I got knocked back about eight feet. Sunglasses, his own. 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. But when Evelyn makes the trip to the I.R.S., her world is shaken up. Whats it like to be in such a silly film for you? His skills behind the camera began developing from his early days in the industry, and he was very much involved with the action choreography of his films for D&B Films. Its a martial arts movie. At first, youre looking at the fingers. 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. Shes not trying to be funny. Yes. The 2000s saw Yen transition to Hollywood with appearances in Blade II as Snowman and Shanghai Knights opposite Jackie Chan. And the rhythmbop-bop-bop-bopis perfectly timed. One thing I pointed out is he was a stereotype. I try to look at it less defensive than before. 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. I cant take it with me, Yen says. And that was how my journey started. I think I would be nervous to throw a dildo at you. I mean, hes 60 years, a legacy thats been so nurtured and protected and well thought out. Blood sprays like a horror movie. An ambulance came; Yen received six stitches. Whats it like straddling two different film markets, the U.S. and China? And you cannot be sensible and controlled when you are approaching a character like that because Evelyn Wang, to me, is a real person. 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. Not going to happen. Why cant he have a normal name? If there was a multiverse universe that you can jump into, I want to be a rock star. So, people listening to this will be like, a bagel? More: John Wick 4 - Why Donnie Yen Is More Important Than You Think. I witnessed gangsters fight on the set. Instead of coming across, and I'm supposed to block it like this, he comes across horizontally. And I made other things here in America. 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 . More recently, he passed on a role in DCsAquaman in order to spend time with his family. And that is the big beating heart of this film. Yen recalls getting approached by Disney to appear in the 2016Star Wars prequelRogue One. More from NextShark: 'Chinese people are the worst': 'Genshin Impact' streamer under fire after racist tirade during stream. Your first big movie is Yes, Madam. Is that correct? Then, what I was watching the fight sequences, and I thought, this looks exactly like a choreographed dance piece. And there are so many of these stories to be told, and to be exchanged, and to be and also, what I love about Everything Everywhere All At Once, its about here. That discussion between her and the man she left behind. Yen, broke, would hang around film sets just so he could eat for free. Today, Yen is one of China's biggest actors, the last in a dynasty of martial arts stars that runs from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan to Jet Li. The women became the character that needs to be provided for and protected and all those kind of things. Oh, if I was James Bond? Its true. And blood was spilling. Or you have a family. I dont understand this. Drop my hands. 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. This article was first published in Geek Culture. Its a stylish affair, beautifully shot. 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. For actors like Yen, who came up in that golden age of kung fu, there were no digital effects. But the only problem is I cant sing. Fortunately, every time I go to set, the whole Donnie Yen act just kicks in, he says. 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. 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 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? Coat, $1,981, by Lanvin. Cinemagoers in China are being obliged to watch propaganda videos featuring some of the country's best-loved stars. Again, not giving away plot. And they're quite heavy. (At least not on purpose. Donnie Yen has been punched, in the name of moviemaking, more times than he can count. But in general, its always an older man. And What Even Is Web3? Follow Brad on Twitter @BradCurran. 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. We have to learn to listen to each other and show kindness. Its where you want to go, right? an old friend of Wick's who is speculated to . Why does he always have to be called Shang or Chang? And this is like five genres of film mixed into one bagel. Donnie Yen, born in 1963, is one of the present masters of the martial arts action film, according to Black Belt Magazine, and Jackie Chan, born in 1954, per Biography, has been acting in several movie genres since he was eight, including musicals. 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. I dont want to get political. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. So, that was that kind of physical comedy that I had not done before. Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen recently recalled two different occasions when legendary martial arts actor Jet Li nearly blinded him. Academically, Yen was a mediocre student. 01 March . Shes one hell of a determined woman, even though she fails at so many things. And Im like, but they dont talk. I was the outsider. 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. Its all like a bunch of jazz musicians, Yen says. Look at theJohn Wick franchise itself, which would not exist without the influences of John Woo and Yuen. And I think it really shows because the scenes that I have with Stephanie, she is looking for her mother in every universe. . And we are very, very much part of you know, the Asians belong. They think theyre serving Chinese food. Thats why you believe in that universe. 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? Jin Yongs novels are beloved in China, sprawling multivolume epics. That hasnt stopped a lot of people. Every Jackie Chan Vs Donnie Yen Fight Scene, Why Jackie Chan Never Joined Stallone's Expendables Movies, Yen's combat versatility seen in his MMA movies, Police Story: The Stunt That Almost Killed Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen Should Front A xXx Spinoff Franchise. We have this mating dance. The film was shot primarily at the famed Elstree Studios in England.Donnie had a role opposite Vin Diesel and his fellow Asian action star, Tony Jaa, in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017), which filmed in Toronto, Canada.Now firmly established as a leading player across the globe, Donnie Yen continues to present a unique blend of Eastern experience and Western innovation, of musical grace with martial impact, from Hong Kong to a galaxy far, far away.Donnie is one of the leading martial arts choreographers in the world of action cinema. The world class creative team gathered by producer Harvey Weinstein included legendary kung fu film director Yuen Woo-ping, acclaimed directors Peter Berg and Morten Tyldum (as producers), 'X-Men' series DP Tom Sigel as well as the Oscar-winning production, costume and FX designers from the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Hobbit' film series.The film debuted in most international territories as a Netflix Original movie, making it the most widely seen wu xia of all time.