Special ID

[GeneChing]

Donnie vs. Vincent. I'm down for this. I've always thought Vincent was underrated as a martial arts star.

Yen, Zhao collaborate on action movie (http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2012-01/20/content_24456853.htm)
CRI, January 20, 2012

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20120120/001372a9ae271083715a2b.jpg

Actors Donnie Yen (right) and Vincent Zhao promote the film "Special Identity" ("Te Shu Shen Fen") in Beijing on Thursday, January 19, 2012. [Photo: mtime.com]

Donnie Yen says he feels excited about his first collaboration with fellow action star Vincent Zhao in the new film "Special Identity" ("Te Shu Shen Fen").

"We never worked together before, although I really appreciate his talent," Yen told reporters who gathered at a Beijing hotel on Thursday to mark the commencement of filming.

"Vincent and I will do some great action scenes," added Yen, who is also the movie's action director.

Vincent Zhao also believes the action scenes are highlights, adding, "Also expect lots of breathtaking car-racing scenes."

The actors didn't mention the movie's storyline.

Donnie Yen's notable films include "Ip Man", "14 Blades" and "Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen", while Vincent Zhao's most famous character is the kung fu hero Wong Fei-hung, whom he portrayed for both film and TV.

"Special Identity" is being directed by Clarence Fok. The cast also includes Zhang Hanyu and Jing Tian.

The movie is scheduled for release this November.

[GeneChing]

Donnie Yen helms new action movie (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/culture/2012-02/01/content_14518875.htm)
Updated: 2012-02-01 07:54
(China Daily)

Kungfu stars Donnie Yen and Vincent Zhao star in Special Identity, which is in production, with Yen as producer and choreographer.

Zhao has a foot injury and needs an operation but says he has postponed this to work with Yen.

The plot is a secret, but the actors say it will be a "stylish action film set in a metropolitan city".

Rising actress Jing Tian also joins the team for her first action film.

The crew includes Peter Pao, Oscar-winning cinematographer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Bruce Lam, a veteran Hong Kong stuntman.
Looking promising

[doug maverick]

donnie yen finally back to doing modern stuff....yay!!!

[GeneChing]

Andy On Replacing Vincent Zhao In Donnie Yen's SPECIAL IDENTITY? (http://twitchfilm.com/news/2012/02/andy-on-replacing-vincent-zhao-in-donnie-yens-special-identity.php)
by Hugo Ozman, February 29, 2012 5:33 AM

Donnie Yen's latest action movie SPECIAL IDENTITY, for which he is the producer, action director and main actor, started filming in Shenzhen just a month ago. However, there are new reports from Hong Kong that co-star Vincent Zhao (TRUE LEGEND, THE BLADE) has become unhappy about changes made to the original script and refused to keep shooting as a result.

This has been confirmed by Donnie Yen's spokesperson, who stated that Yen remains very keen to continue working with Zhao and negotiation is taking place while the filming is put on hold. It appears that Zhao and the film crew have not come to an agreement despite having had a formal meeting on Monday; and in the worst scenario, Zhao will be replaced by another actor. Andy On (THE VIRAL FACTOR, THE LOST BLADESMAN) looks to be the most likely candidate to replace Zhao if that was to happen.

On the other hand, Vincent Zhao's management company has denied reports that he is having conflicts with the film crew but gone on to emphasise that it is standard policy in the film industry that any changes to the script need prior approval by the film's actors.


Vincent no feud with Donnie (http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/vincent-no-feud-donnie-091500093.html)
From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo! NewsroomBy Mitchell Wong | From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo! Newsroom – 11 hours ago

1 Mar – It seems that the rumours about Harbin-born actor Vincent Zhao being upset with Guangzhou-bred actor-producer Donnie Yen regarding Yen's production "Dut Shu Sun Fun" (Special Identity) script changes are untrue, according to TVB News World.

A statement was issued to the media by Zhao's company to clear up the issue, stating that the "True Legend" star was definitely not upset with Yen or the film's crew, and adding that as an industrial rule, an actor's agreement is necessary for any script changes, as stated in the contract.

Moreover, the actor had remained on the filming set in Shenzhen and had not returned to Beijing as reported by the press.

The story goes that Zhao was so unhappy with Yen for making the changes that when Yen, who also stars in the film, tried to personally contact Zhao, the 40-year-old, best known for playing Wong Fei-hung in "Once Upon a Time in China" had refused to pick up the phone or accept any work order from him.

It was also reported that Zhao had treated seven assistants unfairly as well, but the report was brushed off as there were no evidence that such a number of assistants were with Zhao.

The Chinese media have been told to issue an apology and correction statement regarding Zhao's reputation, which had been tainted by both these allegations. Any refusal or inaction will result in legal action. It's all buzz. It's all good.

[GeneChing]

so much for that.


Chiu Mun Cheuk leaves Donnie Yen film (http://www.todayonline.com/Entertainment/Movies/EDC120305-0000126/Chiu-Mun-Cheuk-leaves-Donnie-Yen-film)
Updated 05:15 PM Mar 05, 2012
BEIJING - Chinese action star Vincent Chiu Mun Cheuk announced yesterday that he will no longer be part of the Donnie Yen-produced modern-day action film Special Identity, because the production team had flouted the terms of his contract and often unilaterally revised the script, reported Chinese media.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Beijing, Chiu, who had appeared in numerous martial arts films like Once Upon A Time In China IV and True Legend, explained that the Special Identity production team had "breeched the contractual terms by unilaterally changing the contents of the script".

He went on to insist that his departure from the project "is not due to any wrongdoing on my part" and that he had not fallen out with Yen as some media reports claimed.

However, the film's production team maintained that they had no choice but to cut Chiu from the film, because he had put forth excessive demands and exhibited a poor attitude while shooting the film.

In response to media queries about the controversy surrounding his film, Yen, who both produces and appears in Special Identity, expressed yesterday that he believed Chiu could have handled the matter better.

"I went with his agent to persuade him (Chiu) when I heard about the matter, but unfortunately, it failed. I feel that there were some areas which Chiu did not handle well.

"Making a film is a team effort. Even though I admire him a lot, I cannot go against this principle. In the end, I have to respect the decision of the production team and the investors," said Yen of Chiu's exit from the project.

"Script changes occur very often. If the changes are reasonable, it can improve the whole film. It isn't something that can't be talked over."

Hong Kong actor Andy On will replace Chiu in Special Identity.

[GeneChing]

Donnie Yen to Sue Vincent Zhao for Slander (http://english.cri.cn/6666/2012/03/20/45s687950.htm)
2012-03-20 12:20:02 China.org.cn Web Editor: Sun
Actor Donnie Yen will sue Vincent Zhao for slander, according to reports by Hong Kong media.

Yen made a statement on Sunday that the discontinued partnership with Zhao was the decision of the investors of "Special Identity." Yen said Zhao distorted the truth in interviews, claiming that he was forced out by Yen. Yen said it was a malicious act of slander, which Zhao used to promote himself.

Yen said he will sue Zhao for damaging his reputation, and that he reserved the right to pursue monetary damages.

"I am rather disappointed by Vincent Zhao's words," Yen said. "If I had made a mistake, it would have been my insistence in casting him in the movie. I have no energy to entangle myself in this issue. My lawyer has started on the case."

He added he and Zhao may never work together again.

The production crew of "Special Identity" announced on Feb. 29 that Zhao had officially stepped away from the film, disappointing fans hotly anticipating the collaboration between the two kung fu superstars. In a media interview published on March 15, Zhao blasted Yen for allegedly diminishing his lead role in the script. He said the film producers announced his removal also without prior discussions with him.

Yen is known for portraying Bruce Lee's master in the "Ip Man" movie franchise. Zhao starred in popular Hong Kong action film, "True Legend" (2010).

Zhao and wife Zhang Danlu attended a friend's wedding on Sunday and was asked about the indictment. His managers company said they could not comment on the case because of ongoing negotiations and confidential business agreements.

Lawyers. :rolleyes:
They should just have it out with a kung fu duel. ;)
That would probably make a better film plot than the rehashed stuff we're seeing now. :p

[doug maverick]

i agree with you gene 100% lets just put them on a lei tai and have it out.

[Brule]

This turn of events would make a cool new plot point in a movie. Add more motivation for the onscreen fights. hmmmm.....;)

[GeneChing]

Shu Qi cries in the park (http://www.dailychilli.com/buzz/17497-shu-qi-cries-at-park)

http://www.dailychilli.com/images/stories/2012/03/26_28/shuqi%2002.jpg

Shu Qi has been dragged into the dispute between Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo and Donnie Yen.

The two kungfu stars, who were working on their new film 'Special Identity', fell out after some disagreements and differences of opinion.

Shu Qi, who was never involved in the issue, became a victim because she had openly supported Donnie.

"Chi-tan is very prefessional. He is serious about every scene so that it is beautifully presented to the audiences.

"Even though he was shivering in the cold weather and suffering from cramps, he did his best to carry on shooting whenever he heard the word 'Actor!'

"He is a good big brother, good actor and good man," Shu Qi wrote on her weibo on March 20.

A few days later, a netizen posted an old nude photo of the actress on her weibo, openly humiliating her, in a protest over her support for Donnie.

Shu Qi was deeply hurt. She removed all the comments and stopped following anyone on weibo, where she had 10.12 million followers.

On Monday, Shu Qi was spotted at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens around 2pm.

She was there to visit her ex-manager, Miss Gun - the producer of a new film currently being shot at the park.

When she found out that Gun was busy, Shu Qi sat quietly on a bench alone and kept starring at the cellphone.

Suddenly, tears rolled down her cheeks and the actress began crying.

Shocked to see Shu Qi behaving so abnormally, Gun immediately rushed over to console her.

Shu Qi finally calmed down. She left the park upon seeing reporters.

When reporters asked for an interview, Shu Qi rejected them saying: "This is my private time, I'm not doing any interview."

She appeared very sad and put down her head most of the time.

But Shu Qi finally put on a smile on her face when reporters described her as very beautiful even without make-up.

Meanwhile, many people have shown their support for Shu Qi, including film director Wong Jing, who followed her footstep to delete all comments on his weibo as a silent protest.

"I know who's behind this, but don't have evidence," he told a reporter over the phone.

Chinese director Feng Xiaogang also supported Shu Qi. He wrote: "If I scold you of behaving like an animal, I'm humiliating the animals."

Vincent apologised to Shu Qi for being dragged into the dispute. "I hope this issue will end soon, Shu Qi is innocent."
Source: Agencies

Published March 27, 2012 So... who's got a link to that weibo photo? :rolleyes:

[doug maverick]

im sorry wasnt shu qia porn star of some kind? why should she care about a nude picture?

[Lucas]

its may be something she is not presently proud of. i think mainly its that that photo was put in a place it should not have been put, with the intention of humiliation. she has been in many films since though and i think has moved a long way from that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shu_Qi

[GeneChing]

im sorry wasnt shu qia porn star of some kind? why should she care about a nude picture? I know, right?

I found these on one of the news sites:
http://www.whatsonjinan.com/ent_images/e17692962945b3de272bfd3c_ShuQi2.JPG
http://www.whatsonjinan.com/ent_images/deecc1abbc22f3cd08ed1c15_ShuQi3.JPG

And this too:
http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/ent_images/57e91a5eac03a22490fc2858_Dennie%20Yen.jpg

Um, this too...just for good measure
http://img001.lazygirls.info/people/shu_qi/shu_qi_shu_qi_lingerie_NcRlUxk.sized.jpg

[doug maverick]

so it wouldnt be that hard to find a nude picture of her anyway..this looks like sensationalism..idk if she was crying about the picture, thats just media manipulation. they are ten times worse in china then they are here. or so ive been told.


i google imaged "shu qi nude" and got a plethora of different nude pictures of her...so yea i doubt she was that upset over it.

[Lucas]

intent is everything. maybe shes not upset that the photo was nude, but specifically the intent behind the action by someone she knows. makes a world of difference. plus shes a chick

[GeneChing]

Shu Qi forced to shut down her microblog (http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6038704)

Netizens blasted the actress for showing fellow actor Donnie Yen support

http://sin.stb.s-msn.com/i/DC/F908658A3EF278C2DED54D8F93A6E.jpg

Kungfu superstars Donnie Yen and Vincent Zhao reportedly fell out with each other on the set of the upcoming movie Special Identity.

Two days ago, actress Shu Qi, who previously worked with Donnie on the movie The Fist of Legend: Return of Chen Zhen, voiced her support for the actor on her microblog.

She shared a post from Hong Kong actor Chapman To, and added, "Donnie is someone who is professional and is serious in everything he does. He only wants the best for the audience and would do his best to bring his character alive, and make the best movie. He would go on with the fighting when he hears 'action', even though the weather might be freezing and his body is already too painful to move. He is undoubtedly a good brother, actor and man."

However, Shu Qi's words enraged a number of Vincent's fans, some of which mocked, "being a professional doesn't mind he has a good character" and added that they were "disappointed in her" and that the actress "cannot tell right from wrong".

To express their dissatisfaction with the actress, the fans began to upload Shu Qi's nude photographs which were taken before she became famous.

As comments kept pouring in, Shu Qi had no choice but to delete her microblog entries. She was eventually forced to shut down her microblog, leaving on one post from last year, "Let him know if you love him."

This deserves more Shu Qi pix (although I nearly poked my eye out on that first one above...)

http://www.shuqi.org/multi/wp/originals/wp_maxim_2004-06_db.jpg
http://www.shuqi.org/multi/wp/originals/shuqi_wp_03.jpg
http://www.shuqi.org/multi/wp/originals/shuqi_wp_01.jpg

You guys are right - there are a ton of nude pix of Shu Qi on the web. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

[Lucas]

i remember when i first saw her in gorgeous i was like '''daaannnng hottttiiie'' have my babies pls!

[GeneChing]

Who cares about Donnie & Vincent's tiff when there's nude Shu Qi pix involved?

29/03/2012
Shu Qi thanks netizens who have hurt her (http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/shu-qi-thanks-netizens-who-have-hurt-her)

The actress responds to negative comments online

Shu Qi was recently blasted by netizens for voicing support for actor Donnie Yen, who had reportedly fallen out with fellow actor Vincent Zhao on the set of upcoming movie Special Identity.

The 35-year-old actress' words caused enraged netizens to upload her nude photographs which were taken before she found showbiz fame. The outpouring of vicious comments left Shu Qi no choice but to shut down her microblog recently.

Various celebrities have stepped out to show support for the actress in cyberspace.

In particular, acclaimed Chinese director Feng Xiao Gang, who worked with Shu Qi in If You Are the One, posted words of encouragement for the actress, lauding the actress for having "kind qualities".

The director expressed that he does not approve of such harsh treatment of Shu Qi and added that those who had made such derogatory comments are not even befitting to be called "beasts".

Vincent, who had co-starred with Shu Qi in The Black Sheep Affair more than a decade ago, also stood up for the actress.

Speaking at an event a few days ago, the actor said, "I really like Shu Qi's work and I am looking forward to collaborating with her again."

In response to her decision to shut her microblog, Shu Qi posted an article on her official website.

Titled "Returning to the basics", the actress thanked those who have hurt her and expressed that the incident has allowed her to learn and improve.

"The past is not a scar but something to be proud of," she wrote.


30/03/2012
Lee Hom shows Shu Qi concern (http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/lee-hom-shows-shu-qi-concern)

The actress recently shut down her microblog after being blasted by netizens

Actress Shu Qi became embroiled in kungfu superstars Donnie Yen and Vincent Zhao's dispute recently, after she voiced her support for the former. Donnie and Vincent reportedly fell out with each other on set of their new movie Special Identity.

Shu Qi's vocal support resulted in a tirade of comments from Vincent's fans, causing the actress to delete all her posts and shut down her microblog. Some fans felt the move was a pity because Shu Qi had taken down a photo of her and the late Hong Kong singer Leslie Cheung, whose ninth death anniversary is on Apr 1.

The actress then posted an entry on her official website and "thanked everyone who have hurt her", which received support from fellow celebrities.

When good friend and rumoured boyfriend Lee Hom returned to Taiwan after his concert in Sanya, China, he was asked if he had heard about the incident. The singer nodded to acknowledge he did, and said hesitantly, "The industry is very small; everyone should stay united and work together."

Lee Hom also commented on photos, which showed Shu Qi crying in a park. The singer encouraged the actress, saying, "Celebrities should motivate one another, that's why I'm very concerned [about her]."

The media probed if he would give Shu Qi his support, Lee Hom immediately nodded and said, "Yes."


30/03/2012
Netizens regret supporting Vincent Zhao (http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/netizens-regret-supporting-vincent-zhao)

The actor was recently caught in a dispute with co-star Donnie Yen on the set of their new movie

Several celebrities had since become involved in kungfu superstars Donnie Yen and Vincent Zhao's dispute, which reportedly happened after the two fell out with each other on the set of their new movie Special Identity.

Following the incident, Vincent's fans and netizens had shown their support for the actor. However, they have now regretted their actions after discovering that Vincent's four-year-old daughter holds a US passport. Netizens exclaimed that they "wasted efforts" in supporting the actor.

Vincent married Chinese actress Zhang Danlu in 2006, and the couple have two children. Their four-year-old daughter Zhao Zi Yang has the same name as a former General Secretary of China's Communist Party, while his song Zhao Zi Long shares the same name with a famed general from the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Vincent responded to the report, "The name Zi Yang was chosen by a fortune teller. We felt that the name was a little sensitive, but decided to go ahead with it, for the good of our daughter."

The actor also commented on netizens' anger which came after the discovery that his daughter is a US citizen. He explained that Zi Yang had gotten the citizenship because she was born there, while his son was born in Hong Kong. Vincent then emphasised that he is of Chinese nationality.

Recently, it was rumoured that Danlu had paid people to bombard actress Shu Qi on her microblog, causing her to shut the blog down entirely, but the actor insisted that he "did not hire anyone".

[GeneChing]

Good commentary on the underlying face issues here. Such is Asia. :rolleyes:

Killing with kindness (http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/2012-04/09/content_15004113.htm)
Updated: 2012-04-09 10:58
By Raymond Zhou (China Daily)

Bad blood between two public figures spills over to the general populace, testifying to the dangerous obsession with hushing up disputes and putting on smiley faces.

They made a public appearance together, smiling and waving their fists in unison.

They said they were going to work for the common good.

There was not a trace of discord even though both of them are in a position to succeed the older generation of head honchos who are retiring.

Then, one of them was kicked out of the core group. He attempted to make a direct plea to the public. By doing so, he said he risked never working again in the profession.

The other retorted tersely. Most of his peers took his side without openly denouncing the ousted guy. But the public is divided. Vociferous condemnation from both camps lingered on for a long time

Of course, I'm talking about the volcanic feud between two kung fu superstars, Donnie Yen and Zhao Wenzhuo. (What? You thought I was referring to something else?)

You see, Jackie Chan and Jet Li are getting old for ass-kicking fight sequences.

At 60 and 48 respectively, their reign as kung fu emperors of Chinese cinema is gliding to a smooth end.

Even though they never faced off in their prime, they did attempt a token gesture of reconciliation in the form of The Forbidden Kingdom, the 2008 Hollywood action fantasy that served to tantalize more than satisfy with a definite answer as to who ruled Chinese kung fu.

Donnie Yen, 48, started his film career in Hong Kong in the early 1980s. Zhao Wenzhuo, 40, entered in the early 1990s.

Both were groomed to follow in the footsteps of Chan and Li. Zhao had more luck than Yen in the initial phase, but both were eclipsed by their forerunners - until now.

In a sense, it is an ingenious idea to pit Yen and Zhao against each other in a project that has them playing opposite roles.

Killing with kindness

An attempt to blur onscreen hostility with off-screen rivalry is difficult to pull off, and it exploded before filming was finished - in a way totally beyond the control of any producer.

Showbiz rivalries are common. Think of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in Hollywood's golden age.

What's unique is China's culture of presenting a harmonious facade even when competition is cut-throat.

On reality television, contestants are so chummy, calling each other brothers and sisters and giving unremitting hugs, that one may assume they are all competing for the title of Mr or Miss Congeniality.

Truth is, showbiz is more competitive than most professions. Although there is no stipulated quota for the A-list, only a handful of positions are available for a given genre, say, the action hero.

Once it is dominated by a few existing superstars, newcomers would have to wait for a decade or two, as was the fate of Donnie Yen and Zhao Wenzhuo.

And you do not unseat the "king" by guerilla tactics.

The reigning king or emperor in the genre may flop disastrously, but his staying power is much longer than his equivalent in Hollywood because the Chinese public tends to cling to the old and is notoriously risk-averse for the young.

Since superstars have far more choices for plum roles and a significant majority of Chinese filmgoers are magnetized by star power, a star who has gained the top-tier status may never fear losing work again.

On record, they invariably cite the love of acting as their only raison d'etre for being in showbiz.

But everyone knows fame begets fortune, and the stakes are so high that people are willing to do everything to get into the envious coterie of top earners.

Casting couch scandals are no longer novelties. Some actually pay big money to be in certain productions, usually playing supporting roles. And a select few can have their sugar daddies underwrite big-budget projects and surround themselves with big names.

There is nothing wrong with the desire to get ahead, though.

Even the ethically dubious practices in the process do not really threaten public order because onscreen talent, or the lack thereof, has nowhere to hide. It is the hypocrisy that poisons the public mind, especially the credulous and the young.

The effort to conceal normal competition creates a false impression of harmony and unity.

Not only do actors battle for roles, but also, those who have different roles in the same production fight for more screen time.

Stepping back further, you may see those in different films struggling for exposure at screenings.

A black comedy ensued when three major releases, all starring Ge You, found themselves in the same time slot at the 2010 year-end holiday season.

Of course, one should promote those films in which one has vested interests.

But in China's film industry, some have stepped over the line and launched clandestine smear campaigns against competitors, such as films slated for the same period.

Paying for positive reviews is destroying the credibility of film criticism, and hiring anonymous agents to attack opponents is even more unsettling.

It's not that other countries have pristine showbiz but that China's is hampered by an overemphasis on outward unanimity and a lack of channels for normal debates.

To not bruise giant egos involved, the industry would go out of its way to fawn on power players, who are despotic by necessity if not by temperament.

All the while, these celebrities assume an almost condescendingly endearing persona to the public.

Compare it with James Cameron, who never apologizes for his hot temper on the set - but never denies it either. Had his image been handled by a Chinese publicity machine, his behavior would be sold as "strict discipline" and "pursuit of perfection", which are not exactly incorrect but add a thick gloss of virtuousness.

At the risk of being accused of schadenfreude, I dare say the kind of outbursts of acrimony as seen between Donnie Yen and Zhao Wenzhuo is not bad - at least not as harmful as sweeping every hint of disagreement under the rug.

It is quite natural that those with varying interests clash.

The trick is to create platforms where people clash over issues but maintain respect for each other.

In China, we go to such great lengths to save face that, once the face is broken, the outcome is irreversibly disastrous.

Not only will Yen and Zhao never work together again, but those who aligned themselves to one or the other will find it hard to be under the same roof with the opposing camp.

What started as regular bickering for kung fu supremacy has evolved to be a litmus test for loyalty - loyalty that is based more on guanxi than on knowledge about the stars in the brawl.

That is why the most striking thing in a US presidential election, at least to me, is the gracious speech of defeat by the losing party.

Over here, it would be get-even time.

Well, US has that, too, but usually agitated from the base.

[Jimbo]

Well, if Jet Li is getting old, then Donnie Yen is, too. They're both 48, are soon to turn 49, and both have been in the movies nearly the same length of time.

I had the impression that many Chinese movie audiences (or at least Hong Kong and Taiwan audiences) do not cling to old actors, but instead tend to embrace whichever teen idols are the latest trend. As an example, I'm betting that the old Shaw Bros and most of the old Golden Harvest movies have a MUCH bigger following now in the West than among young people (and maybe not-so-young as well) in China, HK and Taiwan put together. Wang Lung-Wei himself stated in an interview that young audiences don't want to see the old stars/performers; they want to see the latest pop idols.

It's kind of funny that the above article is implying that there's not enough room for two KF stars. Back in the '70s and '80s, there were hordes of them, all at the same time. If the genre were as popular as it was then, and we had a large variety of stars, this silly cattiness between two men would look even sillier than it already does.

[GeneChing]

Chinese netizens are funny. :rolleyes:

Was Donnie Yen a porn actor? (http://www.dailychilli.com/buzz/17875-was-donnie-yen-a-porn-actor)

An online post has caused a stir alleging that Donnie Yen had acted in porn movies.

The article, titled "Donnie Yen acted in porn film, surrounded by 10 naked women", became the hottest topic of discussion in Chinese forums.

It was posted after Shu Qi's withdrawal from weibo, following humiliating posts on her past mistakes.

The writer alleged that the Ip Man star had appeared in several porn films including 1991's The Holy Virgin Versus The Evil Dead.

"You think only Shu Qi acted in porn? Donnie didn't? You are wrong!


"See you all complained that Shu Qi acted in this and that everyday, you think Donnie only innocently shot kungfu movies?" the writer alleged.

"I have seen three porn films of Donnie. He has four all together, three of which were horror movies," the writer alleged in his post.

http://www.dailychilli.com/images/stories/2012/04/16_18/donnie%2003.jpg

The writer also posted clips allegedly from the film to support his article.

In response, Donnie posted two lines of lyrics from Sam Hui and the late Leslie Cheung's Silence is Golden.

"Let people laugh and scold as they like, be a carefree person," he wrote.

Source: China Entertainment News
Published April 18 2012

[GeneChing]

Nice interview. I'm curious about when this drops.

Andy On Gives Us an Update on "Special Identity," Including His Ten Minute Fight Scene with Donnie Yen (http://www.movieswithbutter.com/blogs/andy-gives-us-update-special-identity-including-his-ten-minute-fight-scene-donnie-yen-440714)
Posted 9:48 PM January 29th, 2013 by Senh Duong
http://www.movieswithbutter.com/sites/default/files/images/andyon-donnieyen.preview.jpgAndy On and Donnie Yen in "Special Identity"

News has been kinda scant on Donnie Yen’s crime thriller “Special Identity” since Vincent Zhao’s controversial departure. Shortly afterwards, Yen called upon three martial arts veterans to replace him: Andy On (“True Legend”), Collin Chou (“The Matrix Reloaded”), and Ken Lo (“Drunken Master II”). That’s more than enough to make up for Zhao’s presence.

Since then, a few stills have surfaced online, but not much else.

Luckily, we’re able to reach On, Zhao’s replacement, and get an update from him. If you’re a fan of action cinema from the East, you’ve probably already seen or heard of him. If not, here’s a brief intro...

On is an Asian American actor from Providence, Rhode Island who got his big break when Tsui Hark casted him as Jet Li’s replacement for the sequel to “Black Mask” titled “Black Mask 2: City of Masks.”

Since then, he’s moved on to roles in the other spectrum: playing formidable villains that beat the crap out of some of the industry’s biggest action stars. He fought Jackie Chan in “New Police Story,” Donnie Yen in “The Lost Bladesman,” and Vincent Zhao in “True Legend.” And now, it looks like he’ll fight Yen again -- using mixed martial arts this time -- in “Special Identity.”

In our interview, I asked him how he got involved; to clarify his role (is it a replacement or a new role?); about the ten minute fight scene that’ll serve as the film’s finale; and about his future projects, including “Once Upon A Time in Shanghai” with Sammo Hung; and about his current favorite pastime, Diablo 3.

How did you get involved in “Special Identity”?

One day I got a call from Donnie and he wanted me to help him out. I was very excited and said "hell yes" without knowing what it was about.

There’s been conflicting stories about your role, as to whether you’ll replace Zhao’s character or a new character will be created for you. What’s your role in the film? Can you comment on what’s going to happen to what Zhao had already shot?

Since the departure of Mr. Zhao, the production had to make some major adjustments. The role I play is a gangster named Sunny, a new character that was added to the script. I'm not sure what they're gonna do about Mr. Zhao's shots.

Because of the circumstances surrounding how you became involved in the film, did you get any time to prepare for your role?

Not really. Just packed and went up to Shenzhen. Did the fitting a couple days before shooting.

You’ve worked with both Vincent Zhao and Donnie Yen before. If you don't mind me asking, what’s your take on Zhao’s departure? Have you talked to both of them regarding it?

I think some misunderstandings couldn't be settled and that's why Mr. Zhao left. Of course, I was nosey enough to ask Donnie about what happened, but he said it was a shame they couldn't work together. I haven't spoke to Mr. Zhao since the promotion of “True Legend.”

I’ve read that there’ll be a 10 minute fight scene between you and Yen. What could we, as fans, expect?

It's gonna be a raw and dirty street fight. Donnie and his crew put a lot of effort in the final fight scene. We both took a lot of punches, kicks, knees, elbows from each other. Literally.

How do you like playing the heavy in movies? It seems like if any of the top stars in the HK/China film biz needs a formidable villain to match up with, you’re the guy they call up. Will we see you in any good guy roles in the future?

I feel pretty **** lucky. I fought almost everyone out there, including Jackie. I can't ask for more. I do have a few projects coming up where I play the nice guy. Definitely not as fun as playing the villain. lol.

On IMDB, it shows that you’ve worked with Sammo Hung on “Once Upon A Time in Shanghai.” Can you tell us a little bit about that project?

Didn't get a chance to meet Sammo on the set cuz we didn't have any scenes together. I'm really really excited for the release of "Once Upon A Time in Shanghai." I think the audience is in for a big surprise. With the awesome combo of Philip Ng and director Wong Ching Po, and of course me making them look good, not to mention Sammo and a whole lot of talents in the movie . It's gonna rock.

What other upcoming projects are you working on?

Currently I'm shooting two movies at the same time. One with Daniel Wu and the other with Nicholas Tse.

What’s your martial arts background? From your bio on wikipedia, it sounded like you started pretty late, but was able to pick it up quickly.

First time I had real martial arts training was when Tsui Hark decided it would be fun for me to stay in Shaolin for a month to learn some basic kung fu for the role of Black Mask. I also had 2 months training for the role of Tank in “Star Runner.” And I recently just did a Dante Lam movie which required me to learn BBJ. They gave me 2 days to train. I learn quick :)

From what I’ve read, you play a lot of video games? Which games are you currently playing?

I'm still grinding away on Diablo 3. Love it.

[GeneChing]

Donnie Yen: Special Identity (http://www.impactonline.co/news/1156-donnie-yen-identity-andy-on)
19 February 2013

Donnie Yen returns to action in new thriller with as much drama off screen as there is action onscreen...

The upcoming Special Identity(Shu Sun Fun) directed by Clarence Ford (Dragon from Russia), and starring Donnie Yen, Andy On & Colin Chou hasn't had the easiest of shoots, the film which began life as Ultimate Codebreak, with all manner of production problems and creative differences rearing their head between various elements of the cast and crew.

http://www.impactonline.co/images/Donnie-SI-07-thumb-630xauto-33818.png
First came issues between the production and the films original lead bad-guy Vincent Zhao (True Legend, Black Sheep Affair )who was to have gone head to head with Donnie in the film, felt that numerous script changes compromised his character and his abilities until he felt forced to step back from the project. To replace him, Andy On (New Police Story) & Colin Chou (Flashpoint) were brought in to play respectively the villains number one enforcer, and the main villain. Yen & On face off in a bone crunching down and dirty fight scene while Chou takes on Yen in the finale.

As production continued, Tan Bing the original director and writer of the film when it was called Ultimate Codebreak, claimed that his script and premise had been stolen by Yen and lodged complaints with China's State Administration of Radio, Film & Television and is demanding the films release be held back until he is compensated for what he believes to be breach of contract.

The various creative differences have kept the producers from releasing any trailers or promo for the film until now but Impact was lucky enough to get a first look at an incredible car chase for the film staged by Bruce Law, which features On battling Chinese actress Jiang Tan as he drives through downtown Shenzhen with Yen in hot pursuit, and the fight rages inside and outside of the car and features some incredible gutsy stuntwork from Jiang as she is hangs on the outside of the car as it roars through traffic for real. Yen's making serious bank (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65332). Seems to be causing extra complications... :rolleyes:

[GeneChing]

I guess that happens when you strike gold. Same happened to Jackie (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42240). Donnie has arrived. :rolleyes:


Donnie Yen sues director Tan Bing (http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/donnie-yen-sues-director-tan-bing-060800965.html)
By Syahida Kamarudin | From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo! Newsroom – Mon, Feb 25, 2013 2:08

25 Feb – It was reported that famed martial arts film star, Donnie Yen, has filed a lawsuit against Chinese film director Geng Weiguo (also known as Tan Bing) for damaging his reputation, demanding compensation of RMB 5 million in the process.

As reported on Asianpopnews, the actor released a statement about his legal decision, saying there was no contractual agreement and official employment relationship between both parties and that Tan Bing's statement had constituted defamation as they were all fabricated rumours.

Last year, Tan Bing held a media conference and publicly slammed Donnie Yen for allegedly seizing his film project, "Ultimate Codebreaker" and renaming it to "Special Identity".

He claimed that Donnie had tried to seize Jacky Chan's producer role after knowing that the latter would not be starring in the film, requested for a 10% increase in remuneration and declined former Super Junior member, Han Geng from joining the set due to the latter's popularity outshining his own.

Tan Bing continued, alleging that his investor had withdrawn from the project and caused him to lose his job as scriptwriter and director due to Donnie's domineering behaviour. He further claimed that the disputes between Vincent Zhao and Donnie had escalated because "Donnie Zhao's driver murdered Vincent Zhao's driver". Donnie's driver was accused of murdering Vincent's driver.

To this, Donnie has filed for four lawsuits and demanded that the defendant, Geng Weiguo, stop all actions that will infringe upon other party's legitimate rights, make a written apology on the media, compensate RMB 5 million for economic loss and emotional distress to plaintiff [Donnie Yen] and bear all fees related to the lawsuit, lawyer and notary.

[GeneChing]

Donnie Yen retaliates with lawsuit (http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/donnie-yen-retaliates-lawsuit-084100376.html)
By Syahida Kamarudin | From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo! Newsroom – Wed, Mar 27, 2013 4:41

27 Mar – After keeping mum for a long time, Donnie Yen expressed his thoughts on the "Special Identity" conflict that has been plaguing him since last year.

As reported on Jayne Stars website, Chinese film director, Geng Weiguo (also known as Tan Bing) held a press conference in 2012, accusing Donnie of seizing his film project, "Ultimate Codebreaker", and making it into a new movie called "Special Identity".

After much deliberation, the actor finally filed four lawsuits against the director at the Beijing Haidian District Court in February 2013, demanding Geng Weiguo to issue a public apology and compensate Donnie with RMB5 million for economic loss and emotional distress.

When asked about the case, Donnie stated, "I have been persistent in what I do so I have chosen to ignore [Geng Weiguo's] malicious slander at first, knowing that they were untrue. But everyone has a limit and mine was reached when they held a press conference late last year and tried to smear my reputation again. Of course, I have to fight back this time."

"Furthermore, I'm a father and I have a duty to explain the truth to my children," the actor added.

Meanwhile, at the unveiling of his new film company, Super Hero Films, Donnie revealed his plans for his new venture, stating, "I don't want to act in every film. I want to be a producer and look out for new talent. Only with new blood can the art of kung fu be passed on. Finding new blood is by no means easy, therefore I must have a company to dominate this market first. Meanwhile, I'll continue to film to build up the operations of the company."
Wait, did Donnie just hint at stepping down?

[Vash]

He better not to we get a prequel to Killzone, a sequel to Flashpoint, and a Blade 2 spinoff based on the fact he didn't die in that movie.

[Brule]

It sounds like he did. If he follows along Jackie and Jet's footsteps, we have maybe another 6-7 more action films ?????:p

[MightyB]

Who cares about Donnie & Vincent's tiff when there's nude Shu Qi pix involved?

Learning of the lovely Shu Qi and then finding the nudes - absolutely the best knowledge I've gained from the Kung Fu Forum.

You guys are the best. :)

[GeneChing]

Not changing the title of this thread yet, not based just on this.

Donnie Yen SPECIAL ID aka SPECIAL IDENTITY Official first Trailer 2013 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2OSQc8POSM)
Looks good, yes?



Action star Donnie Yen seeks changes in "Special ID" (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/entertainment/2013-07/22/c_132563426.htm)
English.news.cn 2013-07-22 19:16:56
BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Action star Donnie Yen said Monday he sought to challenge his stereotyped image by bringing out more of the protagonist's personality in his latest film "Special ID."

"I used to concentrate on how to thrill audiences with my martial arts," Yen said at a press conference. "But now, I wish to combine personality with action."

"Special ID," directed by Clarence Fok Yiu-Leung, revolves around an undercover police officer's fight with a ruthless underworld gang. It is scheduled to debut in October this year.

Although he is known for popularizing the Wing Chun martial arts style, Yen said would rather try a challenging role that includes different styles.

"My kung-fu shouldn't be confined merely to the Wing Chun school," he said.

Yen said the film's complicated storyline and the protagonist's sophisticated personality inspired him to take on the movie.

[MightyB]

This movie's looking better and better everyday. I hope I get the chance to see it in MiddleOfNowheresville, MI.

[GeneChing]

and in higher resolution - because we all want to see this again. ;)

【Eng.sub】SPECIAL ID Trailer Donnie Yen 2013 HQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Hj2rRXDUg)

[Jimbo]

Must see this!

[GeneChing]

Special ID - CFF 2013 Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l5i3uM5NoA)

new! Ver.3 SPECIAL ID Trailer Donnie Yen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSxsdPk_c-E)

[GeneChing]

"Special ID" has some great action sequences but also many shortcomings.
(http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/entertainment/special-id-excellent/851136.html)
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/image/851142/1382010859000/large16x9/768/432/special-id-1.jpg
"Special ID" has some great action scenes but doesn't have a properly fleshed out storyline or characters.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/image/851144/1382010977000/large16x9/768/432/special-id-2.jpg
"Special ID" favours street brawls and MMA-style fighting over the balletic action in traditional martial arts films.

SINGAPORE: “Special ID” follows undercover cop Chen Zilong (Donnie Yen) as he struggles to destroy the criminal organisation he has infiltrated before his cover is blown.

But things get complicated when crime lord Xiong (Collin Chou) begins to doubt Chen’s loyalty to the gang, and sends him on a mission to recover cargo stolen by Chen’s former underling Sunny (Andy On), who has grown into a ruthless criminal willing to kill to get to the top.

Aided by Chinese police officer Fang Jing (Jing Tian), Chen embarks on one final mission to crack the case and leave the underworld behind.

Helmed by Hong Kong director Clarence Fok, “Special ID” is the third film in action star Donnie Yen’s pseudo-trilogy of films after 2005’s “Killzone – S.P.L” and 2007’s “Flashpoint”, which focus heavily on Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) brawling as well as urban street fighting.

Unlike most Chinese action films today, “Special ID” doesn’t just focus on punches and kicks but also MMA-style grappling.

What really sets the film apart is the sheer rawness of the fights.

In contrast with the balletic movements of traditional Chinese martial arts films, there is no finesse or artistry in “Special ID”.

There is just pure brawling, which sees Chen attempt to do as much damage to his opponents in as short an amount of time as possible.

Yen, who is also the film’s action director, managed to showcase a wide variety of MMA-style chokes and bone-crunching holds in the film, giving a fresh twist to traditional fight scenes that tend to have a heavy emphasis on strikes.

Watch only for the action

The film’s set pieces, like Chen’s massive fight in a cramped steamboat restaurant against over twenty punks, are so good they are destined for repeat viewings over YouTube years after the film is released.

But that’s about all the film has to offer – great action.

“Special ID” doesn’t have the tightest of storylines, and the odd-couple romance between Fang and Chen seems shoe-horned into the storyline.

Questions about Sunny’s motivations and why Chen decided to go undercover have also been left unanswered, resulting in them being rather two-dimensional characters.

The acting is pretty much average though veteran action star Collin Chou was spot on as the menacing crime boss Xiong.

Another thing that dragged down the film was Yen’s gratingly bad Mandarin.

While it is endearing at first to hear his Hong Kong accent shine through, it becomes really annoying as the film goes on.

When it comes to “Special ID”, it all boils down to what the viewer is looking for.

Those who want raw, unadulterated action will not be disappointed, but those who want an action film with some semblance of a storyline may prefer to watch something else, or even re-watch the excellent “Killzone - S.P.L” instead.

Just remember to catch the amazing action sequences in "Special ID" when they inevitably end up on YouTube.

3/5 stars.

“Special ID” opens October 18. Looking for that first forum review.

[GeneChing]

...but not from a forum member.


Special ID (特殊身份) review (http://www.3news.co.nz/Special-ID--review/tabid/418/articleID/317767/Default.aspx)
Daniel Rutledge 3 News Online Reporter
Friday 18 Oct 2013 10:09a.m.

http://cdn.3news.co.nz/3news/AM/2013/10/18/317767/special-id.jpg?width=700
Donnie Yen, Tian Jing and Andy On in Special ID poster art
3.5/ 5 stars

Donnie Yen is a hero of modern martial arts movies. The numerous trailers for his latest film, Special ID, promised amazing action built primarily on the sort of tight, gorgeous fight choreography that made Yen the star he is.

On this promise it mostly delivers, although it's not quite as satisfying as I had hoped.

The story follows Yen as an undercover cop in a fairly generic Chinese gangster tale with a story that is functional enough, but in no way exciting. That said, plot is strictly relegated to the passenger seat in an action film as intent on delivering high-octane thrills as this one. And it does deliver them well, even if not quite up to the high expectations I had going in.

Yen, who also choreographs the fights, fuses a variety of MMA techniques into them, of course with a lot of kung fu flair. The result is a beautiful combination of brutal styles that make the hand-to-hand combat consistently entertaining. The fistfights are vicious, although there are no bone-breaking or fatal maneuvers.
http://cdn.3news.co.nz/3news/AM/2013/10/18/317767/special-id_insert.jpg

As far as Donnie Yen fight films go, this is one of the better ones, but there's nothing in it quite as amazing as his battle against 10 karate black belts in Ip Man or the final fight in Flashpoint. Yen's co-stars all work together well, with Tian Jing and Andy On both being particularly impressive.

In addition to the fistfights, there is some impressive stunt work, a deliciously suspenseful haircutting scene and a little gunplay to enjoy. The most action fan gratification comes via an extended car chase sequence that includes a stunning fistfight in and on a moving vehicle, at times remarkably reminiscent of a scene in Kick Ass 2 but leaving that ugly CG mess for dead. It's great.

Yen's screen presence in the lead is super cool. I'd love to hang out with this guy and go tenpin bowling or something. He and his co-stars bring the odd bit of humour to the film, somewhat surprising given the serious tone suggested in the trailers. Added laughs come, as they often do, via the subtitles, with cute use of the word 'rascal' and a random "#NAME" popping up every now and then.

All in all, Special ID is a solid movie. There's nothing too mind-blowing in it, but if you're in the mood for a fun action film highlighted with sweet-as fight scenes and a kick-ass car chase, this is definitely worth the ticket price.

Three-and-a-half stars.

Special ID (特殊身份)
:: Director: Clarence Fok Yiu-leung
:: Starring: Donnie Yen, Collin Chou, Tian Jing, Zhigang Yang, Andy On, Hanyu Zhang
:: Running Time: 99 mins
:: Rating: R16 - Violence and offensive language
:: Release Date: October 17, 2013

[GeneChing]

Donnie Yen on feud with Vincent Zhao on set (http://news.asiaone.com/news/showbiz/donnie-yen-feud-vincent-zhao-set)
http://news.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/original_images/Oct2013/23oct13_TNP_DonnieYen_VincentZhao.jpg?itok=5UlRShh 1
Vincent Zhao(L) and Donnie Yen
Jocelyn Lee
The New Paper
Friday, Oct 25, 2013

The drama surrounding martial arts star Donnie Yen's latest action film Special ID continues.

Last year, actor Vincent Zhao pulled out during filming. Zhao, 41, claimed that Yen was demanding and difficult to work with and changed the script without seeking his approval, leading to many of his scenes being removed. Special ID is showing here.

Yen, 50, did not comment on the issue until recently in Guangzhou, where he was promoting the cop film.

1 CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FEUD BETWEEN YOU AND VINCENT ZHAO ON SET?

As a producer, I approached him to film the movie, but the company wasn't agreeable because the management found him to be very difficult to work with.

Even after he left the movie, I went to beg him personally and tried to ask him to stay, but to no avail. I can't believe so much drama ensued after that. It's such a huge insult to me.

2 HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ZHAO CALLING YOU A "SCENE HOG"?

I was sick and injured while filming this movie and only slept three hours a day. I didn't even get to see my family members for a few months. If he calls me a "scene hog" because of that, I admit it. However, if he is simply playing the victim and calling me that to gain sympathy votes, I do not agree with him.

3 WILL YOU STILL WORK WITH ZHAO?

I've never stood out to reprimand Vincent because I don't want the incident to snowball. What is most disappointing is that this issue has led to so many unnecessary rumours and dilemmas. I don't think we will work together again and I feel that he owes everyone involved an apology.

4 WILL YOU FORGIVE HIM IF HE APOLOGISES TO YOU?

It shouldn't be only an apology to me but an apology to many innocent people who were involved, such as our friends and wives. Shooting a film is a group collaboration. I have made movies for 31 years. I have never seen something like this happen.




Donnie Yen wants Tan Bing out from showbiz (http://sg.news.yahoo.com/donnie-yen-wants-tan-bing-showbiz-041000364.html)
From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo NewsroomBy Heidi Hsia | From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo Newsroom – Tue, Oct 22, 2013

22 Oct – He may be a little forgiving when talking about fellow martial arts actor Vincent Zhao who had had a conflict with the "Special ID" team last year, but the same cannot be said about director Tan Bing, who accused Donnie of plagiarising his script.

As reported on Wenweipo, while speaking to the media at the promotional event of the said movie on 18 October, Donnie exclaimed, "He is an undesirable man in the film industry. The entertainment world should not let these kinds of people to exist."

Last year, Tan Bing held several press conferences against Donnie Yen, accusing him and the production company of plagiarising his script for "Ultimate Codebreaker" to make "Special ID". He also accused Donnie of other things including seizing Jacky Chan's producer role after knowing that the latter would not be starring in the film, and declined Han Geng from joining the set due to the latter's popularity.

The actor, who has filed a lawsuit against the director, denied the allegations of plagiarism, saying, "The storyline in "Special ID" is unique and different than that of Tan Bing's "Ultimate Codebreaker". The complaint was filed against the film company, but he spoke ill of me in front of the media. What does it have to do with me?"

He also added angrily that Tan Bing had lost the lawsuit but told the public that the final results were undecided.

However, the actor was still philosophical about his issues, saying, "Everybody wakes up to face different problems. It's all about how you plan to solve them. No matter if you choose the easy or the hard way out, you still have to pay the price." Anyone know anything more on Ultimate Codebreaker?

[doug maverick]

getting tons of mixed reviews from friends on this..i might watch it on stream tonight... im nervous..lol

[GeneChing]

SI is a postcard from HK and Nanhai, showing modern China in it's disheveled glory. Donnie is a deep undercover cop wannabe in the triads - a 'special ID'. He has to work with a PRC hottie cop in Nanhai. There's some quick dialog changes from Cantonese from Mandarin which add to the relationship and humor of the situation. Collin Chou is one of the evil gangsters.

The first Chinatown DVD I saw was HD, but it crashed half way through, just long enough to get me interested. The version I watched was a little stuttery, and the sound was like a half second ahead of the action, and there was a weird ad just before the first fight with a really young Chinese girl in a bikini pushing a website. And it turned out that the first version mixed up the order of some of the scenes, so I had a slightly distorted conception of the story. It was funny to get that all sorted. It's a good case against Chinatown DVDs.

Of course, I got a better version later but the resolution wasn't nearly as clear. The action is top notch. Great fights. Donnie against the gangs. Awesome ultravi. Bloody. Kitchen knives, shovels, beating down the masses, heavy MMA influence so lots of arm bars and RNCs. There's a fun car chase. The overall plot was ok, a bit sappy, but tolerable. I was entertained but it probably isn't worth a 2nd watching, especially seeing how I've already seen half of it twice, in the wrong order no less. :o

[GeneChing]

Good to finally have a date for MK3D (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?58025-Monkey-King-IMAX-3D-featuring-Donnie-Yen).


Hey boys and girls, we were graced with a reunion with the most powerful presence in kung fu cinema today. We caught up with superstar Donnie Yen who gave us the facts about his never-ending schedule of projects and his struggles with the film he came to premiere at the New York Chinese Film Festival, Special ID.

Dig it!

Special ID Donnie Yen (http://www.thedivareview.com/Donnie_Yen_Special_ID_2013_Exclusive_Interview.htm )

The Lady Miz Diva: Welcome back to New York. Can you tell us why you came to support the New York Chinese Film Festival?

Donnie Yen: To be honest, this is my first time at this event. At this time, I normally take advantage of events like this to take a break from my busy schedule and then travel with my wife. That’s the only time we have a long time. We’re both so busy with my work and my films and our family. Actually, they invited me last year, but I was already committed to the New York Asian Film festival, so I attended that. This time they asked months ago if I would be able to make it to this one and I had a couple of days off, so here I am.

LMD: I want to start with my last question first. Would you please tell us about your upcoming films? It looks like you’re attached to 80 different movies and I’d like to know what is accurate?

DY: {Laughs} Monkey King, it’s releasing on January 31st in China and the rest of Asia for Chinese New Year.

LMD: Is there a US release planned?

DY: Yes, I actually spoke to the producer that’s responsible for distributing the film in North America and he told me that he’s looking at summer.

Iceman, I’m doing Iceman parts one and two. The first one will come out on April 4th, I think.

Priority Run is in talks with Arclight, so I’m not sure, it’s not committed yet. Crouching Tiger is not committed, but there are a couple films that are in the can, like Iceman. Part two should be in the can by the middle of December. I finished with what used to be called Best of the Best. It’s now called Kill the Kung Fu Killer. It’s kind of confusing, right? That’s in the can, but I don’t know when it’s going to be released. They don’t want to have all these Donnie Yen films crashing on top of each other. I’m in talks for another project based on a novel called Chinaman {Not sure if he meant Chinaman by Shehan Karunatilaka, or China Men by Maxine Hong Kingston}.

LMD: Last year you mentioned your romantic lead debut in Together, with Michelle Chen. You played a character called Mr. Cool. Can you ever picture moving into straight drama films with no action?

DY: Probably not. I recognise myself as an action guy, right? But I do want to change what has been for the longest time the conception of the action guy, because normally when you talk about action guys, it’s involved with the seriousness of the acting side. If you want to break it down to why, it’s because for the longest time, action films can easily achieve a certain success, especially during the 70s and 80s - since Bruce Lee days - if you have a couple of good action scenes, then the film can be quite successful in the market. Nowadays, it’s different; nowadays it requires the old school delivering a powerful performance from the actor, and it’s something that I’ve been striving for the last six or seven years. How do you move from there? I’ve been in the business for so long that I constantly strive to elevate the standard, but by elevating the standard there must be an all-around element where you can bring up the standard besides just purely on the action. I mean, there’s so much you can with the action, so it’s back to the basics of storytelling and characters and performance.

LMD: You’re here to show Special ID. I was surprised at the hard-hitting quality of the fighting.

DY: Yeah, it’s very hardcore. I think in many areas of the film, it could be a lot more solid. This film - I was also the producer - went through many, many problems, many obstacles. It’s very difficult to put a film together nowadays, especially with these types of subjects. As China is a very powerful growing market for filmmaking and we’re talking advantage of it; especially for someone like myself who was based in Hong Kong filmmaking, this type of material with violence and gangsters and undercover cops, it’s quite sensitive in China. The bright side is the policy is opening up. There’s quite a few swearing in Cantonese in this film and this is something that I thought that they would be cut out, but they embraced it. It allows artists like myself to be artistic on that level and you can feel that’s where the future is going. But at the same time, there’s a lot of areas where they can be more professional about it, they cut out a couple of scenes here and there. I think the overall story would be a lot better if they didn’t cut it out, particularly with the development between my character and my mother.

See, that was the area where it didn’t really make sense because everybody was asking, ‘What’s up with the mother?’ I’ll tell you the backstory, I’ll tell you the stuff that they cut out was she had a problem; she had depression. So there’s a scene where I’m having dinner and she’s just crying hysterically and I say, “What’s the matter? Whoever took advantage of you in the market, I’m gonna go and give them a whipping.” She says, “No, I don’t know why I’m crying.” It’s because my father left us and because of that it still comes back to her. So I tell her “Why don’t you hang out with me?” and they go to the bar. That’s why there’s the scenes where they’re drinking and he says, “I’m taking care of you. You think you’ve been taking care of me? I’ve been looking after you.” Those are the scenes that they cut out, so the development of the mother and son didn’t make much sense. So here and there I thought the whole movie overall could’ve be a lot more solid in terms of fully developing the characters. That’s the unfortunate thing, that’s something I have to cope with.

LMD: Well, the fortunate thing in Special ID is the action.

DY: The action is definitely out there, yeah.

LMD: Could you talk about designing the action for the film?

DY: I always have a love for doing contemporary films like this. I did Sha Po Lang, Flash Point. To me, this is kind of the same style. The past couple of years, the market requires me to do more of these period films, especially after the success of Ip Man. But then, deep inside, I wanted to go back to Flash Point. And I feel as an actor it provides me more of a freedom for creating a character, because you don’t have to live up to these historical burdens. When you play a period hero, you can’t be free; there are certain expectations.

So I went back to do Special ID and I said this is the area I wanted to be in, especially with the MMA style. You know, there’s a lot of MMA-style movies out there, right? But I wanted to show them how to do an even more advanced way of doing the MMA in a contemporary film. I know that Flash Point has established a benchmark for a lot of people; not only the action fans, but also within this whole MMA society. I wanted to show that what I can do with Flash Point, I would do with Special ID and this type of fighting style.
continued next post

[GeneChing]

Coincidentally Jing Tian will be Jackie's co-star in PS2013 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?64488-Police-Story-2013).

LMD: Was there meant to be a fight between you and Collin Chou, who costars in Special ID? I think a lot of fans hoped for a Flash Point rematch.

DY: I invited Collin to… It was like this, I put the cast together at the last second. Collin came. There was supposed to be a fight between him and the girl in the toilet, right? But then we had a discussion and he told me his concern that he felt that if he would end up fighting this fragile girl, that he would kind of lose face. So I said, “Okay, I’ll tell you what, I’ll cut it out,” so that’s what I did. As I was telling you, there was a lot of problems in the completion of this movie, so at the end of the day I wished it could’ve fully developed as I wanted it to.

LMD: Jing Tian is great as the female cop. Her action scenes are quite convincing…

DY: You’d be a lot more impressed if you’d seen her previous films.

LMD: Really? Had she done other martial arts films?

DY: Not at all! {Laughs} That’s why I said you’d be even more impressed.

LMD: I asked Sammo Hung about his approach to working with ladies as a fight choreographer and he gave me a very interesting answer. What is your approach to working with women in action?

DY: Well, I have a way of shooting styles, of shooting actors. I approach it very differently from maybe my mentors like Yuen Woo-ping and Sammo, all those masters of shooting action. I approach it in a very scientific way. I understand that you can’t really turn an actor into a martial arts expert, even in years, never mind months or weeks, right? So you gotta have a plan. You gotta be realistic and at the same time be scientific about shooting a person like that; from understanding whether she has the potential. How capable is she physically, and how many weeks I have before designing tailor-made - not only from choreography - to how do you shoot her on a shot-by-shot basis and making adjustments? When I work with her, it’s like I’m her cornerman; that I have to work with her shot by shot.

LMD: I was very happy to see Ken Lo in your great fight sequence together and Andy On, who also has actual martial arts experience. As opposed to someone who never did martial arts, it must be easier to work with actual athletes who know more or less what you’re asking for?

DY: It’s a different type of challenge for me, different type of obstacle. For me, if I’m working with a lot more versatile action guy or girl, I will try to bring up the level even higher, so it’s a different type of challenge. Working with someone like Jing Tian, she had no experience in action films and she’s quite slim and small, it’s a different type of challenge. And both bring satisfaction to me. To work with Andy - I know Andy; he’s done numbers of action movies, so my goal was, ‘I’m gonna make Andy look better than in any of his movies.’ That was my goal. That’s the satisfaction. But with Jing Tian, I wanted to surprise people with what she can do, particularly with some of her works; she had never done an action movie, never mind doing something like this. I set the goal very early on a couple of things I wanted to achieve; make Andy On the best he ever looked, surprise people with Jing Tian’s action onscreen, thirdly surprise people with my range of acting as far as {going from} Ip Man to playing the gangster and having this type of rawness. I believe in these areas, I achieved that.

LMD: Could you give some advice to a young actor or actress who would like to follow in your action footsteps?

DY: I don’t think you can just… If you want to be an action actor, or an actor that specialises in martial arts films, of course you gotta know martial arts. You gotta be a martial artist in the first place, right? You have to also be - by today’s standard - understanding of a wide range of different, various styles of martial arts. That’s very important. That’s like having a wide range of taking on different roles as an actor. Knowing various martial arts styles prepares the actor to do period films, to do contemporary, you can do Wing Chun master. Fortunately for me early on, I had a very strong foundation in martial arts, and when I was a child, I went through extensive learning and crafting my various styles of martial arts, so I was fortunate in that area. I think first and foremost, you just have to be a good actor. You gotta be in good shape. You have to look like you’re in good shape. All the elements count. You have to be prepared all around.

LMD: Please give a message to your New York fans.

DY: I hope all the hardcore fans will enjoy Special ID, particularly the action. And I think for Monkey King, people are going to really be surprised by my performance. Monkey King was really groundbreaking for me as an actor. It’s a very, very special piece.

~ The Lady Miz Diva
Nov. 7th, 2013

[GeneChing]

If I can make it to the theatrical release, I totally will. Gotta support those.

Well Go Acquires North American Rights To ‘Special ID’ (http://www.deadline.com/2013/12/well-go-acquires-north-american-rights-to-special-id/)
By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday December 19, 2013 @ 12:11pm

http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/specialid__131219200855-275x401.jpg

EXCLUSIVE: Well Go USA Entertainment acquiredspecialid North American rights to Clarence Fok Yiu-Leung’s Special ID, the story of an undercover cop (Donnie Yen) who goes deep inside China’s most ruthless crime syndicate. The Matrix‘s Collin Chou also stars. The pic was acquired from Easternlight Films in a deal negotiated between Ying Ye, managing director, on behalf of the company, and Pfardrescher on behalf of Well Go. Special ID hits theaters on March 7, with an Ultra VOD window beginning February 4.

[Stickgrappler]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aPsRm0FBAgA/UsEbR5qHhCI/AAAAAAAAFIQ/Voe8b-4WiKk/s1600/SpecialID-DonnieYenXKenLo1a-400-sg.gif

3 more here:

http://www.stickgrappler.net/2014/01/donnie-yens-special-id-gif-set-1-donnie.html

Enjoy! More GIFs from Special ID coming.

Happy New Year!

[Stickgrappler]

Here is the second set of GIFs I've made from Donnie Yen's Special ID

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wbPUKDE-0k/UsEdhUMEGfI/AAAAAAAAFI0/lZHcdaz-cTA/s1600/SpecialID-DonnieYenXKenLo1f-400-sg.gif

Enjoy 3 more GIFs:

http://www.stickgrappler.net/2014/01/donnie-yens-special-id-gif-set-2-donnie.html

[Stickgrappler]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3vVNglcDDo/UsIHUCSIzeI/AAAAAAAAFJs/ubbYstvKfhY/s1600/SpecialID-DonnieYenXKenLo1j-400-sg.gif

3 more here:

http://www.stickgrappler.net/2014/01/special-id-gif-set-3-donnie-vs-ken-lo.html

--------------

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hcZnBS5GTnA/UsIJg3Yz3tI/AAAAAAAAFKI/v6Z4IQzVLG4/s1600/SpecialID-TianJing1a-400-sg.gif

4 more GIF's here:

http://www.stickgrappler.net/2014/01/special-id-gif-set-4-tian-jing.html

[GeneChing]

From Well Go's site (http://wellgousa.com/theatrical/special-id#showtimes):


USA
Mar 7, 2014
NEW YORK CITY
City Cinemas Village East
181-189 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10003

LOS ANGELES / SAN DIEGO
Laemmle Noho 7
5240 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601

Texas
Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline
14028 N US Highway 183
Austin, TX 78717

East Pointe Movies 12
8300 Gateway E.
El Paso, TX 79907

Rio Grande City Stadium 10
4586 E US Hwy 83
Rio Grande City, TX 78582

Corpus Christie Stadium 16
5218 Silverberry
Corpus Christi, TX 78417

NEW MEXICO
Aztec 5
911 West Aztec
Gallup, NM 87301

HAWAII
KuKui Grove Cinema
4368 Kukui Grove St.
Lihue, HI 96766

Pearlridge West
98 - 1005 Moanalua Road
Aiea, HI 96701

Canada
Mar 7, 2014
TORONTO
The Royal
608 College St
Toronto, ON M6G 1B4

[Jimbo]

Oh, well.

Guess I'll have to wait for the DVD to come out.

[Stickgrappler]

GIF set 5 from Donnie Yen's Special ID movie - this set features female cop Tian Jing vs Collin Chou

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0yecQIqcWw/UwZBgR4_L_I/AAAAAAAAFgE/TMHdERTlNUw/s1600/SpecialID-TianJing2b-400-sg.gif


3 more here:

http://www.stickgrappler.net/2014/02/special-id-gif-set-5-tian-jing.html

Enjoy!

[Stickgrappler]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7aekWUrHpJA/UweHxbSyoKI/AAAAAAAAFg4/2J0PdPA2aVw/s1600/SpecialID-TianJing3b-400-sg.gif

3 more GIF's here of actress Tian Jing in action

http://www.stickgrappler.net/2014/02/tian-jing-3rd-gif-set-from-donnie-yens.html

Enjoy!

[Lucas]

One of the best gongfu movies I've seen in a long time. It reminds me a lot of sleeping dogs.

Donnie Yen is the best leading action star in film right now, and has been for some time, imo.

[Stickgrappler]

One of the best gongfu movies I've seen in a long time. It reminds me a lot of sleeping dogs.

Donnie Yen is the best leading action star in film right now, and has been for some time, imo.

agree with you on Donnie, but for me, Special ID is a good enough movie, but it could've way better. the action scenes are awesome! cannot wait for more Tian Jing action movies!

[Lucas]

ya the story was average at best, pretty loose. Mostly just saying that based on the action.

That scene in the street with the gang was done well, like a tiger in a den of wolves.

[GeneChing]

SAN FRANCISCO / BAY AREA (http://wellgousa.com/theatrical/special-id#showtimes)
Four Star
2200 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94121


Man, it's been years since I've been in the Four Star. I've got a full week next week however so I doubt I'll be able to make it up to the city for this. :(


cannot wait for more Tian Jing action movies! She's in PS2013 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?64488-Police-Story-2013).

[Stickgrappler]

She's in PS2013 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?64488-Police-Story-2013).

On my to watch list already, maybe tonight

someone mentioned in passing though, she has no action scenes? hope he was wrong!

[Jimbo]

It's a pretty decent movie, not great. It took me a while to get into it. The end fight(s) are awesome.

[Stickgrappler]

It's a pretty decent movie, not great. It took me a while to get into it. The end fight(s) are awesome.

I saw one fight, featured some MMA moves which was cool to see JC doing LOL