Ask John Woo

John Woo Domenico Stinellis / AP

Legendary film director John Woo is known for Hong Kong action classics such as The Killer and A Better Tomorrow, as well as Hollywood blockbusters Face/Off and Mission: Impossible II. His latest film, Red Cliff, is the most expensive movie ever made in Asia. Use the form below to submit your questions for John Woo, then look for the upcoming interview in TIME Magazine's Asian edition.

NOTE: Submitted questions may be edited for length or clarity. Your first name, last name, and location are required and may be published along with your question in print and online. Your information will not be used for any other purpose.

60 Questions >>

Submit your question to Ask John Woo (60 other responses).

Posted by Kevin DeLury in San Francisco:
Seriously...how much slow motion is too much for any action scene? Is this just your creative way to make a 60 minute film into a 120 minute film?
Posted by In Kyung Yoo in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA:
When you came to direct films in the U.S., what was the biggest culture clash that you experienced?
Posted by Judith Bell in Los Angeles:
When and how did you first meet Chow Yun-Fat and decide to hire him as our leading man? DId you write roles specifically for him?

[P.S. You two have a magical chemistry that's unbeatable!!!!!!]
Posted by Ivy Tan in Las Vegas, NV:
What is your opinion of Asian films, such as Il Mare and My Sassy Girl, that are being re-created with American actors instead of distributing them as is in the US?
Posted by Geoff Eaton in El Reno, OK:
Will you ever delve into directing a different movie genre?
Posted by Catherine Pilie’ in Covington, La.:
Are you a fan of the old Godzilla and Mothra movies?
Posted by Catherine Pilie’ in Covington, La.:
Do you feel you are as good a director as Ang Lee?
Posted by Catherine Pilie’ in Covington, La.:
Do you feel Asian movies or other movies made outside the U.S. and the Hollywood circle will ever be as big or successful worldwide?
Posted by Patrick Rogers in Los Angeles:
What director or artist has most influenced your unique style?
Posted by Shi Qiu in Toronto:
How are the rapidly available movies on the internet affecting the movie industry, especially the circle you are in.
Posted by Patricia Soule in Palmyra VA:
What is your biggest challenge in directing a film?
Posted by Simon Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:
What was the real reason that Cho Yun-Fat changed his mind about staring in Red Cliff? And how did you handle it?
Posted by Kay Tapales in Manila:
How do you stay on top of the game? What do you do to keep your style from looking date or passe?
Posted by Alan Quast in GuangZhou, Vancouver:
Are we ever going to see more of Inspector Tequilla?
Posted by Alan Quast in GuangZhou, Vancouver:
In your opinion how does who are the leading directors in Mainland China? What are your opinions on Zhang YiMo's films?
Posted by Bill Fisher in Seattle:
i read once that you would like to direct a musical.
still interested?
with musicals finally back in vogue, do you have a project in mind?
Posted by Jim Johns in Culver:
Is it hard to check your blindspot when changing lanes??
Posted by Pey Bin, Ho in Perth:
You are influential; no question about it as you are being chosen by TIME for this interview. However, have you influence the world the way you would like to?? What do think is the greatest impact you have made?? What is the actual impact you want to make?? Is there a time frame to this impact??
Posted by Harry Jeon in New York City:
A piece of advice to first and second generation immigrant Asian directors who aspire to be successful in the US?
Posted by deacon yu in hong kong:
what is the one movie of another director that you wish you could have made?
Posted by James Jiang in Norwich, UK:
How did you deal with the conflict of culture between the western and the eastern when you worked with Chinese and American people?
Posted by Sivakumar A in Chennai, India:
John! I am sure you know your movies are popular in India. Do you watch Indian films? If yes, do you have any favorites? If no, why not?
Posted by Henry Zakumumpa in Kampala,Uganda:
What's next for action movies? What new trends are you noticing in action films?
Posted by Deanna Woo in Riverside, California:
Does your life experiences affect the way you make movies?
Posted by Ngo Van Giang in Hanoi:
Does each and every film you are making contains the so-called philosophy of life? If so, how?
Posted by Kit Trombone in London:
Drawing from your successful tranistion into Hollywood, what advice would you give Ronnie Screwvala on breaking into this notoriously diffcult market and bringing Bollywood to Hollywood?
Posted by Didier in Zürich, Switzerland:
Being a big fan of your early work (Better tommorrow, The Killer, Bullet in your head), I wanted to know: Are you still gansgta resp. do you see yourselve going back to that genre, which ultimately defined you as a filmmaker?
Posted by hongjun wang in China shenzhen:
As a famous director both in China and Hollywood,you give us so many good films,I like you so much,but until now,you have not get the Oscar ,I want to know what do you think about it
Posted by Dan Lybarger in Overland Park, KS USA:
Dear Mr. Woo:

In movies like "Hard Boiled" and "The Killer," the line between criminals and cops is thin. You have said that your Lutheran upbringing has influenced the moral outlook in your films. Would you please explain?
Posted by Soyeun Yang in Superior, Colorado:
How is the American movie market different from the Asian movie market and what challenges does that pose in directing films?
Posted by Cheo Hodari Coker in Studio City, CA:
You've had a long association with Chow Yun Fat, with classics like "The Killer" and "Hard Boiled." Yun Fat left "Red Cliff". Are you two still friends? Will you ever work together again?
Posted by Jef Castro in New York:
What emotions have the greatest influence on how you tell stories on film?
Posted by Gahiji Barrow in Honolulu:
I feel as though most movies are reruns of another movie, especially action films. How do you try to tell a different story or do you just make sure you have an unheard of gimmick?
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Posted by Daniel Lee in Atlanta:
Have you ever thought of remaking any one of Jin Yung's martial arts novels into a trilogy epics without the garbages that are so common in the made for T.V. versions?
Posted by Katie Chastain in Annandale, VA:
Which figure from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is your favorite and why? Do you think you might draw upon other parts of the story for future films?
Posted by Zhihua in :
Had you read the three kingdoms novel before taking on this film? If yes, which version, the original or the English translation "Romance of Three Kingdoms"?
Posted by I’m 陈源 from Shanghai in San Francisco, CA:
I'm kinda excited to see this, mabye more than once, cause I'm a fan of Romance of Three Kingdoms. But these babyish faces ,cream-puff type guys and contemporary plastic-like visage are really a suprise. Anybody think a man with sagging man Breas* looks like a real fighter? It's only my personal taste. But I guess a lot of people, whoever, will have the same feeling like mine. What a touture it is to enjoy a heroic theme you like with a fannyman flashing in thought.
Whatever，I'm gonna watch it and hope would turn out to be another way.
Posted by Erik LeDrew in Seattle:
How do you hold on to your motivation day after punishing day, when shooting a film? Especially if you have doubts about the quality of the story you're telling, the strength of the actors you're directing, or your own abilities to "pull it off"?
Posted by Ergün YÜCE in Istanbul:
Mr. Woo,

You oftenly use pigeons in your movies. Do you have a special reason for it ?
Posted by Heng Pho Yap in Melbourne, Australia:
Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Chow Yun Fatt: who is the definitive actor in Asian cinema for the last decade?
Posted by Kerstin Reiher in Luzern:
At the moment I am interested in Hongkong-movies - there haven't been new interesting ones - what's going on - are the investors changing to the Shanghai movie-scene?
Posted by Hong Zhang in New York:
How do you compare Red Cliff with Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon? The two movies use the same framework of Three Kingdoms. The latter was pretty successful on box office but received a lot of bad reviews, especially on the historic facts. How close do you follow the history or the book?
Posted by Franc Hong in Pittsburgh:
Apart from "Face/off", you have made no movie of note here in America, which in my opinion is an absolute shame. Any idea why that is? Looking back, do you have any regrets coming to America?
Posted by Oyuna Purevdorj in Washington, DC:
Mr. Woo,
There aren't any good movies about Genghis Khan, a man who conquered half of the world. If you get a good script would you be willing to work on a project about Genghis Khan?
Posted by Edward Grulich in Washington, DC:
Mr. Woo:

I have been a fan of yours since I first saw the "The Killer" when I was living in Taiwan in the late 1980's. One question I have though is to when and to what extent you think about dialogue in your films. Do you envision the entire plot and characters first and then fill in the dialogue or does the writing of dialogue drive the story and characterization at all. It has been said about George Lucas, particularly regarding the "Star Wars" movies that he pays almost no attention to dialogue because that isn't what he or the audience really cares about and the films turn out to be great nonetheless. Do you see your films that way also? Thank you.
Posted by Guo Haikong in dalian:
whats meaning of this movie for modern society?
Posted by WU woo voo in Silent Ghost:
Mr. Woo or Wu is traveling to EU for interesting his satisfy SG's ladies for Men Sex Softdrink shop.
Posted by Pak Au in Winnipeg, Canada:
What are some of your pet peeves in life?
Posted by Jun Zuniga in Pittsburgh, PA:
Do you have any thoughts on why Hollywood seems reluctant to cast Asian-Americans in leading film roles?
Posted by Paul Nguyen in Indianapolis:
What are your views on the way Asians have historically been depicted in Hollywood films?
Posted by Simon Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:
Do you have a theme/ movie of your dreams that you always wanted to do?
Posted by Darryl Soon Shiong in Toronto, Canada:
I miss the old Hong Kong style action movies, maybe its time you revived that style. Perhaps direct another movie with Chow Yun Fat in the same vein as "The Killer" and "Hardboiled" but edgier and more grittier. Make an R-rated version, because all the non R-rated movies that you made in the U.S. tend to fall short of your great HK movies.

Revive 80s Hong Kong style action movies into the current time like 300 did bringing back that 80s American action movie (without the corny dialogue) but with an edgier tone.

So what do you say John, maybe its time to do a movie the way you really want it to turn out and not the way the Hollywood does?
Posted by shaw in Aberdeen, UK:
Who do you see as the most promising Asian movie directors, actors, actresses in the next 10 years?
Posted by Hiroshi Mori in Los Angeles:
Hello, Mr. Woo,

Before I get to the question I'd just like to say I'd had a small acting role on Windtalkers and it was pleasure to watch you work.

Seems like you are one of the few in Hollywood still doing epic location shots for real, meaning all the explosions are real, real on location shooting, if you need 100's of extras they are usually real and not CGI. What are your thoughts on these green screen movies such as "300" , "Sky Captain" ect.
Posted by James in Hong Kong:
You have done a lot in your life. You have won many accomplishments. You are a legend. Do you think you have reached your limits with film? In the 1980's there were a lot of films made each year. Now, it seems that the number of films and quality have been greatly reduced coming out of HK since the handing over of HK to the mainland. What is the main reason for the struggling film industy in HK? Is lack of new fresh directors, stories, effort, mainland control, etc... To be honest, I used to anticipate at least 20 hk films a year. Now, it seems that I only like 1 or 2. Most films coming this year don't interest me... Kung Fu Hip Hop? Please....
Posted by Ken Umehara in Tokyo:
How do you feel after you finished this gigantic production after
all the trouble and what is the message of this picture shown
right before Peking Olympics ?

When is the issue date of this interview in Time Asian edition ?
Posted by douglas kim in albany:
Is he really remaking "The Killer"?
Posted by Viktor O. Ledenyov in Kharkov, Ukraine:
What kind of innovations can we expect from the Asian movie action school and Asian movie industry in coming years?

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