Established 1961 13 Lifestyle Features Sunday, December 20, 2020

n epic in which a teenager numbers of new cases have been hunts down and beheads demons recorded in recent weeks. The country Ahas become the surprise sensa- has not implemented the strict lockdown tion of Japanese cinema during the pan- measures seen elsewhere and movie demic, and could soon be the country’s theatres have largely stayed open, top-grossing film of all time. “Demon though with restrictions including mask- ”, a full-length flick based on the hit wearing. series is threatening to dethrone Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away”, the fan- ‘Invisible, frightening threats’ tastical 2001 tale that won an Oscar for A sophisticated marketing campaign, best animated feature. The story of including tie-ups with shops and restau- Tanjiro, whose life transforms when his rants, and well-known actors voicing the family are killed in a demon attack, has characters have also helped boost the taken 30.3 billion yen ($290 million) at film-whose full title is “Demon Slayer: cinemas since its October release. At Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen one recent screening in Tokyo, a group Train”. And some say the relative dearth of female friends told AFP they had come of other recent high-profile releases to see the film because “it’s a hot topic” means it may have faced less competi- in Japan. Drawing long lines around the tion than in a normal year. But Yuka Ijima, Pedestrians walk past a poster promoting the anime movie Demon Slayer — Kimetsu no Yaiba country, “Demon Slayer” has dispatched an assistant professor at Tokyo’s Daito the Movie: Mugen Train — at a cinema in Tokyo. — AFP photos “Titanic” from the number two spot and Bunka university who focuses on manga looked on track to beat Hayao Miyazaki’s and psychology, said “Demon Slayer” me series, and sales of the manga nomic impact of 270 billion yen ($2.6 bil- classic by Christmas. also taps into some particularly relevant boomed this spring when the Japanese lion) in Japan alone. And “Demon Slayer” But this week, there was a plot twist: themes, with its focus on family ties and government urged residents to stay fever shows no sign of abating. the Ghibli film’s total sales were revised the battle between good and evil. This picture shows the final volume of the home to stem the spread of Covid-19. Long queues formed outside manga upwards to take into account a re- “In the past, the concept of a ‘demon’ popular manga Demon Slayer or “Kimetsu no The movie’s spring release was shops earlier this month for the release of release over the summer-raising its tak- was used to embody invisible, frighten- Yaiba” on display at a book store in Tokyo. pushed back to October, “at a time when its 23rd tome, the final instalment of a ings to 31.7 billion yen and staving off ing threats, like diseases and epidemics there was a certain sense of security” as series that has sold more than 120 mil- “Demon Slayer” a little longer. The new time was just one reason for its success, including smallpox,” which could res- infections in Japan declined and people lion copies overall and been translated film’s stunning success comes despite- with its high production values a bigger onate with people’s fears during the virus felt more comfortable going to the cine- into 14 languages. The film has already and perhaps because of-the pandemic, draw. “This movie is a big hit because crisis, she told reporters recently. The ma, Ijima said. Its success has been a been distributed elsewhere in Asia with with people in Japan urged to avoid the animation is very unique and beauti- film, set in Japan’s 1912-26 Taisho era, rare bright spot in the economic malaise releases in Europe and the crowds, putting most other forms of ful. It’s very creative,” he said. began life in 2016 as a manga series that has accompanied the pandemic in planned for next year. — AFP mass entertainment off-limits. Kei, a 25- Japan has seen a relatively limited published in the popular comic maga- Japan. One research institute estimated year-old who saw the film with his sister, outbreak of the virus, with fewer than zine “Shonen Jump”. Its popularity grew the entire series has generated an eco- said he thought people with more free 2,600 deaths so far, although record when it was adapted into a televised ani-

His “unforgettable performance as notori- ous bounty hunter Boba Fett has capti- vated audiences since he first appeared,” the official Star Wars Twitter account said. “He will be remembered not only for his iconic portrayal of the leg- endary character, but also for his warmth and generous spirit which have become an enduring part of his rich legacy.”

‘Quintessential English gentleman’ Fellow “Star Wars” actors paid tribute to him on social media. “Jeremy Bulloch was the quintessential English gentle- ritish actor Jeremy Bulloch who man,” Mark Hamill, who played Luke played infamous bounty hunter Skywalker, said on Twitter. “A fine actor, Boba Fett in the original “Star delightful company & so kind to every- B Karl Shale poses with a copy of the newly released album McCartney III Karl Shale poses with a copy of the newly released album McCartney III Wars” films has died at the age of 75. He one lucky enough to meet or work with by British musician Paul McCartney in the Sounds of Universe record by British musician Paul McCartney. died on Thursday in hospital in Tooting, him. I will deeply miss him & am so store in London. — AFP photos south London, “following health compli- grateful to have known him.” Billy Dee cations, including several years living Williams, who played Lando Calrissian, with Parkinson’s disease”, his website tweeted: “Today we lost the best bounty said. “Jeremy had a long and happy life hunter in the galaxy... RIP Jeremy as an actor and was best known for his Bulloch.” roles in the films Summer Holiday, Star Although Boba Fett was a relatively Wars and James Bond,” it added. Born minor character in the films, he was a in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, firm favourite with fans and is currently Bulloch appeared in several classic tele- played by New Zealand actor Temuera vision shows in the 1970s and 80s Morrison in the popular television series ritish pop legend Paul McCartney home studio in Sussex, in southern came a decade later. The latest collec- including “Doctor Who” and “Robin of “The Mandalorian”. Daniel Logan, who on Friday urged people to get vac- England, on previously started and new tion of tracks was mostly built from live Sherwood”, and had supporting roles in played a young Boba Fett in “Star Wars Bcinated against the coronavirus, as songs. It has all been written, produced takes of McCartney on vocals and guitar three James Bond movies. Episode II: Attack of the Clones”, said it he celebrated the release of a new solo and performed by McCartney, who has or piano, before overdubbing with his But he is best known for playing fan brought him to tears to announce the album crafted during this year’s lock- said he had not intended to release an bass playing and drumming. Pictures for favourite Boba Fett in “The Empire Strikes death of Bulloch. “RIP legend I’ll never down. The former Beatle, who revealed album in 2020 until the pandemic forced the album were shot by McCartney’s Back” and “The Return of the Jedi”. He forget all you’ve taught me!!” he posted in October he had resurrected unfinished him to stay at home for months. The for- daughter, the photographer Mary landed the role after a call from his half- on Instagram with a photograph of the music to complete the record, said the mer Beatles frontman had been set to McCartney, with additional images by his brother Robert Watts, who was an associ- two of them. While Boba Fett was never internet had allowed so-called anti- headline this year’s Glastonbury festival, nephew Sonny McCartney and some ate producer on “The Empire Strikes seen without his helmet, Bulloch showed vaxxers’ misleading messages to “take on its 50th anniversary, before it was that he took himself on his phone. Back”. “I’d never managed to give his face in a couple of minor parts in hold”. “I will (have the vaccine), and I’d cancelled due to the pandemic. Britain Keeping the photography in the family Jeremy a job on film,” Watts said in 2008, “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Revenge like to encourage people to get it too,” he imposed a months-long lockdown from mirrors how the pop icon illustrated earli- according to the StarWars.com website. of the Sith”.—AFP told BBC radio. “There used to be anti- late March as Covid-19 first swept the er solo albums, with his late wife Linda “So I rang him up and said, ‘If the suit fits, vaccine people, that was OK, that was country, which has now seen more than McCartney shooting the artwork for the part’s yours.’ He came in and it fit.” their choice. “But with the internet now 65,000 deaths due to the virus, among “McCartney II”. Linda also took many of these things really take hold and so you the worst tolls in Europe. the photos displayed on the gatefold do get these people who won’t take it.” McCartney’s new release coincides cover of the original 1970 “McCartney” The new album “McCartney III”, with the 50th anniversary of his first solo album. — AFP released a week later than originally endeavour, “McCartney” , released as planned, is his third eponymous solo the “Fab Four” went their separate ways album. It follows months of work at his in 1970. A follow-up, “McCartney II”, Oscars museum delayed again Jeremy Bulloch as pandemic grips Los Angeles

ueen Elizabeth’s annual Christmas world-first innovation, just as we did in he long-awaited opening of Los speech will be available on 2012 with the release of the Queen’s Angeles’ Oscars museum was QAmazon’s Alexa devices this year. Christmas speech on Kindle, we hope Tpostponed again Friday due to The 94-year-old royal’s special message that even more people will be able to the pandemic, with officials saying its will be heard for the first time on the enjoy the uplifting words of Her Majesty. scheduled April debut would be “irre- cloud-based voice service on December “This really is one for the history books sponsible” as the city grapples with 25. In 2012, Amazon Kindle users were and showcases just how far technology record coronavirus cases. The able to read the speech on the firm’s e- has advanced since the very first speech Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, readers after it was broadcast. Alexa was delivered back in 1932.” dedicated to the magic of movies and In this file photo a general view of the Academy Museum during the Academy Museum of Motion Europe director Eric King said: “After a The longest-serving British monarch set to host iconic Hollywood treasures Pictures in Los Angeles, California on February 7, 2020. — AFP challenging year, millions of people from will record her speech from Windsor from Judy Garland’s “Wizard of Oz” across the Commonwealth will be eagerly Castle, where she and husband Prince ruby slippers to Dracula’s cape, has California has emerged as the latest The futuristic Academy museum awaiting Her Majesty the Queen’s mes- Philip, 99, will be spending the holidays been beset by delays. epicenter in the US Covid-19 outbreak, contains a 1,000-seat theater inside a sage on Christmas Day. “By creating this this year, instead of Sandringham in It had been set to finally open April reporting more than 52,000 new cases seemingly-suspended glass, steel and Norfolk, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A 30, the week after the Academy’s flag- Wednesday. Even as vaccinations concrete orb designed by Renzo Palace spokesperson confirmed: “Having ship event-the Oscars-but will now wel- began this week, intensive care units Piano, connected by sky bridges to a considered all the appropriate advice, come visitors from September 30. have run out of beds at multiple hospi- converted department store housing the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh President Bill Kramer said in a state- tals across southern California. Los the main galleries-and the recently have decided that this year they will ment that the museum was “ready and Angeles health officials estimate about installed 25-foot (7.5-meter) shark mod- spend Christmas quietly in Windsor.” In eager to welcome visitors in the one in 80 county residents are currently el used in “Jaws.” “Now it’s just a mat- order to play the Queen’s Christmas spring,” but “with the current surge of infected. All indoor Los Angeles muse- ter of patience, for all of us, as we look speech, simply ask: “Alexa, play the Covid-19, it would be irresponsible to ums are closed due to Covid restric- ahead to opening our doors on Queen’s Christmas message” or “Alexa, maintain an April opening.” “We know a tions, with a regional “stay-at-home” September 30,” said museum chair play Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas Day new day is coming for us all, and when order in effect until at least December and Netflix content chief Ted message.”—BangShowbiz it does, the Academy Museum will be 28. The Oscars themselves were post- Sarandos.— AFP ready to offer our visitors the remark- poned by eight weeks to April 25, after able experience we have all been the coronavirus pandemic shuttered wanting.” movie theaters and wreaked havoc on Hollywood’s release calendar. Queen Elizabeth