Interview with Tony Leung, mentions AOT, The Grand Master and rejecting Danny Boyle's Sunshine:
Tony Leung usually a solitary and a man with few words was very wonderful in this special interview. He answered various sharp questions with a wealth of wit and humor.
Q: Which role in "Ashes of Time" do you think the most like you?
T: I don't think I am like any of them. I am myself.
Q: Do you think "Ashes of Time" is the best work of Leslie?
T: I think all Leslie's works are very good.
Q: A lot of people say that "Ashes of Time" is very difficult to understand, what do you think?
T: This movie afflicts the sense of people's mind, the human nature, love, and the fate of receiving painful wound. Is it so difficult?
Q: Do you believe the fate?
T: I believe it. However, I believe that the person can change the fate.
Q: Have you had any experience of fighting against your fate in your life?
T: I don't think so. I also don't know how, but I think a person can change the fate by his effort.
Q: What is different now compare with the time you were shooting "Ashes of Time"?
T: 17 years has passed, there are lots of changes in all aspects, and specially about Love. At that time, I thought Love is a devotion, but now I understand that Love is to cherish. After getting older, we don't need strict rules. You and another person have been together for such a long time, we don't need to argue with and hurt each other. Now I understand that it is not so easy for you to be with one person for such a long time, so I can cherish it.
Q: How is it to work with Wong Kar Wai?
T: Time that we cooperated is very long, and therefore, we can understand each other without talking. Wong Kar Wai is a movie director who thinks the story is very important. I felt he understands me very much.
Q: Wong Kar Wai, Ang Lee and John Woo, you had worked with three famous directors, what do you think about them ?
T: Ang Lee is very strict and precise to actors. John Woo is very nice person but also actually quite strict. Wong Kar Wai understands me the most because we have been working together for a long time.
Q: Can you tell us about your recent movie plan? You and Wong Kar Wai are planning to shoot "The Grand Master", and you have been training for 2 months now. Wong Kar Wai said that you are going to have "stomach muscles separated into eight", is it true?
T: He is only joking. (laugh) I am not like that. Now I am reading materials and learning Wing Chun. I will have a lot of real Kung Fu scenes and for me, this experience is very refreshing. Recently I actually wanted to do a Kung Fu movie.
Q: I knew that you rejected the offer from Danny Boyle who directed "Slumdog Millionaire", why?
T: He wanted me to be an astronaut in Sunshine and I had to take some training for that. Although I like this director, I didn't like the role and the script. I didn't like the story, that's why I refused.
http://video.sina.com.cn/ent/m/c/2009-0 ... 7824.shtml
