FRONT

Throughout this year I’ve been working as the freelance film editor for Front, one of the UK’s leading alternative men’s magazines. It’s been an amazing experience and one which has opened up loads of doors to some unbelievable interview opportunities.  I’ve talked about being a bad ass with Danny Trejo, killing zombies with The Walking Dead‘s Norman Reedus and even received tips on being an action star from Dolph Lungdren. On top of these amazing perks I also get to catch sneak-peeks of movies months ahead of their theatrical release and see my reviews in print each month. It’s pretty ace. It’s also just really fun to write a section that welcomes cheesy puns and my attempts at being funny, even though I’m not funny at all. You can find January’s section here and February’s here but the rest are below. Click to see them in big-O-vision.

SFX

Throughout 2012 I’ve been lucky enough to contribute to the biggest science fiction and fantasy movie magazine currently on shelves in the UK. For me, it’s been a geek dream come true. I get to talk to some of my movie heroes and see the finished piece in print. What more could I ask for? Here’s a round up of my recent SFX news pieces. Click on the images for a better look!

INTERVIEW: The Muppets’ director James Bobin

Earlier this week Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie and Gonzo The Great all arrived on DVD and Blu-ray for you to take home and keep forever and ever. Just before Christmas, I talked to the man responsible for resurrecting the Muppets from fuzzy obscurity, director James Bobin. During our brief chat we discussed everything from the Brit filmmakers life-long relationship with Kermit and pals to which celebrity cameos were nothing more than internet gossip. So without further ado…

NEWS: Chris Hemsworth may encounter elves in Thor 2

Pre-production for Thor 2 is well underway with all of the principal cast returning and Game of Thrones’ director Alan Taylor set to take over directing duties. A couple of months ago Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, revealed that shooting starts in August 2012 and that this Marvel sequel will have a stronger Norse influence and Viking-centric feel. In the past few weeks we’ve even heard news of which new faces are due to appear with Zachary Levi stepping into the boots of Fandral and Danish powerhouse Mads Mikkelsen in line to play one of the movie’s big baddies. This much we know.

INTERVIEW: Michael Biehn talks about his new movie The Divide

I recently had the opportunity to chat with cult icon Michael Biehn about his cataclysmic new movie The Divide. Under the unconventional and often claustrophobic watch of director Xavier Gens, Biehn crafts one of his most interesting and complex roles in recent years.

He plays Mickey, a paranoid tough guy who finds himself stuck with a handful of survivors who have sought shelter in a tenement building basement after a nuclear attack. It’s not long before the fists start to fly as this stressed situation reaches boiling point. From there, things go from bad to worse as the group slowly discovers the dark fate of the world they once knew.

Check out the full chat below in which Biehn discusses Xavier’s unique directing style, developing his character Mickey and what qualities he looks for in a director and a role. What’s more, The Termintor star also explains whether or not he’d consider joining Stallone’s Expendables team and reveals what he has planned for the near future. Enjoy!

INTERVIEW: Tom Woodruff Jr – SFX Creator for The Thing – released on DVD/Blu-ray today

I recently had the chance to chat with special effects whizz Tom Woodruff Jr. While you may not know they name, you’ll definitely know his work. Tom is an Academy Award winning SFX designer and over the years he’s helped create the stunning visual effects featured in the likes of The Terminator, Pumpkinhead and Jumanji just to name a few. What’s more, he’s played the iconic Xenomorph alien in every sci-fi sequel since James Cameron’s Aliens. With 2011′s The Thing remake arriving on DVD and Blu-Ray today, I quizzed Tom on how he went about creating the movie’s dazzling creature effects.

Casa De Mi Padre director Matt Piedmont reveals casting details of his next movie King Dork

With Casa De Mi Padre, director Matt Piedmont has created a crazy Spanish spoof that brings the laughs whilst proving that Will Ferrell’s comedy transcends language barriers. For his next project, he’ll tackle King Dork, an adaptation of the Frank Portman coming of age rock-comedy of the same name. IReviewToo sat down with Piedmont to discuss what he has up his sleeve for this Will Ferrell and Adam McKay produced movie.

The Walking Dead: Beside The Dying Fire (Season Finale)

“Christ promised a resurrection of the dead, I just thought he had something a little different in mind…” These words mumbled from a world weary Hershel in this week’s climactic final instalment of The Walking Dead sum up season two perfectly. Throughout the past thirteen episodes we’ve seen the group struggle from one catastrophe to the next and one by one have their hope irreparably shattered. This week’s explosion of a show forces our heroes to run for their lives, desperately trying to escape the chaos set in motion by the revelatory events of last week’s final moments.  However as we watch the group scatter into the darkness we’re reminded that there’s no clear path out of this undead mess.

The Walking Dead: Better Angels (Episode 12)

At last, the one we’ve all been waiting for. Last week, the ill-fated Dale proclaimed that the group was well and truly split. He was right. This week we see it reform somewhat, but not without one final struggle. All those who doubted the inevitable collision of these farmyard stragglers need look no further than this week’s opening montage. Sombre scenes of Rick leading a traditional funeral service are intercut with the hard-nosed brutality of Shane leading an all out attack on a gaggle of rogue Walkers loose on the farm. Never have the priorities of our two leaders been more black and white, once again proving that they’re two very different sides of the same coin.

EXCLUSIVE: Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement responds to Bret McKenzie’s ‘Oscar card’ quip

 

Jemaine Clement is worried about his bandmate’s new found power. During a chat this week, Clement revealed he has no doubt that his award winning partner Bret McKenzie will pull the Oscar card on him during Conchords practice which commences this week in their native New Zealand. “He would, yes. He would,” answered Jemaine, ” He was already like that because he’s had music lessons and I haven’t, He already pulled that on me. with an Oscar he’ll be unstoppable.”