Donnie Yen, whose full name is Donnie Yen Ji-dan (甄子丹Zhēn zi dān), is a renowned Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director, producer, and choreographer. He is best known for his exceptional martial arts skills and has starred in numerous iconic martial arts and action movies such as Ip Man.
He was born on July 27, 1963, in Guangzhou, China, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the world of martial arts cinema.
Early Life
When he was two years old, his family moved to Hong Kong and then to the United States, settling in Boston when he was 11. At age 16, Yen began practising Wushu(武術) after his parents sent him to Beijing to train with the Beijing Wushu Team(北京武术队) which included other action stars like Jet Li(李連杰), and Wu Jing(吳京). He was also sent to Xian(西安) to be apprentice under the Wushu master, Zhào cháng jūn(趙長軍).
Early stage of career
Since then, he has started to play supporting roles such as police or ganster under in several dramas or movies released by TVB(Television Broadcasts Limited in Hong Kong).
After some years, he made a side-trip to Hong Kong, where he met action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping(袁和平), who gave him greater opportunities to play more important roles in movie works. For example, he played the role of Eunuch director in Ming Dynasty in the movie, New Dragon Gate Inn(新龍門客棧) released in 1992.
Another example is that he played a role of provincial commander-in-chief of Guangdon district in Qing Dynasty in the movie, Once Upon a Time in China II(黃飛鴻之二：男兒當自強).
In 1994, he made a contract with aTV(Asia Television Digital Media Limited in Hong Kong) and submitted the proposal of creating the drama series called Fist of Fury(精武門) to make a tribute to Bruce Lee(李小龍)
Startup and turning point
In 1996, he founded the company called Bullet Films(子彈創作), and Donnie Yen directed several movies like Legend of the Wolf(戰狼傳說, 1997) and Ballistic Kiss(殺殺人、跳跳舞, 1998) by himself. However, due to 1997 Asian financial crisis, his company confronted the shortage of funds and went bankrupt. During the finanically difficult periods, he started to find opportunities in Hollywood and become the action movie directors in Japan and Germany.
His career did not have turning point until Jet Li introduced him to one of most famous movie director in Mandarin-speaking counties, Yi-Mou Zhang(張藝謀). Because of the invitation and diaologue with Yi-Mou Zhang, Donnie Yen played a role in Hero(英雄, 2002)
IP Man
He gained international recognition for his role as Ip Man in the popular “Ip Man” film series, which showcased his remarkable martial arts abilities.
Ip Man is a 2008 Hong Kong biographical martial arts film based on the life of Ip Man(葉問, Yè wèn), a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun(詠春 Yǒng chūn) and teacher of Bruce Lee(李小龍). The film focuses on events in Ip’s life that supposedly took place in the city of Foshan(佛山) during the Sino-Japanese War.
The movie delves into the impact of the Japanese occupation of China during World War II. Ip Man and his family face hardships during this period, and he ultimately decides to use his martial arts to stand up against Japanese oppression. As the story goes, Ip Man takes on students and begins to teach Wing Chun to a new generation. This includes training a group of young martial artists who aspire to protect their city and culture.
Furthermore, the movie emphasizes the values of friendship and respect. Ip Man develops a friendship with a fellow martial artist and challenges him to a friendly match to prove the effectiveness of Wing Chun.
Lastly, “Ip Man” also sets the stage for Ip Man’s role as a mentor and teacher, hinting at the future influence he would have on martial arts and his most famous student, Bruce Lee.
The photo of the original person
Ip Man (葉問 / 叶问) ,1 October 1893 – 2 December 1972), is a Hong Kong-based martial artist and a grandmaster of the martial art of Wing Chun when he was 20. He had several students who later became martial arts masters in their own right, the most famous among them being Bruce Lee.
Ip Man is the first film in the Ip Man film series. It premiered in Beijing on 10 December 2008, and was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 19 December 2008, receiving widespread acclaim from critics and audiences. Before the film’s release; a second sequel titled Ip Man 2, was released in April 2010, a third sequel titled Ip Man 3 was released in 2015, and Ip Man 4: The Finale was released in 2019. Ip Man grossed more than US$22 million worldwide, despite not being released in North America and most of Europe.
“Ip Man 4,” also known as “Ip Man 4: The Finale,” is a 2019 Hong Kong martial arts film, and it is the fourth and final sequel in the Ip Man film series, which focuses on the life and martial arts legacy of Ip Man.
“Ip Man 4” continues to follow the life and adventures of Ip Man, but it has a different setting compared to the previous films. The story takes place primarily in the United States, where Ip Man travels to San Francisco at the invitation of his student, Bruce Lee (played by Danny Chan). The film explores several key plot points:
Bruce Lee’s Struggles: In the movie, Bruce Lee is depicted as a struggling martial artist trying to introduce Wing Chun to the Western world. Ip Man travels to America to help Bruce Lee gain acceptance for his martial art.
Racial Discrimination: The movie delves into themes of racial discrimination and prejudice, as Ip Man and his fellow Chinese martial artists face challenges and discrimination in a racially divided society.
Final Challenge: In San Francisco, Ip Man encounters a formidable opponent, a Marine named Barton Geddes (played by Scott Adkins), who challenges him to a final, intense martial arts showdown.
Legacy and Family: The film also delves into Ip Man’s personal life and his relationships with his son and other family members. It highlights his dedication to his family and his martial arts lineage.
Friendship and Brotherhood: As with previous films in the series, “Ip Man 4” underscores the importance of friendship and the martial arts brotherhood. Ip Man’s loyalty to his students, including Bruce Lee, is a central theme.
“Ip Man 4: The Finale” serves as a conclusion to the Ip Man film series and brings end to the character’s story.
In recent years, Donnie Yen has shown up in some Hollywood movies like John Wick:Chapter4 and entertainment shows in different countries such as Running Man, Korean variety show.
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I love Donnie Chen. These clips are gold!
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