Yeah, thats right. I can get up in the morning and do jump kicks. Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and live smarter with its unparalleled coverage of style, culture, and beyond. And he said to me, I want to make Sense and Sensibility with martial arts. Yeah. The two had a 20-year quest to join a project together. And all these things keep coming at you. 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). About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . But the stunt double couldnt hit the mark. Oh, no, no, no. 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! You name it, hes hurt it. Throughout his career, Hollywood has never quite known what to do with himor, until recently, any Asian leading men, for that matter. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Yen also shared during his interview that he was able to pay homage to his idol, Bruce Lee, through Caines new look. He came over and he made a few movies. Its basically The Matrix meets LSD trip. I guess thats not the same thing, Animation? The film was released in North America by The Weinstein Company's Dragon Dynasty label, and remains its biggest hit.Yen also attracted rave reviews when he played an honorable general in 'An Empress and her Warriors' and an offbeat ghost-buster in Gordon Chan's 'Painted Skin'.Yen took his career to a new level when he accepted producer Raymond Wong's suggestion that he play Bruce Lee's teacher, 'Ip Man', in an eponymous film relating the life of the great master. Yens character, an assassin called Caine, originally went by another name. So, talk about being silly because you, you know, in many of your movies, youre dignified, poised, et cetera. 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. He notably turned down a role in The Expendables franchise due to how Jet Li, who played the character Yin Yang, was portrayed in the first film. 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. 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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. 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'. Some people dont know, he says. You know, whats the value of life? And we have learned to OK, we have to step back. 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. '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. We have to give each other the space and be who they are, and accept them. In 1997, Yen set up his own production company, Bullet Films. Yes, because its all what I love about all the universes. Again, not giving away plot. Everybody, one way or the other, knows a Triad, he says. Hes totally cool, and he loves martial arts movies, Yen says. 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. One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. Right? TAGGED AS: Action, Film, films, Martial Arts, movie, movies. So but although she is the loser, right? Mein Favorit von allen Film-Kung Fu Schauspielern wre aber allerdings Bruce Lee. 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. When Donnie was just two years old, the family moved to Hong Kong and then, when he was 11, to Boston . He grew up absorbing every book, movie, TV show that he could get his eyes on. 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. In China, Yen can play drug lords, animated monkeys, romantic leads, soldierseven sing. Between you and Jamie Lee Curtis. The next day, the director called. But not Yen. Why cant he have a normal name? Donnie also received a Best Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards. But hes never forgotten it. Mm-hmm. You went on to star in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000, which was a mega-hit globally. The point is: He might be sore the next day, butfor now, at leasthe can still deliver. Beyond the limitations of his mother's school, Yen began training in various different fighting arts, including Japanese karate, Korean taekwondo and western boxing. So, she has to work so hard into creating and achieving that American dream that they talked about when they first came here. Youll be able to catch up on Sway episodes you may have missed, like my conversation with Andrew Garfield. Think about it. And I think thats a cowards way out. Theyve been part of this community forever. But thats another discussion. But Id love to know how you would describe the film. Do you ever think about that multiverse? Born July 27, 1963 in Canton, China. Over time, he learned a few tricks to soften the blows. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? Suddenly, Yen found himself apprenticed to one of the great action directors of what might be the last golden age of kung fu filmmaking. And Im like, are you kidding me? The couple now has two children, a girl and boy, Jasmine and James. And suddenly, it was much more like, you see? Yen playsGeneral Lone, a warrior out to free the land of Huadu from the tyrannical rule of a sinister Queen. As an actor I dont want to. Yen was eventually able to pay off the debt. Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen recently recalled two different occasions when legendary martial arts actor Jet Li nearly blinded him. Everything is so staged its fake, he says. In this movie, you were a singer. I dont know how long that will last, he says. But when Evelyn makes the trip to the I.R.S., her world is shaken up. He also proposed letting his character have a sense of humor so that he could improvise jokes. I dont want to repeat the same thing that youve seen. Do you play a big role in the next movie? Why cant he look cool and fashionable? With Yens influence, the director Chad Stahelski agreed to change the name and the wardrobe. The film out-performed all the previous movies featuring the character of Ip Man, smashing box office records throughout Asia. 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. James Bond is James Bond. Why can't he have a normal name? Its very, very limited. The film was shot last year, outside Shanghai, on a relatively slim budget. 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.. 8 of 134. And thats what we all do. Bruce Lee vs. Jackie Chan vs. Jet Li vs. Donnie Yen. I got knocked back about eight feet. After starring in blockbusters like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the live-action Mulan in recent years, the next franchise the actor is putting his . When they came to me, they said, they want you to be a Minion. It wasIp Man that kick-started Yens recent career renaissance, and one reason why, lately, Yen has found himself busier than ever. His characters deploy mixed martial arts. But I think at the core of the story, really, its a very ordinary, average a woman that you walk by every day. 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. So, what is it you really, really want? 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. So, its interesting because its a posture of disappointment, in a lot of ways. My arms and legs are going in directions that I couldnt even fathom that could happen. 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. Right? I try to look at it less defensive than before. When Evelyn Wang walks, she is slightly bent over and slightly humped on the side because thats the years of hard work that has created this posture. 'Seven Swords' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and proved a hit with worldwide audiences. But beneath the silliness is a universal story of love and belonging and family. A spy from another country. Yen himself was nominated for Best Actor at the Chinese Hundred Flower awards.Yen followed this with 'Ip Man 2', a rare example of a sequel that proved a match for its predecessor. Although Jackie Chan beganto move away from making American action moviesin the mid-2000s, he still found time for a quick cameo in the first Twins Effect, which Donnie Yen co-directed alongside Dante Lam. He was electric, determined, lightning fast. When Yen was 10, the family was reunited and moved to Boston, where his father had landed a posting as an editor for a Chinese newspaper. Whats it like straddling two different film markets, the U.S. and China? Talk about this dynamic between your character, Evelyn, your daughter, Joy. So, a movie musical, not a Broadway musical. Jackie Chan was on the roster several years ago. Its like, even with the hot dog fingers, when you look at them, youre going, what? said Yen. Yen might be approaching 60, but in person he looks a decade younger: lean and muscular, radiant skin, Wite-Out smile. trip. They chat about how films like Crazy Rich Asians have catapulted change in Hollywood, and how Yeohs career has bridged two of the biggest movie markets in the world, from the United States to China. 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 ofBlade of Kings). Its true. Its too easy to take that route. 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. 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. Take it and run with it, or sink. As Bitcoin Busts, Whats the Future of Web3? Nothing matters, be free, or nothing matters, give up. At the same time, Donnie was influenced by his parents' love of music and reached a high level of proficiency as a pianist. No, but I want the gift of a voice that I can because I find it so moving. Shes looking for the mother that she can connect with. I think I would be nervous to throw a dildo at you. Immerhin hat er in "Die Todeskralle schlgt wieder . Whereas a younger Yen was once hungry to prove himself, he is no longer excited by offers from Hollywood. 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. A dildo? Right, right. Do you know theres auto-tune? When It Comes to Gun Control, Will Baby Steps Fix Anything? It could have been a girl. At the time, the demand for martial arts movies was waning, and Yen was determined to innovate within a genre starting to grow stale. Who is the ultimate fighter? Jacket, $11,000, and scarf, $690, by Dior Men. 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. For actors like Yen, who came up in that golden age of kung fu, there were no digital effects. '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. 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.Li solidified himself as an icon in the genre with his . Yen recalls getting approached by Disney to appear in the 2016Star Wars prequelRogue One. What are you willing to walk away from? Yeah, its a big beating heart, but this woman is in great pain. Its so liberating. Yes, I think this is a love story, in a lot of ways, between also a mother and a daughter. And I think, you know, the last two years, especially with the intensity and the tragedy of the pandemic, how its affected us, its really, really highlighted how much we need this human connection. Well, you got hit. More recently, he passed on a role in DCsAquaman in order to spend time with his family. I cant retire, because I still have projects Im committed to, he says. And I said, aw, poor you. Im doing Tigers Apprentice. Im in the next Minions.. I witnessed gangsters fight on the set. She was very forceful, old school, like what you see in the movies. All rights reserved. Is it a lonely existence? All rights reserved. Doesnt smile, Yen says. 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. That hasnt stopped a lot of people. And it was like its very much like dancing, if you look at it. 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. Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? Right, because she finds that ridiculous. 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.