Asian Cult Cinema (Paperback)

~ (Author) "A stalwart series with major emphasis on caper-type adventures and espionage action..." (more)
Key Phrases: chop socky films, chop socky action, vampire buster, Hong Kong, Jackie Chan, Chang Cheh (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In this volume, Thomas Weisser reviews hundreds of Asian cult films, rating them with one to four stars. The book is packed with intriguing data and brimming with its author's knowledge, enthusiasm, and humor. Although Weisser concentrates mainly on movies from the genre's most fruitful period, the 1980s and 1990s, he also provides a supplementary guide to the martial arts films of the 1970s. Also included is an index to the films of kung fu fighters who tried to take Bruce Lee's place after the master's untimely death in 1973. As Max Allan Collins writes in the book's introduction, this is "a travel guide to an exotic but surprisingly accessible foreign land, an alternate universe of filmmaking that has the energy, talent, and enthusiasm that Hollywood long ago squandered."

Product Description

The cult of Asian action/exploitation/ martial arts movies has exploded into a phenomenon. Here's the one-of-a-kind guide for its millions of fans which includes:

* Starred reviews of more than 1,000 films
* Cast, credits, and release date
* The roots of martial arts movies
* Extensive director filmography
* The major players
* Fully illustrated

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572972289
• ISBN-13: 978-1572972285
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #554,539 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sloppy and error filled book., June 25, 2005

By	Joseph P. Ulibas "Captain Couth" (Sacramento, CA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Asian Cult Cinema is a bad book. The reviews are flawed and the information is either flat out wrong or badly researched. The movie synopises are down right absmal
and headache inducing. I bought a copy of this book back in 1997. After reading it and doing my own research I sent the writer a huge list of corrections. I recieved a postcard with a note of acknowledgement. A few years later it was reprinted with the same errors.

Instead of buying this book go out and get a copy of Hong Kong Babylon. At least the writers went out and did their homework and put some time and effort into it. A.C.C. is flat out aweful. I would avoid it like the plague. Even the pictures are mislabeled. At his website he charges high prices for videos that are availible elsewhere. You even have to be a member just to purchase these videos. For shame.

Don't even think about it!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievably Bad, July 29, 1998

By	Tauna "blktauna" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I had high hopes for this but but was bitterly dissapointed when I finally got it. This book has more errors in it than I have been able to count, and I did start to count. The picture captions are incorrect, the movie information is incorrect, the plot summaries are incorrect! I can't believe he even watched some of the films the information is so wrong! I have been an HK fan since the late 60's and I have seen or own many of these films, so I know what the plots and casts and years of release are... Believe me this book is the _worst_ I have ever seen.

Talented actresses are insulted, he just describes their decorative value and whether or not he likes them. This is fine on a personal web site but I can't condone it for a supposed reference work. Major players and stars are blown off, like Chow Sing Chi, just because he doesn't like their films... The worst part is that the print reviewers give this junk a glowing review! What's wrong with them??? Just because this! guy claims to know what he's saying doesn't mean he does.

If you can, buy The Essential Guide to Hong Kong Movies by Rick Baker and Toby Russel. These guys get it RIGHT! Other good choices are, Hong Kong Action Cinema by Bey Logan, and Sex and Zen and a Bullet in the Head by Stefan Hammond & Mike Wilkins. They are well written and have correct information.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Full of errors, April 7, 1999

By	Doug Bassett "http://abandonedbooks.blogspot.... (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

All of the other reviews have it right -- the book is full of errors, making it very unreliable as an information source. The opinions expressed in Asian Cult Cinema are also, shall we say, eccentric -- check out the review of Woo's Hard Boiled as an example of what I mean. Plus many important movies aren't included, for no reason I can discern (where's Magnificent Warriors, for example?) I did like the first appendix, which summarizes older martial arts movies in a quick, useful way. But you can probably get that kind of information elsewhere. Avoid.