7 famous filming locations around the world
by Nicholas Yong
The house in Up may be demolished! The century-old house in Seattle gained fame when it was used as part of a marketing campaign for the Disney animated feature.
Here are seven other locations around the world that gained fame thanks to the movies that featured them.
1. Dupont State Forest, North Carolina (The Hunger Games)
Lush green forests and roaring waterfalls - that was the backdrop for the arena where Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and her fellow tributes stalk and kill each other.
I’ve been there myself, and it’s well worth the visit. Look out for Bridal Veil Falls, where Katniss dived in to save herself from a flaming inferno.
2. Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco (Gladiator, Game of Thrones, et al)
A fortified city dating back to the 11th century, the UNESCO World Heritage Site has featured in a dozen movies, most recently in the highly popular Game of Thrones.
But it’s perhaps best known for its starring role in Gladiator, as the location where Maximus (Russell Crowe) is sold into slavery. I travelled there in 2012, and met a man who claimed to have been part of the film crew.
He charged people a small fee to see his small collection of movie props, and kept repeating the words: “Gladiator. Russell Crowe. Star. Arena.”
3. Zhangjiajie, Hunan (Avatar)
(Source: misadventuresmag.com)
Remember the towering peaks of Pandora? They may not have been filmed in Zhangjiajie, but the UNESCO World Heritage Site was one of the inspirations for the world of the Na’vi.
Provincial authorities even went so far as to rename the towering quartz-sandstone Southern Sky Column, one of 3,000 peaks in the national park, as the Avatar Hallelujah Mountain.
4. Hotel Sidi Driss, Tunisia (Star Wars)
The traditional Berber house consists of five pits connected by a series of underground tunnels and staircases. And it’s the place where Luke Skywalker (Mark Hammill) grew up with his adoptive parents.
And yes, you can stay in it.
5. Petra, Jordan (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
Remember the final act of the movie, where Indy (Harrison Ford) and co go in search of his father and the Holy Grail?, Well, this is it.
It’s called The Treasury, and is part of an enormous complex of pre-Islamic structures carved out of the sandstone.
The only sad thing about it is that you can’t actually enter The Treasury: There’s a guard on duty at the entrance.
6. Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur (The Dark Knight Rises)
When Batman (Christian Bale) is crippled by Bane (Tom Hardy), he’s brought to a mysterious prison to be held captive.
And this forbidding 15th century fort, which sits atop a cliff, is a more than fitting setting for Batman’s captivity.
7. Jiufen, Taiwan (A City Of Sadness)
(Source: waverunnersfastpitch.net)
A charming little town on the outskirts of Taipei, Jiufen’s fortunes were revived after the release of A City of Sadness, which was set there.
In 2001, it was also model for the anime feature Spirited Away, further raising its profile. It’s now a popular weekend getaway.
Source: Rough Guides, Daily Mail
