5 films that give us destination envy

Monday, 23 July 2012 2:54 PM

By Amy Heritage

Lost in Translation, Japan
Let’s never come here again because it would never be as much fun – Charlotte
Impromptu karaoke, chic hotel bars, those surreal pods that businessmen use to take naps…Lost in Translation painted the Japanese cities Toyko and Kyoto as exotic destinations suspended from Western reality. The two main characters begin displaced, but when they get the courage to leave their cold hotel rooms they discover a world of possibilities, and begin to make a connection.

Sulmdog Millionaire, India
You wanted to see a bit of the real India? Here it is! - Jamal
The breakthrough movie of 2008 captured modern-day India so tantalisingly; it had it all - bursts of brilliant colour, epic landscapes, song, nitty-gritty violence, and a rose-tinted Bollywood love story - all woven together at a blindingly fast pace. At the heart of it all we had the epic jounrey of the dreamer Jamal, who tried to take his future into his own hands, and rise from the slums into the palaces of millonaires.

Lord of the Rings, New Zealand
All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost – J.R.R Tolkien
This cult favourite was one of the first blockbusters to really influence tourism to a country - something the film Australia then tried to recreate not-as-successfully for the Australian tourist board. It's not just obsessive fans of the book who are queuing up to take part in one of New Zealand's many Lord of the Rings sightseeing tours – we defy you to watch those panoramic views of the county’s ever-changing landscape and not want to try it yourself.

Amelie, Paris
Meanwhile, at the Sacré Coeur, the nuns are practising their backhand. The temperature is 24°C, humidity 70%, atmospheric pressure 990 millibars – Narrator
Who doesn’t love Amelie’s quirky, happy-go-lucky Paris? It wasn’t just the bright and brilliant landmarks that made France’s city so desirable (although they were all there, from the Sacre Coeur to the Metro) but the attention to the little details – from discussing literature in coffee shops, to picking out dinner at the local vegetable stall and skimming rocks along the river.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, New York
I don't think I've ever drunk champagne before breakfast before. – Paul Varjak
In this modern classic New York comes across as a city that is casually decadent, full of party animals, and the kind of place where you don't go to bed before 9am. Eeven better, everyone manages to be glamorous and beautiful – despite not owning a dime. After being swept away by the love story at the heart of the film - and the emotional final scene - it's difficult not to dream of taking a ride in a yellow cab, whilst it's raining.

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