KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — Have you ever imagined yourself in the midst of an exotic locale in a movie?
A recent survey of 2,000 people by British Airways found that nearly 40 per cent of them have been inspired to travel after watching a film and compiled a list of ‘Top 100 films that inspire travel’ in a recent press release.
“A great movie can inspire you to do great things. We considered hundreds of titles for this list, including films that give you the confidence to travel alone, those that evoke a sense of adventure and films that promote a specific destination,” said British Airways in-flight entertainment and technology manager Richard D’Cruze.
The list includes titles nominated by stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, Orlando Bloom, Professor Brian Cox and Colin Firth.
According to British Airways, adventure drama ‘The Beach’ was named the most inspiring movie overall, while men nominated ‘The Hangover’ as their number one choice, and while those over the age of 45 voted for romantic comedy ‘Shirley Valentine’.
Some of the celebrities surveyed reveal their favourite travel spots, including actor Orlando Bloom, who said, “I cherished my time filming ‘Lord of the Rings’ in New Zealand — it’s the most beautiful, magical place with great hospitality. I love places that are completely cut off from everything — where I can relax and enjoy the simplicity of nature.”
Actor Colin Firth said, “’La Dolce Vita’ made we want to go to Rome and, if not jump into the Trevi Fountain, at least watch someone else do it. Maybe that’s why I married an Italian…!”
Presenter Laura Whitmore added, “I know that ‘Up’ is an animated film, and an aircraft is far more practical as a form of travel, but this really is unconventional travel at its finest. I love the underlining message of having that goal of going somewhere you always wanted to go despite the challenges. And that a dream should never be given up on, and it inspired me to tick places off my dream destination list!”
British Airways “Top 100 Films that Inspire Travel” are:
1. A Good Year
2. A Room with a View
3. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
4. Amélie
5. Anchorman — The Legend of Ron Burgundy
6. Annie Hall
7. Around the World in 80 Days
8. Australia
9. The Beach
10. Before Sunrise
11. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
12. Blue Hawaii
13. Braveheart
14. Breakfast at Tiffany’s
15. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
16. To Catch a Thief
17. Casablanca
18. Casino Royale (2006)
19. Chariots of Fire
20. City of God
21. Cocktail
22. Coming to America
23. Crocodile Dundee
24. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
25. The Darjeeling Limited
26. The Dark Knight
27. The Da Vinci Code
28. Dirty Dancing
29. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
30. Dr No
31. Eat Pray Love
32. E.T.
33. The Endless Summer (1966)
34. Enter the Dragon
35. Evita
36. Forrest Gump
37. Four Weddings and a Funeral
38. From Here to Eternity (1953)
39. Ghostbusters
40. Gone with the Wind
41. Gorillas in the Mist
42. The Hangover
43. Havana
44. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
45. The Holiday
46. In Bruges
47. Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark
48. Indecent Proposal
49. Into the Wild
50. It Started in Naples
51. It’s All Gone Pete Tong
52. Jaws
53. The King and I
54. La Dolce Vita
55. LA Story
56. La Vie En Rose
57. Lawrence of Arabia
58. Life of Pi
59. Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring)
60. Lost in Translation
61. Mamma Mia
62. Manhattan
63. Memoirs of a Geisha
64. Miami Vice
65. Midnight in Paris
66. The Motorcycle Diaries
67. Moulin Rouge!
68. National Lampoon’s European Vacation
69. Notting Hill
70. Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
71. Out of Africa
72. The Piano
73. Planes, Trains and Automobiles
74. Pretty Woman
75. Quadrophenia
76. Roman Holiday
77. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
78. Searching for Sugar Man
79. Sex and the City 2
80. Seven Years in Tibet
81. Shirley Valentine
82. Sideways
83. Skyfall
84. Sliding Doors
85. Sleepless in Seattle
86. Slumdog Millionaire
87. Somewhere
88. The Sound of Music
89. South Pacific
90. The Spy who Loved Me
91. Stand by Me
92. Summer Holiday
93. The Talented Mr Ripley
94. Thelma & Louise
95. Top Gun
96. Under the Tuscan Sun
97. Up
98. Up in the Air
99. When Harry Met Sally
100. 24 Hour Party People