Issue 81 (First
Quarter 2009)
Asian Cult Cinema is a superb, full colour
guide to Asian cult cinema. It covers the whole gambit from Japanese horror to Hong
Kong extreme and action films, Chinese spectacular to Korean releases. It has a
range of regular columns by well informed writers who work in the fields of
films, film criticism and related activities.
In this issue there is a special feature
on the films of Yuki Mishima. This is an especially interesting piece as while
many know Mishima as a well respected but eccentric Japanese author, they do
not know of his film career. In the West, his life and death was celebrated in
“Mishima: a Life of four Chapters” and many were introduced to him via this
film. An unusual individual dedicated to the Emperor with fascistic leanings,
married and yet a homosexual with S & M proclivities, a man who died by
Harikari after taking an army base captive, Mishima is a fascinating subject.
His film career is Just as intriguing from gangster films to patriotic epics.
There is also an excellent focus on John
Woo, including a comprehensive review of his masterpiece Red Cliff and
interviews with both John and Anne Woo.
There are lots of shorter reviews as well
as more extensive coverage of such films as Love Exposure and Cruel Restaurant.
There is also an interesting piece on Harikiri on film. The current issue is 62
pages in length, full colour with Eri Otoguro as Chambara Beauty on the back.
This review will appear in Volume 2 No.2
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
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