After the post I did about “Top 10 Travel Movies To Get You Going in 2010” received so much feedback, I thought I would do a follow-up list. There were a lot of good suggestions in the comments about other titles, and I was happy to see some good independent travel movies recommended as well.
One thing is for sure (and I stated this before), everyone has a different opinion on what constitutes a good travel movie. Sorry Sherry (author of Ottsworld.com), and Michaela (co-author of BriefcasetoBackpack.com), but I've got to point you out on this. Sherry wanted to add Revolutionary Road and Michaela wanted to add The Devil Wears Prada.
In no way did any one of these movies ever inspire me personally to travel in the slightest bit. I didn't care for Devil Wears Prada, and personally I could think of 20 other films that better represent New York City life. Revolutionary Road was a good movie, and although I know why it was listed as a good travel choice, to me it was more about suicide/marriage problems/reunion of Titanic than anything else, as I felt travel only played a very small part of it.
That being said, I watched XXX and wanted to go to Prague the next day because of it. Some people who have watched it would say it was a good action movie, but it didn't inspire them to quit their jobs and buy a one-way ticket to travel the world. They would think I'm even crazier for listing this movie on a Top 10 travel movies list.
So bottom line, everyone is different. Everyone gets inspired in a different way, everyone thinks differently and everyone is right in their own way. If you were in the fashion industry in Japan and watched Devil Wears Prada, then it might well be the best movie to get you to travel to New York or Paris in the future.
Below are some suggested titles of other great travel movies that will hopefully inspire you. Again, all new suggestions are welcome in the comment section.
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Independent Movies
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Last Stop for Paul
In Last Stop for Paul, two guys travel the world to as many countries as possible in two weeks. They carry the ashes of a friend along the way, and get into trouble in every way possible.
Shot with one camera, and a truly bare-bone budget, it won more awards in 2007 than any other independent movie.
The Art of Travel
Man gets dumped by fiancee and takes the honeymoon on his own to South America.
He meets other travelers along the way and the name (The Art of Travel) pretty much says it all… it's about travel!
Que Tan Lejos
Two girls hitchhiking Ecuador because of a bus strike. One is trying to see the country and the other is trying to stop a wedding. Que Tan Lejos is all in Spanish and some of the jokes you have to be Ecuadorian to understand but it's a sweet movie about traveling, getting lost and meeting new people.
A Map For Saturday
“On a trip around the world, every day feels like Saturday. A MAP FOR SATURDAY reveals a world of long-term, solo travel through the stories of trekkers on four continents.”
Genghis Blues
A blind blues player goes to Mangoloia to jam with Tuvan throat-singers in Genghis Blues.
A beautiful, soulful movie about one man's dream and two different cultures coming together. If you haven't heard of Tuvan throat-singers, they can sing 3 notes at one time and there is nothing else like it in the world.
One Week
One man's journey across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver on a vintage motorbike.
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Hollywood Hits
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Up In Air
George Clooney flies around America firing people but his only wish is to become the 7th member of American Airlines to reach 10 million frequent flyer miles.
There is a lot more going on in Up In The Air, but as far as extreme travel goes it hit a high note.
Easy Rider
Easy Rider is a cult-classic about two Americans in the 60's traveling the bad lands tripping off life.
An original road tripping film that set the bench mark.
Chasing Liberty
The president's daughter runs away from her Secret Service protection to explore Europe.
Chasing Liberty is a chick flick but has some great backpacking scenes from Europe that any traveler will be able to relate to.
View From The Top
Small town girl with dreams of escaping her dead-end life by becoming an international flight attendant.
View From the Top shows the joys and pains of working as a flight attendant and Mike Meyers is funny as hell “I want my warm nuts!” Not a real serious movie but a fun one.
Darjeeling Limited
Three American brothers traveling by train to find their reclusive mother in rural India.
The Darjeeling Limited is a funny movie with a superb cast!
I've always wanted to see A Map for Saturday – it's high on my to-watch list – but I've got to disagree with The Darjeerling Limited. I honestly thought it was a waste of my time.
Martin Scorcese's Kundun is his least violent and one of his best, which is saying a lot. Takes place in Tibet and the scenery will absolutely make you want to go there. Follows the story of a young dalai Lama. A certain masterpiece, and fairly small-time considering how big Scocese is.
These indie flicks look great! I can't wait to watch them next time I get back to the states and access to some of these smaller titles!! :-) I love that you put some lesser known ones on there.
I'm 4 for 10! Not bad. :) Brook Silva-Braga, the producer of A Map For Saturday, reached out to me after we were featured in this article: http://artofbackpacking.com/the-5-travel-person….
He sent me his documentary DVD and I really enjoyed watching it. I highly recommend it to any wanderluster out there craving for a piece of the world
Refreshing to see less popular movies on a travel movie list! I've only seen 2 on this list… definitely want to check out the indie ones.
Not sure about Chasing Liberty… I always thought the Bond movies were cool because he travels EVERYWHERE. How about a Bond list related to travel destinations? Good indie list! I heard about Genghis Blues, but haven't checked it out. I really liked Buena Vista Social Club, because it's the reverse. Legendary Cuban musicians traveling to America for the first time and their reactions.
I kinda agree. The Darjeeling Limited wasn't at all what I expected. The train they ride is 1st class/luxury, and that is where much of the movie occurs. Definitely no Slumdog Millionaire, though I did enjoy it enough to watch again some day. :)
I kinda agree. The Darjeeling Limited wasn't at all what I expected. The train they ride is 1st class/luxury, and that is where much of the movie occurs. Definitely no Slumdog Millionaire, though I did enjoy it enough to watch again some day. :)
I enjoyed Kundun – have it on my computer actually. When I sat in on chanting Tibetan monks at a monastery in Nepal, and closed my eyes, it reminded me of Kundun, and what it must be like to have those experiences in Tibet, at least before the Chinese took over.
I watched The Art of Travel recently and really enjoyed it. I'm planning to do a little write up of it one of these days. It only cost me $5 shipped via Amazon.com. So cheap it's almost not fair to the director!
I admit to seeing Chasing Liberty, and can see why it's on the list, but it is a bit cheesy.
Bond, James Bond, does seem to get around. As does Jason Bourne.
I want to see Buena Vista Social Club now that I'm a salsa addict. I've only seen some video clips on YouTube, but I've got the whole soundtrack on mp3.
Realized after commenting on this post that you have 2 other Dalai Lama-inspired posts recently. Do I see a theme happening? There could be worse topics to focus on. :)
I just want to reiterate that I know Devil Wears Prada is not a travel movie, but having lived and worked in NYC for 15 years, it did in fact make me homesick for NYC while I was in Peru. I'm not a fashion person either, but felt it really did capture the essence of NYC as a city, especially since it was all shot here and not in Toronto or some other “NYC location”. I recognized just about every outside shot in the movie.
I'm looking forward to your Top 20 NYC movies that inspire you. Will be interesting to see how many of them were completely shot here! The gauntlet is thrown. (And please note the humor in this response – C'mon, “View from the Top” after all?)
Somehow missed the original article here, but this is great, and I'll feature your list at A Traveler's Library. I just don't get the excitement about Up in the Air. Other than lots of flying and packing light, we don't get much of a travel experience–from one cubicle city to another–with no interest in the places or cultures of various places. Clooney's character is not influenced by places–just by relationships. His sister's wedding, does portray real life in flyover America, but that is brief.
This weeks Dalai Lama theme was pure coincidence, but I do have an affinity for him and Tibetan Buddhism you might see reflected in the blog from time to time.
I was lucky enough to hear him teach in McLeod Ganj as well.
Vera –
That's very true, but maybe I was overdue for a relationship movie, with a bit of a travel premise thrown in. I do think there was a message I could relate to about “travel as living” and the freedom that comes with always being on the move.
But Dave, I saw the travel in Up in the Air as a trap, not a freedom. He THOUGHT it was freedom, until he examined his life. He went back to traveling, but did not look happy about it.;-(
Michael- I know, I know… always seems one movie gets people to say WTF! lol Last list it was Shanghai Kiss.
In your defense though I did state people are all different and wanted to show that, as to you a true New Yorker would know best on a movie about NY (hint hint, you need to do the Top 20 best NY flicks as I'm from MO and would screw it up… and I don't want a bunch of pissed off New Yorkers on my arse for it! lol Backpackers are one thing but New Yorkers are a whole other level! :). Maybe I can relate to what you said as the movie “Deliverance” brought a smile to my face from my Ozark up bringing! lol
Dave- what happened to all the movie trailers I had in the post?
I hear ya. “Chasing Liberty” is actually a guilty pleasure for me.
And I don't even know if I'd do a Top 20 list justice. How about next time you're in town I'll show you around. Some of my favorite places seem to be hole in the wall bars – some of the characters in those places are better than the movies.
Wow – I'm called out in the 1st paragraph. Let me present my case. First of all – I like dark movies – and I know that I'm not the only one out there that likes dark, depressing movies! Honestly, watching a movie like View From the Top would kill me. I'd rather eat live bugs in Thailand than watch that perky movie! Second – let me share a few quotes from the movie:
April Wheeler: It takes backbone to lead the life you want, Frank.
April Wheeler: Look at us. We're just like everyone else. We've bought into the same, ridiculous delusion.
April Wheeler: If being crazy means living life as if it matters, then I don't mind being completely insane.
They were going to leave their ordinary lives to go see the world – and everyone thought they were crazy (ok – maybe they were a bit mentally unstable). However everyone was insanely jealous of them when they were going to go to Paris and be different. It speaks to people's inner desires to travel! I feel like this movie gets to the heart of why I travel – I don't want to be like everyone else. I want to live life as if it matters…a bit insane yes….but it's a wonderful life taking me to places all over the globe.
So maybe it doesn't convince people who like happy 'hollywood endings' movies, but it speaks to me! What are other people's thoughts?
I've seen most of these, but I just netflixed the ones that I hadn't. Love this post! :)
Sherry: I agree with everything you say and hope I didn't offend ya when I wrote about ya. I just wanted to point out that everyone is different and gets inspired in different ways. Some might like a movie while others hated it but if it gets ya going then it's a great movie to that person.
Dark is good and I did like the ending because it wasn't your happy-feel good ending like most, which is nice for a change.
DEAL!!!! …and if your ever in Licking, MO (pop. of 1,200 people and only 1 stoplight) I'll show you to the only site in town. On a plus note the people in my town make Seinfield look normal! lol
To be honest I never visited NY because I didn't know anyone there. I know that sounds bad but it's definitely a city to me where if you know someone there it can be all the difference in an “NY was ok” vs “I had the best time there and know why it's the greatest city in the world!”
Sweet idea about a Bond post about all the places he travels! Would take a lot of work though watching them all and seeing the exact spots where he traveled in all those movies… any ideas on how to compile that list?
Hey Troy – the trailers were all embedded when I scheduled the post, but I thought you had gone back and edited them out. Don't know why they disappeared.
You could always cheat and go to a nerdy fan page.
I visited “James Bond Island” which was used in the Man with the Golden Gun while I was in Thailand (Andaman Sea side). From Interlaken, I took buses, trains, and a cable car up to the top of Schilthorn, which had a rotating restaurant used in another 60's-era Bond movie. Because it was built up there for the movie, they even have a movie room with a trailer that you can watch.
And yes, I ate lunch up there with great views of the Swiss Alps!
Oh gosh – you didn't offend me at all! I know that I have strange movie choices! It was fun to write about in more depth and find quotes! It's a great post!
Bond: maybe capture the best fight or love scenes based on locale? Hey, maybe I should just write the dang post.
Then you could expand that into Bourne movies. The newest one is Salt with Angelina, but I thought she only hung out in NY.
The movie possibilities are endless!
Jeannie – I'd love to feature a guest post from you, so if you're serious let me know!
You have still forgotten Transsiberian, and I thought the previous entry was better as you actually seemed to have seen the movies :) Nevertheless; a great list!
Speaking if indie: Why has no one mentioned “Hotel Very Welcome”??? I love Chris O'Dowd in it …
great posting…
“the art of travel” & “last stop for paul” are available on Netflix watch instantly, fyi. just checked.
Laura – thanks for letting us know. I managed to buy Art of Travel via Amazon.com for like $5, but nothing beats the immediacy of online access!
“the art of travel” & “last stop for paul” are available on Netflix watch instantly, fyi. just checked.
Going to have to check this one out. Thanks for recommending it!
Laura: You can download them directly from NetFlix? I didn't know that, thank you so much as I will try and see if I can't and see them both.
I just watched this a few months ago for the first time. Humm that was a crazy train ride they took. Not sure it inspired me to travel but I didn't like the movie. Ben Kingsley was great in it and loved his Russian accent.
Someone mentioned that you can NetFlix them and download them to watch, is this true that you know of?
Jeannie: Did you ever make this list for a blog post? Is so, share us the link as I would like to check it out, along with others too i bet.
Glad you liked the list amigo. You got any recommendations for other travel related movies?
Watched it and LOVED it! Did you know Christine, from http://www.AlmostFearless.com, is making a documentary movie now about people who travel and making money online to support their travel habits? Dave was interviewed by her for it and it should be a great movie!
Thanks and yes I was really glad to see all the independent movies recommend from the first post. Why i decided to break it out into 2 different sections. I like my Hollywood hits but find the Indie selections often are better and more real in many ways.
Ok man, I am going to watch Kundun finally and see what it is all about. Thanks for the recommendation on it and am looking forward to seeing it now.
Watch “A Map for Saturday” when you get a chance. i just seen it a couple months ago and love d it. Nothing flashy about it but it was real and honest about backpacking the world. Yeah Darjeering Limited is a hate or love kind of movie. I liked it for a few scenes but there are some real black moments in it's humor that most don't really care for.
Thanks, do you have any to recommend that would fit with the list so far? Always looking for new movies or favorites from others.
To all Readers: I'm thinking of doing another like post of this in the next month or so. Please leave comments on any movies (not already listed on the two post already) that you think are worthy. I have gotten some great recommendations from readers and loved the Indie suggestions that a lot have given. Please keep them coming and will check them out and share in the future.
*The talented mr. Ripley
*My house in Umbria
Both of those films along with under the Tuscun sun made me want to go to Italy so bad!!!
I love your posts!!!
Thanks for the additional Italy-related movie suggestions Renee!
You can definitely Netflix them and watch them on your computer instead of
waiting to get them in the mail, but you can't download them. Does that
make sense?
In a message dated 8/23/2010 4:36:27 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:
foggodyssey wrote, in response to GlobalButterfly:
Someone mentioned that you can NetFlix them and download them to watch, is
this true that you know of?
Link to comment: http://disq.us/l3l86
After reading this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time to put this blog piece together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. What ever, it was still worth it
I really liked Last Stop for Paul. One thing people should know before they watch it is that the scripting and cinematography is very rough (imagine a student film….high school student). However, the concept and the idea of the film is wonderful and for me that more than made up for the rough edges and acting.
Art of Travel was also good and production level much higher…however, the stories and adventure were a little far fetched to be believable.
While probably not a popular choice, I thought the Darjeeling Limited was fantastic! A few on there which I’m yet to see. Good list.
Loved the movie A Map For Saturday……One of my favorite now!!!!!
Lewes Delaware
Theres definately a few good films I will be watching from these 2 lists but a couple of films that really made me want to travel were: Sisterhood of the travelling pants 2; This film really shows the beauty of santorini.
Letters to Juliet; this one makes me want to go to italy so much.
and the best one in my personal opion is Eat, pray, love. It is such a good a film and shows someone who is fed up with her life so decides to travel to rome, india, and bali. a brilliant film
omg I completely agree with you! I have yet to see the movies on this list, but you mentioned the three movies that inspired me most so far. oh, also there’s ‘Monte Carlo.’ not as good but still notable.
I Watch Maybe 4 From This List And They Are AMAZING!!
1-A Map For Saturday : This documentary is about a young man, originally from Rhode Island, but at the start of a successful career in New York, working as a producer for HBO. Wondering aloud whether he can settle down with a wife, kids, and a mortgage, he decides to give it all up for an around-the-world adventure. His friends are suspicious of his trip. Brook Silva-Braga takes off for 50 weeks as a backpacker to visit 26 countries. He stays almost exclusively in hostels. Along the way, he meets fellow backpackers from around the world, romances young women, and discovers a new world of hostels. Packing a mere 5 pounds of clothes but 30 pounds of video equipment, he traverses from the US, to Australia, southeast Asia, India and Nepal, Europe, Brazil, and Argentina.
In the film, Braga-Silva discovers a hidden world of budget travel, friendly “Canadians” who were born south of Toronto, and romance in strange places. He is guided through Nepal and mugged in Brazil. At the end, he finds friends and a new way of living. This Movie Is So Great to See He Will Inspire U To Travel ….
2- One Week : That Is So Great To See I Loved Taking The Journey With Ben In Canada And I love The Beautiful Places In The Movie And The Soundtrack That’is Alsow Amazing I Will Gladly Recommend This Movie
3-The Art Of Travel : That Movie Is Great But Dosen’t Give Us What We Need So… guy who travels… so he travels… and??? NOTHING MORE!!! come on , I didn’t even get the idea – what did director wanted to tell us….The End Is Not That Level :( but I Guess It’s Great Movie Because It Show Smoane Ho Travel And U Can See The World ……………………
4-Last Stop For Paul : The idea of this film Is So Great For Smoane Who Love To Travel Like Me Will See This Movie As great One Even cinematography is very rough But That What They Can Even Me If I Want To Make A Movie For My Travel Experience it Will Be The Same Come On We Are Not In Hollywood And Another Think I’m Soo Impressed With The Number Of Awards The Film Had Won And U Should Alsow
And Thats’it :) I Will See More And Tell U More Just Wait ;)
Recently watched Last Stop for Paul. I was amazed that my local library even had it. It was cheesy, unprofessional looking, filled with horrible acting but was still I found myself really digging it. For all the forced “okay, so this one time” conversation, I still found myself smiling and waiting to see what would happen next. Definitely a good motivator for anyone wondering if they should take a plunge into the unknown.