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CYF works with John Woo and the high-point in his
Hong Kong career begins
Although CYF went on not only to be in TV, but also the movies, he was not always a success. He said in an interview
that he was considered box office poison for many years. It was after he married Jasmine who was not only a wife, but
also his business manager, and he met John Woo things began to change. He gives much of the credit to his wife for
the success at this time in his career. No less responsible was the director John Woo. He was going to make the
movie A Better Tomorrow, and although he didn't first think of Chow Yun-Fat for the role, when he did it was Hong Kong
film history. The actor and director went on to make several more movies together. CYF received many more awards
and became one of the most popular actors in Asia (which he remains today). In 1995 he made his last Hong Kong film
Peace Hotel, and after years of being so successful in Asia, he made the decision he would go to Hollywood to continue
his career.
Chow Yun-Fat makes his first American movie
The Replacement Killers
The job of getting a Hollywood movie was not an easy one for CYF. Parts for Asian leading men in films were not
plentiful. Would he take a small part as a gangster or bad guy as so many Asians were forced to do? It took years for it
to finally happen, but when The Replacement Killers was made the box office figures were so low that most Americans
still didn't know Chow Yun-Fat. The story suited his Hong Kong reputation as a good/bad guy, and he was the star. CYF
had to remain in America longer than he wanted and missed Hong Kong, especially his mother, and probably the food.
The language was difficult and the promotion for the film was not always something he enjoyed. Fortunately his wife
Jasmine is from Singapore and speaks English. In 1999 he made 2 more films The Corruptor and the beautiful Anna
and the King. Because of this film he was asked to be a presenter at the 2000 Academy Awards. He followed those two
films by making the successful Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Again he was asked to be a presenter at the Academy
Awards in 2001 when CTHD won many awards. Bulletproof Monk was his next movie in 2003. SARS was hitting Asia
and people from there were told not to travel, and CYf did not return to America for its premiere. Many actors and
directors were returning to Asia to make films. In 2005 he was a pirate in one of the blockbuster series movie The
Pirates of the Caribbean. He also made
his first movie in Asia in 10 years The Postmodern Life of My Aunt with Ann Hue directing. In 2006 CYF made Curse of
the Golden Flower Directed by Zhang Yimou with actress Gong Li.
and Children of Huang Shi with Michelle Yeoh released in 2008.
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