John Woo

John Woo

Born: September 22, 1946
in Guangzhou, China
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.

Movies for John Woo...

The King of Wuxia
Title: The King of Wuxia
Character: Self
Released: October 24, 2022
Type: Movie
The life of the epoch-making master of martial arts cinema, King Hu.
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Life in 24 Frames a Second
Title: Life in 24 Frames a Second
Character: Self
Released: June 26, 2021
Type: Movie
"Life in 24 Frames a Second" is a film about hardship, misfortune, perseverance and triumph. The personal stories of John Woo (The Killer), Anurag Kashyap (Sacred Games), Rithy Panh (The Missing Picture) and Lav Diaz (The Woman Who Left), who survived extreme poverty, disease, sexual abuse, genocide and civil war to go on to become maestros of world cinema. 'Survivors' united by their abiding love of the movies.
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John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Title: John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Character: Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
Released: March 19, 2017
Type: Movie
The gripping story of legendary American actor John Travolta: his rise to stardom in the 1970s; his agonizing fall in disgrace in the 1980s; and his stunning artistic rebirth in the 1990s.
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Ken San
Title: Ken San
Character: Self
Released: August 20, 2016
Type: Movie
KEN SAN pieces together the puzzle of the life and legacy of Japan's mythical acting icon, Ken Takakura. Collaborators, friends and family tell intimate stories of Ken's journey: how one man of quiet dignity became a cultural barrier-breaking film star.
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Beginning of the Great Revival
Title: Beginning of the Great Revival
Character: Lin Sen
Released: June 23, 2011
Type: Movie
A chronicle of the events that led to the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.
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Kurosawa's Way
Title: Kurosawa's Way
Character: Self
Released: May 13, 2011
Type: Movie
Eleven major film makers from Europe, America and Asia talk about Akira Kurosawa and discover surprising influences on their own work.
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The Founding of a Republic
Title: The Founding of a Republic
Character: National Army officers
Released: September 17, 2009
Type: Movie
The tale of one man who fought against the tyranny of a ruler and led his people in battle in the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
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The Founding of a Republic
Title: The Founding of a Republic
Character: Liu Wenhui
Released: September 17, 2009
Type: Movie
The tale of one man who fought against the tyranny of a ruler and led his people in battle in the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
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How Bruce Lee Changed the World
Title: How Bruce Lee Changed the World
Character: Self
Released: May 17, 2009
Type: Movie
More than just a biography, this film explores Bruce Lee's global impact to see how he has influenced all areas of popular culture including fitness, cinema, music, sport, dance, video games and philosophy. A journey across the United States, Asia and Europe, takes Shannon Lee on a trip back to her father's roots in Hong Kong and China. With unique access to the family's photographic archive, home movies and all material owned by the Bruce Lee Foundation.
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Team-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki
Title: Team-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki
Released: March 11, 2008
Type: Movie
Short focusing on the collaboration between John Woo and Shinji Aramaki in Appleseed Ex Machina.
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Title: Bokura no Jidai
Released: April 1, 2007
Type: TV
A talk show broadcast on Fuji TV every Sunday.
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A Century of Light and Shadow
Title: A Century of Light and Shadow
Character: Himself
Released: January 1, 2005
Type: Movie
Revisit 100 years of Chinese cinema through the RTHK TV program A Century of Light and Shadow. Aired in 2005, this interesting and informative documentary traces the development of the Chinese film industry from the pioneering years to contemporary times. From the volley between Mandarin and Cantonese films to the rise of the New Wave, this program touches on all the major trends and developments that have helped define Chinese cinema and explores different genres and representative figures and films. From actors to directors, over 200 film industry names, including Jackie Chan, John Woo, Sammo Hung, Connie Chan, Andrew Lau, Peter Chan, and Lau Ching Wan, appear in the program, bringing their intimate knowledge of the industry and providing insight about what lies ahead for Chinese cinema.
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Crossings: John Woo
Title: Crossings: John Woo
Character: Self
Released: June 20, 2004
Type: Movie
Crossings: John Woo starts with Woo's emotional homecoming to Hong Kong in 2004 to promote his latest blockbuster Paycheck. It leads you through his teen years where he made avant garde films, his apprenticeship with Shaw Brothers' martial arts director Chang Che, his coming of age as a director directing slapstick Hong Kong comedies through the 70s and 80s. It charts the genesis of the groundbreaking A Better Tomorrow starring Chow Yun Fat, a film that creates a new genre in Hong Kong cinema and launches Woo's career into the international arena.
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The Master: Chang Cheh Documentary
Title: The Master: Chang Cheh Documentary
Released: June 4, 2003
Type: Movie
One of the greatest, prolific and most influential action directors in history Chang Cheh! Documentary about the Shaw Brother's most prolific director.
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Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia
Title: Cinema Hong Kong: Wu Xia
Character: Himself
Released: January 2, 2003
Type: Movie
A full journey from the beginning of "Swordplay" movies in Shanghai, growth in Hong Kong cinemas in the 60's and 70's and Ang Lee's epic "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2000. The series also features interviews with such luminaries including John Woo, Chu Yuen, Lau Ka Leung, Gordon Lau Ka Fai, Sammo Hung, David Chiang and Cheng Pei Pei.
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Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu
Title: Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 2003
Type: Movie
Filmmaker Ian Taylor examines the impressive legacy of Hong Kong cinema -- specifically, how martial arts crossed borders and become an international phenomenon -- with the help of footage and interviews with the stars who made the genre what it is today. Director Lau Ka Leung (who helmed The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) joins in, sharing his thoughts on how certain cinematic technologies have improved martial arts films and expanded their appeal, on the set of Drunken Monkey (2003).
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The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies
Title: The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies
Character: Self - Interviewee
Released: June 1, 2002
Type: Movie
Hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, this in-depth documentary offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the martial arts film -- from the genre's rebellious beginnings to high-flying modern epics. Jackson takes you through the best moments of 100 movies, including Charlie's Angels and Oscar winner Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Interviews with martial arts film veterans Sammo Hung, John Woo and Ang Lee round out the video.
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Mission: Improbable
Title: Mission: Improbable
Character: Self
Released: June 2, 2001
Type: Movie
A behind the scenes look at the stunt work of "Mission: Impossible 2", told through one stunt man who looks like a certain superstar, who's got his looks, but certainly not his smarts.
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Kurosawa: The Last Emperor
Title: Kurosawa: The Last Emperor
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1999
Type: Movie
A profile and history of film director Akira Kurosawa.
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Jackie Chan: My Story
Title: Jackie Chan: My Story
Character: Himself
Released: July 17, 1998
Type: Movie
Jackie Chan is one of the world's biggest action stars, famed for his wacky sense of humor, remarkable martial arts techniques, and willingness to perform incredible stunts without the use of doubles -- or a net. This video takes a personal look at Chan as he works on screen projects in Hollywood and Beijing and candidly discusses his life and work.
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Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema
Title: Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema
Character: Himself
Released: June 4, 1998
Type: Movie
An exploration of Chinese cinema and its relationships with gender and sexuality, which the film argues has been more frankly and provocatively explored than in any other national cinema. Utilizing both film excerpts and interviews with many leading directors and academics, the film examines topics such as male bonding in kung fu movies, depictions of same-sex bonding and physical intimacy, the emphasis on women's grievances in melodramas, and the career of Yam Kim-Fai, a Hong Kong actress who spent her life portraying men on and off the screen.
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Task Force
Title: Task Force
Character: Police Chief
Released: November 13, 1997
Type: Movie
Lin is a plain-clothes cop in the crime-riddled district of Mongkok who bungles a vice operation directed at mainland prostitues. He falls for a ditsy hooker who tells him the love of her life is a killer who once svaed her life in a shootout.
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Cinema of Vengeance
Title: Cinema of Vengeance
Character: Himself (uncredited)
Released: January 1, 1994
Type: Movie
A documentary study of martial arts films and their leading protagonists. Included are profiles of such artists as Bruce Lee, Cynthia Rothrock, Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Damme and John Woo favourite Chow Yun Fat.
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Film ohne Fesseln - Das neue Hongkong Kino
Title: Film ohne Fesseln - Das neue Hongkong Kino
Character: Himself
Released: January 1, 1993
Type: Movie
A German documentary on Hong Kong cinema.
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Hard Boiled
Title: Hard Boiled
Character: Mr. Woo
Released: April 16, 1992
Type: Movie
A cop who loses his partner in a shoot-out with gun smugglers goes on a mission to catch them. In order to get closer to the leaders of the ring he joins forces with an undercover cop who's working as a gangster hitman. They use all means of excessive force to find them.
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Twin Dragons
Title: Twin Dragons
Character: Priest
Released: January 15, 1992
Type: Movie
Twins, separated at birth, end up as a Hong Kong gangster and a New York concert pianist. When the pianist travels to Hong Kong for a concert, the two inevitably get mistaken for each other.
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The Banquet
Title: The Banquet
Character: Man on stairs
Released: November 30, 1991
Type: Movie
Developer Tsang Siu-Chi and his agent have bought two of a group of four properties. Rival developer, Boss Hung has secured the other two properties. Both aim to buy all four so they can knock them down and build hotels.
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Once a Thief
Title: Once a Thief
Character: Stanley Wu
Released: February 2, 1991
Type: Movie
Three orphans grow up to become art thieves under the tutelage of a crime boss. Romance complicates matters when the trio are double-crossed.
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Rebel from China
Title: Rebel from China
Character: Kwong
Released: October 25, 1990
Type: Movie
Prolific action director Woo proves his thespian mettle on screen as a destitute, desperate Chinese defector who, with his brother in tow, tries to find a foothold in the Hong Kong underworld.
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Bullet in the Head
Title: Bullet in the Head
Character: Policeman
Released: August 17, 1990
Type: Movie
When three close friends escape from Hong Kong to war-time Saigon to start a criminal's life, they all go through a harrowing experience which totally shatters their lives and their friendship forever.
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Sunset in Paris
Title: Sunset in Paris
Released: June 14, 1989
Type: Movie
The story of "Sunset Paris" tells that Leslie Cheung, who plays Leslie, and Maggie Cheung, who plays Maggie, are a couple. Leslie gets an opportunity to study at the University of Paris, so he leaves Hong Kong to go abroad to pursue his ideals, but has to separate from his girlfriend Maggie for a short time. While living in Paris, Leslie meets a painter, Cherie, played by Cherie Chung, and develops a relationship with her. Things get complicated when Maggie comes to Paris on a visit and realizes that things are not the same...
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Starry Is the Night
Title: Starry Is the Night
Character: Father Fan
Released: October 13, 1988
Type: Movie
As Cai Mei, a single 40 year old woman and a social worker starts a relationship with a teen-ager Tian-Ah, she remembers her relationship when she was young with her professor, a married man older than her.
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I Love Maria
Title: I Love Maria
Released: March 10, 1988
Type: Movie
RoboCop as a woman... The Hero Gang is a nasty group of thugs terrorizing Hong Kong with their killer robots, Pioneers 1 and 2. While Pioneer 1 looks like an oridinary robot, Pioneer 2 has been modelled on Maria, the gang's #2 thug. When Pioneer 2 gets damaged during a mission to kill an outcast gang member, an inventor on the police force takes her and changes some of her programming. This new code, plus a few injuries to her logic center, start causing Pioneer 2 to develop her own personality.
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The Thirty Million Dollar Rush
Title: The Thirty Million Dollar Rush
Character: Ling's Husband
Released: July 2, 1987
Type: Movie
Treasury employee Fatty (Eric Tsang) discovered that bags of used 30 million in Hong Kong Dollars have not been incinerated due to a system error; therefore, he hatches up a plot to grab the doe before they are burned. He seeks his friends Mark (Mark Cheng) and Tomboy (Anglie Leung) to help him with the heist; but, they also enlist actual thief Baldy (Karl Maka), who had just been released from prison, to double the assistance with his thievery skills. But, Baldy wants the money for his own and to share it with love interest Siu-Fung (Paula Tsui). Hot on their trail is a hothead inspector (Ching Wong) and a nun, Sister Maria (Brigitte Lin), who wants to save them for redemption.
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A Better Tomorrow
Title: A Better Tomorrow
Character: Inspector Wu
Released: August 2, 1986
Type: Movie
A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.
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Love, Lone Flower
Title: Love, Lone Flower
Released: June 22, 1985
Type: Movie
Wau Fong and Pak Yuk are attractive hostesses in a cabaret with a great following. One of Wan's suitors, Or Ah Chun is a powerful and prominent figure with strong Japanese connections. But she is reluctant to accept his affection and offer of good life. A postgraduate returning from Japan, Lin San Lon is deeply in love with Pak. The musically talented Lin composes the song LOVE, LONE FLOWER for her. But an American bomber puts an end to their relationship, killing Or and Pak in the debris of the cabaret. Wan becomes "Chieftain" of May Flower Restaurant after the liberation. Among the girls under her supervision, she is surprised to see the late Pak...
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Happy Union 2
Title: Happy Union 2
Released: January 1, 1985
Type: Movie
Taiwanese comedy.
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Plain Jane to the Rescue
Title: Plain Jane to the Rescue
Character: John Woo [cameo]
Released: October 21, 1982
Type: Movie
Jane, with plain looks but a heart of gold, is always in between jobs. Once she gets a job, her knack for creating awkward situations immediately loses it for her. Ricky is her suitor, but he gets nowhere as the girl has no time for love. So Ricky goes along with her in job hunting. Somehow, Jane lands on a job as governess. Not to a child, but to an uncouth very old, very rich man who still wants to lead the life of his poor, uncivilized youth. His son is now running the old man's millions. He wants to bring up the father the civilized way. And he wants to take over the whole city through take-over deals. He is ruthless and has thrown thousands into the streets.
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From Riches to Rags
Title: From Riches to Rags
Character: [cameo]
Released: July 10, 1980
Type: Movie
Ricky and Fatso are friends in need. They are in dire need of money since they are only paid slave wages at the bottling factory. However, they become millionaires overnight after buying a winning lottery ticket. During one of their swingin' nights on the town, Ricky is suddenly attacked by an upset stomach; and in no time, a quack doctor diagnoses the seizure as terminal cancer. Ricky seriously considers suicide. But he is appalled by the drawbacks inherent in the available methods of doing himself in--primarily the pain! It is on a rooftop from which he is supposed to make a plunge that he saves a poor man from suicide by giving the latter all the money he has. In gratitude, the newly rich man promises to hire a killer to finish off his suffering benefactor...
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Itchy Fingers
Title: Itchy Fingers
Character: Triad boss on lorry
Released: January 26, 1979
Type: Movie
Biggie (Roy Chiao) and Tiny (Richard Ng) grow up together. They fight all the time. Biggie is a detective and Tiny is a thief. Biggie has the satisfaction of catching Tiny and putting him behind bars. When Tiny is released, he is approached by Daigau who wants Tiny's help to steal the world famous diamond.
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Follow the Star
Title: Follow the Star
Character: Miss Chen's father
Released: February 4, 1978
Type: Movie
On that side of the track is Ah Sing (Roy Chiao), uncouth, unkempt, a garage repairman, a bravado with plenty of tricks up his overall sleeve. And on the other side of the track is rich, young recording artist Gayle (Rowena Cortes), idol of the young with her songs and dances, but an orphan. Harry is her manager. They should not meet, least to say forming some kind of partnership, but they do. Gayle goes to Ah Sing's garage for repairs. When Harry and she drive off, the car's undercarriage Ah Sing and drags him along. Fate steps in the form of five toughles who stop the car and kidnap Gayle to a farmhouse. It so happens that Gayle's father and the five were robbers but the father took off with all the money while the five were caught. They want the money back now they have served the time...
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Hand of Death
Title: Hand of Death
Character: Zhang Yi
Released: July 15, 1976
Type: Movie
A young monk must face the Extended Iron Claw technique of a powerful warlord seeking to destroy Shaolin.
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Young Lovers on Flying Wheels
Title: Young Lovers on Flying Wheels
Character: Man at bike reclaim centre
Released: September 20, 1974
Type: Movie
Forced to choose between the woman he loves and the dangerous, fast-paced life of motorcycles, what will our hero do? Will he toss the bike aside and pick the girl? Or will he leave the girl in favor of the bike? Or is there a chance for some sort of compromise?
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The Young Dragons
Title: The Young Dragons
Character: Message deliverer
Released: July 25, 1974
Type: Movie
The powerful mobster Leung, who is protected by the dangerous and wicked Huan Fai, sells two hundred Japanese weapons and ammunition to a Chinese gang. He uses the smuggler Luy Fu to bring the weapons but the smalltime thief Kim and his gang heist the shipment on the road and dump the cargo into the sea. However, he lures Luy Fu and asks a large amount to return the weapons with the intention of traveling abroad with his brother. Meanwhile Kim befriends Fan Ming, an undercover police office from Shanghai that is investigating the illegal activities of Leung. When the mobster finds that Fan Ming is a policeman, Leung ambushes him and Huan Fai and his men stab the officer that falls from a cliff into the sea. Kim brings Fan Ming's fiancée Ipi Feng to the house of his lover, the prostitute Hung, and tells Ipi Feng that her fiancé was murdered by Leung. She decides to revenge the death of her beloved Fan Ming with tragic consequences.
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The Mandarin
Title: The Mandarin
Released: June 28, 1973
Type: Movie
A detective and wanderer called Man Tshu comes to town and challenges the crime family that owns it, burning their opium and taking away one of their prostitute wives as his love interest.
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Accidentally
Title: Accidentally
Character: Young Man
Released: January 1, 1968
Type: Movie
John Woo's experimental short film, made during his time in college. The line between genuine love and violent obsession is blurred when a man falls for a girl and proceeds to tie her up with rope to him, making her follow him around and bend to his whims until tragedy ultimately befalls them both.
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Dead Knot
Title: Dead Knot
Released: January 1, 1968
Type: Movie
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Title: Golden Horse Awards
Character: Self
Released: October 31, 1962
Type: TV
The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards (Chinese: 台北金馬影展; pinyin: Táiběi Jīnmǎ Yǐngzhǎn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-pak Kim-má iáⁿ-tián) is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962 by the Government Information Office of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan. The awards ceremony is usually held in November or December in Taipei, although the event has also been held in other locations in Taiwan in recent times