That Christmas to Beatles ’64: the seven best films to watch on TV this week

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Pick of the week
That ChristmasWeaving together the plots of three children’s books by Richard Curtis, Simon Otto’s studiedly British but bubbly animation is set in a tight-knit Suffolk coastal town just before Christmas. Shy newcomer Danny pines for nice, studious Sam; however, her twin sister – and budding lord of misrule – Charlie is in danger of missing out on pressies when Santa (Brian Cox) flies by. But after a blizzard strands most of the adults out of town, the home-alone kids have the chance to break with tradition, learn those inevitable life lessons and find inventive uses for the brussels sprouts. There’s something for everyone – snowball fights, runaway turkeys, an Ed Sheeran song – in a film destined for repeat viewings.
Wednesday 4 December, NetflixBeatles ’64View image in fullscreenDavid Tedeschi’s documentary – produced by Martin Scorsese and using extensive fly-on-the-wall footage by the Maysles brothers – follows the Fab Four’s 14-day trip to the US, when their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (watched by over 70 million people) catapulted them to international stardom. New interviews with Paul and Ringo, and the likes of Ronnie Spector and Smokey Robinson, plus reminiscences from fans, give a real sense of the hysteria the Beatles inspired, while the archive film captures the lads in their cocky, witty, world-beating prime. Out now, Disney+The Edge of the WorldView image in fullscreenThis 1937 drama turned out to be director Michael Powell’s ticket to the big time. It’s a lyrical but clear-eyed yarn about a Shetland island community in its death throes. The escalating conflict between tradition and modernity is personified in Eric Berry’s Robbie, who feels constricted by parental expectation, and childhood friend Andrew (Niall MacGinnis), who is involved with Robbie’s sister Ruth (Belle Chrystall) and wants to preserve the old ways. It’s followed by a quirky 1978 short that takes cast member John Laurie back to Foula, where the film was shot. Saturday 30 November, 10.30pm, BBC FourThe American Society of Magical NegroesView image in fullscreenA magical negro here is a “Black supporting character who exists solely to serve a white protagonist’s storyline”. In this satirical romcom, failed artist Aren (Justice Smith) is recruited to the titular secret group (with nods to Harry Potter) and assigned to boost the self-worth of Drew Tarver’s tech startup worker Jason, which includes hooking him up – Cyrano-style – with co-worker Lizzie (An-Li Bogan). If he doesn’t, levels of “white discomfort” could lead to the loss of the society’s magic powers – and racial violence. Sunday 1 December, 8.35am, 5.10pm, Sky Cinema PremiereThe Quiet GirlView image in fullscreenA delicate performance from the young Catherine Clinch anchors Colm Bairéad’s beautiful, achingly tender Irish-language film. She plays Cáit, one of five neglected children of a pregnant mother and feckless father, who is sent for the summer to a childless cousin Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley) and her farmer husband Seán (Andrew Bennett). They are attentive and kind but nurse a sadness Cáit can’t fathom in a drama as absorbed in the child’s view of the world as the woes of the grownups. Thursday 5 December, 9pm, Film4Fly Me to the MoonView image in fullscreenGreg Berlanti’s easygoing romantic comedy offers up a new, if fictional, angle on the oft-told story of Nasa’s historic Apollo missions. Marketing specialist Kelly (Scarlett Johansson, ladling on the charm) is hired by the Nixon administration to boost the public profile of the beleaguered US space programme, which she does through PR stunts and product placement – much to the irritation of Kennedy Space Center launch director Cole (Channing Tatum). Naturally, opposites attract – but a top-level directive to secretly fake the moon landing as a backup to Apollo 11 leads to personal and political complications. Friday 6 December, Apple TV+WonkaView image in fullscreenThis sugar rush of a fantasy musical from Paddington maestro Paul King brings those films’ homespun eccentricity to bear on an origin story for Roald Dahl’s confectionery genius. Timothée Chalamet (with a surprisingly effective singing voice) is all gangly exuberance as young Willy, who has a vision of selling his magical chocolates – but a trio of established rivals (Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas and Mathew Baynton) set out to crush him. New songs by Neil Hannon hit the spot, while the scene-stealing Hugh Grant is a hoot as an irate Oompa-Loompa. Friday 6 December, 7.55am, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere

Is holiday travel as bad as we think? The data is surprising.

Travel

If holiday travel stresses you out, you’re not alone.A recent survey by the travel platform KAYAK found that 84% of American travelers believe holiday flights face more delays or cancellations than at other times of the year, with 81% thinking that flight disruptions are getting worse. (Is anyone else getting flashbacks to the Southwest Airlines meltdown between Christmas and New Year’s Eve in 2022?)The travel experts at KAYAK decided to find out if that’s actually the case. “It really started as office chatter and debate as we headed into the holiday travel season,” said Kayla DeLoache, a travel trends expert for KAYAK and Cheapflights. “While some felt delays and cancellations were always expected during this time of year, others felt more optimistic that they were getting better. So we crunched the numbers.”To debunk some of the most common myths around holiday travel, the experts analyzed 50 airports with the highest search volume on KAYAK against 2023 flight disruption data from Aviation Edge and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief because it turns out holiday travel isn’t as bad as we think. “Flying during the holidays can be chaotic, but it’s not always as crazy as people make it out to be,” DeLoache said. “The holidays cram a ton of travelers into a short period, so chaos is kind of expected. Plus, with social media, any little hiccup gets blown up online, shining a spotlight on the bad rather than the good.”Enjoy your worry-free vacation: Best travel insurance policiesHere’s the truth on some of the top travel myths around the holiday season.Flight cancelled this holiday season?You’re entitled to a refund or other accommodation.Myth 1: There are more delays during the winter holidays than the rest of the year, and it’s getting worse.Last year, less than 1% of flights were canceled during the holidays. Only 5% were delayed for more than an hour during Thanksgiving and 6% during the December holiday season. In fact, the summertime actually had more delays, with 28.6% of flights delayed in July and August.Flight disruptions are also getting better, not worse. In 2023, only 0.33% of flights were delayed, down from 28% in 2022. “Well, if you remember, there were some big delays in 2022 during the holiday season that got a lot of media attention – not to mention the frustrated customers,” DeLoache said. So, airlines ramped up operations with better weather forecasting, streamlining systems, and improving crew scheduling procedures.Myth 2: Bad weather is the main reason why holiday flights are delayed.It may seem like winter storms are a holiday traveler’s worst enemy, but fewer than 27% of flights were delayed due to weather last winter. The leading reasons were carrier delays, like maintenance or crew issues, and late aircrafts.(Not a) myth 3: Flights that depart later in the day are more likely to be delayed.This is actually true. KAYAK found that air passengers who departed before 10 a.m. for Thanksgiving or Christmas in 2023 faced 12% fewer delays than those leaving after 5 p.m., thanks to reduced air traffic and additional buffer time. During Christmas and New Year’s, 31% of flights that left at 6 p.m. were delayed.Myth 4: Flying on the actual holiday is better.If you can be flexible with your travel dates, consider flying on the holiday itself. Not only will you score a cheaper flight price, but also a better chance of no delays. Last Thanksgiving Day saw 9% of flights delayed, compared to 20% the day before. Similarly, on Christmas Day, 17% of flights were delayed, compared to 33% the day after.(Sort of) a myth 5: Bigger airports have more delays.It depends. Major hubs such as John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and Denver International (DEN) experienced significant delays last Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, the airport with the highest percentage of delayed flights was actually the smaller Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL), where 34% of flights were delayed during the holiday travel period. Still, your chances for a smoother airport are better at a small airport, DeLoache said, with ones like San Jose International Airport (SJC) and San Antonio International Airport (SAT) the most on-time last holiday travel period.

Washington State Cougars and the Virginia Cavaliers meet in Carolina, Puerto Rico

Technology

#inform-video-player-1 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

#inform-video-player-2 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

Virginia Cavaliers (6-1) vs. Washington State Cougars (3-3)Carolina, Puerto Rico; Friday, 4 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Virginia and Washington State square off in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
The Cougars have a 3-3 record in non-conference play. Washington State ranks eighth in the WCC with 8.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Tara Wallack averaging 1.8.The Cavaliers are 6-1 in non-conference play. Virginia averages 18.6 assists per game to lead the ACC, paced by Yonta Vaughn with 5.8.

Mononoke The Movie The Phantom in the Rain Ending, Explained: Is Karakasa Destroyed?

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

‘Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain’ ends with the medicine seller confronting the Ayakashi, who is haunting the halls of the birth celebratory ceremony. The legendary vanquisher of Mononoke faces the difficult task of finding the spirit’s location while also trying to determine its origins. Although the reasons remain murky, viewers are given a view into the oppressive environment within the Ooku and the politics that poison its interiors, mainly through the eyes of the central characters, Asa and Kame. Something feels drastically off about the event, including the carnal happenings in Emperor Tenshi’s chamber. In the final moments, a clearer picture emerges of the ceremony and the darkness brewing inside it. However, it still does not dissuade the ambiguity rife within the narrative. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Inside new Orient Express trains taking tourists to Italy’s best towns and cities

Travel

The Orient Express may be one of the all-time iconic railway experiences, but that doesn’t mean it can’t benefit from an update.The Orient Express La Dolce Vita is setting off next April and its sleek new design is sure to impress passengers.Designed by Dimorestudio, the Orient Express invites passengers to step aboard the carriages and enjoy the “sumptuous décor celebrating the brilliance of the masters of 20th century Italian design”.”It’s a journey into the heart of indulgence, inspired by the style of Giò Ponti, Nanda Vigo, Gae Aulenti and Osvaldo Borsani”, according to the company’s website.There are various different routes guests can take. You could travel from Rome, via Venice and Portofino, before heading back to the capital.Or why not replace the visit to Portofino with a stop in Tuscany instead? If you prefer a one-way trip, you could take the glorious train down from Rome, through the towns of Maratea and Taormina, before finishing in the Sicilian city of Palermo.Based down in Sicily? No problem. You can simply take the reverse route from Palermo to Rome, or stay in the south and visit Catania, as well as Palermo and Taormina.Aboard the carriages, guests can pick from 12 deluxe cabins and 18 suites. Each features intricate design elements like wood-paneled ceilings, beautiful textiles, and brass sconces.However, the experience is not cheap. The least costly option you can take is the Rome to Montalcino round trip, starting from £3,912 per passenger per night.More expensive options include the Rome, Venice and Portofino round trip which starts from £6,193, or the Rome to Sicily round trip via Taormina and Maratea, starting from £7,391.

Canada’s ABC Technologies to buy British firm TI Fluid for $1.32 billion

Technology

:Automotive components supplier TI Fluid has agreed to a 1.04 billion pound ($1.32 billion) takeover by Canada’s ABC Technologies, expanding the combined group’s reach across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, the British company said on Friday.Shares in TI Fluid, which have surged more than 45 per cent since ABC Technologies’ first takeover proposal in August, climbed 2 per cent to 193 pence in early trade.London-listed TI, which has operations in 27 countries including Canada, the United States and Mexico, , counts automotive original equipment manufacturers as primary customers, providing thermal solutions and fluid systems for vehicle manufacturers across the world.Apollo Global-owned ABC Technologies’ offer at 200 pence per share represents a 53.4 per cent premium to TI Fluid’s 130.4 pence closing share price on Aug. 21 before ABC’s initial proposal.Toronto-based ABC Technologies is a global manufacturer and supplier of components to the global automotive industry.The deal implies an enterprise value of about 1.83 billion pounds for TI Fluid, which raised guidance in August for full-year adjusted operating profit margin expectation of more than 7.6 per cent, up from 7.4 per cent previously.The company’s board said it intends to recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the deal.($1 = 0.7860 pounds)

Shanxi’s historic attractions a big hit at international travel mart

Travel

Visitors pose for picture with a cosplayer dressed as the Monkey King at the Shanxi pavilion. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

With the help of professional cosplayers dressed as the Monkey King, and the romantic backdrop of a fantastical, mythological world, the Shanxi province pavilion drew numerous visitors at the China International Travel Mart in Shanghai, which concluded on Nov 24.
Farther inside the pavilion, visitors were taken on a trip through time, courtesy of a layout that reflected stylistic elements of ancient Shanxi buildings and courtyards. The idea was to expose visitors to traditional architectural elements like flying eaves and brick carvings.

Visitors appreciate details of ancient Shanxi architecture at the pavilion. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The images and videos highlighting Shanxi’s three world cultural heritage sites — the Ancient City of Pingyao, the Yungang Grottoes, and Mount Wutai — impressed many international travel agents at the expo.
Ren Yongfu, deputy director of the Shanxi culture and tourism department, describes the province as a “museum without walls”, with every artifact and historical site the result of generations of artisans and their craftsmanship.
Shanxi has 28,027 ancient buildings, and is home to over 80 percent of the country’s ancient wooden architecture.

A visitor takes picture with a folk opera performer in front of the Shanxi pavilion at the China International Travel Mart in Shanghai, which concluded on Nov 24. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Since August, the popularity of the video game Black Myth: Wukong has fueled tourism to the province.
In the first three quarters of this year, it has received 318 million domestic tourists, a year-on-year increase of 13.88 percent, with spending reaching 276.15 billion yuan ($38.11 billion), a growth of 25.91 percent, according to local authorities. During the National Day holiday, the number of visitors and tourism expenditure increased significantly by 84.99 percent and 101.85 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

Visitors appreciate details of ancient Shanxi architecture at the pavilion. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]