John Woo

Born: 1946-09-22

John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard Boiled and Red Cliff. His Hollywood films include Hard Target, Broken Arrow, Face/Off and Mission: Impossible 2. He also created the comic series Seven Brothers, published by Virgin Comics. Woo was described by Dave Kehr in The Observer in 2002 as "arguably the most influential director making movies today". Woo cites his three favorite films as David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia, Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Samouraï.


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A Better Tomorrow

as Inspector Wu
Released: 1986-08-02

A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to...

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Twin Dragons

as Priest
Released: 1992-01-15

Twins, separated at birth, end up as a Hong Kong gangster and a New York concert pianist. When...

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Hard Boiled

as Mr. Woo
Released: 1992-04-16

A cop who loses his partner in a shoot-out with gun smugglers goes on a mission to catch them....

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Jackie Chan: My Story

as (archive footage)
Released: 1998-07-17

Jackie Chan is one of the world's biggest action stars, famed for his wacky sense of humor,...

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Bullet in the Head

as Policeman
Released: 1990-08-17

Three childhood friends from the slums of Hong Kong flee to war-time Saigon after accidentally...

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Once a Thief

as Stanley Wu
Released: 1991-02-02

Three orphans grow up to become art thieves under the tutelage of a crime boss. Romance...

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The Founding of a Republic

as Liu Wenhui
Released: 2009-09-17

The tale of one man who fought against the tyranny of a ruler and led his people in battle in...

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The Founding of a Republic

as National Army Officers
Released: 2009-09-17

The tale of one man who fought against the tyranny of a ruler and led his people in battle in...

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Hand of Death

as Zhang Yi
Released: 1976-07-15

A young monk must face the Extended Iron Claw technique of a powerful warlord seeking to destroy...

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How Bruce Lee Changed the World

as Self
Released: 2009-05-17

More than just a biography, this film explores Bruce Lee's global impact to see how he has...

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The Banquet

as Man on Stairs
Released: 1991-11-30

Developer Tsang Siu-Chi and his agent have bought two of a group of four properties. Rival...

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Beginning of the Great Revival

as Lin Sen
Released: 2011-06-23

A chronicle of the events that led to the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

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John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood

as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
Released: 2017-03-19

The gripping story of legendary American actor John Travolta: his rise to stardom in the 1970s;...

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The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies

as Self - Interviewee
Released: 2002-06-01

Hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, this in-depth documentary offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look...

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The King of Wuxia Part 1

as Self
Released: 2022-10-24

The life of the epoch-making master of martial arts cinema, King Hu.

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Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu

as Self
Released: 2003-01-01

Filmmaker Ian Taylor examines the impressive legacy of Hong Kong cinema -- specifically, how...

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The Young Dragons

as Message Deliverer
Released: 1974-07-25

The powerful mobster Leung, who is protected by the dangerous and wicked Huan Fai, sells two...

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The Thirty Million Dollar Rush

as Ling's Husband
Released: 1987-07-02

Treasury employee Fatty (Eric Tsang) discovered that bags of used 30 million in Hong Kong...

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I Love Maria

as uncredited
Released: 1988-03-10

RoboCop as a woman... The Hero Gang is a nasty group of thugs terrorizing Hong Kong with their...

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Kurosawa: The Last Emperor

as Self
Released: 1999-01-01

A profile and history of film director Akira Kurosawa.

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Mission: Improbable

as John Woo
Released: 2001-06-02

A behind the scenes look at the stunt work of "Mission: Impossible 2", told through one stunt...

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Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia

as Self
Released: 2003-01-02

A full journey from the beginning of "Swordplay" movies in Shanghai, growth in Hong Kong cinemas...

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Cinema of Vengeance

as Self (uncredited)
Released: 1994-01-01

A documentary study of martial arts films and their leading protagonists. Included are profiles...

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Kurosawa's Way

as Self
Released: 2011-05-13

Eleven major film makers from Europe, America and Asia talk about Akira Kurosawa and discover...

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Young Lovers on Flying Wheels

as Man at Bike Reclaim Centre
Released: 1974-09-20

Forced to choose between the woman he loves and the dangerous, fast-paced life of motorcycles,...

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Plain Jane to the Rescue

as Self
Released: 1982-10-21

Jane, with plain looks but a heart of gold, is always in between jobs. Once she gets a job, her...

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A Century of Light and Shadow

as Self
Released: 2005-01-01

Revisit 100 years of Chinese cinema through the RTHK TV program A Century of Light and Shadow....

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Sunset in Paris

as uncredited
Released: 1989-06-14

The story of "Sunset Paris" tells that Leslie Cheung, who plays Leslie, and Maggie Cheung, who...

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Team-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki

as uncredited
Released: 2008-03-11

Short focusing on the collaboration between John Woo and Shinji Aramaki in Appleseed Ex Machina.

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Ken San

as Self
Released: 2016-08-20

KEN SAN pieces together the puzzle of the life and legacy of Japan's mythical acting icon, Ken...

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The Mandarin

as uncredited
Released: 1973-06-28

A detective and wanderer called Man Tshu comes to town and challenges the crime family that owns...

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Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema

as Self
Released: 1998-06-04

An exploration of Chinese cinema and its relationships with gender and sexuality, which the film...

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Rebel from China

as Kwong
Released: 1990-10-25

Prolific action director Woo proves his thespian mettle on screen as a destitute, desperate...

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The King of Wuxia Part 2

as Self
Released: 2022-10-28

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Follow the Star

as Miss Chen's Father
Released: 1978-02-04

On that side of the track is Ah Sing (Roy Chiao), uncouth, unkempt, a garage repairman, a...

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From Riches to Rags

as [cameo]
Released: 1980-07-10

Ricky and Fatso are friends in need. They are in dire need of money since they are only paid...

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Starry Is the Night

as Father Fan
Released: 1988-10-13

As Cai Mei, a single 40 year old woman and a social worker starts a relationship with a...

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Task Force

as Police Chief
Released: 1997-11-13

Lin is a plain-clothes cop in the crime-riddled district of Mongkok who bungles a vice operation...

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Itchy Fingers

as Triad Boss on Lorry
Released: 1979-01-26

Biggie (Roy Chiao) and Tiny (Richard Ng) grow up together. They fight all the time. Biggie is a...

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Film ohne Fesseln - Das neue Hongkong Kino

as Self
Released: 1993-01-01

A German documentary on Hong Kong cinema.

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The Master: Chang Cheh Documentary

as uncredited
Released: 2003-06-04

One of the greatest, prolific and most influential action directors in history Chang Cheh! ...

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Happy Union 2

as uncredited
Released: 1985-01-01

Taiwanese comedy.

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Life in 24 Frames a Second

as Self
Released: 2021-06-26

"Life in 24 Frames a Second" is a film about hardship, misfortune, perseverance and triumph. The...

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Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong

as Self
Released: 2003-10-04

A look at the martial arts and kung fu cinema of Hong Kong

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Voice

as uncredited
First aired: 2012-08-27

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Golden Horse Awards

as Self
First aired: 1962-10-31

The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards (Chinese: 台北金馬影展; pinyin: Táiběi Jīnmǎ...

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Celebrity Talk Show

as 吴宇森
First aired: 1989-03-10

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Bokura no Jidai

as uncredited
First aired: 2007-04-01

A talk show broadcast on Fuji TV every Sunday.

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