Latest news with #GarethEvans
Sky News AU
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Labor recognising Palestinian statehood would ‘reward terrorism'
The Australian's Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan has described a potential move by the Albanese government to recognise Palestine as 'counterproductive'. Former foreign minister Gareth Evans has called for Australia to recognise Palestinian statehood as well as demanding sanctions on Israel. 'It would be rewarding terrorism; Palestine doesn't satisfy the criteria for statehood,' Mr Sheridan told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I've been waiting 4 years for Netflix's new action-thriller with Tom Hardy — and it's the best original movie of 2025 so far
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. 1,475 days. That's how long I've been waiting for 'Havoc' to arrive on Netflix. Or put another way, that's 2,124,000 minutes, which is enough time to watch last year's butt-numbingly long 'The Brutalist' more than 9,879 times. Back in April 2021, I wrote on this very website that 'Havoc' would likely release 'in a year or so.' My movie math was clearly way off because four years later, Netflix finally dropped the Gareth Evans-directed action-thriller movie, and it's now streaming for all. Having watched the Tom Hardy-starring adrenaline-booster, I can confirm it was more than worth the wait. While 'Havoc' may not quite be of the same gold standard of Evans' 'The Raid' franchise (to note, 'The Raid 2' is my favorite action movie ever), this deliriously entertaining, and deliciously pulpy, actioner is Netflix's best original movie in flippin' ages. Its messy narrative holds it back from true greatness, but when the punches start flowing and the bullets rain down from all angles, 'Havoc' offers a level of cinematic excitement that very few action movies can match. It's a new Netflix movie that doesn't just request your immediate attention, it positively demands it with all the force of a high-caliber round. I'll cut straight to the bone here, when it comes to 'Havoc,' it's the jaw-dropping action sequences that make this action-thriller merit a viewing. Remember that epic nightclub scene in the first 'John Wick' movie? 'Havoc's' showdown on a dingy disco dance floor makes Mr. Wick's look like a friendly tussle between old pals. Gareth Evans has always had a masterful talent for crafting blisteringly beautiful on-screen carnage (again, see 'The Raid' movies as evidence), and with 'Havoc,' he conducts a symphony of brutality. Oh, don't get me wrong, this is one brutal movie, but it's also admirable in its commitment to so much chaos. For action movie fans, it's dream stuff. 'Havoc' balances multiple combatants, an entire arsenal of weaponry and even separate locations seamlessly. Its action sequences aren't presented in single-shot format, but they flow so well they almost feel like it. And just when you think 'It'll never top that moment,' another bone-crushing hit comes along and surpasses it. Time after time after time. It's a rare movie where, watching alone in my home office, I actually audibly guffawed at the sheer brilliance of some of the savage kills. Of course, I also winced a whole bunch, but that's all part of the Evans package. I wouldn't say 'Havoc' contains his best fight scenes, but it's perhaps his most consistent movie, with each one of a high baseline quality. From a slick opening car chase (bar some ropey CGI in spots) to the grand finale — a snowy shoot-out that proves there are innumerable angles to shoot from — 'Havoc' doesn't for a second let up across its breezy runtime. It makes 1 hour 50 minutes feel like barely 90. OK, let's backup a moment, because at this point, you might be thinking, what is 'Havoc' actually about? The elevator pitch is pretty snappy: Tom Hardy plays a homicide detective named Walker with a very chequered past, and the scars to show for it. On a mission to locate a corrupt politician's son, he finds himself squaring off against just about everybody as he carves his way through the criminal underworld and unearths various dark conspiracies. While 'Havoc' is never for a moment boring, and wisely never gets too bogged down in the minutiae of its narrative, things do get a little messy. So many competing factions and powerful players are brought to the table that it starts to feel like that spoof scene from 'Anchorman' where groups of news crew combatants keep appearing one after another. The unnamed American city where 'Havoc' is set also has a strange, but appealing, Gotham City-like quality about it. There's even a mayoral candidate promising to 'clean up' the place. In fact, the opening car chase scene has big 'The Batman' energy. The streets of this location don't feel plausible (or even located within North America, most of the movie was shot in Wales), but this setting straight out of a comic book only adds to 'Havoc's' overall heightened tone. I wouldn't ever want to live on the blocks Walker calls home, but I had a wonderfully thrilling time visiting them for an evening. As for Hardy, while Walker isn't a role that exactly challenges the English actor, I'm just thrilled to see him back in a quality movie. Bar a supporting turn in last year's underwatched 'The Bikeriders,' it's been almost a decade since Hardy starred in a movie that I would consider unequivocally good. (I did not like the 'Venom' trilogy. Not at all.) Hardy does channel a little bit of his performance as Eddie Brock in 'Havoc,' but Walker is significantly toned down, and with Brock's alien symbiote pal and exaggerated ticks shaved off, we're left with some great deadpan delivery and a character with some actual appeal. Which isn't to say that Walker is a hero. He's hiding some real skeletons in his closet. The closest thing to a virtuous protagonist we get is Jessie Mei Li's Ellie, a naive beat cop roped into Walker's world, and simply trying to stay afloat. She adds just the right amount of heart. Closing out the core cast are Forest Whitaker as the aforementioned politician, and Timothy Olyphant as a police officer who is (intentionally) detestable from minute one. Olyphant has a few solid moments and gets a starring part in the frenetic nightclub brawl, but I wish Whitaker were given more to work with. He's solid but does feel the most wasted of the cast. 'Havoc' is pretty much everything I wanted it to be. While I would have liked either a more constrained story (a la 'The Raid') or a longer runtime to flesh out the rival forces enough for each to feel distinct (a la 'The Raid 2'), when the flick builds up a head of steam, this minior quibble fades into the background and the cacophony of violence captures your attention. I've no doubt that Netflix subscribers are going to eat up this new original movie with gusto, and its future No. 1 position is already secured. I've already written about this year's crop of streaming originals being more than a little underwhelming, but 'Havoc' is the real deal: a relentlessly energetic, impeccably crafted action-thriller that hums with confidence. Watch "Havoc" on Netflix now "Havoc" has incredible moments, but I was left wanting more 5 Netflix movies and shows you (probably) haven't watched Netflix's new subtitle feature just made streaming easier
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
I could smell burnt toast but it was the symptom of something very serious
I could smell burnt toast but it was the symptom of something very serious Gareth Evans would regularly show up to his work while being depressed and upset, and though he knew something wasn't right, he could not pin point the cause Gareth Evans, 57, thinks he had lived at least 10 years with the disease before it was diagnosed (Image: Gareth Evans ) WHEN Gareth Evans hit his mid 40s, smelling burnt toast that wasn't there and crying at work for no apparent reason were just two of the signs of a deeper health issue. Keen rugby player Gareth, who worked as a carpenter at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, was active and happy in his work and personal life. But the usually cheerful and motivated worker suddenly found himself showing up to his job feeling sad, or randomly crying at work. He would also feel his arm twitch, or smell the aroma of burnt toast. Nothing made any sense but, as doctors soon found out, he had been living with a disease that has no cure: Parkinson's. The depression was one of the first symptoms Gareth noticed but, without a diagnosis, he had been at a loss. 'Depression… it comes with Parkinson's,' he explained. 'I didn't understand it. I'd go into work and I'd feel very sad and I would cry. Article continues below "I would come home and I'd cry in the shower, but I was very good at hiding it, didn't talk about it, and didn't get any help and that just got worse and worse. "I just knew there was something wrong. I just didn't know what." Gareth with his wife Louise who is his motivation on difficult days (Image: Gareth Evans ) It was only when the physical symptoms started that Gareth asked for help. The 57-year-old said: "I worked for 34 years for the health service. So I was actually at work and I looked down onto my left arm, and I could see the muscle just on the forearm… it was twitching, twitching a lot. "I couldn't control it, couldn't stop it and I had this for a while, you know, for a couple of days. "So actually, I went to see a friend of mine who worked in the hospital and I asked her advice and she told me I needed to get it sorted." Gareth finally went to his GP and was referred to a consultant at the University Hospital of Wales. He was given his diagnosis on September 21, 2018, after which he says he 'cried like a baby'. While he now has an answer for his previous symptoms, the diagnosis and the condition itself have understandably had a huge impact on his life. "First of all, the depression just wasn't me, because I've always enjoyed life to the full,' he said. "The depression knocked me for a six, more so than the actual Parkinson's, to be honest. "But it affects me now, like 10 years on if you want to go from the diagnosis date. I can't walk properly. If I don't take my tablets, I get these terrible cramps. "I was walking the dog one day and I forgot to take my tablet and I was stuck in the field for 40 minutes. I just couldn't move. "It was tipping down with rain and all my muscles had seized up. "I had a terrible cramp and it was very, very painful. This sort of thing happens quite a lot. It affects your internal organs as well. "It affects you bladder. So you're constantly back and forth to the toilet. "You think you need a wee, but then you don't, and then you do, and that affects you there. An unfinished painting by Gareth of his wife and him together (Image: Gareth Evans ) "But I must admit, I don't really let it get to me too much now. I'm in control of it." Nearly 8,300 people in Wales are currently living with Parkinson's. The progressive neurological condition caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain. The disease causes both motor symptoms such as tremor, stiffness, and slowness of movement, as well as less commonly recognised non-motor symptoms including sleep disturbances, memory issues, and constipation among others. It can also sometimes lead to phantosmia – where patients perceive smells, such as burnt toast, that aren't actually there. In recent years, Parkinson's has come to renewed public attention as a result of Michael J Fox's campaigning on the issue. The Back to the Future star has been open about his experience with the condition, and has won awards for his advocacy for a cure for the disease. For Gareth, once he had fully taken in the advice from experts and come to terms with the diagnosis, he felt he could move on and get back to work. But while Gareth's return was accommodated well by his employers, in light of his diagnosis he soon had to retire upon his doctor's advice. Recalling how he dealt with his retirement, he said: 'The first few months, I just sat in the window, looking out at the rain, beating down onto the patio, and I'm thinking, 'Is this it? Is this what retirement is about?' "Like I said, I'm a very headstrong person, and I've been involved in team sports all my life, mostly rugby. So you know when you're down, and you know you can do something about it. "So, I decided to... enjoy as much as possible and get out and about if I can. Look after my grandchildren and my wife. 'It was a case of, 'it's not going to get better. So I've got to live with it and work with it'.' It wasn't long before he found solace in his retirement, and found surprising new ways of coping. "I started painting, believe it or not,' he said. 'Another symptom I've got with Parkinson's is insomnia. I don't sleep very well. So I get up at night and I paint, painting by numbers. "I find that quite relaxing. Now that you might think is strange because I've got a tremor. "I tremor most of the time. "So when I actually paint, because your brain tells you to concentrate and you literally go in and you paint, the painting by number is a very fine painting. You don't tremor because you use your brain.' One of his favourite creations is a painting of his wife's grandfather, a World War two veteran. He explained: 'I've got a painting on my wall in my kitchen and it's my wife's grandfather. He was just a couple of days short of 102 before he passed and I painted him and he's sitting in an armchair with his World War two medals across his chest.' Gareth also now helps other people diagnosed with Parkinson's to come to terms with their diagnosis. He explained: 'Funny enough, I actually do talk to people who are recently diagnosed and need help. "They'll come over to my house or they'll phone me. We tend to stick together, belong to a Facebook page for Parkinson's. "We all stick together and we help each other out… talking's the best thing." Newly diagnosed patients often went through similar emotions, he added. "The biggest thing is fear, knowing it's not going to get better, it's going to get worse, and there is no cure. "The tablets I take actually work for me but, believe it or not, they've been out since the '60s annd '70s with all these tablets, they'd been around for years and years, and [doctors working in the field of] Parkinson's are trying to find a cure. "I'm hoping come September to actually go on a trial with my consultant. "I've asked to put my name forward and become a guinea pig, so to speak. Because you've just got to try something, you've just got to give it a go." Gareth has thrown his weight behind fundraising, raising significant funds for Parkinson's charities through quizzes, marathons, and rugby matches. Earlier this month – on May 4 – Gareth raised £8,000 when he underwent a sponsored head shave and wax at the Maltsters Arms pub in Whitchurch, Cardiff. Gareth at the head shave and wax event with his son (Image: Gareth Evans ) He said: 'I'll always help, no matter what charity, and if I am able to do anything, I'll do it. "This last one, this one we've done, all I had to do was sit down and have my hair cut. It was the easiest £8,000 I've ever been involved in making! "I've done charity rugby games as well because, when I was first diagnosed, I wanted to raise some money for Parkinson's, so I organised a rugby game. All the people I've been involved with over the years, coaching, playing with, playing against, they all turned up for me. We raised £1,680 that day. That was just one day. "Another time in work, when I used to work, I used to have a 'fat club', we used to call it the 'Big Boy's Belly Fat Club' and the boys used to pay a pound a week and I would have my scales in work and I'd weigh them and I'd write their weight down on the board to encourage them for next week to come in lighter. "This went on for a couple of years and a lot of people got to know about it. Again, we raised money and it was all sent over to Parkinson's.' This Friday, Gareth is organising an auction in aid of Parkinson's charity, where shirts donated by Wales rugby stars Rhys Patchell and Ben Thomas will go under the hammer. Meanwhile, Gareth wishes people were more aware of Parkinson's and how to approach people with the disease. Gareth before his head shave (Image: Gareth Evans ) Gareth with his head shaved after a charity fundraiser for Parkinson's (Image: Gareth Evans ) He recalled: '(At) Christmas time, I went to watch Cardiff rugby play. I wasn't feeling well. "I couldn't explain why I was feeling like it, but I wasn't very well and I decided to leave the rugby halftime. "My wife was picking me up in town because of my condition. "I became so bad quickly and I didn't know what it was. I had a chest infection as well. "I approached a man in Queen Street and I asked him for help because I was walking with cramps and I was stiff. "I wasn't drunk by any means but this guy thought I was drunk, and I asked him for his help. He gave me the F-word, told me to go away. "It made me cross, because that was the first time that had ever happened. "So I just want people, you know, who haven't got Parkinson's, to just realise when you look at somebody and they're a little bit different to normal, just think to yourself it could be something medical. "It could be something causing that problem. "Give them a chance, there's always a story behind everybody.' In the meantime, Gareth says he's had amazing support from his family. He said: 'My wife, she keeps me motivated. My family, my children, my grandchildren. 'I'm a very lucky man. I've got a fantastic family and I've got a fantastic circle of friends and colleagues. I've been fortunate enough to be recognised in work and I actually went to meet the royal family at a garden party a couple of years ago. ' Gareth added: 'I've got three granddaughters and they're brilliant, six, four, three, and 18 months — nearly two. And my wife looks after them on a Tuesday, they come here to our house every Tuesday and I sit there and I just watch them and it makes me happy because I live through them. 'You look at your children and you... You see them doing well, and you just think to yourself, 'I've done something right in life, having a good family'. That's my unit, what I call my unit. My children.' Article continues below :: To find out more about Parkinson's, visit
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Havoc' Dethroned In Netflix's Top 10 List By A New Movie
Havoc There's nothing quite like a new Gareth Evans action movie, the man behind the likes of The Raid series. But Havoc? It stars the excellent Tom Hardy, Timothy Olyphant and Forrest Whitaker and it's been planted at #1 on Netflix's top 10 movie list for a long while. Until now. There are actually two movies above it now, the #1 spot going to Exterritorial, a Netflix original from Germany. It sounds interesting, and here's the synopsis for that: It's too new and at least temporarily a little too obscure, as it does not have any significant amount of critic and audience scores in yet, not that Netflix would show you any anyway. Of five critics in, 3/5 are positive, so not ideal. Havoc The second place spot goes to Denzel Washington's The Equalizer 2, his action franchise that has the actor still kicking ass as he was about to turn 70 while filming this. If anyone can do it, of course, it's him. It reminds me of Liam Neeson's action trajectory (he's 72), but he's in one of these Taken-like movies every other year, and it feels like Denzel is more purposeful with these parts. So, Havoc 2? It's not impossible given that Gareth Evans has done sequels for his action movies before. The film did not exactly have amazing scores, a decent 66% from critics but a pretty shockingly low 39% from audiences, yet that did not prevent it from staying on top for a long while. The rest of the list is mostly licensed films, alien movie Paul, Despicable Me 4 which has been on this list for months, A Dog's Way Home, Sisters, mid90s and The Secret Life of Pets. The only other Netflix original there is The Biggest Fan, a Mexican film about a woman working for her celebrity idol. Any of these worth watching? I am probably going to get around to Havoc at some point, if for no other reason to see why people are hating it, which seems odd for an Evans action movie. I'm not sure Exterritorial holds much appeal. Rather, I need to catch up on The Studio over at Apple and The Rehearsal over on Max. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
India Today
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Havoc review: Tom Hardy is the only saving grace in Gareth Evans' gore actioner
Netflix's 'Havoc' brings together Gareth Evans and Tom Hardy, two names that usually guarantee a solid action-packed film. Sadly, this time around, the final result is far from impressive. 'Havoc' feels like a missed opportunity, with Hardy being the only saving grace in an otherwise predictable and forgettable and written by Gareth Evans, 'Havoc' follows the story of a bruised detective, played by Hardy, who must fight through the criminal underworld to rescue a politician's estranged son. As the plot unfolds, we find layers of corruption and conspiracy gripping the entire city. It sounds exciting on paper, but the execution leaves a lot to be The first major issue is writing. There is nothing fresh or gripping about the story. We have seen this type of plot many times before. It follows the same tired path – a botched drug deal, a reluctant hero, endless goons to beat up, and some vague political corruption thrown in to add weight. The screenplay offers no surprises and moves in a very predictable manner. It feels like Evans decided to rely purely on action rather than building anything meaningful with the characters or Evans does what he usually does – lots of violence, blood, and chaos. While that might be enough for some viewers looking for a mindless action flick, others would find it lazy. 'Havoc' is missing the tight storytelling and emotional connection that made Evans' earlier films like 'The Raid' stand out. Here, the narrative is just an excuse to move from one fight scene to the next. advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix UK & Ireland (@netflixuk)The supporting cast, including Forest Whitaker, Jessie Mei Li, and Timothy Olyphant, are all decent, but they are given very little to do. Whitaker's role, in particular, feels wasted. He is a brilliant actor, but here, he is sidelined to a few forgettable scenes. Jessie Mei Li and the others also do their best with the weak material, but there is only so much they can do when the writing does not support coming to the good part – the action scenes. This is where 'Havoc' truly shines. The fight choreography is brutal, intense, and well shot. Tom Hardy is completely in his element here. He throws punches, takes blows, and grits through pain with a rawness that only he can deliver. The cinematography during these scenes deserves praise too. The camera work is fluid, capturing every punch and kick with clarity and energy. These moments are the main reason to sit through the performance is the other big highlight. He fully commits to the role, even though the character itself is not very well-developed. His physicality, grim expressions, and sheer presence lift the film whenever he is on-screen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix UK & Ireland (@netflixuk)If you are a Tom Hardy fan, you might still find 'Havoc' worth a watch just to enjoy him doing what he does best. However, if you are looking for something more – a gripping story, deep characters, or a fresh take on the action genre – you will be disappointed. 'Havoc' offers none of that. 'Havoc' feels rushed, shallow, and repetitive. Though not terrible, it's at max passable for a lazy afternoon when you just want to see some mindless fact, Hardy's recent show with Pierce Brosnan, 'MobLand', could be a much better watch.2 out of 5 Reel
