WIP - posts to be created and updated as time permits
Poison Clan Rocks the World!
Fansite dedicated to the awesome and unfairly forgotten #4 Lizard Philip Kwok!
Monday, September 27, 2021
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Translation required!
In doing a Google search using KC's Chinese name 郭追, this article came up.
From what little I could read using Google Translate, it seems like it's chock full of interesting tidbits about his personal life including his family and a girlfriend.
I need a translator please! ^_^
If you want to read the hilarious Google Translate version, see below.
=======================================================
Original:
From what little I could read using Google Translate, it seems like it's chock full of interesting tidbits about his personal life including his family and a girlfriend.
I need a translator please! ^_^
If you want to read the hilarious Google Translate version, see below.
=======================================================
Original:
张彻见郭追一见钟情 郭追见张彻一见发抖
[ 作者:斌妮 | 更新时间:2009-2-8 ]
文/斌妮《南国电影》
Sunday, October 1, 1995
Interview with Philip Kwok
October 1995 Philip Kwok interview by Toby Russell for Eastern Heroes Special Edition #5
Eastern Heroes: When were you born?
Kwok Choy: I was born on October 21st 1951, Year of the Rabbit.
EH: How did you lose your fingers?
Saturday, August 12, 1978
The Five Venoms (1978)
The Five Venoms aka The 5 Deadly Venoms aka Wu Du (5 Poisons)
This 1978 Shaw Brothers film established the core group of actors who would be remembered for their iconic portrayals as the five members of the Poison Clan: #1 Centipede (Lu Feng), #2 Snake (Wei Pai), #3 Scorpion (Sun Chien), #4 Lizard (Kuo Chui), #5 Toad (Lo Mang).
Venoms L to R: #1 Centipede, #2 Snake, #3 Scorpion, #4 Lizard, #5 Toad |
Last pupil (aka #6): his hairstyle reflects he is a youthful man* |
#1 red, #2 silver |
#3 black |
#5 tan/black |
#6/last pupil - motley vest |
Kuo Chui became the main lead in the majority of SB films as the hero and is usually the lone survivor or last of two left standing. His acting skills were the strongest of the group which is probably why he always got the lead. He was also the most rounded in his athletic abilities: he was acrobatic, good at hand-to-hand, excellent with weapons and even using everyday items as weapons
As an officer of the court, Kuo Chui's character wore an official uniform throughout the movie so it wasn't the most impressive costume but above a worker or peasant garb. The ending is a bonus since he sheds his robes to demonstrate he has denounced working for the corrupt court anymore so we get an eyeful of his great physique.
While KC may not have been as muscular as Lo Mang, he was well-defined and looked the most athletic of the group. Lo Mang was the fighter of group with his Mantis-style background, and Sun Chien was the "kicker" with his tae kwon do skills. But the impressive trio was Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng and KC with their Peking Opera training; that is what allowed those three to usually end up in the final battle for the films since they could do hundreds of moves per take.^ Of those three, I'd say Lu Feng was the "power" player, Chiang Sheng the "jumper," and KC was the complete package - he moved well, could jump as high and as well as Chiang Sheng, and handled weapons as expertly as Lu Feng. But KC's form when doing moves was flawless; he's just beautiful to watch, even when surrounded by all these other fantastic athletes.
My favorite moments from the movie are:
"Poison Clan rocks the world!" (dubbed version) declaration by the last pupil.
The look between Lizard and #6 when they see the yet-to-be-revealed Scorpion in his flashy outfit (to which Lizard didn't seem suspicious by his friend's transformation?).
Scorpion's entreaties to Centipede to join the fight is only answered when he offers to split the treasure.
"Fight with me or else they'll finish you." |
(silence) |
"You'll help me and we'll split the money!" |
"H'yah!" |
When the last pupil finally reveals himself to Lizard, he calls himself #4 which is actually Lizard's number.
At the end, Lizard calls out for Snake and Centipede but calls the latter #5 instead of #1.*
My SB/KC checklist:
Role - Hero
Hair - "SB fighter" style - topknot ponytail, sideburns, 5 o'clock shadow
Handsome/Charming scale - ****
Handsome/Charming scale - ****
Weapon of choice - n/a
Dub v.o. - the 2nd "good" voice (#6 Pupil/Chiang Sheng has the "good" voice)
SPOILER:
Ending -
lives; only survivor with Chiang Sheng
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*Bey Logan commentary from Dragon Dynasty's DVD of The Five Deadly Venoms
^Ric Meyers commentary from Treasure Hunt DVD and/or Toby Russell's Eastern Heroes article
111005-0151
Friday, May 27, 1977
Magnificent Wanderers (1977)
Well, this is post-Marco Polo and pre-5 Venoms, but does my Kuo Chui really get what's essentially a minor role?
He gets guest star billing but has no lines, shares the fight scenes, and doesn't stand out from his other Venom pals Lu Feng and Chiang Sheng as "Mongolian wrestler."
as Kuo Tsui |
Chiang Sheng (Top, Bottom Left) |
However, there is an impressive tumbling sequence with the three actors in the final fights. You can check out the video clip here and it starts at 24:48.
(L) KC, (C) Chi Kuan Chun, (R) Lu Feng |
My SB/KC checklist:
Role - Heel
Hair - Mongolian style? braided ponytail
Handsome/Charming scale - *
Weapon of choice - n/a
Weapon of choice - n/a
Dub v.o. - unknown
SPOILER:
Ending -
unclear
111009-2336
Friday, December 12, 1975
Conflicting Points: which performance got Philip Kwok noticed? And Marco Polo (1975)
Beyond a personal interview directly with KC, I doubt I'll ever get a clear cut answer on conflicting information. The first of these is the movie and timeline in which KC was noticed by Lau Kar Leung who then pointed him out to Chang Cheh. From there, Chang Cheh gave him his first big break in Marco Polo (1975) that even gave him an introductory title in the credits.
I enjoyed this film mostly because it was the movie that gave Kwok Choi his first opportunity as one of the leading characters.
Marco Polo: Kuo Tsui - first of name changes to KC's stage name |
The interview by Toby Russell in Eastern Heroes S.E. #5 says the movie was Shaolin Avengers. The HK Cinemagic filmography says Boxer Rebellion.
Of course I'm apt to believe the interview which means it'd be Shaolin Avengers. However, Shaolin Avengers is listed as 1976 while Boxer Rebellion is 1975(1) within the Celestial Pictures remastered list of Shaw Brothers films. I haven't seen Shaolin Avengers yet, but I did scan through Boxer Rebellion for KC footage.
Because of how little he's featured in Boxer Rebellion, I could imagine this being accurate. Until I see Shaolin Avengers, I have nothing to compare it to. Of course, all of this could be cleared up if I could get an accurate timeline of production times for the movies(2). If I am ever so lucky, updates will be made here.
Far Right: KC in BOXER REBELLION |
Because of how little he's featured in Boxer Rebellion, I could imagine this being accurate. Until I see Shaolin Avengers, I have nothing to compare it to. Of course, all of this could be cleared up if I could get an accurate timeline of production times for the movies(2). If I am ever so lucky, updates will be made here.
I enjoyed this film mostly because it was the movie that gave Kwok Choi his first opportunity as one of the leading characters.
I'm also always influenced by the costumes and hairstyles and the way KC looks matters to me. For Marco Polo, I don't dislike his hairstyle, and I think it's the only time he's had his hair like this for any SB period piece.
The costumes are simpler which probably reflects the time period of the story but also it's of the earlier pre-Venoms heyday of elaborate costumes which I love on him!
My SB/KC checklist:
Role - Hero
Hair - braided crown, ponytail
Handsome/Charming scale - **
Weapon of choice - n/a
Weapon of choice - n/a
Dub v.o. - unknown
SPOILER:
Ending -
lives; only survivor with Fu Sheng
111002-2306
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(1) Downloadable PDF doc
(2) This timeline says it is release dates not production dates but it does have BR as 1/29/76 while SA is 6/18/76.
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