Movies, what would we do without them? Would any of us even be able to survive?
There are plenty of reasons why people enjoy watching movies. First, they are a source of escapism and entertainment. We live in a world filled with anxiety and pressure. As a result, many of us would like to sit back, relax, and enjoy a few hours of something else, which will take us away from the stresses of daily life.
Second, movies generate a long list of emotions inside us all. They make us happy and sad. They inspire us to do great things and motivate us to be better versions of ourselves. Motion pictures also scare us and remind us that our lives are not difficult as those of many others. They take us into different eras, societies, and even worlds and introduce us to things we might have never even thought of.
One of the most interesting things about movies is their locations, many of which are real. They are places we can actually visit, found in various countries across the world. Sadly, we haven’t been able to do so as one of the many consequences of the covid-19 global pandemic is the travel restrictions imposed in many nations worldwide.
Still, it is not all doom and gloom. Countries are beginning to open up again. Pharmaceutical companies are working day and night with science-based enterprises to provide an accurate kinome-profiling system that has allowed for the continuous development and rollout of several vaccines. Soon enough, we will all be able to travel again and see the breathtaking views and beautiful landscapes where some of the greatest films ever were made.
While we wait for this to happen, let us look at a few of the most exciting ones.
The Lord of the Rings: New Zealand
Many consider New Zealand to be the birthplace of extreme sports. If you are into bungee jumping, white water rafting, paragliding, or skydiving, there is no better place on earth to visit. New Zealand is filled with towering mountains, lush and fertile jungles, forests, and sprawling planes. As such, it is the perfect locale for people who love nature and desire an adventure.
But aside from this, New Zealand is also the small nation where all three of The Lord of the Rings movies were shot. Whether you are looking for The Shire and Hobbiton, the Gardens of Isengard, Edoras, or the treacherous Mount Doom, this is where you will find them.
Avatar: Zhangjiajie, China
With box office numbers of close to three billion dollars, Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all time. Even though it was released more than ten years ago, its recent re-release in China has brought this epic tale back into the forefront of cinema.
There are two significant reasons why James Cameron, Lightstorm Entertainment, and 20th Century Studios chose the Asian nation to relaunch Avatar. First, Chinese audiences were not able to enjoy it a decade ago. Second, and perhaps most importantly, the movie planet of Pandora is based on the breathtaking Zhangjiajie Mountains in the Chinese northwest province of Hunan.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Jordan
In the third installment of the Indiana Jones movie series, the eponymous Indiana Jones and his father Henry race against time to beat the Nazis in finding the Holy Grail. For those unfamiliar with Catholic Religion, the Holy Grail is the cup Jesus Christ used during the Last Supper with his 12 apostles. The reward to those who find it is eternity, a life not marred by time, age, or disease.
Whether the tale of the Holy Grail is real or not, one thing is certain. The city of Petra in Jordan is home to the splendid red rock facade where the movie climax was shot.
Rocky: Philadelphia, USA
If you count the two Creed movies made in the last couple of years, there are a total of eight films in the Rocky franchise. Still, in the eyes of most critics and fans, none of the following seven are as iconic as the first one.
Apart from driving Sylvester Stallone into superstardom, Rocky 1 showcased one of the most unforgettable scenes in cinema’s history. Of course, we are talking about the training montage that culminates in him climbing the 72 stone steps to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. For boxing fans and casual viewers alike, it represented the triumph of the underdog and achieving victory over adversity.
Four wonderful destinations for movie lovers are New Zealand, China, Jordan, and the city of Philadelphia in the United States. So pack your bags, choose one of them, and get going. And once you’re there, pinch yourself, for you are now part of cinematic history.
