Even with the Crazy Rich Asians one, we sort of diverted from the original book. I have, yes, success and fame. 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. Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen are both action movie legends - and here's a look at when the two have done battle in fight scenes with each other. Why do we do this? And the women became the damsel in distress. 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. Yen also revealed that his character Caine didn't initially check all of his boxes until director Chad Staheleski made some changes. More News. And I think thats a cowards way out. Ich denke eine direkte Antwort kann man darauf nicht geben. But the stunt double couldnt hit the mark. 8 of 134. Joy, her daughter, is played by Stephanie Hsu, who was fantastic in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel also. 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. 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. I was wondering, when you were doing that, were you held to a different standard than the men? You do whatever you want. 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. Yen playsGeneral Lone, a warrior out to free the land of Huadu from the tyrannical rule of a sinister Queen. Walking stick, $295, by Scully & Scully. And Im like, no way. But hes never forgotten it. 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. This is not uncommon. David Axelrod, Sarah Longwell and Preet Bharara on What to Look For in the Jan. 6 Hearings, The Elon That Were Seeing Today Is Not the Same One We Saw a Couple Years Ago, David Ellison on Top Gun: Maverick, Working With Tom Cruise and Hiring John Lasseter. He would spend countless hours developing hisfa jing, or explosiveness, practicing high kicks on the heavy bag until he knocked it down. And suddenly, it was much more like, you see? Donnie, can you come in and shoot a close-up? Donnie Yen has been punched, in the name of moviemaking, more times than he can count. Copyright Fandango. And youll get new ones delivered directly to you. Again, not giving away plot. Why do you have to be so generic? And one of the things that was interesting to me is Ive never seen you in something so silly, which is, I think fantastic. The progressthe freeways, the architecture, the convenience of lifestyle. He is upset when the Western media focuses only on negative stories about China. Boston itself was not always welcoming. More from NextShark: Curtis Waters is more than a TikTok gimmick: 'There's so much amazing sh*t that I have yet to do'. It was very difficult for my mom, because she couldnt accept that, like, Why couldnt you learn from me? But I guess I was born having that personality, always curious of what was out there.. 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. It wasnt about her not being rich enough or whatever. 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. Whats the new approach?. But I know that once You know what, Donnie? But if you have humanity, if you have empathy, if you have love, you never walk away from family, or you never walk away from friends. He notably turned down a role in The Expendables franchise due to how Jet Li, who played the character Yin Yang, was portrayed in the first film. Thanks for listening. The two had a 20-year quest to join a project together. 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. When they came to me, they said, they want you to be a Minion. So, that was that kind of physical comedy that I had not done before. Im going to go [out] naked. But Im there, you know?, Yens Chinese patriotism can get him into troublemost notably during the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, during which Yens pro-Beijing stance prompted many cinemagoers in his home city to boycott his movies. 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. 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. Naturally, Chan and Yen had to come face-to-face on the big screen sooner or later, with the pair ultimately fightingtwice. 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. 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'. The reception forShanghai Knightsclearly showed that it had outdone Shanghai Noon's blend of Wild West action and anachronistic comedy, but not enough credit is given to Wu Chow's defeat being of the funniest moments of either movie. Yen had been hired by Guillermo del Toro to choreograph the movies superhuman fight sequences, as well as to act alongside Wesley Snipes in a minor role. I never say no to him. Its a stylish affair, beautifully shot. 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. And you must try and find joy and happiness. They never mention the true side of it. 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. But she did not say, OK, lets just wrap it up and call it a day. Yen is the latest Asian action star to find Hollywood fame, following the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee. And he was going to be the principal. The film has been a daunting task. 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. '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. 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. You picked up a lot of your stunt training early in your career in Hong Kong. She would drag me out of bed, whack me with a wooden stick. I had a very respectful experience working on John Wick. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he said. When It Comes to Gun Control, Will Baby Steps Fix Anything? Its wild, its wonderful, its weird, its everything. It became the first foreign language movie to break the $100 million mark in a U.S. box office, and had the most Oscar nods ever for a foreign language film until Roma few years ago from Netflix. He said, hes wondering if, you know, you have time to have a quick cup of tea with him. Look at theJohn Wick franchise itself, which would not exist without the influences of John Woo and Yuen. When it first came, I was like, no, no, no, no, no. 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. Beyond the limitations of his mother's school, Yen began training in various different fighting arts, including Japanese karate, Korean taekwondo and western boxing. Youre right. And thank god I heard it was because one of the writers in the room turned on and said, oh, theres this actress from Hong Kong, actually, he said, who does her own action. Im like, I worship the ground he walks on. So, a movie musical, not a Broadway musical. A half-beat slower. 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. This is a John Wick movie. I would suspect she was, Im guessing. 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. You were an equal match. And they're quite heavy. I think I would be nervous to throw a dildo at you. That discussion between her and the man she left behind. Donnie Yen was a martial artist who became a performer. Then the wardrobe again oh, mandarin collars. Certain camera tricks. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. He notably turned down a role in The Expendables franchise due to how. 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. Its the first Hollywood movie since the early 90s to have a modern story and all-Asian casts. . Our stories do matter. One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. 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. Yeah, so its a silly premise, but the heart of it is not silly. You almost get sort of boxed and wrapped up in this beautiful thats what Michelle Yeoh represents, elegance and beauty, and refined and dignified. Im curious for your perspective on the global industry, though, because youre such an international star and actor. 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So, its interesting because its a posture of disappointment, in a lot of ways. More from NextShark: 'Chinese people are the worst': 'Genshin Impact' streamer under fire after racist tirade during stream. 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! I have no idea. At the time, the demand for martial arts movies was waning, and Yen was determined to innovate within a genre starting to grow stale. And I think it really shows because the scenes that I have with Stephanie, she is looking for her mother in every universe. Instead of coming across, and I'm supposed to block it like this, he comes across horizontally. Jacket, $2,800, vest, $590, shirt (vintage), and pants, $690, by Double RL. In 2019, Yen was working with the director Benny Chan on a cop movie calledRaging Fire, when Chan fell ill during production. You can play, you can playjust come in and jam., But that free-flowing collaborative style meant that when Yen started getting jobs as an action choreographer in the US in the early aughts, he rubbed up against the compartmentalized way that Hollywood studios ran things. But then, what is it youre giving up? His characters deploy mixed martial arts. But not Yen. He can stillgo. 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. said Yen. (Yens mom had taught Yuens sister.) Right? As one of the few Cantonese students, the mainland was a different world. Lashana Lynch might become that, but well see. I have been in so many countries in the world, but its not even close. And What Even Is Web3? And I almost chained up life. Shirt, $535, pants, $775, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. Even as Hollywood has ignored Asian actors, it has over the years co-opted the visual techniques and tropes of Hong Kong cinema. I have no tendons in the shoulder, he says. I want to be a singer. Its normally, yes, for a younger version. But as a martial artist? Now, your Hollywood breakthrough was when you played a Bond and Im not going to use the term girl because Wai Lin was not a girl in the 1997 movie Tomorrow Never Dies. Can you talk about I love Bond movies, and I thought you were fantastic in it. She calls herself a loser. No, no, no, no. Donnie Yen has also been in the business since the mid-'80s, but didn't truly break until the mid-2000s when he infusedMMA into Hong Kong action movies through Sha Po Lang and Flash Point. Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and live smarter with its unparalleled coverage of style, culture, and beyond. Why is everything so generic? Doesnt smile, shared Yen, who suggested making Chirrut mwe blind. She cant accept that. Its a major project for Yen. In 1997, Yen set up his own production company, Bullet Films. Stephanie Hsu plays this role. Shirt, $535, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. 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. Its like, even with the marriage with the husband of so many years. But adapting to life in the United States as new immigrants was difficult; for a while, the family lived off food stamps. 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. 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. Maybe now it can happen. Which your character was against that, was against Constances character. So it was very different because, at the end of the day, when she comes back into her own universe, she is still Evelyn Wang but with extra skills. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. And you can sing to many, or you can just sing to one. In "Everything Everywhere All at Once," Yeoh plays the superhero: a Chinese American. I cannot do stage. Ive been through it all. But then, what she understood was, I can keep learning. And I dont want to give away, but it plays a big role. At the same time, Donnie was influenced by his parents' love of music and reached a high level of proficiency as a pianist. Even then, I noticed a couple of Asian diners nearby quietly freaking out. And all these things keep coming at you. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he says. When Yen was 16, his parents arranged to send him to train with the famed Beijing Wushu Team, in China. Wire work. Its basically The Matrix meets LSD trip. But the joy and love to be found in that kind of situation gives you such a sense of self-worth. 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. I was the outsider. They make these [MINION VOICES]. '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 kicker? Then cameIp Man, the semifictionalized 2008 film about the eponymous wing chun master (who was Bruce Lees mentor), which launched a four-film franchise and, in China at least, an entire genre ofIp Man derivatives. And walk away. RELATED:Police Story: The Stunt That Almost Killed Jackie Chan. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. I have so many injuries, Yen says, laughing. Chinese movies, Hollywood movies, his other business pursuits, including a line of sunglassesthe phone rarely stops ringing. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Waymond is played by Ke Huy Quan. V3.1. It was likeKill Bill. Yen was born in Guangzhou, on the Chinese mainland. Nothing matters, be free, or nothing matters, give up. Well, you got hit. Oh, god, you know, with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, that was an Asian movie. It was so differentthey speak different, the culture, very different food, he says. When the Daniels first wrote it, its true. Everything is so staged its fake, he says. auditor, who is fantastic. But do you think it was supposed to change things, I remember. They are not in my life. After about 30 takes, he missed. 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 . Its hard to do, Yen says. You are engaged with that emotional thread connection that keeps going through it. Its so liberating. I guess thats not the same thing, Animation? One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. Yeah, thats right. I mean, the universe of your life, your real life as a martial arts movie star, was very sad. 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. He got one of his producers to make an introduction, borrowed the money. Yeoh plays Evelyn Wang, the hardworking owner of a failing laundromat whos too busy to tend to the little but important things in life. At the time, Hong Kong cinemaas personified by Jackie Chanwas producing the most electrifying action movies in the world. 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. And he said to me, I want to make Sense and Sensibility with martial arts. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. 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. But interestingly and maybe this is wrong because its been reported different places. The point is: He might be sore the next day, butfor now, at leasthe can still deliver. 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. [Discussing Hero] I remember there was another choreography where he was wired up with a sword. If there was a stunt, you did it yourself. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? We never had a storyboard. 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. His debut film immediately established him as a viable leading man, and Yen has remained a major figure in Chinese action cinema to this day.Yen skills as a street dancer were to the fore in his second starring role, 'Mismatched Couples', in which he showed off his breakdance moves, as well as his general athleticism. How did they get this opportunity? We came into this life naked. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-ready videos to electric live events, GQ meets millions of modern men where they live, creating the moments that create conversations. Brad also offers philosophical musings on martial arts and the filmographies of everyone from Jackie Chan to Donnie Yen on Kung Fu Kingdom, where he's also had the privilege of interviewing many of the world's great stunt professionals, and hearing plenty of gripping stories on injuries incurred in their line of work and the intricacies of designing the acts of death defiance he first thrilled to as a youngster. It's all here You said you wanted to do it, fine. 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. Each studio was determined to outdo its rivals for the most elaborate action sequences and flat-out dangerous stunts. Hes totally cool, and he loves martial arts movies, Yen says. I could have been blind. You look like youre having much more fun with the hot dog. Jaycee chan was great, he comes across very humble , Jackie chan had a small role in this film just like donnie yen which was a disappointment but none the less still enjoyable. Special thanks to Shannon Busta, Kristin Lin and Kristina Samulewski. And two, did it do that? Before he accepts a role, hell ask questions, like, Is the role generic? Come on. Will ringmaster Mark Ellis give the W to the Drunken Master, the true Hero,Ip Man himself, or the mother-bleeping Dragon himself? So, the movie borrows from, obviously, martial arts movies in a very cheeky way. I Thought Mentalphysics Was New-Age Nonsense. 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. From the Triads! Yen says with a grin, relishing the story. So that was what the Daniels were trying to they came up to me and said, no, no, no, no. We cant be invincible. And Im like, I would bend backwards to talk to him. But I think at the core of the story, really, its a very ordinary, average a woman that you walk by every day. We will see. My mom and I were separated for eight years, Yen says. After 20 or 50 moves, he keeps missing, Yen says. So, yes, we became better known in America, like Chow Yun-Fat. But Id love to know how you would describe the film. I cant take it with me, Yen says. 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? And it was like its very much like dancing, if you look at it. The Planet Is Burning. Right, which the daughter is doing. John Wick: Chapter 4 is hitting theatres on March 24. 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. Yes, poise. Boots, $695, by Alessandro Vasini. Yen was eventually able to pay off the debt. Immerhin hat er in "Die Todeskralle schlgt wieder . The older I get, the more I kind of look into what Im about, Yen says. The 59-year old will not be taking on Hollywood roles that are deemed "generic" and if it doesn't respect his Chinese culture. He shows me a rough cut of the trailer forakra. But its not the only version of her, which is interesting. 01 March . Its like, even with the hot dog fingers, when you look at them, youre going, what? I did that . Its about you going out there and making your own life. Its not contemporary. Talk about this dynamic between your character, Evelyn, your daughter, Joy. All rights reserved. When I didBlade II I had a horrible time, man. Shes not trying to be funny. You must not give up. That hasnt stopped a lot of people. The characters are there, but its more about the love rather than just the playing around, the pranks that they would do on the poor girl poor Constance, and you know. But because she is so focused and weighed down by the sheer sense of responsibility of a failing business, and then being audited, and the daughter and then the father shows up on her doorstep, the one who is always disapproving, disappointed. Why is everythingso generic? Thats part of life. Half a day, a couple of hours. A couple of hours? Special thanks to Kristin Lin and Kristina Samulewski. In 2016, he starred in Netflix's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny opposite Harry Shum Jr. and Michelle Yeoh. Right now Ive gotta take three cups of double espresso, do a couple of warm-ups. Yen laughs again. Her face is still Evelyn Wang going, what the heck is going on? Is it a lonely existence?

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