[2026.08.18] VINCENT KOK IS BLASTED FOR HIS STRONG RECOMMENDATION OF KUNG FU SOCCER

Vincent Kok hosted THE POPCORN SHOW. People said that he sat in the middle of the KUNG FU SOCCER team and felt like an examination proctor

Maria Lai (left) and Stephen Chow (right) have known each other for 40 years, online praises the STAR WEEKLY interview atmosphere was light like friends catching up

Some online dug out Maria Lai (left) and Stephen Chow (right)'s duet video, bringing collective memories for fans
courtesy of mingpao.com

The Stephen Chow Sing Chi written and directed film KUNG FU SOCCER (GONG FU NUI JOOK) opened on the 11th last month in the mainland, as of the article deadline the film has been in release for 38 days, collected 2.296 billion RMB and met the market expectation; last Thursday (the 13th) the film finally opened in Hong Kong. Over the first weekend its 4 day box office was almost HK$ 5.34 million. Although the response was average, it was still topical. Two nights ago ViuTV and TVB respectively aired THE POPCORN SHOW and STAR WEEKLY interviews with Chow Sing Chi's team. Some online felt that the performance of STAR's host Maria Luisa de Melo Leitao (Lai Chi Shan) had a slight edge. Vincent Kok Tak Chiu's strong recommendation of KUNG FU SOCCER instead triggered negative reviews on the internet. He immediately defended himself through social media comments.

Chow Sing Chi accepted rare interviews with local television stations. Some online through the program host's seating arrangement determined the differences from the details. STAR WEEKLY's Lai Chi Shan sat to the side and left the main character halo and interaction space to the guests. Sing Yeh, Carina Lau Ka Ling sat in he middle and chatted like old friends; on THE POPCORN SHOW Kok Tak Chiu sat in he middle, and some online felt that he resembled an examination proctor.

The two programs' atmosphere was also different. Chi Shan worked with Sing Yeh on 430 SPACE SHUTTLE and has known him for over 40 years. With the "assist" from Lau Ka Ling, the topic aside from KUNG FU SOCER also had many strokes of genius. For example Ka Ling suggested for her husband Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Sing Yeh to team up again and host 430 SPACE SHUTTER. Sing Yeh responded "Nothing is impossible" but asked for the original team to perform. Aside from Chi Shan and Tam Yuk Ying, he also wanted Cheung Kwok Keung to help. Ka Ling also revealed that Sing Yeh and Wai Jai collaborated on a short film before entering the business, and jokingly asked Sing Yeh where the film was hidden. Some praised online, "Lai Chi Shan complete victory! Only those who have known each other for a long can chat like this!" Some also dug out the 1985 English song duet video of Chi Shan and Sing Yeh and brought back collective memories.

As for THE POPCORN SHOW, Kok Tak Chiu interviewed the KUNG FU SOCCER team and focused on the film topic. He was accused of being too cautious and said too much to flatter Sing Yeh. Some online also felt that Kok Tak Chiu's interview content had professional analysis. In addition, another guest screenwriter Ho Wing Suen (Miss Hunny) was also criticized. Some commented, "After 30 years we finally got Chow Sing Chi on a television interview, is the woman done? Even (Lau) Ka Ling and Choi (Si Bui) were trying to talk less, that woman just keep grabbing Chow (Sing Chi)'s ir time. Who isn't watching this episode for Chow Sing Chi? What is she fighting for?"

Sing Yeh once explained that due to time he was not unable to produce a Cantonese version of KUNG FU OCCER, which turned into a "hot topic" online about "who is this movie made for" and some said "No." Kok Tak Chiu after the program aired through social platform shared his experience. "My conclusion is, I like KUN FU OCCER. I personally feel it is a very highly creative film, inspired my own future creative direction. I also admired Director Chow's new attempt, of course you too have your reasons to dislike it, to each its own. The general public audience, if you feel it is attractive then go to the cinema to support it, if not then you wouldn't even watch it on television. If after paying for a ticket you realize that it's not for you, you can find the exit and curse it a few time for properly release. Watching a movie originally is just entertainment, there is no need to vomit 19 or 20 ounces of blood. It's a free society, if you like it, you like it, if you don't, don't play it no mind. It's no big deal, and there is no need for personal attack. May everyone have a childlike heart, lightly and casually, happily and curiously look at the world."

As for Kok Tak Chiu's strong recommendation of KUNG FU SOCCER, online comments were mixed. Some said that they supported him, but some found that Kok Tak Chiu's social platform comment was different in tone from his radio program ON A CLEAR DAY. They cited that KOK on CLEAR criticized people online were wrong for feeling like KUNG FU SOCCER was "not made for Hong Kong people", feeling that people saying "no" online were strange. They even said that his example of THE ODYSSEY was not suitable. They also said hat Kok Tak Chiu's comments on radio seemed to be "criticizing people online who don't like/don't buy tickets to see KUNG FU SOCCER were ignorant/unfair/don't know about movies. I feel what you say on the radio program is very upsetting, and seems to be emotional extortion from you."

Kok Tak Chiu responded to the comment. "I didn't say who is right or wrong, I have said to open your heart to look at the world, I have said that if for certain reason you say 'no', I worry that you are the ones would lose ut. (I love the Hong Kong youth generation). With good movies like THE LYCHEE ROAD, FULL RIVER RED, HER STORY why not try to watch them? I have said was THE ODYSEEY made for Hong Kong? It's not a comparison, just a discussion."