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Donnie Yen
Donnie Yen (born 27 July 1963) is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director, action choreographer and film producer. Apart from being a well-known film and television actor in Hong Kong, Yen has also gained international recognition for appearing in many films together with other prominent and internationally known actors such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh. He is considered to be Hong Kong's top action star; director Peter Chan mentioned that he "is the 'it' action person right now" and "has built himself into a bona fide leading man, who happens to be an action star."
Yen took on the role of a stuntman in his earliest films, Shaolin Drunkard (1983) and Taoism Drunkard (1984). At the age of 20, he took on his first acting role in the 1984 film Drunken Tai Chi, and the film helped to make Yen more notable, even though it was not a critical success. After filming Drunken Tai Chi and Tiger Cage (1988), Yen underwent Asian blepharoplasty and had his teeth straightened.
Yen made his breakthrough role as General Nap-lan in Once Upon A Time In China II (1992), which included a dramatic fight scene between his character and Wong Fei-hung (played by Jet Li). Yen and Li appeared together again in the 2002 film Hero, where Yen played a spear (or qiang) fighter who fought with Li's character, an unnamed swordsman. The film was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 2003 Academy Awards but lost to the German film Nowhere in Africa.
In 1997, Yen started a production company called Bullet Films, and made his directorial debut[4] in Legend of the Wolf (1997) and Ballistic Kiss (1998), in which he played the lead character. Yen went on to choreograph fight scenes and appeared in minor roles in some Hollywood films, such as Highlander: Endgame (2000) and Blade II (2002).
In 2003, Yen co-starred with Jackie Chan in Shanghai Knights. His role of the antagonist, Wu Chow, was originally offered to Robin Shou, who played his on-screen nemesis in Tiger Cage 2 (1990), but Shou turned down the offer due to scheduling conflicts and Yen took the role.
Yen choreographed most of the fight animation in the 2004 video game Onimusha 3, which featured actors Takeshi Kaneshiro and Jean Reno. Yen continued to be active in the Hong Kong cinema in the 2000s, starring as Chu Zhaonan in Tsui Hark's Wuxia epic film Seven Swords, and as Ma Kwun in Wilson Yip's brutal crime drama film SPL: Sha Po Lang in 2005. Both films were featured at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival. Later that year, Yen co-starred with Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue in Wilson Yip's Dragon Tiger Gate, an adaptation of Wong Yuk-long's comic series Oriental Heroes. Yen also worked as action choreographer in Stormbreaker, starring Alex Pettyfer. Yen's continued to work with Wilson Yip in Flash Point (2007) in which he starred as the lead character and served as producer and action choreographer for the film. He won the Best Action Choreography at the Golden Horse Film Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards for his performance in Flash Point.
In 2008, Yen starred in IP Man, a semi-biographical account of Y IP Man, the Wing Chun master of Bruce Lee. IP Man marked Yen's fourth collaboration with director Wilson Yip, reuniting him with his co-stars in SPL: Sha Po Lang, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam. IP Man became the biggest box office hit to date which featured Yen in the leading role, grossing HK$25 million in Hong Kong and 100 million yuan in China.[5][6] Recently, Yen has announced plans to start working on a film based of Akira Toriyama's Dragonball Z series. Toriyama has expressed his desire to see Yen bring his epic manga to life, after successfully taking Dragon Tiger Gate, another famous Manga, to the big screen.
What members say |
Filmography
Donnie Yen - what members say
review by SAI81 from Tonbridge
New Dragon Gate Inn 15 April 2006
review by from coventry , england
a 5 star gem 31 January 2004
review by from NOTTINGHAM
1 December 2003
Donnie Yen - filmography
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Swordsmen
(2011)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Wei Tang
Director: Peter Chan
Certificate: 
A sinful martial arts expert wants to start a new tranquil life, only to be hunted by a determined detective and his former master.
 
62%
from 10 members
Currently unavailable
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14 Blades
on DVD
(2010)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Zhao Wei
Director: Daniel Lee
Certificate: 
Trained in clandestine combat from childhood, the Jinyiwei were masters of the 14 Blades. Above the law and with a license to kill, they devoted their lives and lethal prowess to the service of the Emperor alone. When the Imperial Court is taken over by evil eunuch JIA, the best of the Jinyiwei, ..read more »
69%
from 2,426 members
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IP Man 2 - Legend Of The Grandmaster - B...
(2010)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Huang Xiao-Ming
Director: Yip Wai-Shun, Wilson Yip
Certificate:
Kung Fu sensation, Donnie Yen, returns as martial arts legend, Ip Man, in the most anticipated martial arts movie event of the year. Having defeated the best fighters of the Imperial Japanese army in occupied Shanghai, Ip Man and his family settle in post-war Hong Kong. Struggling to make a living, ..read more »
78%
from 1,780 member
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14 Blades - Blu-ray
(2010)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Zhao Wei
Director: Daniel Lee
Certificate:
Trained in clandestine combat from childhood, the Jinyiwei were masters of the 14 Blades. Above the law and with a license to kill, they devoted their lives and lethal prowess to the service of the Emperor alone. When the Imperial Court is taken over by evil eunuch JIA, the best of the Jinyiwei, ..read more »
63%
from 743 members
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Ip Man 2 - Legend Of The Grandmaster
on DVD
(2010)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung, Simon Yam
Director: Wilson Yip, Yip Wai-Shun
Certificate:
Kung Fu sensation, Donnie Yen, returns as martial arts legend, Ip Man, in the most anticipated martial arts movie event of the year. Having defeated the best fighters of the Imperial Japanese army in occupied Shanghai, Ip Man and his family settle in post-war Hong Kong. Struggling to make a living, ..read more »
78%
from 1,704 member
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Founding of a Republic - Blu-ray
(2009)
Starring: Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Andy Lau
Director: Sanping Han, Jianxin Huang
Certificate:
Watch now: £2.49
Following the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the Communist Party started to rule in the mainland and Kuomingtang was forced to retreat to the island of Taiwan. The new power, along with other parties, came together to organize the very first People's Republic of China.
37%
from 154 members
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Bodyguards and Assassins
on DVD
(2009)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Xueqi Wang
Director: Teddy Chan
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
Before Dr Sun Yat-Sen can become the Father of Modern China by instigating the revolution of 1911 that overthrows the Qing Dynasty he must survive the fateful date of October 15, 1905
Yat-Sen arrives in Hong Kong for a secret meeting to establish a united anti-Qing revolutionary front and over the ..read more »
64%
from 985 members
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The Founding of a Republic
on DVD
(2009)
Starring: Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Andy Lau
Director: Sanping Han, Jianxin Huang
Certificate:
Watch now: £2.49
An action-packed, star-studded story of an heroic battle in one man’s revolutionary fight for freedom, with Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen, together for the first time in film history.
Inspired by true events, Founding of a Republic weaves a rousing tale of one man who fought against the ..read more »
46%
from 215 members
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Bodyguards and Assassins - Blu-ray
(2009)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Xueqi Wang
Director: Teddy Chan
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
Before Dr Sun Yat-Sen can become the Father of Modern China by instigating the revolution of 1911 that overthrows the Qing Dynasty he must survive the fateful date of October 15, 1905
Yat-Sen arrives in Hong Kong for a secret meeting to establish a united anti-Qing revolutionary front and over the ..read more »
60%
from 616 members
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IP Man
on DVD
(2008)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan
Director: Wilson Yip
Certificate:
Ip Man is adapted from the life story of Ip Man, the grand master of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and sifu (master) of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee.
82%
from 3,577 members
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IP Man - Blu-ray
(2008)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan
Director: Wilson Yip
Certificate:
Ip Man is adapted from the life story of Ip Man, the grand master of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and sifu (master) of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee.
82%
from 2,635 members
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An Empress and the Warrior - Blu-ray
(2008)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Xiaodong Guo, Zhenghai Kou
Director: Siu-Tung Ching
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
When the ancient King of a proud Chinese Kingdom is killed, the throne passes to his only daughter, Yan Feier (Kelly Chen - Infernal Affairs). Ill-prepared for the rigours of leadership that lie ahead, she relies heavily on her father's most trusted General, Muyong (Donnie Yen - Hero).
But when ..read more »
60%
from 927 members
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Painted Skin - Blu-ray
(2008)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Xun Zhou, Wei Zhao
Director: Gordon Chan
Certificate:
An epic martial arts fantasy set in a vast desert during the turbulent Yuan dynasty. A bloodthirsty demon brings together warring tribes for a cataclysmic battle to the death.
44%
from 5 members
Currently unavailable
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Painted Skin
(2008)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Xun Zhou, Wei Zhao
Director: Gordon Chan
Certificate:
In the turbulent days between the Qin and Han Dynasties a dark, tyrannical presence rules the land, sea and air of a once beautiful realm. As the evil forces press further into the lives of the people it falls to an ex-general (Donnie Yen – Ip Man, Hero, Blade II) to reclaim the mantle of battle ..read more »
62%
from 7 members
Due for release on 11th June 2012
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An Empress and the Warriors
on DVD
(2008)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Xiaodong Guo, Zhenghai Kou
Director: Siu-Tung Ching
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
When the ancient King of a proud Chinese Kingdom is killed, the throne passes to his only daughter, Yan Feier (Kelly Chen - Infernal Affairs). Ill-prepared for the rigours of leadership that lie ahead, she relies heavily on her father's most trusted General, Muyong (Donnie Yen - Hero).
But when ..read more »
61%
from 2,498 members
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Flash Point
on DVD
(2007)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Louis Koo, Collin Chou
Director: Wilson Yip, Yip Wai Shun
Certificate: 
Maverick Detective Jun Ma (Donnie Yen - Dragon Tiger Gate, Hero, Seven Swords) is a man under serious pressure. His city has been taken over by three Triad brothers led by a vicious smuggler (Collin Chou - Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, Jet Li's Fearless), he's been demoted as punishment for ..read more »
66%
from 1,047 member
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Flash Point - Blu-ray
(2007)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Louis Koo
Director: Wilson Yip, Yip Wai Shun, Wils
Certificate:
Maverick Detective Jun Ma (Donnie Yen - Dragon Tiger Gate, Hero, Seven Swords) is a man under serious pressure. His city has been taken over by three Triad brothers led by a vicious smuggler (Collin Chou - Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, Jet Li's Fearless), he's been demoted as punishment for ..read more »
67%
from 310 members
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Dragon Tiger Gate - Blu-ray
(2006)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue
Director: Wilson Yip
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
When Tiger Wong (Nicholas Tse, New Police Story) uses his special Dragon Slaying Kick to protect an innocent family from being tormented by Triads, he unwittingly takes a large gold medallion from one of his assailants. He doesn't know that it's the Lousha Death Plaque - a powerful talisman ..read more »
63%
from 361 members
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Dragon Tiger Gate
on DVD
(2006)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue
Director: Wilson Yip
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
When Tiger Wong (Nicholas Tse, New Police Story) uses his special Dragon Slaying Kick to protect an innocent family from being tormented by Triads, he unwittingly takes a large gold medallion from one of his assailants. He doesn’t know that it’s the Lousha Death Plaque – a powerful talisman ..read more »
66%
from 1,272 member
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Killzone - Blu-ray
(2005)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo
Director: Wilson Yip
Certificate:
Chan (Simon Yam), an articulate senior detective nearing the end of his career, is taking care of the daughter of a witness killed by ruthless crime lord Po (Sammo Hung). Martial arts expert Ma (Donnie Yen) is set to take over as head of the crime unit, replacing Chan who wants an early retirement.
59%
from 556 members
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Seven Swords
on DVD
(2005)
Starring: Leon Lai, Charlie Yeung, Donnie Yen
Director: Tsui Hark
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
China in the 17th Century.
A new law decrees all martial arts illegal, punishment of death. A group of soldiers travel the country seeking out those who would flout the law. A swordsman and his disciples decide to take the fight to the enemy, following a plea from a group of villagers.
57%
from 6,617 members
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Kill Zone
on DVD
(2005)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo
Director: Wilson Yip
Certificate:
Chan (Simon Yam), an articulate senior detective nearing the end of his career, is taking care of the daughter of a witness killed by ruthless crime lord Po (Sammo Hung). Martial arts expert Ma (Donnie Yen) is set to take over as head of the crime unit, replacing Chan who wants an early retirement.
59%
from 529 members
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S.P.L. : Sha po lang
(2005)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Wu Jing
Director: Wilson Yip
Certificate:
A crimelord (Sammo Hung) covers his tracks so well that he always gets away from all crimes he does, assisted by four fast-talking English lawyers. A professional assassin (Wu Jing), who never fails on his assignment, appearing out of nowhere. Four policemen so eager to nab the crimelord that they ..read more »
79%
from 71 members
Currently unavailable
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Shanghai Affairs
(1998)
Starring: Athena Chu
Director: Donnie Yen
Certificate:
In the chaos of China after the fall of the Manchu dynasty, a beggar named Tangsan learns to become a powerful martial artist, taking on warlords and pirates. Tangsan leads the peasants of China against the encroaching foreigners and becomes a national hero. A loose remake of Bruce Lee's THE BIG ..read more »
50%
from 11 members
Currently unavailable
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Satan Returns
on DVD
(1996)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Chingamy Yau, Yuen King Dan
Director: Ah Lun
Certificate:
SATAN RETURNS is a dark, quirky thriller reminiscent of both SEVEN and THE EVIL DEAD series. This chilling Hong Kong horror film stars Chingmy Yau as Shou-Ching Chan, a police complaints officer being stalked by Judas (Francis Ng), a madman who believes she's the devil's daughter. Maverick cop Mo ..read more »
42%
from 169 members
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Fist Of Fury - Sworn Revenge
(1995)
Starring: Donnie Yen
Director: Shiu-Kee Lung
Certificate:
This prequel to FIST OF FURY (a remake of THE CHINESE CONNECTION) finds Donnie Yen reprising his role as Chen Jun. SWORN REVENGE finds Jun heartbroken and bent on vengeance after his sister is murdered by a criminal. Vowing to exact revenge on his sister's murderer himself, Jun sets out to learn ..read more »
54%
from 78 members
Not currently released
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Revenge Of The Kung Fu Master
(1994)
Starring: Donnie Yen
Director: Donnie Yen
Certificate:
Hung Kei-Kwun attempts to return China to its own people by slaying the Manchu Emperor in this classic slice of Hong Kong martial arts action. Starring Donnie Yen (BLADE II, SHANGHAI KNIGHTS).Donnie Yen, star of Iron Monkey, Blade II, and Shanghai Knights, returns as righteous and nationalistic ..read more »
49%
from 17 members
Currently unavailable
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Wing Chun
(1994)
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, Tsui Siu Keung
Director: Yuen Woo-Ping
Certificate: 
A beautiful widow moves into the tofu house owned by the martial artist Yim Wing Chun and her aunt. A group of bandits decide to kidnap the widow for a bride. Meanwhile a former love of Wing Chun's returns to town and mistakes the widow for her and Wing Chun for a man.
60%
from 863 members
Not currently released
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Kung Fu Master
(1994)
Starring: Donnie Yen
Director: Benny Chan Muk-sing, Tang Hin-shing
Certificate:
Donnie Yen ('Hero', 'Blade 2'), stars as the legendary Hung Hei-kwun in this epic martial arts. Returning home after an eight year absence, Hung plans to join the Sun Moon Sect in an attempt to overthrow the reigning Manchurian Ching Dynasty and restore justice to the downtrodden Han people. Hot ..read more »
51%
from 92 members
Currently unavailable
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Iron Monkey
(1993)
Starring: Donnie Yen, Yu Rong Kwong, Jean Wang
Director: Yuen Woo Ping
Certificate:
Yuen Woo-Ping's exhilarating martial arts film stars Yu Rong Guang as Dr. Yang, a kind family doctor who charitably provides medicine and care to impoverished villagers, along with his assistant, Orchid (the lovely Jean Wang). Yang, however, also masquerades as the crime-fighting Iron Monkey, who ..read more »
67%
from 3,209 members
Not currently released
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Butterfly And Sword
on DVD
(1993)
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, Tony Leung
Director: Chu Yen Ping
Certificate:
An honorable, brave farmer volunteers to help defend the Ming Dynasty against a gang of dissembling eunuchs with a coup d'etat on their minds. The film features Hong Kong superstars Michelle Yeoh, Tony Leung, and Donnie Yen.
49%
from 852 members
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Once Upon A Time In China II
on DVD
(1993)
Starring: Jet Lee, Mok Sui Chung, Donnie Yen
Director: Tsui Hark
Certificate:
ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA 2 presents the continuing late-19th-century adventures of Chinese folk hero and doctor Wong Fei-Hong (Jet Li), who arrives in Canton with for a medical conference. Unfortunately, the city is about to start a revolution as the fighting between the anarchist White Lotus Clan ..read more »
67%
from 1,923 member
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New Dragon Gate Inn
(1992)
Starring: Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Bridget Lin
Director: Li Hui Min
Certificate:
This action-packed Hong Kong film, produced by Tsui Hark, is a clear predecessor of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. In the movie, an evil eunuch warlord (Donnie Yen) conspires against the Ming Dynasty and meets his match in the form of a motley band of acrobatic warriors led by the rebel Chow (Tony ..read more »
60%
from 811 members
Not currently released
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In The Line Of Duty
(1989)
Starring: Cynthia Khan, Michael Woods, Donnie Yen
Director: Yuen Woo-Ping
Certificate:
Cynthia Khan (alternately billed as Cynthia Yang) is back as a policewoman extraordinaire who busts baddies in this fourth installment in the frenetic, popular Hong Kong action series. When a dock worker stumbles across a drug sting operation gone wrong, the cops want him in custody--and the ..read more »
59%
from 232 members
Currently unavailable
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Fist Of Fury - The Legend Lives On
on DVD
Starring: Donnie Yen, Eddie Ko
Director: Lung Shiu-Kee, Shiu-Kee Lung
Certificate:
A remake of Bruce Lee's THE CHINESE CONNECTION, FIST OF FURY finds Donnie Yen reprising Lee's role as Chen Jun, a budding martial arts master. When Chen's mastered is killed by the Japanese, Chen vows revenge and sets off to find the murderer. Featuring recreations of the amazing fight scenes from ..read more »
51%
from 65 members
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New Big Boss AKA Legend Of The Wolf
Starring: Donnie Yen, Edmond Leung
Director: Donnie Yen
Certificate:
Edmond Leung stars in this ambitious Donnie Yen film about a young hitman named Ben Chan who is out to find and kill the legendary Wolf, a very old and legendary assassin. However, when Chan arrives at the Wolf's lair, he begins a conversation with the old man's second in command, who proceeds to ..read more »
52%
from 132 members
Currently unavailable
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Iron Monkey 2
Starring: Donnie Yen, Billy Chow
Director: Chiu Lo Kong
Certificate:
Accompanied by a beautiful warrior, Cool Head embarks on a mission to track down a group of killers who plan to bring down the government.
46%
from 332 members
Currently unavailable
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Donnie Yen facts
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... agents who are hunting them end up there. There's lots of fighting. At the end Donnie Yen shows up (as a eunuch, of course) and the big final fight ensues. So, yes, it's...
