are donnie yen and jackie chan friends are donnie yen and jackie chan friends

NEXT: Donnie Yen Should Front A xXx Spinoff Franchise. 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). Thats why you believe in that universe. Although Yen is widely known and respected in the West, having worked in Hollywood on and off since the late 90s, its nothing compared to how he is recognized in Asia, where his prodigious output made him a giant in the world of Chinese-language cinema. 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'. I witnessed gangsters fight on the set. Naturally, Chan and Yen had to come face-to-face on the big screen sooner or later, with the pair ultimately fightingtwice. The first Chinese UFC champion Zhang Weili states that Yen . Thats not going to happen. Joy, her daughter, is played by Stephanie Hsu, who was fantastic in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel also. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? So, she has to work so hard into creating and achieving that American dream that they talked about when they first came here. "The name was Shang or Chang. Donnie Yen was a martial artist who became a performer. 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. The emotion, the commitment, its real. I saw stars. Throughout his career, Hollywood has never quite known what to do with himor, until recently, any Asian leading men, for that matter. The producer would come in and say, Thats it. Yen and fellow martial arts legend Jet Li go at it with bamboo poles, literally bringing down the building around them. Yes. On an Apple device? One question that had always bugged him, for example: Why doesnt anybody miss? I mean, I look at life and were only here for a short time, you know? Youre not allowed to ask questions. Today, he says, he sees a big difference in the way he and other Asian actors are treated in Hollywood. 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. 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. Yen, broke, would hang around film sets just so he could eat for free. Theres a love story. Meanwhile, Yen continued to produce quality martial arts films in Hong Kong, creating an international hit as the titular kung fu master in Ip Man. Take it and run with it, or sink. I was doing the press for Tomorrow Never Dies. They said, oh, you know this director, Ang Lee? An action movie, Master Z. Its a spin-off of Ip Man.. But that touches and goes places. And shes unrecognizable as Deirdre. 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. He whacked me right on my eyebrow, right? Yes. 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. Why can't he have a normal name? And one of the things that was interesting to me is Ive never seen you in something so silly, which is, I think fantastic. Every day: pain. 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. Theyre giving you an opportunity to do it. 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. In 2019, Yen was working with the director Benny Chan on a cop movie calledRaging Fire, when Chan fell ill during production. I mean, hes 60 years, a legacy thats been so nurtured and protected and well thought out. The two had a 20-year quest to join a project together. Billie Wang, interpretada por Awkwafina, es la protagonista de 'The Farewell' o Jackie Chan Actors including Jackie Chan, Rogue One's Donnie Yen and Transformers star Li . And I think that was one of the light switches that came on. By the time he arrived, Hong Kong was long-established as the epicenter of Chinese-language cinemaand also the locus of the most frenetic and daring action films on the planet. I think action movies, he says, are a genre that everybody in the world can appreciate.. 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. The senior editor of Sway is Nayeema Raza, and the executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Irene Noguchi. And one of the great things about cinema, he says, is how unifying it can betranscending barriers of both language and culture. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Everybodys supposed to be cool and fashionable. Guillermo was a total gentleman. But the stunt double couldnt hit the mark. John Wick: Chapter 4 is set for release on March 24. I dont know. They think theyre serving Chinese food. The 2000s saw Yen transition to Hollywood with appearances in Blade II as Snowman and Shanghai Knights opposite Jackie Chan. Why is everything so generic? I received a text message from Jackie because I was not well. 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. Its too easy to take that route. Its quite sad. Im going to go [out] naked. Do you ever think about that multiverse? In this movie, you were a singer. And shes not trying to be funny. Well, you got hit. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . 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. The point is: He might be sore the next day, butfor now, at leasthe can still deliver. And if there was a close-up of someone getting hit? Walking stick, $295, by Scully & Scully. 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. If youre listening on The Times website and want to get each new episode of Sway delivered to you, along with the chance to dance with Jamie Lee Curtis, download any podcast app, then search for Sway and follow the show. I have so many injuries, Yen says, laughing. So, that was that kind of physical comedy that I had not done before. Kicked. 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. Whats the cost? These kinds of opportunities occasionally come up: You want to be in this? It doesnt mean anything, he says. Between you and Jamie Lee Curtis. One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. Good fight scenes. Right? 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. She is the way she is. And so your body is doing all these wild and wonderful and precise, graceful moves. Do you know theres auto-tune? Jin Yongs novels are beloved in China, sprawling multivolume epics. And you know, you carry it with you everywhere you go. 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. Both Chan and Yen are still making action movies, though Chan's roles are now far less stunt-intensive due to the countless injuries he's gone through in his career. And this is like five genres of film mixed into one bagel. Because in 2020, Chinas film market became the worlds biggest box office. We literally spent the entire day coming up with moves, and then Yuen Woo-ping would say, Not cool enough. The entire day, without coming up with one shot., Those early films with Yuen provided Yen with a crash course in the art of making action movies. I would love to do like a Moulin Rouge because thats the dancer-performer in me. In your dreams, buddy. You look like youre having much more fun with the hot dog. And, while hes still known for his fight scenesno actor better understands or displays the balletic beauty of raw, human combathe no longer has to take shots in the face. We do the best we can.. You went on to star in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000, which was a mega-hit globally. And you cannot be sensible and controlled when you are approaching a character like that because Evelyn Wang, to me, is a real person. We cant be invincible. Although Jackie Chan began to move away from making American action movies in the mid-2000s, he still found time for a quick cameo in the first Twins Effect, which Donnie Yen co-directed alongside Dante Lam.As a result, there is certainly a sense of fulfillment here as Chan and Yen go head-to-head in Twins Effect II (released in the West of Blade of Kings). And you must try and find joy and happiness. Its the first Hollywood movie since the early 90s to have a modern story and all-Asian casts. But as a martial artist? Fortunately, every time I go to set, the whole Donnie Yen act just kicks in, he says. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Its true. This presented Yen asa relatively fresh face to Western audiences, and thus a perfect foil for the A-list presence of Chan and Owen Wilson in Shanghai Knights. Doesnt smile, shared Yen, who suggested making Chirrut mwe blind. 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. Instead of coming across, and I'm supposed to block it like this, he comes across horizontally. Yeoh plays Evelyn Wang, the hardworking owner of a failing laundromat whos too busy to tend to the little but important things in life. But when Evelyn makes the trip to the I.R.S., her world is shaken up. Tune in to find out, and let us know who you think is the greatest of the great in the comments. 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. Yes. 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 film out-performed all the previous movies featuring the character of Ip Man, smashing box office records throughout Asia. If the Daniels, if you look at them, you go, OK, anything goes. Whats it like to be in such a silly film for you? All rights reserved. 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. Being Chinese, the closest person, obviously, was Bruce Lee, Yen says. 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. And theres more. And I dont want to give away, but it plays a big role. I said, "Really? Boston itself was not always welcoming. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. 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. And the rhythmbop-bop-bop-bopis perfectly timed. In the early drafts of the script, Yens character, Chirrut mwe, was just the same generic martial arts warrior. Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News. Typical master. Ridiculous athleticism. Youre a super heroine, and in no time you will be back on your feet again. And we are very, very much part of you know, the Asians belong. I have something to say to you. . Your body knows what its doing because its just extracted this key information. And it could be rough and tough. Id never been to Beijing before. Ten years later, the pair starred in the epic Hero when Li cuts Yen again, this time above his right eye. Over the years, Yen has helped to drag the martial arts movie away from the world of pristinely choreographed period pieces into something messier and more authentic. Talk about this dynamic between your character, Evelyn, your daughter, Joy. 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. 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. Its like, even with the hot dog fingers, when you look at them, youre going, what? It was only a matter of time before this happened. 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. 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. We have to give each other the space and be who they are, and accept them. Im looking at his body at his funeral, and it was like: I was just with him yesterday, Yen says. 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. And with Chuck Norris. More from NextShark: Curtis Waters is more than a TikTok gimmick: 'There's so much amazing sh*t that I have yet to do'. I have, yes, success and fame. 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. 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. In a recent interview with GQ magazine, Yen revealed that he wasn't originally keen on accepting the role of Caine - a blind assassin and friend of the lead protagonist - after deeming that it perpetuated Asian stereotypes. Thrown from horses. And perhaps if she was so successful in all that she do, like in the movie universe, she doesnt have a family. Typical master. Typical master. At the time, the demand for martial arts movies was waning, and Yen was determined to innovate within a genre starting to grow stale. I try to look at it less defensive than before. That mahjong scene was something else. I was trying to find an identity. Yes, poise. They are meant to be respectful. Five seconds later I said, "Wait!" Oh, my god, I wish I could just flick my head back and zoom. Which is embodied by the everything bagel in the movie. Boots, $1,495, by Christian Louboutin. Im hanging out with Benny, next thing you know hes gone. Yes, but you have, OK money in the bank. When the Daniels first wrote it, its true. But hes never forgotten it. Not that its always gone smoothly. Because the mother-daughter relationship is central to the story. When the cameras roll, the old Donnie Yen still kicks in. Its about you going out there and making your own life. 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. Oh, yeah. I cant do stage. Its not contemporary. But in general, its always an older man. I dont understand this. 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. The kicker? 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. Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen recently recalled two different occasions when legendary martial arts actor Jet Li nearly blinded him. He notably turned down a role in The Expendables franchise due to how. 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. It was heralded as a game-changer of how U.S. viewed the Asian film industry. All rights reserved. After about 30 takes, he missed. And you can sing to many, or you can just sing to one. They thats actually very, very interesting, very clever question, because I do work on both. Some people dont know, he says. Today we talk about injusticeI mean, back in the days, you cant imagine. I think what the strong core of the message, apart from the very familial connections, is that no matter how tragic or how despair or frustrated you are, its you cannot give up. 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? Sway is a production of New York Times Opinion. This is aJohn 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. 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. You cannot look like you know what youre doing. 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. Before he accepts a role, hell ask questions, like, Is the role generic? Chan's physicallevel of dedication is also second to none, with Chan incurring one painful injury and broken bone after another, many of them captured for the world to see in the outtakes frequently included at the end of many Jackie Chan movies. Coat, $1,981, by Lanvin. (At least not on purpose. Donnie also received a Best Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards. And this idea of nothing matters, you can go two ways. Does this open up opportunities for you, do you think? At the same time, he began spending his nights in Boston's notorious Combat Zone. Donnie Yen was born in Guangzhou, China. I had a very respectful experience working on John Wick. Overall, I enjoyed making the film, he said. Its a stylish affair, beautifully shot. Its so funny. Theyre not serving Chinese foodbecause they never had authentic Chinese. 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. Boots, $1,495, by Christian Louboutin. 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. But so, Evelyn Wang, when shes pushing her husband out of the way, its like, I have no time for you today. We were all Chinese, but I was outside.. It took a long time for Yen to become a leading man. But sometimes it is the failures that make us who we are because every decision matters, and it has an impact. Blood sprays like a horror movie. An ambulance came; Yen received six stitches. 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. She calls herself a loser. 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.