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March 22, 2005
Donnie Yen To Work With Tarantino!?! *** UPDATE ***
If this is true, it rules.
I have long wondered at Donnie Yen's exclusion from the club of Asian stars making a mark in North America. He's a great fighter, looks great on camera, is a solid actor and, most importantly, speaks flawless English having been largely raised in Boston. And yet while Chow Yun Fat, Jackie Chan and Jet Li were struggling with their command of the language up there on screen for all to see - and being ripped for it something awful in the mainstream press - Yen was left doing fight choreography for a horrific Highlander sequel. I just don't get it ... if nothing else the man is in serious need of a new US agent ...
But wait! At the tail end of an article Monkey Peaches just posted about some Chinese model turned actress apparently being approached to star in Quentin Tarantino's upcoming martial arts flick the throw in this little bone: "Martial-art star Donnie Yen also said there was a good chance that he would work with Tarantino but he did not say more."
Yen in a Tarantino flick? Could happen ... he is the lead star of Iron Monkey, a flick Tarantino lobbied hard to get into North American theaters, so they're certainly familiar with one another. There's no source on this, so I have no idea how reliable the information is, but this could very well be the break that brings Yen into the western world in a big way ...
*** UPDATE ***
The quote isn't quite the same so I doubt that it's the same source, but here's Donnie bringing up the possibility himself in an interview for Seven Swords: "If I can make a great film, I believe it's worth every effort. Recently, I have had a talk with Quentin Tarantino and we may work together in the future." Complete interview is here, that quote is part of his response to whether he will continue to work in both China and North America.
» Posted by Todd at March 22, 2005 08:54 PM
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Niiice... that would kick some serious @$$.
» Posted by opus at March 19, 2005 09:24 PM
Shame he's an arrogant ******, hopefully it doesn't happen.
» Posted by Lourdes at March 20, 2005 11:37 AM
Yes it has been said that he is arrogant, I think its mainly that he is just very serious about his work, and will not fall into the chan and li mould. You cant take away the fact that he is one of the best choreographers in the business, Tarantino may just be the vehicle he has been waiting for. And Lourdes, I take it you have met him in person in order to make such a judgement. The guy is amazing.
» Posted by Chris at March 21, 2005 04:18 AM
So, Lourdes, as a close personal friend of Mr Yen perhaps you could explain why he is such an arrogant ******? After all, you must know him really well to make such a statement.
» Posted by Plankton at March 22, 2005 07:42 AM
I think sometimes, yeah, he does come across as arrogant. But he's also very passionate about his work, and very good at what he does. Whenever he does an interview, it feels genuine.
» Posted by crazybee at March 22, 2005 09:36 AM
Chris is extactly right,for Donnie Yen is a highly talented martial artists who's in sheer need of a big break,since he's another Hong Kong name that doesn't deserve to be wasted in a mainstream film(ala Simon Yam in "Tomb Raider 2"),for maybe Quentin Tarantino's upcoming project might be his much-needed break,if only Tarantino can make up his mind at which kind of movie that he wants to make(a WWII movie,a modern giallo,a new "Friday The 13th",a Mandarian martial arts outing,etc.)
» Posted by Steven Millan at March 22, 2005 03:47 PM
'So, Lourdes, as a close personal friend of Mr Yen perhaps you could explain why he is such an arrogant ******? After all, you must know him really well to make such a statement.'
I'd be the last person to defend Lourdes but he is right.
In the early 90s Yen was blacklisted from HK films altogether when he split with Yuen Woo Ping after he claimed he was responsible for the excellent choreography in most of YWP's work at the time.
It makes sense when you see some of the crap he did at the time.
He's still a great performer though and i'm not gonna hold that against him.
» Posted by Ryan at March 22, 2005 08:55 PM
Okay okay,
Does it really matter what his personality is like at the end of the day? I watch his movies, I dont plan to go out drinking with him, so I dont really care what he's like in real life, he is amazing on screen, and as a movie goer, that's all I'm really looking for.
» Posted by Chris at March 23, 2005 05:00 AM