NEXT: Donnie Yen Should Front A xXx Spinoff Franchise. 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 in that universe, if you just have a very close-up of Jamie and myself holding each other, you see two women in love. Sway is a production of New York Times Opinion. That was the old Hong Kong way. As Yen grew in confidence, he and Yuen would regularly fall out. [You can listen to this episode of Sway on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.]. These days, Yen is more selective with the Hollywood movies that he takes on. Born in China, Yen moved with his family to Boston, where his mother, a tai-chi . So what happened was there was a shot where Jet Li was wired up and we both have these poles, these bamboo poles about this thick. The producer would come in and say, Thats it. Yeah, so its a silly premise, but the heart of it is not silly. The Chinese, we all have our way of interpreting the story. Did you have a favorite multiverse? ALSO READ:John Wick: Chapter 4 gets longest runtime in the series, clocking near 3 hours, John Wick: Chapter 4 gets longest runtime in the series, clocking near 3 hours. I try to look at it less defensive than before. Drop my hands. 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. 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. Jackie Chan's 20-Year Quest to Share the Screen With Lifelong Friend Its too easy to take that route. And he was going to be the principal. Shirt, $535, pants, $775, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. 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. Instead of coming across, and I'm supposed to block it like this, he comes across horizontally. Deirdre blah, blah, blah. That mahjong scene was something else. And it was like its very much like dancing, if you look at it. Their bromance was crystallized in 2016, when Stallone presented the Chinese action icon with an honorary Academy. You cant do that anymoreIll hang it up., Oliver Franklin-Wallis is the features editor atBritish GQ, A version of this story originally appeared in the March 2023 issue of GQ with the title Hong Kongs Ageless Action Hero, PRODUCTION CREDITS:Photographs by Puzzleman LeungStyled by Jacky TamHair by Little WhiteSkin by Kenji NgTailoring by Mrs. LamProduced by Jolene Lin, Apply Bed Bath and Beyond Coupon and save 25% Off your entire purchase, Target Circle: up to 50% Off with Target promo code, Save 25% on your purchase of Spring Styles with Asos Coupon, Michael Kors Promo Code: sign up for KORSVIP + Get 10% Off on First Order, 2023 Cond Nast. 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny' was shot primarily on location in New Zealand, with Yen in the lead role. Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen recently recalled two different occasions when legendary martial arts actor Jet Li nearly blinded him. Heaven or hell, or whatever. Its not just the age thing. So, what is it you really, really want? Actors including Jackie Chan, Rogue One's Donnie Yen and Transformers star Li . The conclusion of their duel also sidesteps there being an actual victor and places more emphasis on the two finding a mutual respect as General Lone reaches the pinnacle of his mission. They think theyre serving Chinese food. And the guys had to step in and teach them a lesson. In t. Donnie Yen - Rotten Tomatoes Jacket, $4,700, pants, $1,650, and belt, $830, by Gucci. 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. The next day, the director called. Not only is he the director and executive producer, he also plays the lead and, in flashbacks, his characters father. And I almost chained up life. ), Nevertheless, some hurts still linger. He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. Im curious, what did that movie did that change things for you in terms of roles coming in? Its okayIm going to shoot you from one side. Yen laughs. And as an audience, I think thats what he does for you, is he puts you in so many places, and then he pulls the rug from under you. You know what Im saying?, Things are changingeven if progress has been agonizingly slow. "The name was Shang or Chang. Well just put you right back to the same box. Ich denke eine direkte Antwort kann man darauf nicht geben. . And the rhythmbop-bop-bop-bopis perfectly timed. It was so differentthey speak different, the culture, very different food, he says. But he always kept at it. Yeah, thats right. And Im like, I would bend backwards to talk to him. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? When Yen was two years old, he and his father, a newspaper editor, moved to Hong Kong. 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. James Bond is James Bond. In Hong Kong during those heady early days, there was no real dividing line between the actors and the stunt department. My mom and I were separated for eight years, Yen says. Its so liberating. You you have to try and eat healthier. '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. He is not diminished, not yet. But its not the only version of her, which is interesting. [Discussing Hero] I remember there was another choreography where he was wired up with a sword. Why cant he look cool and fashionable? With Yens influence, the director Chad Stahelski agreed to change the name and the wardrobe. 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. But adapting to life in the United States as new immigrants was difficult; for a while, the family lived off food stamps. 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. Before he accepts a role, hell ask questions, like, Is the role generic? Why can't he have a normal name? Lets do it. This movie was for Jackie Chan originally and then switched very quickly to you. Because in 2020, Chinas film market became the worlds biggest box office. Bruce Lee vs. Jackie Chan vs. Jet Li vs. Donnie Yen. 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. Who would win in a fight between Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen? I went to my friends karate school, or a boxing gym, Yen says. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? Its these floppy things. Think about it. Thanks for listening. 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. 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. As one of the few Cantonese students, the mainland was a different world. Immerhin hat er in "Die Todeskralle schlgt wieder . The film has been a daunting task. 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. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? Its not contemporary. 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). When Yen was 16, his parents arranged to send him to train with the famed Beijing Wushu Team, in China. 'Chinese people are the worst': 'Genshin Impact' streamer under fire after racist tirade during stream, Ralph Macchio defends Karate Kid from very white criticism, Curtis Waters is more than a TikTok gimmick: 'There's so much amazing sh*t that I have yet to do', BLACKPINK announce title track Shut Down and ticket sale info. . The Rise of Gru. Oh, my god. 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. Donnie Yen was a martial artist who became a performer. It was horrendous, says Yen. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Actor, Producer, Director, Writer. 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? Shirt, $535, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. I was doing the press for Tomorrow Never Dies. They said, oh, you know this director, Ang Lee? Leeeeeeeeeeeets get ready to rumble in the Bronx. Yes, I think this is a love story, in a lot of ways, between also a mother and a daughter. But do you think it was supposed to change things, I remember. 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. I said, "Really? Today we talk about injusticeI mean, back in the days, you cant imagine. I know exactly where the camera is. Right. 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. Whats it like straddling two different film markets, the U.S. and China? After a period where he was based in Los Angeles, Donnie returned East by way of the West when Jackie Chan requested that Yen play his nemesis in the hit 'Shanghai Knights', a shoot that took the star from Prague to London.Yen returned to China to co-star in director Zhang Yimou's epic wu xia master work 'Hero'. 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. Donnie Yen - Wikipedia 01 March . Yes, poise. He was signed to co-star in and action direct 'Highlander: Endgame', the latest in a series of fantasy actioners. Its like, even with the hot dog fingers, when you look at them, youre going, what? And in ancient China. 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 (Wu Assassins star Mark Dacascos) from Chapter 3., More from NextShark: Ralph Macchio defends Karate Kid from very white criticism, Yen noted during his GQ interview that his actions were not a form of criticism toward Chapter 4.. Donnie collaborated with Yuen on the action for the film, designing a new on-screen interpretation of Wong Fei-hung's classic 'Shadowless Kick'. an old friend of Wick's who is speculated to . The senior editor of Sway is Nayeema Raza, and the executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Irene Noguchi. 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. Im trying to think. Its a movie its about the Chinese culture. Jackie Chan's 20-Year Quest to Share the Screen With Lifelong Friend Jet Li Finally Came to Fruition After Legal Barriers . We were completely, completely, as a family, committed. Yes. 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. Donnie Yen Vs Jackie Chan: Who Would Win? - Grunge.com And in fact, he knows all he has to do is call. Its comedy. Youre not allowed to look at the camera. 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. Gloves, $140, by Ernest W. Baker. Jacket, $11,000, and scarf, $690, by Dior Men. I was wondering, when you were doing that, were you held to a different standard than the men? Though Chan isn't performing stunts by diving headfirst off of buildings as much these days, and Yen's Ip Manmovie days have concluded, the pair have left a legacy as action stars and martial artists worldwide, meaningfans of both Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen would be remiss to miss out on both times they've faced off. Which I cant even explain. 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'. Theres drama. Donnie Yen says he fought for his 'John Wick,' 'Star Wars' characters 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. Wed broken each others staffs, so we were holding two, one in each hand. The prop staffs werent up to the task, so they were using real bamboo, solid, heavy as hell.. John Wick 4's Donnie Yen Shares Experiences Dealing With Asian 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. (SINGING) When you walk in a room, do you have sway? How can I be the worst? Also, the mother and the daughter-in-law. This is aJohn Wick movie. I would love to do like a Moulin Rouge because thats the dancer-performer in me. Why cant he look cool and fashionable? he continued. Im curious for your perspective on the global industry, though, because youre such an international star and actor. There was the Yuen clan, the Jackie Chan clan, and the Sammo Hung clan, Yen says. Its why he relishes every action sceneevery bump, every bruise. He said, hes wondering if, you know, you have time to have a quick cup of tea with him. He was eventually forced to borrow money from loan sharks. Its a martial arts movie. It was heralded as a game-changer of how U.S. viewed the Asian film industry. 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'. Its produced by Nayeema Raza, Blakely Schick, Daphne Chen, Caitlin OKeefe and Wyatt Orne; with original music by Isaac Jones; mixing by Sonia Herrero and Carole Sabouraud; and fact-checking by Kate Sinclair and Mary Marge Locker. And Im like, no way. 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. Ist jackie chan strker als donnie yen? - gutefrage.net And then, to just let loose and to be able to go, bleh, and then all of us just went we were so committed to making this because, when you read it, it is wacky. It took a long time for Yen to become a leading man. 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. Donnie Yen really said no Mandarin Collars, but blind Martial Arts expert is okay. It was likeKill Bill. She cant accept that. In a recent interview with GQ, the actor shared that he's very selective about signing on roles. Donnie Yen (Creator) - TV Tropes 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). A half-beat slower. Picking up in 1887, Shanghai Knights sees Chan's Chon Wang, now Sheriff of Carson City, Nevada, on a mission in London to avenge his father's murder and stop a Royal assassination plot. You almost get sort of boxed and wrapped up in this beautiful thats what Michelle Yeoh represents, elegance and beauty, and refined and dignified. Donnie Yen has been punched, in the name of moviemaking, more times than he can count. Half a day, a couple of hours. A couple of hours? Even then, I noticed a couple of Asian diners nearby quietly freaking out. Anyone can read what you share. (At least not on purpose. Shes literally busy. Yen is the latest Asian action star to find Hollywood fame, following the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee.