up and move on. Its normally, yes, for a younger version. When Evelyn Wang walks, she is slightly bent over and slightly humped on the side because thats the years of hard work that has created this posture. Yen might be approaching 60, but in person he looks a decade younger: lean and muscular, radiant skin, Wite-Out smile. Crouching Tiger. Ive worked four or five movies with him already. You were an equal match. You name it, hes hurt it. 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. 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. On an Apple device? 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. Why do you have to be so generic? Come on. These kinds of opportunities occasionally come up: You want to be in this? It doesnt mean anything, he says. 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'. Donnie, can you come in and shoot a close-up? You always put the family first. Cinemagoers in China are being obliged to watch propaganda videos featuring some of the country's best-loved stars. When Yen was two years old, he and his father, a newspaper editor, moved to Hong Kong. RELATED:Police Story: The Stunt That Almost Killed Jackie Chan. It was likeKill Bill. James Bond is James Bond. Whats the new approach?. Although, if theres a villain in the movie, the real evil here is nihilism. Yen co-starred in action films with Jet Li and Jackie Chan and continued to play the leading role in many martial arts and action films including Tsui Hark's "Seven Swords" (2005) and crime . Because her husband is the one thats always trying to find happiness and silliness and joy and all those kind of thats why he puts the googly eyes, in hopes that it will make her laugh. When that camera rolls, I cango.. In this conversation, Kara Swisher and Yeoh discuss the film, which Kara describes as The Matrix meets L.S.D. We came into this life naked. Theres a lot of failure along the line. That discussion between her and the man she left behind. Yen cannot raise his right arm overhead, for example, on account of having been smashed into a brick wall on 1985sMismatched Couples. [You can listen to this episode of Sway on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.]. Again, not giving away plot. The two had a 20-year quest to join a project together. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? Donnie Yen has been punched, in the name of moviemaking, more times than he can count. Jet Li Nearly Blinded Donnie Yen While Filming On Two Different Movies. And suddenly, it was much more like, you see? As one of the few Cantonese students, the mainland was a different world. Yes, yes. Your body knows what its doing because its just extracted this key information. Theres one universe where people have floppy hot dog fingers, and another only inhabited by rocks. Donnie Yen was born in Guangzhou, China. Brandon Louis is a TV/Movie news writer. Shes not trying to be funny. Well, you got hit. By the time he arrived, Hong Kong was long-established as the epicenter of Chinese-language cinemaand also the locus of the most frenetic and daring action films on the planet. Im doing Tigers Apprentice. Im in the next Minions.. Academically, Yen was a mediocre student. I Thought Mentalphysics Was New-Age Nonsense. Boots, $1,495, by Christian Louboutin. That mahjong scene was something else. Our stories do matter. The progressthe freeways, the architecture, the convenience of lifestyle. He is upset when the Western media focuses only on negative stories about China. When they came to me, they said, they want you to be a Minion. Stop trying to change the other person. Enjoy some creature comforts. The show was the top-rated action drama show around the region, and was subsequently re-edited for international distribution on video.Donnie went on to make his directorial debut with 'Legend of the Wolf', a stylish period actioner that even attracted the attention of legendary American film-maker Francis Coppola. (SINGING) When you walk in a room, do you have sway? [Discussing Hero] I remember there was another choreography where he was wired up with a sword. 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. 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. And then you pull back and you go, what the heck do they have at the end of their sleeve? Yen, broke, would hang around film sets just so he could eat for free. You know what Im saying?, Things are changingeven if progress has been agonizingly slow. Honestly, I would love to be in a musical. You can see after the huge success of Crazy Rich Asians, can you imagine the weight on our shoulders at that point? Theyve been here. And I think thats a cowards way out. Every day: pain. And you know, you carry it with you everywhere you go. Are they respectful of Chinese culture? 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'. And we are very, very much part of you know, the Asians belong. 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. Jacket, $11,000, and scarf, $690, by Dior Men. This movie was for Jackie Chan originally and then switched very quickly to you. Joe Origins, starring. I think that was our attitude. And Evelyn, who is I think it was the funniest when Evelyn realizes, what do you mean Im the worst failure of Evelyn Wang in all the universes? When he's not writing, Brad enjoys going on a ride with the latest action hit or Netflix original, though he's also known to just pop in "The Room" from time to time. Ten years later, the pair starred in the epic Hero when Li cuts Yen again, this time above his right eye.