Donnie Yen appears as the film's secondary villain, Wu Chow, sent to assassinatethe Royal Familyto getChina's Imperial Seal. We cant be invincible. Last take, the guy overshot and cracked Yen in the face, slicing open his brow a quarter-inch from his eye, nearly blinding him. Talk about this dynamic between your character, Evelyn, your daughter, Joy. All of them are under attack by an evil force in the form of a giant spinning everything bagel you heard that right and Evelyn is being recruited to save the world. In the early drafts of the script, Yens character, Chirrut mwe, was just the same generic martial arts warrior. 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. But the joy and love to be found in that kind of situation gives you such a sense of self-worth. Doesnt smile, shared Yen, who suggested making Chirrut mwe blind. If you like this interview and want to hear others, follow us on your favorite podcast app. He can stillgo. Right? Its a martial arts movie. 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. of Cond Nast: This Is No Longer a Magazine Company, The Digital Tools That Aided the Buffalo Gunman and What to Do About Them. In this conversation, Kara Swisher and Yeoh discuss the film, which Kara describes as The Matrix meets L.S.D. Ridiculous athleticism. 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. Global fans will recognize him from the likes of. More with Michelle Yeoh after the break. But you might never have. 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. You are getting fat. Jackie Chan is a performer who lea. Theres drama. Cinemagoers in China are being obliged to watch propaganda videos featuring some of the country's best-loved stars. 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. "The name was Shang or Chang. Is there a universe you didnt like? But your face has to register, its like, why, do what, how, you know. I cant believe you jump from trucks and youre scared of the stage. After 20 or 50 moves, he keeps missing, Yen says. 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. I would love to do like a Moulin Rouge because thats the dancer-performer in me. Today we talk about injusticeI mean, back in the days, you cant imagine. He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. 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 . Shes not trying to be funny. Yen and fellow martial arts legend Jet Li go at it with bamboo poles, literally bringing down the building around them. On his phone, he has about a dozen group chats going, connecting him to the various departments, so that when he inevitably wakes up at 4 a.m. with ideas, he can make changes from afar. 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. At that point, it was like, nothing will faze you. . Its like, even with the hot dog fingers, when you look at them, youre going, what? As an outspoken person, I always questioned, Yen says. From the parents, the grandparents the hierarchy, right? 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. Follow Brad on Twitter @BradCurran. Copyright Fandango. And then you pull back and you go, what the heck do they have at the end of their sleeve? 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. I want to be a singer. I dont even know how that would work in this story because . You know, whats the value of life? Theyve been here. As you get older you feel it more and more., Another actor might have hung it up by nowor at least dialed back the physical side of things. A father and daughter, husband and wife. As one of the few Cantonese students, the mainland was a different world. When that camera rolls, I cango.. 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. If there was a multiverse universe that you can jump into, I want to be a rock star. Theyre giving you an opportunity to do it. They never mention the true side of it. Why can't he have a normal name? Who knows: In my 70s I might be lucky, and be one of those very few that are still able tobut why push that?, Thats why he still wakes up in the morning and does jump kicks. Its all like a bunch of jazz musicians, Yen says. 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. I mean, hes 60 years, a legacy thats been so nurtured and protected and well thought out. Jacket, $3,390, pants, $1,350, and boots, $1,450, by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. After about 30 takes, he missed. Over time, he learned a few tricks to soften the blows. It's all here Who is the ultimate fighter? His characters deploy mixed martial arts. Blood sprays like a horror movie. An ambulance came; Yen received six stitches. In an interview with GQ, Yen, 59, shared that he spoke to "John Wick: Chapter 4" director Chad Stahelski about making adjustments to Caine, a blind assassin whose first iteration allegedly employed several Asian tropes. Its the first Hollywood movie since the early 90s to have a modern story and all-Asian casts. In a recent interview with GQ, the actor shared that he's very selective about signing on roles. Right, because she finds that ridiculous. At the end of the 50 movies, maybe the 48th, 49 moves, he strikes down with his sword. 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'. But in general, its always an older man. Jackie Chan and Jet Li are two of the greatest martial arts actors to ever grace the silver screen. Its like, even with the marriage with the husband of so many years. He went, "Boop!" Yen joined Li in the sequel as the villainous Commander Lan. But then, what she understood was, I can keep learning. Its hard to do, Yen says. Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen recently recalled two different occasions when legendary martial arts actor Jet Li nearly blinded him. And theres more. Its so funny. 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. 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. When Yen was two years old, he and his father, a newspaper editor, moved to Hong Kong. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. The point is: He might be sore the next day, butfor now, at leasthe can still deliver. Shes one hell of a determined woman, even though she fails at so many things. The women became the character that needs to be provided for and protected and all those kind of things. 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. She cant accept that. Not only is he the director and executive producer, he also plays the lead and, in flashbacks, his characters father. In 2019, Yen was working with the director Benny Chan on a cop movie calledRaging Fire, when Chan fell ill during production. 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. But do you think it was supposed to change things, I remember. So hopefully now they will, you know, get on the horse and really ride out. 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. How did they get this opportunity? It was because she suddenly realized thats when I dont have Waymond and I dont have Joy. an old friend of Wick's who is speculated to . Donnie Yen was a martial artist who became a performer. Besides his on-screen performance, Donnie was also called on to choreograph the dynamic duel between himself and MMA champion Cung Le. Its comedy. Like, running and taking off my things and going, OK, now Im going on a plane, and fly straight back to China in Shanghai to be with him. I witnessed gangsters fight on the set. The companys first two movies,Legend of the Wolf andBallistic Kisswhich Yen cowrote, produced, directed, and starred intanked at the box office. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? 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. Yen's final reel duel with Sammo Hung is now regarded as a classic of the genre. Its just like youre on LSD the whole time. At the same time, Donnie Yen, still years away from his Western fame followingRogue One: A Star Wars Storyand the spy moviexXx: Return of Xander Cage, hadonly done two other American movies at the time in Highlander: Endgame and Blade II. Because the mother-daughter relationship is central to the story. 'Ip Man 2' was the biggest local hit of the year in China, and enjoyed a limited theatrical release in the US.The film's success led to Donnie being cast as a number of legendary Chinese heroes: He played General Qin-long in Daniel Lee's '14 Blades', Guan Yu in 'The Lost Bladesman' and reprised Bruce Lee's Chen Zhen role in Andrew Lau's 'Legend of the Fist'. All rights reserved. Six stitches again, two times, both sides close to my eyeballs. So, its interesting because its a posture of disappointment, in a lot of ways. 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. Im curious, what did that movie did that change things for you in terms of roles coming in? It was very competitive. He was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer and died while the film was still in postproduction. These days, Yen is more selective with the Hollywood movies that he takes on. RELATED:Police Story: The Stunt That Almost Killed Jackie Chan. One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. Necklace, $20,300, by Cartier. Guillermo was a total gentleman. Why is everything so generic? And in ancient China. Because of the years of having to carry heavy loads of things, her body is not always upright. Youre not allowed to ask questions. More from NextShark: Curtis Waters is more than a TikTok gimmick: 'There's so much amazing sh*t that I have yet to do'. When Yen was 16, his parents arranged to send him to train with the famed Beijing Wushu Team, in China. Billie Wang, interpretada por Awkwafina, es la protagonista de 'The Farewell' o Jackie Chan 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. Hes totally cool, and he loves martial arts movies, Yen says. 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. In your dreams, buddy. I dont understand this. And then we just attacked it. How can I be the worst? 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. Actors including Jackie Chan, Rogue One's Donnie Yen and Transformers star Li . And Im like, are you kidding me? Its okayIm going to shoot you from one side. Yen laughs. Doesnt smile, shared Yen, who suggested making Chirrut mwe blind. 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. 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 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. Special thanks to Shannon Busta, Kristin Lin and Kristina Samulewski. Why is everythingso generic? 04 Mar 2023 03:42:41 Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News. The Founding of a Republic is a Chinese historical drama produced in 2009 to mark the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China and was made to portray the final years of the Chinese Communist Revolution that followed the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). 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. I guess my destiny is to be making movies., For a decade now, hes been talking about retiring. 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. The steps are choreographed. 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. But that touches and goes places. Shirt, $535, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. I gotta say, hot dog fingers might be. . Nothing matters, and therefore be free, or nothing matters, and therefore give up. But interestingly and maybe this is wrong because its been reported different places. Not going to happen. He whacked me on one side and 10 years later, he whacked me on the other side. Im going to go [out] naked. So it would have been in that original thing, initially, it was like, I would have played the wife of Jackie Chan. The shot was simple: Yen had to block an incoming strike with his pole, while keeping the straight face of a badass wushu master. People who continue to keep thinking and to go forward no matter what the negativity or setback., Yen was upbeat. In China, Yen can play drug lords, animated monkeys, romantic leads, soldierseven sing. Its about whats happening in our society. 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. Anyway: [Li] hurt himself. 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. That discussion between her and the man she left behind. When they came to me, they said, they want you to be a Minion. Copyright 2018 Fandango. As he often does on movies that hes directing or producing, Yen fed into every element of production: costumes, sets, music, action choreography. But in Hollywood? Yeah, so its a silly premise, but the heart of it is not silly. . I went to my friends karate school, or a boxing gym, Yen says. It wasIp Man that kick-started Yens recent career renaissance, and one reason why, lately, Yen has found himself busier than ever. And shes unrecognizable as Deirdre. Why do you have to be so generic? It was Yen who suggested making the character blind, and gave him a sense of humor, improvising jokes on the setand, in turn, turning an otherwise straight clich into the soul of the movie. So, yes, we became better known in America, like Chow Yun-Fat. Are they respectful of Chinese culture? Please. I cannot do stage. I Thought Mentalphysics Was New-Age Nonsense. Yes, but you have, OK money in the bank. These people belong to another dimension, right? Well, you did. 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. No, no, no, no. In Hong Kong during those heady early days, there was no real dividing line between the actors and the stunt department. 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 (. All rights reserved. I do all of them, unless I mean, if its asking me to jump off the third floor, then I dont do that anymore. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. Tune in to find out, and let us know who you think is the greatest of the great in the comments. But then, when it came to the late 70s and early 80s, it switched over to much more masculine dominated with you know, the Jackie Chan, the Jet Lee, the Donnie Yen. On an Apple device? Its wild, its wonderful, its weird, its everything. Talk tomorrow. Enjoy some creature comforts. Yes. 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 senior editor of Sway is Nayeema Raza, and the executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Irene Noguchi. We release every Monday and Thursday. Typical master. There was a rumor youd get a Bond spin-off, though that didnt happen. Why do you have to be so generic? There were more stories. 10 February 2023; . I had a very respectful experience working on John Wick. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he said. There will always be more people like Michelle, he said. 01 March . Right? But not Yen. (At least not on purpose. Donnie also received a Best Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards. After starring in blockbusters like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Disney's live-action Mulan, Yen will soon appear in John Wick 4 as Caine, an old friend of Wick's who is speculated to be an. Have you been in animation? Nihilism is especially resonant with the pandemic and the war and everything else. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. You went on to star in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000, which was a mega-hit globally. Sliced open. As an actor I dont want to. what it did was I think it changed for a lot of our Asian talent because there were more roles that were written. So, a movie musical, not a Broadway musical. Brandon Louis is a TV/Movie news writer. Yen previously played a blind character in another big-budget project: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The martial artist, who portrayed Chirrut mwe in the 2016 film, told GQ that he also asked for a redesign of his character after taking issue with him in early script drafts. And Ang is like the most quiet spoken. But she never gives up trying, even though her business is failing. I mean, the universe of your life, your real life as a martial arts movie star, was very sad. 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. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? Now, if they hit you in the head, they'll knock you out. Again, not giving away plot. Jet Li Nearly Blinded Donnie Yen While Filming On Two Different Movies. Good fight scenes. 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. The emotion, the commitment, its real. Then It Changed My Life. 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. 'Seven Swords' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and proved a hit with worldwide audiences. Youll be able to catch up on Sway episodes you may have missed, like my conversation with Andrew Garfield. You know What? Waymond is played by Ke Huy Quan. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he says. But beneath the silliness is a universal story of love and belonging and family. Over the course of his very long career,kung fu star Jackie Chan has brought audiences equal amounts of thrills and laughter with his penchant for comedy-laced action movies packed full of martial arts and death-defying stunts. Its basically The Matrix meets LSD trip. A half-beat slower. Although, if theres a villain in the movie, the real evil here is nihilism. Now, definitely. And with Chuck Norris. Boots, $695, by Alessandro Vasini. Today, Brad channels his thoughts on all manner of movies, from comic book films, sci-fi thrillers, comedies, and everything in between through his writings on Screen Rant. The 59-year old will not be taking on Hollywood roles that are deemed "generic" and if it doesn't respect his Chinese culture. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? Right? 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. Why do you have to be so generic? 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. Are Billionaires the Answer? And I think that was one of the light switches that came on. It could have been a girl. What are you willing to walk away from? And you must try and find joy and happiness. So that was what the Daniels were trying to they came up to me and said, no, no, no, no. Everything is so staged its fake, he says. He said, hes wondering if, you know, you have time to have a quick cup of tea with him. . But my own experience, like, I was there, I have many friends who were there. This is a John Wick movie. 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. Look at theJohn Wick franchise itself, which would not exist without the influences of John Woo and Yuen. 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. Donnie starred opposite screen legend Chow Yun-fat in the film, which smashed box office records in Mainland China.Showing his versatility, Yen went on to play a kung fu master facing challenges in the modern era in director Teddy Chen's 'Kung Fu Jungle'. Mm-hmm. 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 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. Really one of the worst times in my career, Yen says. She barely notices Waymond, her husband, who tries to make her smile by sticking googly eyes on the laundry bags, or her lesbian daughter Joy, whos struggling to come out to her grandfather with absolutely no support from her mother. They are not in my life. He started hanging out at other gyms around Boston. The same is true of Yen as an actor. Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen are two of the biggest martial arts stars in the world, and they've clashed twice in kung fu battles over the years. But I think at the core of the story, really, its a very ordinary, average a woman that you walk by every day. I had a very respectful experience working on John Wick. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he said. Half a day, a couple of hours. A couple of hours? Yeah. As appetite for Asian cinema has ebbed and flowed among non-Asian audiencesthrough the 90s Chan boom, the postCrouching Tiger wuxia craze, the more recent but short-lived breakouts helmed by the likes of Tony Jaa and Iko Uwaiseven huge stars like Yen have found their opportunities limited. In Hong Kong in those years, he explains, someone on every movie would have mafia connectionsit was a necessity, just to be able to film in certain locations. If the Daniels, if you look at them, you go, OK, anything goes. But he feels it in his body, that he is not quite as quick as he once was. 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. And then it didnt. She was very forceful, old school, like what you see in the movies. Nothing matters, be free, or nothing matters, give up. If there's one thing Donnie Yen is going to do, it is to call out stereotypes when he sees it. And we are very, very much part of you know, the Asians belong. It was horrendous, says Yen. So but although she is the loser, right? And I think it really shows because the scenes that I have with Stephanie, she is looking for her mother in every universe. But he always kept at it. (SINGING) When you walk in a room, do you have sway? 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. Chinese movies, Hollywood movies, his other business pursuits, including a line of sunglassesthe phone rarely stops ringing. But when Evelyn makes the trip to the I.R.S., her world is shaken up. And Im like, no way. Because Master Yuen Woo-Ping is like my mentor, my guru. All these interests would have a manifest influence on Yen's later life.In his teens, Donnie defined his own persona by rebelling against his parents edicts.