So but although she is the loser, right? Ich denke eine direkte Antwort kann man darauf nicht geben. Yen is next set to appear in the highly-anticipated John Wick: Chapter 4 with Keanu Reeves and Sleeping Dogs, an adaptation of the popular video game of the same name. But then, when it came to the late 70s and early 80s, it switched over to much more masculine dominated with you know, the Jackie Chan, the Jet Lee, the Donnie Yen. 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. You know What? 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. A huge hit for Emperor, the film earned Yen his first Best Action Director prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards. A certain restlessness. 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. I do all of them, unless I mean, if its asking me to jump off the third floor, then I dont do that anymore. Donnie Yen was born in Guangzhou, China. I think I would be nervous to throw a dildo at you. Are Billionaires the Answer? [Discussing Hero] I remember there was another choreography where he was wired up with a sword. Really one of the worst times in my career, Yen says. He received his first full action directing credit on the Michelle Yeoh, kung fu drama 'Wing Chun', in which he also starred.Yen further developed his style of choreography in the high pressure world of Hong Kong television, where he created the action for his hit series 'Kung Fu Master' and 'Fist of Fury', and as a low-budget film-maker, when he directed, starred in and choreographed the movies 'Legend of the Wolf' and 'Ballistic Kiss'.It was after Yen had helmed his first two Chinese features that Hollywood made its first serious bid for his services. Or you have a family. Legendary Hong Kong martial arts actor Jet Li reveals nearly blinding Ip Man star Donnie Yen while filming fight sequences in two different movies. Joy, her daughter, is played by Stephanie Hsu, who was fantastic in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel also. The same is true of Yen as an actor. Academically, Yen was a mediocre student. 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. Yen playsGeneral Lone, a warrior out to free the land of Huadu from the tyrannical rule of a sinister Queen. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 01 March . Yen previously played a blind character in another big-budget project: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The martial artist, who portrayed Chirrut mwe in the 2016 film, told GQ that he also asked for a redesign of his character after taking issue with him in early script drafts. It was very competitive. Lets do it. He's only a few months younger than Jet Li, and they entered the . When Donnie was just two years old, the family moved to Hong Kong and then, when he was 11, to Boston . Theyve been here. That mahjong scene was something else. 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. Everybody, one way or the other, knows a Triad, he says. 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. Right? Shes not trying to be funny. 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. Why do you have to be so generic? I dont understand this. 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 important aspect to the main character's story. So, you obviously made your name in Hong Kong action movies. And I think that was one of the light switches that came on. But the producer walked by me, wouldnt even talk to me. On set, Yen would devise intricate martial arts routines, only to be told to wrap it up and move on. 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. And I think that was the biggest leap of empowerment. I think they just announced they have a writer. The older I get, the more I kind of look into what Im about, Yen says. Im trying to think. 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. There will always be more people like Michelle, he said. At the time,Yen had no plans to be an actor. You are getting fat. You fight with, or you dance with, multiple partners. The progressthe freeways, the architecture, the convenience of lifestyle. He is upset when the Western media focuses only on negative stories about 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'. But beneath the silliness is a universal story of love and belonging and family. Between you and Jamie Lee Curtis. And he was going to be the principal. As one of the few Cantonese students, the mainland was a different world. Boston itself was not always welcoming. As he often does on movies that hes directing or producing, Yen fed into every element of production: costumes, sets, music, action choreography. Yen is the latest Asian action star to find Hollywood fame, following the likes of Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee. . Her latest role is no exception she took on a part that was originally written for the actor Jackie Chan. And I think it really shows because the scenes that I have with Stephanie, she is looking for her mother in every universe. The Chinese, we all have our way of interpreting the story. Who is the ultimate fighter? 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. 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. I could have been blind. Were comparing these legends of global cinema across four categories Box Office, Tomatometer and Audience Scores, Iconic Moments, and a special Wild Card Round to see who is the one man left standing when all the dust has settled/limbs have been snapped/henchmen have been felled. TAGGED AS: Action, Film, films, Martial Arts, movie, movies. It was such a sensation. Shes one hell of a determined woman, even though she fails at so many things. And Ive been in that world forever. And Im like, I would bend backwards to talk to him. 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. You cannot look like you know what youre doing. You said you wanted to do it, fine. 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. 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. Not only is he the director and executive producer, he also plays the lead and, in flashbacks, his characters father. Born in China, Yen moved with his family to Boston, where his mother, a tai-chi . They thats actually very, very interesting, very clever question, because I do work on both. Shirt, $535, pants, $775, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. I have no idea. What a charming little film, I enjoyed watching this film , it had a good story line , the actors played out the parts very well. Honestly, I would love to be in a musical. You can sing in those. I mean, I look at life and were only here for a short time, you know? Is that correct? He is not diminished, not yet. Why cant he look cool and fashionable? he continued. Doesnt smile, shared Yen, who suggested making Chirrut mwe blind. It was very difficult for my mom, because she couldnt accept that, like, Why couldnt you learn from me? But I guess I was born having that personality, always curious of what was out there.. He grew up absorbing every book, movie, TV show that he could get his eyes on. 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. '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. When Yuen Woo-ping is talking, everybody would just listen. 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. 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. 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. Its so liberating. But the Daniels have so cleverly manipulated the situations that, you know, theres always that miscommunication, which creates misunderstandings, which become like, oh my god, oh my god, this is just the train wreck waiting to happen. Jacket (price upon request), by Willy Chavarria. Ive witnessed all kinds of unimaginable things, Yen says, recalling tricky years when the phone rang less or when creative misfires doomed projects. Im like, I worship the ground he walks on. Jacket, $4,700, pants, $1,650, and belt, $830, by Gucci. Id never been to Beijing before. Did you have a favorite multiverse? 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. Because in 2020, Chinas film market became the worlds biggest box office. The film was a huge success in Hong Kong and China, and 'Ip Man' went on to find favor with audiences worldwide. Its like when you after I read the script, its like, no one has ever thought of me in a role like this, it is true. If the Daniels, if you look at them, you go, OK, anything goes. As appetite for Asian cinema has ebbed and flowed among non-Asian audiencesthrough the 90s Chan boom, the postCrouching Tiger wuxia craze, the more recent but short-lived breakouts helmed by the likes of Tony Jaa and Iko Uwaiseven huge stars like Yen have found their opportunities limited. 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? 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. Her latest role is no exception she took on a part that was originally written for the actor Jackie Chan. Anyone can read what you share. Come on. You you have to try and eat healthier. And then it didnt. The next day, the director called. When Yen was 16, his parents arranged to send him to train with the famed Beijing Wushu Team, in China. Everyone was just out there competing, like B-boys or skate crews, to do the coolest shit possible. Is there any type of roles you havent played yet that you really want to do? We will see. But for brevitys sake, heres just one. of Cond Nast: This Is No Longer a Magazine Company, The Digital Tools That Aided the Buffalo Gunman and What to Do About Them. 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 two had a 20-year quest to join a project together. Your loss is my gain, bro. Although, if theres a villain in the movie, the real evil here is nihilism. Nihilism is especially resonant with the pandemic and the war and everything else. Lashana Lynch might become that, but well see. 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. Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen talks about his favorite martial arts films, his extensive career, and infusing his latest film, Flash Point, with the styles of Mixed Martial Arts. Drop my hands. But I think at the core of the story, really, its a very ordinary, average a woman that you walk by every day. So that was what the Daniels were trying to they came up to me and said, no, no, no, no. When they came to me, they said, they want you to be a Minion. Jet Li Nearly Blinded Donnie Yen While Filming On Two Different Movies, Donnie Yen's Ip Man 2 Has A Secret Jet Li Connection (& It's Genius), John Wick 4 - Why Donnie Yen Is More Important Than You Think. Yen's final reel duel with Sammo Hung is now regarded as a classic of the genre. Joy, wait. Yeah. This film was co-directed by Huang Jianxin and Han Sanping, and includes many famous actors such as Andy Lau, Ge You . You said Matrix on LSD. I dont even know how that would work in this story because . Pokmon Detective Pikachu Sequel Finds Its Writer and Director, and More Movie News, Womens History Month TV and Streaming Guide 2023, All Rocky and Creed Movies Ranked by Tomatometer, RT Fans Crown Jurassic Park the Ultimate Steven Spielberg Movie, Everything Everywhere All at Once Wins the A24 Showdown, RT Users Crown Toy Story the Best Pixar Film Ever, The Most Anticipated TV & Streaming Shows of March 2023, Daisy Jones & The Six Stars Riley Keough and Sam Claflin on Making the Band, Copyright Fandango. But then, what she understood was, I can keep learning. 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'. 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. 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. Five seconds later I said, "Wait!" We were all Chinese, but I was outside.. 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. said Yen. No, no, no, no. Like Li, Yen began his martial arts action career in Hong Kong in the mid-1980s with the Yuen Woo-Ping-directed film Drunken Tai Chi. Yes, yes. And I just went, when? Being Chinese, the closest person, obviously, was Bruce Lee, Yen says. My arms and legs are going in directions that I couldnt even fathom that could happen. Even with the Crazy Rich Asians one, we sort of diverted from the original book. This is a John Wick movie. All of them are under attack by an evil force in the form of a giant spinning everything bagel you heard that right and Evelyn is being recruited to save the world. More from NextShark: Curtis Waters is more than a TikTok gimmick: 'There's so much amazing sh*t that I have yet to do'. It wasnt a protest, okay, it was a riot, Yen says. And Im like, but they dont talk. But not Yen. Its wild, its wonderful, its weird, its everything. Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News. All rights reserved. Its a movie its about the Chinese culture. Shirt, $575, by Nili Lotan. Jacket, $2,800, vest, $590, shirt (vintage), and pants, $690, by Double RL. Just likeStar Wars, youve got to do certain things. Nonetheless, Yen was inspired, and saw inakra an opportunity to do something new by the standards of wuxia films. But adapting to life in the United States as new immigrants was difficult; for a while, the family lived off food stamps. 'Iron Monkey' was all the more remarkable in that, years after its Asian release, it was acquired by the American studio Miramax, re-cut, re-scored and given a wide release in US theatres. They grapple and fight dirty. Its the same attitude that has guided Yen throughout his career. 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'. The same handful of tired old stereotypes: the sage warrior, the stern general, the one-dimensional villain. The film has been a daunting task. In this movie, you were a singer. Jackie Chan was on the roster several years ago. Right? Exclusive: Donnie Yen on 'Raging Fire,' 'John Wick 4,' How Yuen Woo-ping Discovered Him, and More By Steve Weintraub Published Aug 29, 2021 Plus, Yen shares what it was like making director. (Caines redesigned look is, Yen says, partly an homage to his hero Bruce Lee.). Look at theJohn Wick franchise itself, which would not exist without the influences of John Woo and Yuen. 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.. Im looking at his body at his funeral, and it was like: I was just with him yesterday, Yen says. She doesnt like her husband putting googly eyes on the packaging and stuff. Its about are you going to be able to take in and accept and embrace all these new rules that you cannot put yourself first. When the cameras roll, the old Donnie Yen still kicks in. He came over and he made a few movies. 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. Yen joined Li in the sequel as the villainous Commander Lan. But when Evelyn makes the trip to the I.R.S., her world is shaken up. The Last of Us Episode 7 Introduces a Close Friend From Ellie's Past, While Joel's Life . 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. 04 Mar 2023 03:42:41 So he had a stunt double wired up, Yen explains. Hes totally cool, and he loves martial arts movies, Yen says. These kinds of opportunities occasionally come up: You want to be in this? It doesnt mean anything, he says. Im very blessed that I still have a lot of speed, explosiveness, power, he says. Do I know this director, Ang Lee? Yen recalls getting approached by Disney to appear in the 2016Star Wars prequelRogue One. The publication also noted that Yen has become more selective when offered Hollywood roles and asks if the roles are respectful to Chinese culture and unique. It was horrendous, says Yen. According to Today, the two are actually very good friends, and even fought each other in 2008's Forbidden Kingdom, where Li's stock "serene monk" character faced off against a version of Chan's famous drunken master archetype in a battle of moves so intense that the director actually asked them . I went to my friends karate school, or a boxing gym, Yen says. Immerhin hat er in "Die Todeskralle schlgt wieder . 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. His characters deploy mixed martial arts. Following a high profile Los Angeles premiere, 'Ip Man 3' enjoyed a Los Angeles premiere and a US theatrical release, earning rave reviews in the mainstream American media.Having conquered every territory beneath the Asian skies, Donnie accepted an invitation to join the cast of an entry in the world's biggest film franchise. 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 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 think that is the superpower thats inherent in all of us. But your face has to register, its like, why, do what, how, you know. So, thats a big problem, you know when youre doing Chinese movies and not being able to read the script, and not really being able to say the language. 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. Coat, $1,981, by Lanvin. On an Apple device? The women became the character that needs to be provided for and protected and all those kind of things. Its a stylish affair, beautifully shot. And we are very, very much part of you know, the Asians belong. The point is: He might be sore the next day, butfor now, at leasthe can still deliver. Last take, the guy overshot and cracked Yen in the face, slicing open his brow a quarter-inch from his eye, nearly blinding him. Six stitches again, two times, both sides close to my eyeballs. Whats it like straddling two different film markets, the U.S. and China? You know, inHero we did all the poetic shots and beautiful color and posingits been done, Yen says. If youre in a podcast app already, you know how to get your podcasts, so follow this one. Shirt, $535, and tie, $220, by Dries Van Noten. We do the best we can.. Yeah, its a good idea. Suddenly, shes thrust into a multiverse where she can jump between different versions of her life. But that touches and goes places. A father and daughter, husband and wife. At the time, the demand for martial arts movies was waning, and Yen was determined to innovate within a genre starting to grow stale. John Wick: Chapter 4 is set for release on March 24. I was trying to find an identity. 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. Our stories do matter. Donnie Yen has been punched, in the name of moviemaking, more times than he can count. I have no tendons in the shoulder, he says. The shot was simple: Yen had to block an incoming strike with his pole, while keeping the straight face of a badass wushu master. 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. I got knocked back about eight feet. Over time, he learned a few tricks to soften the blows. 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. She calls herself a loser. The schoolwhich, as well as producing national champions, holds Harlem Globetrottersstyle tours across the countryhas cranked out a number of elite martial artists and movie stars; among Yens contemporaries was Jet Li. And shes not trying to be funny. And Ang is like the most quiet spoken. And What Even Is Web3? I would love to do like a Moulin Rouge because thats the dancer-performer in me. 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.. Jacket, $11,000, and scarf, $690, by Dior Men. 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. A few years ago, for example, he turned down a role in theExpendables franchise. Now, although these are prop swords, they are still quite pointy. 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'. 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. The C.E.O. That discussion between her and the man she left behind. (A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.). Yeah, its a big beating heart, but this woman is in great pain. Beginning with the cop actioner 'SPL', Donnie teamed with helmer Wilson Yip for a series of very different films that Yen would star in and action choreograph and Yip would direct. Sliced open. Its like, even with the marriage with the husband of so many years. Bruce Lee vs. Jackie Chan vs. Jet Li vs. Donnie Yen. 'Ip Man 2' was the biggest local hit of the year in China, and enjoyed a limited theatrical release in the US.The film's success led to Donnie being cast as a number of legendary Chinese heroes: He played General Qin-long in Daniel Lee's '14 Blades', Guan Yu in 'The Lost Bladesman' and reprised Bruce Lee's Chen Zhen role in Andrew Lau's 'Legend of the Fist'. 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. But I think its Barbara Broccoli, Michael Wilson, the producers who realize, its like, yes, lets do something different. I have something to say to you. 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.Tsui Hark went on to produce a remake of King Hu's classic 'New Dragon Inn', which provided another showcase role for Donnie as the film's apparently invincible villain.Donnie was reunited with director Yuen Woo-ping for 'Iron Monkey', a film which brought Yen's acting and action skills both into focus. She knows these kind of women, and their jobs, and the responsibility of that job, and how it can really turn so many lives upside down. But the joy and love to be found in that kind of situation gives you such a sense of self-worth. I dont want to get political. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. But as it happened, his mother had a connection to the Hong Kong kung fu director Yuen Woo-ping.