A Long Time Coming
Also won a Golden Horse (Best Action Choreography) for the film - The Twins Effect.
It's amazing, that as talented as he seems to be, that it has taken him so long, to find his place in the genre. Since his breakthrough role in Drunken Tai-Chi (1984), he hasn't been what you'd call an "A-List" performer (even by Asian film standards). Drunken Tai-Chi, Tiger Cage series, Kill Zone, to Ip Man , The characters that he play, always seem to be VERY arrogant and that (to me), has always been a problem for me, when watching (or trying to watch) his films. He reminds me of Will Smith - though he's very talented, I find it hard to sit thru the majority of his films.
I think, one thing the really held him back as a performer, was the fact that his films always seemed Cartoonish, in nature. While he is a gifted performer, his films seemed to want to give the audience - just a little bit more "Speed-of-movement" - which made it look, as though we were watching an episode of a Video game. By "Under-cranking" the camera, he gave of an illusion of speed, which (unfortunate for him) his body couldn't keep up with. What was really bad about that, was the fact that he didn't need to employ these tricks, in order to sell his real skills. He's been in this game for a few decades and should know, what (really) sells in the film-world (yet) the roles he's chosen, have not always showed the real Donnie Yen.
His Abilities - Compare him to Jet Li and you'll see a performer, who can rise to the occassion and perform at a high-level. His performance in Once Upon A Time In China-2 (as a villain), shows the type of films, that he should be doing. His movements were so crisp and clean, he made Jet Li have to step-it-up, in order to not be out-classed. I thought his appearance in the highly-rated Hero, was a waste of his (true) talents. That film was more about CGI-effects, than anything else. Yet, I believe that his best, is yet to come. As in Once Upon A Time In China-2, I can see him playing an excellent villain. It would have been more interesting, to have seen him playing Samo's role, in the film - SPL.
The future - His role as Yip Man (Ip man), while a good film, lost points with me, because - "If you're gonna play the man, play him as most in the generation, remember him -- Bald-headed. I'm a big Bruce Lee fan and throughout all my years reseaching him and his martial-arts background; I have yet, to see a picture of Yip Man - with hair (even his younger pictures show him bald-headed). I guess, what's really ironic, is the fact that he spent a great deal of time, trying to work the "Bruce Lee" angle -- only to find (real) success, by playing his teacher.
In deed, for Donnie Yen, success has been a long time coming. As a performer, he has to remember, that he is one of the last (true) artists to come out of the "Kung Fu" genre, to really make it. Lastly, to read that he (now) wants to retire at the top of his game -- seems more like a cop-out. Think about it; Samo Hung, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li are still making films and though two of them are (well) past their prime, they still are doing good work. Samo made him look better in Kill Zone and then, turned around and choreographed him in Ip Man. Remember, Samo is over 10-years older than Donnie and has been in the business almost (20) years longer. You can’t get a #1 film and then quit the business -- you can, but that's about all you will be remembered for (quitting).