SUBMITTED BY LClem

February 11, 2003 — Q:What surprised you about working with Zhang Yimou? A:He’s always tried to challenge and change culture through his films. He’s always wanted to break the rules. But now, it’s different. With this film, he’s trying to set new rules, to win rules back, to put them in place. Q:What do you think the Chinese will make of the film? A:The older generation will like it, but I’m not sure about the youngsters. The government will definitely like it. It’s a film that says country comes first, then city, then family. Q:It seems a very commercial move to have cast Donnie Yen in the film. Very Miramax. A:Donnie was my decision. I talked to Zhang about the feel of the film. I wanted the fighting to look the way it did 2,000 years ago, like real martial arts. So Donnie Yen was the one. Films now are all about killing one’s opponent as fast as possible. In the old days, guys had more respect for each other. There was a dignity about the way they fought. (There's much more to read at the link)