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:

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




This is possibly the best (and only) in-depth interview with Kwok Choi I've seen online yet.  

It's informative and straight-forward which makes him all the more endearing.

I found this here - I take no credit for the info.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++


October 1995 Philip Kwok interview by Toby Russell for Eastern Heroes Special Edition #5




Without doubt one of the most gifted performers working in Hong Kong today would have to be Kwok Choy. Whatever your preference -- modern day fantasy, kung fu, Heroic Bloodshed, or even drama -- he has dished out fine performances in the genre. I managed to hook up with Kwok Choy in October '95 in Hong Kong to get more insight into what makes this Venom so deadly. Read on for an Eastern Heroes exclusive interview . . .

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
And one could argue the real fifth member should be Chiang Sheng (playing Teacher's final pupil, often labeled as #6) since Wei Pai did less films with the other members as time progressed.
Last pupil (aka #6): his hairstyle reflects he is a youthful man*
Up until this film, these six actors were part of the large players who mostly played supporting roles to established SB stars like Alexander Fu Sheng.  Director Chang Cheh decided to create a vehicle that would highlight this new group, his "Third Class" of players.  Apparently the studio balked at the idea since it didn't star any major name, but since Chang Cheh was a god there, they went along with the idea.  He came up with the idea of five animals and their separate characteristics used to define the styles of each martial artist.^  I think it was this idea of being able to define each style for each actor with a name and even colors made this film become the benchmark for these actors.
#1 red, #2 silver
#3 black
#5 tan/black
The color scheme argument can be further supported by the last pupil's motley-colored vest - #6 is a hodgepodge of the five styles and he is strong in no single discipline.
#6/last pupil - motley vest
The formula worked and established the troupe as real stars.  However they were most appreciated as a group versus individually which is why they were constantly teamed up in subsequent films.  Each Venom established an identity because he tended to portray an archetype: Lizard/Kuo Chui - the hero; Toad/Lo Mang - the good-hearted victim; Centipede/Lu Feng - the villain/main big boss; #6/Chiang Sheng - the happy-go-lucky hero's associate; Scorpion/Sun Chien - evil schemer masked as a good guy (Snake/Wei Pai - my only other recollections of him is the haughty swordsman in KwtGA and a minor role in TToKt so I've left him out).  These roles seemed to work for each actor because their physical traits and acting abilities lent themselves to match the characters they were assigned.
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)
Scorpion has to fight off Lizard and #6 alone

"You'll help me and we'll split the money!"
"H'yah!"
Dubbed version flubs:

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 - **** 
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)
Because of the lack of Philip Kwok in this, I won't bother to watch the movie in its entirety.

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
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.
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.
Far Right: KC in 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.


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
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.