And walk away. I think if you dont have a big beating heart, its so easy to just say, well, youre already a grown-up. Take it and run with it, or sink. You fight with, or you dance with, multiple partners. Not like, oh, now suddenly I have. In 2016, he starred in Netflix's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny opposite Harry Shum Jr. and Michelle Yeoh. And to invest both his money and his one more valuable resource than moneytimein projects that he loves, likeakra. He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. A huge hit for Emperor, the film earned Yen his first Best Action Director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Even then, I noticed a couple of Asian diners nearby quietly freaking out. Lets do it. We have to give each other the space and be who they are, and accept them. You learn to be so precisely on point and accurate at every angle, Yen says. And the guys had to step in and teach them a lesson. Its so liberating. 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! More from NextShark: BLACKPINK announce title track Shut Down and ticket sale info. He started hanging out at other gyms around Boston. It was because she suddenly realized thats when I dont have Waymond and I dont have Joy. Mm-hmm. Jackie Chan and Jet Li are two of the greatest martial arts actors to ever grace the silver screen. Jin Yongs novels are beloved in China, sprawling multivolume epics. Shirt, $535, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. Its the first Hollywood movie since the early 90s to have a modern story and all-Asian casts. Shanghai Knights (2003) Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen Shanghai Knights (2003) NEXT: Donnie Yen Should Front A xXx Spinoff Franchise. When Yen was 16, his parents arranged to send him to train with the famed Beijing Wushu Team, in China. So, they pulled me up, and Barbara came to meet me in Europe. 04 Mar 2023 03:42:41 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. They are meant to be respectful. When Donnie was just two years old, the family moved to Hong Kong and then, when he was 11, to Boston . If you like this interview and want to hear others, follow us on your favorite podcast app. Its why he relishes every action sceneevery bump, every bruise. And they're quite heavy. And theres more. We came into this life naked. Boots, $695, by Alessandro Vasini. We have this mating dance. 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. 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. 10 February 2023; . But not Yen. 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. She is the way she is. Oh, god, you know, with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, that was an Asian movie. But he feels it in his body, that he is not quite as quick as he once was. But your face has to register, its like, why, do what, how, you know. 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. Its about you going out there and making your own life. I kid you not, it was spilling like shower spray. I Thought Mentalphysics Was New-Age Nonsense. At the same time, Donnie was influenced by his parents' love of music and reached a high level of proficiency as a pianist. Its all like a bunch of jazz musicians, Yen 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. 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 . Well, you did. They grapple and fight dirty. 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. This whole shot was one take, about 50 moves or something. Chinese kung fu star, Donnie Yen, is listed as a member of National Committee of CPPCC. 'Seven Swords' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and proved a hit with worldwide audiences. The Chinese, we all have our way of interpreting the story. 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. Right, right. You have to take care of yourself. But the stunt double couldnt hit the mark. When that camera rolls, I cango.. Donnie Yen. You said Matrix on LSD. After about 30 takes, he missed. Thankfully, Lin pops up for an explosive assist at the last moment that fits right in with the silliness the Shanghai movies pride themselves on. It will continue to grow. 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. 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. I want to be a singer. Its the same attitude that has guided Yen throughout his career. And I remembered when Ang came to me, at that time, I was doing the press . That discussion between her and the man she left behind. Yen's portrayal of the eponymous Wing Chun grandmaster and mentor to the legendary Bruce Lee in the Ip Man moviessubsequently made him a household name to Western audiences. It took a long time for Yen to become a leading man. Nothing matters, and therefore be free, or nothing matters, and therefore give up. '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. [You can listen to this episode of Sway on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.]. That hasnt stopped a lot of people. This is a John Wick movie. 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 won Donnie his second Best Action Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards.He took his on-screen depiction of MMA to new heights in 'Flashpoint', which featured an even longer and more intense final showdown, this time between Yen and 'Matrix Reloaded' actor Collin Chou. I dont want to do that again. 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. 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. Thats not going to happen. Brandon Louis is a TV/Movie news writer. The BBC, CNN, they never talk about that. 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. While the more familiar faces of Jackie Chan and Jet Li are household names in America, the 48-year-old Yen still needs one real chance to show his stuff with a significant part in a Hollywood-produced blockbuster to add his name to the list. So, its interesting because its a posture of disappointment, in a lot of ways. It was very competitive. My arms and legs are going in directions that I couldnt even fathom that could happen. Yen's final reel duel with Sammo Hung is now regarded as a classic of the genre. So what they did was, like, lets switch the roles because its not been done. But the joy and love to be found in that kind of situation gives you such a sense of self-worth. And you should see, Jamie and I, we look at each other and, wahaa! 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. Youre right. Right, because she finds that ridiculous. Her latest role is no exception she took on a part that was originally written for the actor Jackie Chan. In this version, they are reimagined as powerful female warriors, complete with stunning costumes and fierce attitudes. (At least not on purpose. If the Daniels, if you look at them, you go, OK, anything goes. Suddenly, Yen found himself apprenticed to one of the great action directors of what might be the last golden age of kung fu filmmaking. Oh, no, no, no. I guess thats not the same thing, Animation? 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? After premieres in New York and Los Angeles, the film enjoyed great acclaim from the American critics, and won a prize at that year's Taurus Awards, an event held to celebrate action in cinema.After working on a number of independent features, Yen went on to enjoy huge success on the small screen when he accepted a lucrative offer from Hong Kong's ATV to film a series based on the Bruce Lee classic 'Fist of Fury'. Do you play a big role in the next movie? 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 . 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. It wasnt a protest, okay, it was a riot, Yen says. 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. Because thats how we are wired, in so many ways. 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. That mahjong scene was something else. 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'. I think that is the superpower thats inherent in all of us. 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. 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. 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. . So, what is it you really, really want? He was signed to co-star in and action direct 'Highlander: Endgame', the latest in a series of fantasy actioners. Nothing matters, be free, or nothing matters, give up. So he had a stunt double wired up, Yen explains. Now, definitely. One question that had always bugged him, for example: Why doesnt anybody miss? Why is everything so generic?. Drop my hands. We do the best we can.. Is there any type of roles you havent played yet that you really want to do? He was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer and died while the film was still in postproduction. Im very blessed that I still have a lot of speed, explosiveness, power, he says. Jackie Chan and Sylvester Stallone have a long-running Hollywood friendship. 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. Oh, I was a Chinese opera singer. 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. Yen calmly warned them to leave them alone, but the thugs opted to attack him, which ended up with Donnie thoroughly kicking their asses in the street. And the mother is trying to convince her otherwise. He got one of his producers to make an introduction, borrowed the money. But beneath the silliness is a universal story of love and belonging and family. You know, inHero we did all the poetic shots and beautiful color and posingits been done, Yen says. 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. Yeah, so its a silly premise, but the heart of it is not silly. Yen also shared during his interview that he was able to pay homage to his idol, Bruce Lee, through Caines new look. 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. I was wondering, when you were doing that, were you held to a different standard than the men? You are getting fat. 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. The companys first two movies,Legend of the Wolf andBallistic Kisswhich Yen cowrote, produced, directed, and starred intanked at the box office. I have been in so many countries in the world, but its not even close. I did that . Here in America, you are taught you have to be self-sufficient. I cannot do stage. The Last of Us Episode 7 Introduces a Close Friend From Ellie's Past, While Joel's Life . 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. Anyway, Michelle, this has been a delight. That isnt, he says, a criticism directed solely atJohn Wick. But hes never forgotten it. 8 of 134. auditor, who is fantastic. Then, what I was watching the fight sequences, and I thought, this looks exactly like a choreographed dance piece. Yes. If there was a multiverse universe that you can jump into, I want to be a rock star. You do whatever you want. Often, the typecasting isnt even conscious. Which your character was against that, was against Constances character. Their bromance was crystallized in 2016, when Stallone presented the Chinese action icon with an honorary Academy. From the Triads! Yen says with a grin, relishing the story. Then the wardrobe againoh, mandarin collars. Im like, I worship the ground he walks on. 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. So, they said, well, OK, if you want to try action, if it doesnt succeed, thats the easiest thing. Right? Bruce Lee vs. Jackie Chan vs. Jet Li vs. Donnie Yen. Chan and Yen's second big-screen fight is the inverse in every way from theirShanghai Knightsbout,being more weapon-based and placing Chan, in particular, into some very new territory. 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. Yen playsGeneral Lone, a warrior out to free the land of Huadu from the tyrannical rule of a sinister Queen. Half a day, a couple of hours. A couple of hours? Is it a lonely existence? 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. Answer (1 of 2): Even if you equalized their ages, my vote would go to Donnie Yen because he is a competent grappler with a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a 2nd dan in judo and has trained some in MMA. Jacket, $3,390, pants, $1,350, and boots, $1,450, by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. And then we just attacked it. 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. And then you pull back and you go, what the heck do they have at the end of their sleeve? You name it, hes hurt it. You always put the family first. It didnt change things because its a period piece. 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. What are you willing to walk away from? Boots, $1,495, by Christian Louboutin. He came over and he made a few movies. 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). So, people listening to this will be like, a bagel? Its quite sad. So, I remember when I first said because I dont read Chinese. I was doing the press for Tomorrow Never Dies. They said, oh, you know this director, Ang Lee? He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. When they came to me, they said, they want you to be a Minion. 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. 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. Yeoh plays Evelyn Wang, the hardworking owner of a failing laundromat whos too busy to tend to the little but important things in life. Throughout his career, Hollywood has never quite known what to do with himor, until recently, any Asian leading men, for that matter. It was so differentthey speak different, the culture, very different food, he 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. ), Caine is looking cool and fashionable like all the other John Wick characters.
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