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Corey Yuen

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Corey Yuen Kwai
元奎
Born(1951-02-15)15 February 1951
British Hong Kong
Died2022 (aged 70–71)
Other namesCorey Yuen
Yuen Kwai
Occupation(s)Film director, film producer, action choreographer
Years active1971–2022
Chinese name
Chinese元奎
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYuán Kuí

Corey Yuen Kwai (Chinese: 元奎; pinyin: Yuán Kuí; Cantonese Yale: Yuen4 Kwai1; 15 February 1951 – 2022) was a Hong Kong film director, film producer, action choreographer,[1] and former actor.

Yuen was a member of the Peking Opera Schools and one of the Seven Little Fortunes. As an action director, Yuen gained fame in American cinema beginning with 1998 film Lethal Weapon 4, followed by the 2000 blockbuster X-Men and six of Jet Li's English-language works: Romeo Must Die, Kiss of the Dragon, The One, Cradle 2 the Grave, War, and The Expendables.

History and early career

Born on 15 February 1951 in Hong Kong, he was one of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao's best friends during their days in the China Drama Academy Peking Opera School. They spent those days training in a harshly disciplined style under the watch of Master Yu Jim-yuen. He would go to appear as an extra in Hong Kong action films during the "chop socky" era of the 1970s.

Acting

In the 1970s, Yuen had three Hwang Jang-lee films: Secret Rivals 2 (1977) as Silver Fox's henchman; The Invincible Armour (1977) as Assassin; and film Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979) as Rubber Legs' student.

In the 1980s, Yuen played Devil Disciple Leader in the 1983 film Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain, alongside Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and Mang Hoi. Yuen played SWAT Team Member in 1985 film Heart of the Dragon, alongside Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan. Yuen played Bad Egg in 1986 film Righting Wrongs (who also directed), along with Yuen Biao, Melvin Wong, Cynthia Rothrock, Peter Cunningham and Siu-wong Fan. Yuen played Judy Wu in 1987 film Eastern Condors along with Sammo Hung, Joyce Godenzi, Billy Chow, Yuen Biao, Siu-chung Mok, Yuen Woo-ping and Melvin Wong.

In the 1990s, Yuen played Man in the Boat in the 1990 film She Shoots Straight, (who also directed) along with Joyce Godenzi, Sammo Hung and Yuen Wah. Yuen played Li Kwon Bon in 1993 film Fong Sai-yuk II (who also directed) alongside Jet Li. Yuen played Uncle Po in 1997 film Hero (not to be confused with the Zhang Yimou directed, Jet Li starring 2002 film of the same name) (who also directed) alongside Yuen Biao and Takeshi Kaneshiro.

In the 2010s, Yuen played Cao Cao's General in the 2010 film Just Another Pandora's Box alongside Ronald Cheng, Yuen Biao, Kai-man Tin, Siu-wong Fan and Wu Jing.

Filmmaking and choreography films

In July 1981, Yuen made his Hong Kong directorial debut in 1982 film Ninja in the Dragon's Den, along with Hiroyuki Sanada, Conan Lee and Hwang Jang-lee. In June 1985, Yuen made his American directorial debut in 1986 film No Retreat, No Surrender, which marked the film debut of Belgium martial artist actor Jean-Claude Van Damme. He has worked with most of Hong Kong's top stars at one time or another, and began Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock's career in 1985 with Yes, Madam. He directed in 1990 film All for the Winner alongside Stephen Chow, followed by its 1991 sequel Top Bet alongside Anita Mui. He has also directed Jackie Chan with Sammo Hung in 1988 film Dragons Forever, and directed Anita Mui, Andy Lau and Aaron Kwok in Saviour of the Soul.

In 1993, he began an alliance and good friendship with actor Jet Li. He directed several of Li's films, beginning with Fong Sai-yuk and Fong Sai-yuk II, and continuing through The Bodyguard from Beijing, The New Legend of Shaolin and My Father Is a Hero, and also he choreographed two Jet Li's films: The New Legend of Shaolin and High Risk.

In the 2000s, Yuen directed the 2006 film DOA: Dead or Alive, based on the Dead or Alive fighting game series. The film stars Holly Valance, Jaime Pressly, Devon Aoki, Sarah Carter and the former WCW, TNA and WWE wrestler Kevin Nash.

Later and American works

Once Li gained stardom in American cinemas beginning with 1998 film Lethal Weapon 4, Yuen's action direction also received fame in the West. He worked in the 2000 blockbuster X-Men as an action director, and he would also handle the martial arts and action sequences in six of Jet Li's other American works: Romeo Must Die, Kiss of the Dragon, The One, Cradle 2 the Grave, War, and The Expendables.

He also directed So Close and partially directed The Transporter, both released in 2002. He did not return to direct the sequel Transporter 2, released in 2005. However, his team of stuntmen and martial artists are featured in the film, and Yuen was the fight choreographer and second unit director.

Death

On August 12, 2024, Jackie Chan published a post on Weibo paying tribute to late members of the Seven Little Fortunes, publicly listing Yuen's name as one of the deceased.[2] Tin Kai-man confirmed that Yuen died of COVID-19 in 2022, with news of his death kept private at his family's request.[3][4]

Filmography

Films

This is a partial list of films.[5]

  • Deaf and Mute Heroine (1971)
  • Fist of Fury (1972)
  • The Yellow Killer (1972)
  • Tough Guy (1972)
  • Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972)
  • The Brutal Boxer (1972)
  • The 14 Amazons (1972) (cameo)
  • The Rats (1973)
  • The Money Tree (1973)
  • Death Blow (1973)
  • Chinese Hercules (1973)
  • The Black Belt (1973)
  • Wits to Wits (1974)
  • The Tournament (1974)
  • The Shadow Boxer (1974)
  • Naughty! Naughty! (1974)
  • The Evil Snake Girl (1974)
  • Valiant Ones (1975)
  • The Man from Hong Kong (1975)
  • The Himalayan (1976)
  • Bruce Lee and I (1976)
  • To Kill a Jaguar (1977)
  • Snuff Bottle Connection (1977)
  • Six Directions of Boxing (1977)
  • Secret Rivals 2 (1977)
  • Pursuit of Vengeance (1977)
  • The Mighty Peking Man (1977)
  • Last Strike (1977)
  • The Invincible Armour (1977)
  • Instant Kung Fu Man (1977)
  • Heroes of Shaolin (1977)
  • The Fatal Flying Guillotines (1977)
  • Death Duel (1977)
  • Broken Oath (1977)
  • The Vengeful Beauty (1978)
  • Flying Guillotine 2 (1978)
  • Massacre Survivor (1978)
  • Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979)
  • We’re Going to Eat You (1980)
  • Ring of Death (1980)
  • The Buddha Assassinator (1980)
  • Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman (1982)
  • Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983)
  • Heart of Dragon (1985)
  • Righting Wrongs (a.k.a. Above the Law) (1986)
  • Millionaire's Express (1986)
  • Eastern Condors (1987)
  • Spooky, Spooky (1988)
  • In the Blood (1988)
  • Couples, Couples, Couples (1988)
  • She Shoots Straight (1990)
  • The Raid (1990)
  • The Nocturnal Demon (1990)
  • Mortuary Blues (1990)
  • All for the Winner (1990)
  • Top Bet (1991)
  • Saviour of the Soul (1991)
  • Red Shield (1991)
  • Fist of Fury 1991 (1991)
  • Bury Me High (1991)
  • Saviour of the Soul 2 (1992)
  • A Kid from Tibet (1992)
  • Fist of Fury 1991 II (1992)
  • Women on the Run (1993)
  • Kick Boxer (1993)
  • Fong Sai-yuk II (a.k.a. The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk II and The Legend 2) (1993)
  • The New Legend of Shaolin (a.k.a. Legend of the Red Dragon) (1994)
  • High Risk (a.k.a. Meltdown) (1995)
  • Hero (a.k.a. Ma Wing Jing) (1997)
  • Just Another Pandora's Box (2010)
  • A Chinese Odyssey Part Three (2016)

Director

Year English title Notes
International Philippines
1982 Ninja in the Dragon's Den
1985 Yes, Madam The Super Cops a.k.a. Police Assassins and In the Line of Duty 2
1986 No Retreat, No Surrender
Righting Wrongs Fight to Win II a.k.a. Above the Law
1987 No Retreat, No Surrender 2 Raging Thunder a.k.a. No Retreat, No Surrender II: Raging Thunder
1988 In the Blood
Dragons Forever Super Dragon
1990 She Shoots Straight
All for the Winner
1991 Top Bet
Saviour of the Soul The Good and the Bad
1992 Ghost Punting
Saviour of the Soul II
Fist of Fury 1991 II
1993 Women on the Run
Fong Sai-yuk The Prodigal Fighter a.k.a. The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk and The Legend
Fong Sai-yuk II a.k.a. The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk II and The Legend 2
1994 The Bodyguard from Beijing a.k.a. The Defender
1995 My Father Is a Hero a.k.a. The Enforcer and Jet Li's The Enforcer
1997 Mah-jong Dragon
Hero
97 Legendary La Rose Noire
1998 Enter the Eagles
2001 The Avenging Fist
2002 So Close
The Transporter
2004 The Twins Effect II
2006 DOA: Dead or Alive

References

  1. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (11 July 2016). "Cory Yuen To Exec Produce Action Pics For HBO Asia; China Film Co Gets IPO OK – Global Briefs". Deadline Hollywood.
  2. ^ Webber, Anndrea A. (13 August 2024). "HK action maestro Corey Yuen died in 2022 from Covid-19, death kept secret by family". The Star. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  3. ^ Shu Hui, Yeo (12 August 2024). "'80s Hong Kong action star Corey Yuen revealed to have died 2 years ago of Covid-19, news kept private at family's request". Asia One. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  4. ^ Hui, Yuk-min 許育民 (12 August 2024). "元奎逝世｜田啟文證兩年前因新冠病逝 「基於家人意願未有公開」" [Yuen Kwai dies: Tin Kai-man confirms he died of COVID-19 two years ago, "due to his family's wishes, it was not made public"]. HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Corey Yuen Kwai". hkmdb.com. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
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