Do you watch a film and vow to visit the location for a taste of the amazing scenery, bustling vibes or incredible food? Owners Direct introduce their top movie destinations to help remind you of some of the places you promised to visit.
1. Braveheart
When Mel Gibson starred as William Wallace in Braveheart we may well have been too distracted by his heroics to notice the rolling highlands of Scotland. The film was almost entirely shot in Scotland with a small number of scenes completed in Ireland near Dublin. Loch Leven and Glen Coe are the main settings and the village where Wallace lived was built in Glen Nevis Valley.
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
The second of the Transformers movies hit our screens in 2009, with the action taking place in a number of locations including China, Paris, the US and Egypt.
The final scenes were filmed at the Giza Pyramids. The film crew alongside dozens of local Egyptians came together to create the final battle – it took a 50ft tall camera crane to catch the action!
Numerous American locations were used including Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Arizona, New York, New Jersey and California. The aeroplane bone yard was set in Arizona.
3. The Blues Brothers
This is a cult classic and follows the story of brothers Jake and Elwood as they reform their blues band and embark on a ‘mission from God’. Filmed in Chicago, this musical pushed the Windy City into the spotlight, and some 200 films have been set there since 1979.
The Director chose lesser known areas of Chicago to show the true character of the city, include Lake Street and Daley Plaza.
4. Eat Pray Love
Set to be the blockbuster of 2010, Eat, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts sees a discontented Elizabeth Gilbert leaving New York behind to embark on an adventure across Italy, India and Bali in Indonesia to rediscover the essentials in life. When you see this movie, you’re bound to feel inspired to plan your own getaway.
The memorable scene showing Elizabeth eating ice cream is set in Rome near to the Trevi Fountain. Continuing the ‘eat’ part of the storyline she goes on to enjoy pizza and pasta by the Piazza Navona followed by a huge traditional tomato and mozzarella pizza at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Naples, one of the most famous pizza places in Naples.
The Indian part of the adventure focuses on an Ashram which is a place or prayer – a religious retreat. Other parts of the film are shot and Deli.
5. Saw
If you want a frightful adventure, Toronto Canada is the place for you. The majority of the Saw films were shot here; all inside a converted warehouse, including the car chase scene! Don’t go looking for Stygian Street though; it was named after Director James Wan’s first film.
6. Slumdog Millionnaire
This had to make it onto the list – a budget film turned box office smash. A teenager from Mumbai becomes an unlikely game show contestant and draws on his life experience to win the million. If you haven’t seen this one, what are you waiting for?
Filmed in the slums of Mumbai as well as Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
7. Batman: The Dark Knight
The most recent Batman movie starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger has many scenes in Chicago, the UK and China. Hong Kong is the prime location and is well known for its expansive skyline and the deep, natural harbour.
8. Gladiator
It really is 10 years since Russell Crowe brought the drama of the gladiator’s ring to our screens. Filmed predominantly in Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, Morocco, as well as some work done in studios, the opening scenes were actually created on location in Farnham, Surrey! Ouarzazate is named ‘the door of the desert’ and is located in southern-central Morocco. Berbers constructed many of the prominent Kasbahs and inhabit this area.
9. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
This 1989 classic was filmed in multiple locations across the US, as well as the UK, Germany, Venice in Italy, Jordan and Spain. Andalucía in Spain is a popular tourist destination and features heavily. It is also the location used in films such as Mad Max, Lawrence of Arabia and Conan the Barbarian.
The Venice location was set at the neighbourhood church of San Barnaba.
Surprisingly the Berlin locations were filmed in London and Buckinghamshire! The setting where Jones gets Hitler’s autograph is set at the famous Stowe school. The school where Jones teaches is Rickmansworth Masonic School in Hertfordshire.
10. Avatar – a piece of the moon
Alright so we’re not quite ready to be booking two weeks all inclusive to the moon, but the 2009 blockbuster Avatar gave us a taste for the magical world of moon Pandora. You can book a trip to our own moon courtesy of Virgin Galactic – a bargain at £127,500!
