Donnie Yen’s 6 Martial Arts Film Franchises, Ranked

Donnie Yen is among the many most acclaimed martial arts stars working right this moment, and his legacy has prolonged to some all-time nice franchises, in addition to some not-so-brilliant sequence. As a kung fu star who many might know because the titular hero of the Ip Man sequence, this was simply the tip of the iceberg in terms of Yen’s acclaimed profession. Getting his begin with the traditional Drunken Tai Chi again in 1984, Yen has been on the forefront of martial arts cinema for the previous 40 years.

From Yen’s nice old-school kung fu motion pictures to continuous motion releases, this Hong Kong star has persistently delivered awe-inspiring battle choreography and compelling performances in true classics and cult favourite releases. With so many franchises to his title, it is sensible that some can be higher than others. Nonetheless, the perfect Yen franchises stand among the many finest work he’s ever finished.

6

Iceman (2014 – 2018)

2 Movies

Despite the fact that Donnie Yen is likely one of the most acclaimed martial arts stars of recent instances, he’s additionally had his fair proportion of missteps. One obvious instance of this was the Iceman franchise, an epic remake of the 1989 movie The Iceman Cometh that faltered on all fronts. With an incoherent plot, complicated shifts in tone, and disappointing particular results, not even the presence of Yen was sufficient to avoid wasting this from whole catastrophe. Whereas the story of an imperial guard frozen in time for 400 years had plenty of potential, the outcomes of Iceman have been lukewarm at finest.

As a failure with each audiences and critics, it’s shocking that Iceman managed to obtain a sequel, with Iceman: The Time Traveler being launched in 2018. Whereas this might have acted as an opportunity to redeem the franchise, the outcomes have been even worse, and this sequel merely rehashed most of the identical issues as the unique. Regardless of Yen being concerned with some all-time nice franchises, Iceman was a chilly misfire.

5

New Kung Fu Cult Grasp (2022)

2 Movies

As a visually trendy wuxia sequence, the New Kung Fu Cult Grasp movies regarded completely gorgeous however lacked the attraction of lots of Yen’s extra acclaimed franchises. Whereas Yen’s position was closely centered on within the advertising and marketing for this two-part sequence, the reality was his involvement was minimal, and his efficiency was restricted to a particular look in New Kung Fu Cult Grasp 1, with him being completely absent from New Kung Fu Cult Grasp 2.

These movies additionally had loads driving towards them as they sought to adapt Louis Cha’s novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, and have been inevitably in comparison with the 1993 Jet Li model titled Kung Fu Cult Grasp. The outcomes have been disappointing, and, as a viewer, it’s inconceivable to not really feel like Yen’s involvement was overstated in an effort to get individuals who by no means in any other case must take a look at the movies.

4

The Twins Impact (2003 – 2004)

2 Movies

Donnie Yen was closely concerned in each The Twins Impact motion pictures, firstly as a co-director for the unique film and secondly because the star of the sequel. The Twins Impact was launched as Vampire Impact in the USA and was a comedy horror that blended martial arts with the supernatural in a tacky journey that was full of B-movie enjoyable. As an pleasing motion comedy that didn’t take itself too significantly, The Twins Impact performed out like an prolonged episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a Hong Kong twist.

The Twins Impact II boasted some critical star energy, and Yen and Jackie Chan appeared in a narrative completely unrelated to the primary movie. Telling the story of a humble boy in a legendary land enterprise an epic journey to say his throne, The Twins Impact II was a grand quest of religious discovery that was held again by some horrible particular results. Whereas there’s loads to like about this franchise, it didn’t have the identical affect or high quality as Yen’s finest sequence.

3

Iron Monkey (1993 – 1996)

2 Movies

The Iron Monkey franchise loses some extent for inconsistency. Regardless of each motion pictures starring Donnie Yen, they have been largely unrelated to one another, and he performed a distinct character in every film. The primary Iron Monkey was a significant second in Yen’s profession and signaled his making the leap from largely supporting roles into main man territory. As an account of the Chinese language people hero Wong Fei-hung and his father, Wong Kei-ying’s encounter with the masked martial artist referred to as the Iron Monkey, Yuen Woo-ping blended top-tier battle sequences with a wuxia aesthetic.

Yen returned for the sequel, Iron Monkey 2, and this time, as a substitute of preventing the Iron Monkey, he really portrayed him. Sadly, Iron Monkey 2 did not dwell as much as the acclaimed legacy of the unique and was a disappointing follow-up that gave the impression to be cashing in on title recognition. Whereas the unique Iron Monkey is a beloved cult traditional and top-of-the-line motion pictures of Yen’s profession, the sequel must be left to diehard followers solely.

2

Tiger Cage (1988 – 1991)

3 Movies

Tiger Cage was an early instance of Donnie Yen’s excellent capability to mix fast-paced motion with awe-inspiring battle choreography. As an exhilarating exploration of corruption and deceit, Yen performed Inspector Michael Huang, a police officer who uncovers a conspiracy involving Hong Kong cops and a drug trafficking operation in America. As one in all Yen’s finest motion pictures of the Eighties, it was no shock that he returned for the sequel, Tiger Cage 2, in 1990.

Whereas Tiger Cage 2 maintained the thrilling kung fu stylings that made the unique so successful, it featured a wholly new storyline as Yen performed Dragon Yau, the hot-headed ex-cop who’s at all times in bother with work and his household. With yet one more thrilling story of police corruption, Tiger Cage 2 solidified this sequence as one in all Yen’s finest franchises. Though a 3rd film within the sequence was produced in 1991, Yen didn’t seem in Tiger Cage 3.

1

Ip Man (2008 – Current)

2 Essential Movies And 1 Spin-Off

Regardless of already being a martial arts film legend for many years, Donnie Yen gained his career-defining position because the title character within the Ip Man sequence. As a fast-paced franchise that informed a semi-fictionalized account of this Wing Chun grasp’s life story, the Ip Man motion pictures showcased how this gifted fighter overcame adversity and gained recognition as one of the vital martial arts lecturers ever. As the longer term coach of Bruce Lee, viewers watched Ip Man construct himself up from nothing and face off towards participating antagonists performed by the likes of Sammo Hung, Mike Tyson, and Scott Adkins.

The Ip Man sequence has been so successful for Yen as a result of it blends historic context with emotional storytelling. Ip Man’s story was one in all private battle, perseverance, and fixed progress, and when this was paired with a number of the finest choreographed battle sequences in fashionable cinema, the outcomes have been a sequence that’s beloved worldwide. Despite the fact that Ip Man 4: The Finale was marketed as the ultimate entry within the sequence, it appears we haven’t seen the final of Donnie Yen as this Wing Chun grasp (through Inverse), as a result of Ip Man 5 is within the works.

Supply: Inverse