Quotes by John Woo

About John Woo:

John Woo is a Hong Kong film director, writer, and producer. He is considered a major influence on the action genre, known for his highly chaotic action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and frequent 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 the action films Hard Target and Broken Arrow, the sci-fi action thriller Face/Off and the action spy film Mission: Impossible II. He also created the comic series Seven Brothers, published by Virgin Comics. 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.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I'm not a master; I'm just a hard-working filmmaker. I would like everyone to see me as a friend rather than a master.

John Woo

I think I have been stereotyped as an action director in Hollywood, so all I got were the action scripts.

John Woo

It's pretty easy to make a film in China. A few years ago I just walked into the office and let them know I wanted to make a movie called 'Red Cliff' and they were so excited. They said, 'Let's do it!' It's that simple.

John Woo

I also wanted people to know that football actually started in China almost 3000 years ago.

John Woo

'Hard Boiled' is my last film in Hong Kong, before I moved to the U.S. It is the one film which is most accepted by the audience in the West.

John Woo

There is absolutely no Wuxia or martial arts in 'Red Cliff.' I want all the action to look realistic.

John Woo

When I made 'Hard Boiled,' I had no idea that it would be released to an international audience. I just wanted to make a film to team up my two favorite actors, Tony Leung and Chow Yun-Fat.

John Woo

For my own films, I would like to see 'Bullet in the Head' remastered. The original cut was actually almost three hours.

John Woo

My films are always concerned with family, friendship, honor, and patriotism.

John Woo

When I was a kid I got so much help from the Church. When I was a kid, our family was so poor they couldn't afford me to go to school, so there was an American family that send the money to the church to support my school fees.

John Woo

I can use movie as a language. Not only could it send a good message, I could let people know about my thinking and how I see the world, how I see the colour, how I see the music, how I see everything.

John Woo

I like doves. They look so beautiful, like a woman. For me they represent peace and love and purity. And sometimes they're seen as the messengers of God, so they're important to me because I'm a Christian.

John Woo

I have found my heaven in musicals. When I watch a musical, it makes me believe life is still beautiful.

John Woo

The movies I like to make are very rich and full of passion. Some people see me as an action director, but action is not the only thing in my movies. I always like to show human nature - something deep inside the heart.

John Woo

To be honest, I don't have much time to watch any movies.

John Woo

When I was young, I loved movies so much I wanted to make one.

John Woo

When I was a kid I feel lonely, I have not many friends. If you make a movie, then you can work with different kinds of people and make different kinds of friend. That's very important to me.

John Woo

Author Bio

  • NameJohn Woo
  • DescriptionHong Kong film director, screenwriter and film producer
  • BornMay 1, 1946
  • CountryPeople's Republic Of China
  • ProfessionFilm Director; Film Producer; Screenwriter
  • AwardsSilver Bauhinia Star; Bronze Bauhinia Star; Hong Kong Film Award For Best Director