Latest news with #Commando
The Spinoff
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘So fulfilling': Xavier Horan on making new spiritual comedy Dead Ahead
The star of new TVNZ comedy Dead Ahead takes us through his life in television. Few New Zealand actors can attribute their career to the early work of Arnold Schwarzenegger, but Xavier Horan certainly does. As a young aspiring actor, Horan's first ever audition – for a BBC documentary series – saw him choose to reenact the dramatic final scene from his favourite movie, Commando. 'Arnold Schwarzenegger has come down to the sewer, and his daughter is in there, played by Alyssa Milano,' Horan remembers. Sadly he didn't get the role, but his love of watching action movies before he goes to sleep at night has never changed. 'Those are the foundations of my career. I've always got to go back and remember them.' Since those early days, Horan's acting career has taken him out of the sewer and into everything from Shortland Street to The Dead Lands, The Bad Seed to Westside. Horan's latest project is new TVNZ series Dead Ahead, a comedy about a family that returns to Aotearoa after living in London for several years. When the Wharehoka whānau arrive at their new home, their presence sparks a shift in the delicate balance between the spiritual and physical realms. Strange things begin to happen, and before long, three tīpuna appear in the household to guide the whānau in the right direction. Horan stars alongside Miriama Smith, Nicola Kawana, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Pana Hema Taylor and Scotty Cotter, and the show is produced by his wife, Nicole Horan. Dead Ahead's dialogue includes both reo Māori and English, and Horan loves that the show focuses on the connection between the spiritual and physical worlds. 'As Māori, we have this belief that there is a spiritual world, and when our time comes, our body may stay here but our spirit still lives.' Filled with interesting and quirky characters, Dead Ahead is a gentle, humorous exploration of how our ancestors can influence our lives in the present. Before Dead Ahead launches on TVNZ+ next week, we sat down with Horan and asked him all about his life in television, including the cartoon he loved as a kid and the hit show he couldn't stop watching. My earliest TV memory is… It's 1986, I'm four and I've just got home from kōhanga reo. My mum was going to teachers training college, so I'd be with my nanny. She was a little old kuia, who was quite a grumpy old lady. She was a teacher at the kōhanga reo, so I had to walk with her and walk back, and then I'd get home in time to watch Rawiri Paratene on Play School. The TV show I used to rush home from school to watch was… Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I think it was 1989 and I was in standard two. TV3 had just come out, and one of the first shows in the afternoon was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was like, 'holy crap, this is awesome'. A moment from my own career that haunts me is… At Shakespeare's Globe in London. Rawiri Paratene and Rachel House cast a whole lot of us, and it was my first time acting on stage. The play was Troilus and Cressida and I played Hector. Maaka Pohatu and I had this big fight scene, and there's a lot of old people in their little bright yellow coats, just looking up at you. One night it was quite frosty, and I came flying in the air, thrusting at Maaka's head. My toe landed right on the edge of the stage, I skidded and ended up falling off the stage into these three old ladies. Luckily it wasn't with too much force. The TV ad I can't stop thinking about is… Tina from Turners is pretty funny at the moment. The last TV show I binge watched was… The Day of the Jackal with Eddie Redmayne. I just came back from Jordan with my wife, who was making a documentary series called Earth Oven with Temuera Morrison. On the flight there, I just couldn't stop watching the Day of the Jackal. I had to finish it on the way back. My favourite TV moment from my own career is… I loved doing the boxing fights on Westside. I got to help choreograph the stunts in The Convert with Lee Tamahori, and it's a dance. It has to be well-rehearsed, because we can't get hurt. I've been fortunate enough to do all my stunts and now be a stunt coordinator. I love all of that stuff. My favourite TV project is… Dead Ahead, for so many reasons. It was so fulfilling. It was made out here in South Auckland, so for once I was not traveling to bloody Bethells or Henderson and going to work was only a 15 minute drive. We started and finished every day with a karakia. The key marker for me is that at the wrap party, everyone was so grateful, so happy. That's what I valued, that human experience. No one was bickering, no one had problems, and the mahi was fun. The TV show I loved and wished I was involved with is… The Night Agent. I hear they're doing season three, I've got to give Luciane [Buchanan] a call, man. I really like that show. That drama, that intrigue, the action, the fight scenes are awesome, all the twists and the turns. The show I'll never watch, no matter how many people tell me to is… EastEnders. It just brings up memories. I feel like whenever EastEnders was on, there was always trouble. The last show I watched on TV was… The Studio with Seth Rogen. They got a lot of great cameos. It's a really cool, interesting insight into the Hollywood industry, the decisions they have to make and some of the lies they tell to save their arse.
STV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- STV News
Charity unveils plans to honour 'birthplace' of Europe's commandos
One of Scotland's most iconic attractions could soon have a radical makeover. A vision has been unveiled for an underground visitor centre beneath the Commando Monument that overlooks Ben Nevis. Those behind the project hope to make it a reality in time for remaining WWII veterans to see it. On Saturday, a ceremony launched a charity and potentially a new era for the Commando forces that Winston Churchill established 85 years ago. The International Commando Heritage Trust hopes to transform the iconic site which has drawn visitors from around the world since its unveiling in the 1950s. The vision promises to be sensitively built in the hillside beneath the existing monument at Spean Bridge. Colonel (Retired) Barry Barnwell of the Commando Association said: 'It cannot be seen from the road. The only glass faces out towards the Nevis Range and the fields, and it would be just below the eyeline in every respect. 'The architects and designers that have been helping us consider this concept and have given us some figures to work with, of course. And we're now currently looking at a three-phase build for £7.5m.' He added: 'We lost two (WWII veteran colleagues) last week. We are undoubtedly going to lose most of the rest, if not all of them, within the next five years. 'If we can open this facility with one or two of them present to see that we are taking their legacy forward, if we can achieve that within five years I think we will have done a great job for our veterans of that era.' Brigadier Andy Muddiman, Naval Regional Commander, said: 'It would allow the facility to take on a lot more visitors and do so in more comfort and provide a bit more information other than that the iconic, fantastic memorial built by Scott Sutherland in the 50s, which in and of itself and the landscape that it stands in, is an amazing spectacle.' Fundraising has begun for the dramatic new stage that will showcase priceless Commando memorabilia which was previously displayed at a nearby hotel. Folk star Isla St Clair, a VIP guest at the ceremony, sang 'Lament for the Commandos' written by her mother Zetta, who had two brothers killed in action – one a Commando. A new International Commando Heritage Trust tri-services tartan was also unveiled at the weekend event. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Elle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
I'm Always the Best-Dressed Person in the Yoga Studio—Here Are My 7 Outfit Formulas
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. I've been practicing yoga since third grade, when my mother sat me down and told me I had to do an extracurricular activity other than reading. Never one for competition or team sports, I countered with the one hobby that interested me most. Now, where I had even learned about yoga at that age, I have no idea. But nevertheless, so it began. Some 18 years later, I've had ample time to perfect the art of the best yoga outfits. But if my own practice isn't cutting it for you, I also tapped Kate Davies Durand, founder and director of YO BK studios, to lend her expertise. According to her, high-waisted leggings or shorts and a cropped bra are the winning formula. 'I'm looking for high-quality, lightweight fabrics in a design that I don't have to readjust,' she says, offering a warning about the scourge of poor-quality garments out there. 'There is way too much see-through yoga clothing on the market that gets even worse when you sweat! Just because they make it, doesn't mean you should wear it.' Amen to that. Without further ado, see (and shop) seven yoga outfit ideas below. A Onesie Personally, I love a one-piece for my practice. This way, I don't have to readjust my waistband every so often, and it eliminates the issue of my top riding up during inversions like downward dog. Not to mention, it makes picking my outfit a simple decision. Lately, I've been wearing my favorite washable clogs to class, which are also Jennifer Lawrence–approved. The Set Coordinating sets seem to be the most popular option these days, as popularized by the rise of social media's 'Pilates princess.' And I don't blame them! A matching duo requires no thought and always looks darling. If you aren't the bike short and sports bra type, fear not; sets come in all varieties, be it wide-leg pants or a full hoodie. Cuffed Pants It's my opinion that if you aren't wearing a fitted bottom (like bike shorts or leggings), a cuffed style is your next best choice. Why? Because the cuffs will keep the pant legs from getting in your way. Billowing silhouettes might look nice, but they can be impractical. I'm a big fan of these ultra-lightweight Commando joggers that feel loose through the leg but still cinch at the ankle. Your Favorite T-Shirt As for Davies Durand, she encourages infusing personality into your looks. 'Wear what attracts you!' she says. 'Your yoga practice is such a fun and free time to express yourself. Have an old concert shirt you love? Cut off the sleeves and make it a crop you can practice in or throw on after class. As silly as it sounds, wearing your favorite outfit can get you excited to practice. For me, it's boxer braids, gold hoops, and leopard leggings. When I show up in this, my students know it's going to be a certain type of class.' Cozy Sweats Sometimes, you just have to show up in your pajamas. For those days when you can barely get yourself to leave the house, don't punish yourself. It's perfectly fine to rock your favorite sweatpants to class—period. But if you want to zhuzh them up a bit, that can be cute, too. Try a fashion-forward brami (bra + cami) and a trendy scrunchie to add some flair. Stretchy Shorts Not everyone is comfortable showing their legs, but for those who are, bike shorts are a top-notch choice. They provide the same fuss-free, body-hugging compression as leggings, but with even less bulk, which might be of particular interest to anyone practicing hot yoga. Stay comfortable, yogis. Fitted Long-Sleeves Alternatively, maybe you don't like going sleeveless. There are plenty of people who would never consider stepping out in public in just an athletic bra or even a tank top. Actually, I think long-sleeve tops work just as well for yoga. But, again, they should be relatively snug, so as not to bunch up or slide around. Why Trust ELLE Every product featured on is independently researched, tested, or editor-approved. We only recommend products that we stand behind, and the merchandise featured on our site is always driven by editorial and product testing standards, not by affiliate deals or advertising relationships. Any content created in partnership with advertisers is marked as such.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
12 Fathers Day Movies About Dads Saving Daughters
Happy Father's Day! In honor of dads, here are 12 movies about dads rescuing daughters in distress. Dads saving daughters is maybe the most enduring trope in action movies, and it's easy to see why: There's no more primal motivation than protecting your children. But these movies are also fascinating for the way they get into generational differences, societal criticism, and middle-aged men's anxieties about a changing world that may seem to be leaving them behind. They're all wish-fulfillment fantasies, on some level. Here are 12 action movies about dads saving daughters. There's a lot going on in Lone Wolf McQuade, in which Chuck Norris plays an ex-military Texas Ranger who now lives in isolation with a wolf. But he soon runs up against a criminal gang led by the evil Wilkes (David Carradine). There's lots of conflict beforehand, but things really pick up when Wilkes kidnaps McQuade's daughter Sally (Dana Kimmell) and takes her to Mexico. This leads to a martial arts fight between McQuaid and Wilkes that was kind of a huge deal in 1983 — Chuck Norris versus the star of Kung Fu??? Wilkes almost wins, while wearing a very preppie sweater, no less. But then he very stupidly strikes Sally, inadvertently unleashing McQuade's dads-saving-daughters powers. Kind of an amped-up, more streamlined, much funnier Lone Wolf McQuade, Commando was another of the first films to realize that a simple retired military dad with a tough abducted daughter make for a perfect setup for a manly-man action movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger rattles off a series of deadly one-liners as John Matrix, the best-named movie hero ever. Young Alyssa Milano is terrific as Jenny Matrix, and Rae Dawn Chong is also great as one of the all-time great can-do-anything action movie sidekicks. At just 90 minutes, Commando is one of the best-plotted, fastest-moving films in the daughters in distress genre. So why not do it again? Schwarzenegger teamed up with Jamie Lee Curtis for this James Cameron epic that is mostly about the deception-filled marriage of Harry and Helen Trasker (Schwarzenegger and Curtis), but culminates, of course, in the abduction of their daughter, Dana (Eliza Dushku.) It has one of the most spectacular final face-offs in the history of dads-saving-daughters movies, involving Dana, a skyscraper, a jet and a helicopter. Speaking of planes: Air Force One stars Harrison Ford as regular-guy president James Marshall, president whose plane is hijacked by terrorists, led by Ivan Korshunov (Gary Oldman). That's bad enough, but then Ivan holds a gun to the First Daughter's head, triggering those dad saving daughters powers we told you about earlier, and fights back, uttering the most famous line in the film, "Get of my plane." We wish the special effects were a little better at the end of the plane, but we're mostly just on board for President Ford. The fourth Die Hard film raises the stakes from the previous three by having the estranged daughter of John McClane (Bruce Willis) get abducted by cyberterrorists. She's Lucy Gennero-McClane (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and if you've seen a Die Hard movie you know that a woman not embracing McClane's surname as her own is shorthand for him feeling inadequate as a man. But things work out OK. The next Die Hard movie paired up John McClane with his son, but that's another gallery for another day. To die hard. The gold standard of dads saving daughters movies, Taken stars Liam Neeson as Brian Mills, a dad who has to rely on his "very particular set of skills" to save his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) from being auctioned off by absolutely horrible people to other absolutely horrible people. Taken, more than any other film on this list, plays out like a very effective divorced dad fantasy: When his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) marries someone who is ostensibly a better provider, Brian proves his worth by doing what the new husband can't. Mills is always civil to Lenore's new husband Stuart (Xander Berkeley), but by Taken 2, the marriage is collapsing — and we can only assume the new husband turned into a jerk because he couldn't handle the assault on his manhood of being totally shown up by his wife's ex. The best thing about Taken is how well it establishes the emotional dynamic between the family before plunging into some thrilling action sequences, played out over a tight 90 minutes. Bryan is the best of all dads saving daughters, so good he inspired two sequels. Taken 2 ups the ante: This time mom and dad get taken, and Kim has to help them, using some incredibly cool techniques involving triangulation and grenades. But, this being a dads saving daughters movie, Kim eventually needs rescuing, courtesy of her pop. Still, this might be our favorite Taken movie because of the cool twists on the dads saving daughters genre and the inventiveness of the script and action scenes. There's not as much taking in this Taken, but it nonetheless fulfills some angry divorced dad fantasies: mom's new husband Stuart (played in this one by Dougray Scott, replacing Xander Berkeley) turns out to be an absolutely horrible person, and only Brian Mills can stop him. This one breaks new ground in the dads saving daughters genre, because Brian has to save not only Kim but her unborn baby. One thing we love about this film is that it spawned the one-liner, Taken 3 makes Taken 2 look like Taken. When his daughter (Ilah Davis) disappears into the adult film industry, Ohio prude Jake VanDorn (George C. Scott) must infiltrate the unseemly business and even impersonate a sleaze himself in order to find out what extremely upsetting stuff his daughter has gotten into. He works alongside industry insider Niki (Season Hubley, great) and becomes something of a father figure to her, too. Written and directed by the great Paul Schrader, the film is a fascinating look at how the industry worked around the time of its release, even though Jake's transformation isn't totally convincing. He also gets in a fight with a much younger, more street-savvy young man at the end, and that doesn't totally make sense, but this is still an oft-imitated touchstone in the dads saving daughters in distress genre. It also benefitted from one of the most ruthless ad campaigns in movie history: An ad that just shared Jake's exclamation upon seeing his daughter on-screen: "Oh my God, that's my daughter." Another classic dads saving daughters in distress setup: Macho L.A. helicopter pilot Ray Gaines (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) is estranged from his wife Emma (Carla Gugino) because he's too cool, or something. But then an earthquake traps their daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario) with mom's new boyfriend, Daniel. Because this is a dads saving daughters movie, mom's new boyfriend is of course not up to the task of protecting Blake, because that's dad's job. Would you believe that by the end of the movie, Ray and Emma are reconsidering their future? You might expect Stillwater to be a lot like Taken: Matt Damon, Jason Bourne himself, lets loose in France trying to save his wrongfully convicted daughter? Sign us up. But it turns out to be something more complex, and interesting than the typical dads saving daughters routine. Damon's Oklahoma roughneck Bill Baker starts out deeply suspicious of the French, and assumes his daughter (Abigail Breslin) has been railroaded into a cell. But he has to solve the problem with his brains and empathy, not brawn. Some dad-on-the-warpath movies are really just excuses for a middle-aged "regular guy" to fight a world that's gotten too permissive for his tastes. But Stillwater isn't. This is another of those (sighs, rolls eyes) thoughtful movies that asks dads to consider the ethical and moral ramifications (barf) of rushing to judgment instead of just beating people up. Hugh Jackman plays Keller Dover, a man who goes on the warpath when his daughter is kidnapped. (Terrence Howard plays another dad who goes down the path reluctantly.) When their daughters are kidnapped, they kidnap a suspect — played by Paul Dano — and go medieval on him. As you've probably intuited, Prisoners is filled with twists. Mel Gibson plays John Link, an ex-con and recovering alcoholic who is now a tattoo artist. When his estranged daughter Lydia (future The Boys star Erin Moriarty) gets in trouble with her ex-boyfriend's criminal gang, John learns that she's become addicted to drugs and tries to help her recover. Lydia ends up abducted, and her dad is able to save the missing link — which is also the name of his business: Missing Link tattoo. But father and daughter are also able to recover the missing link in their relationship. It works on so many levels. Something we like about this movie is the dad using his wisdom to help his daughter in her recovery from addiction. Sometimes loving and supportive dads are even more helpful than dads saving daughters by beating people up. We're betting you might also like this list of the 15 Most Beautiful Movie Cars. Main image: Commando. Warner Bros. 20th Century Fox. Related Headlines 12 Sleazy '70s Movies That Don't Care About Your Respect Ari Aster and John Waters on the Art of Not Compromising 12 Shameful Movies That Glamorize the Devil
Elle
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
6 Crochet Dresses And Exactly What To Wear Them With This Summer
The crochet dress is having a big revival this summer. From Supriya Lele's crochet-filled Mango collaboration, to Magda Butrym's crochet covered New York pop-up, crochet has become the the fabrication of the season, and summer dresses always reign supreme. And while the technique has a long and storied history traversing continents, centuries and social movements, we're mainly concerned with how we wear the semi-naked fabric in the here and now. Feel free to accuse us of being shallow, but we think you might feel the same. Starting at the foundation, an outfit featuring crochet likely means an outfit featuring a level of nudity. Thankfully, underwear, solutionwear and bikinis mean you can decide exactly how naked you want to be, according to your personal preference and setting. If you're looking to lean a little more incognito, Skims, Commando and Spanx offer skin-hued basics that allow you to stay under the radar, while brands like Fruity Booty will help you pack a colourful or patterned punch with your underwear or swimwear. As for the dress itself, designers such as Diotima and Kettel Atelier highlight the true craftsmanship of crochet work thanks to their intricate midi dresses. Likewise, Dôen and Rixo give a portal to the Seventies with their Birkin-esque mini dresses. Whether for the beach or the bar, Mango has a crochet option for both. Now, for shoes. Heels and flats work equally well with crochet, but anything with texture should be prioritised. Whether you double up on crocheting, contrast with PVC or complement with woven rope, the more tactile, the better. Looks like we have the naked dress of summer 2025, now wear it with aplomb. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE. Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
