**John Woo** (born in Hong Kong) is an influential director, screenwriter, and producer, renowned for redefining action cinema. His signature style, known as "Heroic Bloodshed," is characterized by intense, balletic gunfight sequences (often in slow-motion), the symbolic use of white doves, and the exploration of themes of honor, brotherhood, and sacrifice.

His Hong Kong masterpieces include *A Better Tomorrow* (1986), *The Killer* (1989), and *Hard Boiled* (1992), which set new standards for the genre. In the 1990s, Woo moved to Hollywood, directing successes such as *Broken Arrow* (1996), *Face/Off* (1997) – a cult classic for its inventiveness – and *Mission: Impossible 2* (2000). His distinctive visual style and emotional approach to action have left an indelible mark on world cinema.