When Yen was 16, his parents arranged to send him to train with the famed Beijing Wushu Team, in China. And in ancient China. John Wick: Chapter 4 is set for release on March 24. Who is the ultimate fighter? Jackie Chan vs Donnie Yen#martialarts#jackiechan#donnieyen (I told you: ageless.). 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. Oh, god, you know, with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, that was an Asian movie. Do you ever think about that multiverse? Because action movieswhich is what I do bestaction movies take a certain fire, a passion, and that is relative to physical ability, he says. He whacked me right on my eyebrow, right? Bad Movies: The 100 Worst Movies of All Time, Netflixs 100 Best Movies Right Now (March 2023), 100 Best Netflix Series To Watch Right Now (March 2023). 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 know exactly where the camera is. I received a text message from Jackie because I was not well. You picked up a lot of your stunt training early in your career in Hong Kong. Shes one hell of a determined woman, even though she fails at so many things. If youre in a podcast app already, you know how to get your podcasts, so follow this one. More from NextShark: Curtis Waters is more than a TikTok gimmick: 'There's so much amazing sh*t that I have yet to do'. Yuenknown in Hollywood for his choreography on films such asCrouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon;The Matrix; andKill Billhad helped to revive Jackie Chans career, directing the cult classicsDrunken Master andSnake in the Eagles Shadow. And then he said to me, oh, the Daniels came and pitched me the movie in China. This is a John Wick movie. Her latest role is no exception she took on a part that was originally written for the actor Jackie Chan. That isnt, he says, a criticism directed solely atJohn Wick. Its why he relishes every action sceneevery bump, every bruise. Nihilism is especially resonant with the pandemic and the war and everything else. Im like, I worship the ground he walks on. The C.E.O. The producer would come in and say, Thats it. Global fans will recognize him from the likes of. Now, although these are prop swords, they are still quite pointy. Your loss is my gain, bro. 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. Typical master. Chinese kung fu star, Donnie Yen, is listed as a member of National Committee of CPPCC. That was the old Hong Kong way. As Yen grew in confidence, he and Yuen would regularly fall out. 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. 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. A lot of people might not be happy for what Im saying, but Im speaking from my own experience., Where once, Hollywoods attitude toward Chinese filmmakers might have angered him, today Yen is more accepting. So is that what do you think being successful is? When the cameras roll, the old Donnie Yen still kicks in. Thats in part why hes trying to be more selective with his work. It was heralded as a game-changer of how U.S. viewed the Asian film industry. In 'Iron Monkey', Yen played the father of Wong Fei-hung, and its success prefigured that which he would later enjoy as another pugilistic patriarch in 'Ip Man'. Im very blessed that I still have a lot of speed, explosiveness, power, he says. I cannot do stage. A few years ago, for example, he turned down a role in theExpendables franchise. We have to learn to listen to each other and show kindness. It was because she suddenly realized thats when I dont have Waymond and I dont have Joy. Our stories do matter. 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. His journey takes him on an adventure with many allies and enemies along the way until he finally meets the last man standing in his way, Chan's Lord of Armour. But as it happened, his mother had a connection to the Hong Kong kung fu director Yuen Woo-ping. On an Apple device? As an outspoken person, I always questioned, Yen says. 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. I witnessed gangsters fight on the set. 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. 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. No, but I want the gift of a voice that I can because I find it so moving. Everybody's supposed to be cool and fashionable. Because Master Yuen Woo-Ping is like my mentor, my guru. I was trying to find an identity. Jin Yongs novels are beloved in China, sprawling multivolume epics. 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. 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. And it was like its very much like dancing, if you look at it. But adapting to life in the United States as new immigrants was difficult; for a while, the family lived off food stamps. Donnie Yen: Movies, TV, and Bio - amazon.com Everybody, one way or the other, knows a Triad, he says. Whats the cost? Typical master. He can stillgo. Its a major project for Yen. Jackie Chan's 20-Year Quest to Share the Screen With Lifelong Friend 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. Because thats how we are wired, in so many ways. Donnie also received a Best Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards. 'Ip Man' confirmed Donnie's position as China's greatest action hero, and he was immediately signed to lead a strong ensemble cast for Teddy Chen's 'Bodyguards and Assassins', produced by Peter Chan. Amazon.com: Blade of Kings : Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Bingbing Fan But I know that once You know what, Donnie? 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. And youll get new ones delivered directly to you. 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. 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. And I think what, in 96, 97, when they were doing that, it was because I think the movement of where women were like, OK, I want to go and watch a Bond movie where Im not just sexualized, all right? All rights reserved. But he feels it in his body, that he is not quite as quick as he once was. So, they said, well, OK, if you want to try action, if it doesnt succeed, thats the easiest thing. As one of the few Cantonese students, the mainland was a different world. She cant accept that. Donnie Yen is a martial-arts master and one of the top leading men in the new style of Hong Kong action cinema. 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. 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 . 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'. 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. I do all of them, unless I mean, if its asking me to jump off the third floor, then I dont do that anymore. I did that . When that camera rolls, I cango.. 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. The name was Shang or Chang, Yen says. The film out-performed all the previous movies featuring the character of Ip Man, smashing box office records throughout Asia. Whether you're a fan of the original stars or excited to see them in a new light, this video is sure to captivate and inspire. 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. Jacket, $2,800, vest, $590, shirt (vintage), and pants, $690, by Double RL. 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. In Hong Kong during those heady early days, there was no real dividing line between the actors and the stunt department. I was able to perform like a robot., The Hong Kong studio system was a strict no bullshit environment. Ad Choices, Nearing 60, the last of a golden era of martial arts stars looks back on an unparalleled careerand forward, to his role in the new, Donnie Yen Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters, The Essential Michelle Yeoh Viewing Guide. I think if you dont have a big beating heart, its so easy to just say, well, youre already a grown-up. That mahjong scene was something else. 10 February 2023; . Its a stylish affair, beautifully shot. Also, the mother and the daughter-in-law. Yeah. 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. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. Jackie Chan and Li have known each other for a long time. 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. Why is it this way? [Yuen] said, Youll know when youre a director., Yen eventually started to exert more of his own control, first of stunt choreography, then assuming directing duties. The Rise of Gru. Oh, my god. Certain camera tricks. Ive witnessed all kinds of unimaginable things, Yen says, recalling tricky years when the phone rang less or when creative misfires doomed projects. But its not the only version of her, which is interesting. I've already done Jackie Chan's best fights and Jet Li's best fights, so with the domestic release of Dragon (), it's time to look at the best fights from the current king of Hong Kong action movies, Donnie Yen.. So, you obviously made your name in Hong Kong action movies. Yuen Woo-ping, Yen says, was trying to make another Jackie Chan. Yen was heading back from Beijing to Boston to see his family but arranged to stop off in Hong Kong to audition. Yens character, an assassin called Caine, originally went by another name. You have to take care of yourself. Please. I dont want to get political. The older I get, the more I kind of look into what Im about, Yen says. A certain restlessness. 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. Suddenly, Yen found himself apprenticed to one of the great action directors of what might be the last golden age of kung fu filmmaking. Now, if they hit you in the head, they'll knock you out. 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. So, I remember when I first said because I dont read Chinese. Its not contemporary. what it did was I think it changed for a lot of our Asian talent because there were more roles that were written. I have so many injuries, Yen says, laughing. You fight with, or you dance with, multiple partners. [You can listen to this episode of Sway on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.]. I can get up in the morning and do jump kicks. The film premiered to great acclaim at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and subsequently received a North American theatrical release from The Weinstein Company.Donnie Yen played 'The Monkey King' in a hit reimagining of the Chinese classic. Donnie also took up hip-hop and break-dancing. ), Caine is looking cool and fashionable like all the other John Wick characters. And I back up, Jet said, "Donnie, there's blood spilling out of your face." Right. . There was a move where he spun around 360 degrees, he swings at me and I block it. But as a martial artist? They make these [MINION VOICES]. In 1997, Yen set up his own production company, Bullet Films. The film won Donnie his third Best Action Choreography prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards, as well as a prize for Best Action in a Foreign Language Film at the Taurus Awards.Yen explored different styles of screen combat when he choreographed the stunning kung fu fights for the period actioners 'Legend of the Fist' and 'The Lost Bladesman', the fantasy combat for 'The Monkey King' and the time travel adventure 'Iceman Cometh 3D'.Many fans feel that Yen delivered his best choreographic work to date in Peter Chan's masterful 'Wu Xia', released in the US as 'Dragon'. 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. We were completely, completely, as a family, committed. All rights reserved. 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, you cannot say, well, I want to do this. She is this very ordinary woman. 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. He was eventually forced to borrow money from loan sharks. The same is true of Yen as an actor. Its a movie its about the Chinese culture. We were all Chinese, but I was outside.. Its a martial arts movie. Honestly, I would love to be in a musical. Lately, Yen has been thinking more about his legacy. 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. It was likeKill Bill. (Caines redesigned look is, Yen says, partly an homage to his hero Bruce Lee.). (At least not on purpose. 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. Shes looking for the mother that she can connect with. Donnie Yen Ji-dan (Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhn Zdn; born 27 July 1963) is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, and action director. It could be a mother, an auntie, a grandmother that goes by unnoticed because shes so puts her head down, just goes about her day to do the things to ensure that shes making a better life for her family, and you know, the running the errands. Then It Changed My Life. So hopefully now they will, you know, get on the horse and really ride out. I had a very respectful experience working on John Wick. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he said.