We prepared a list of several movies for you that can tune you in travel mode even when you are at home during quarantine times. Some will entertain you, others will transport you in time or place. If you have other tips, write them in the comment!
- The Terminal
The first movie on our recommended list is a movie that describes the current situation just perfectly. Even if the borders are reopened, we cannot travel anywhere. The similar situation experienced also Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks). He hoped to visit New York but ended trapped at the airport. While he was in the air on the route to America, his homeland erupted in a fiery coup. Stranded at Kennedy Airport with a passport from nowhere, he is unauthorized to actually enter the United States and must improvise his days and nights in the terminal’s international transit lounge, until the war at home is over. As the weeks and months stretch on, Viktor finds the compressed universe of the terminal to be a richly complex world of absurdity, generosity, ambition, amusement, status, serendipity – and even romance with a beautiful flight attendant…
- Eat, Pray, Love
Do you want to watch a movie with beautiful sceneries from Italy, India, and Bali? Moreover, with Julia Roberts as the main heroin? A movie about a woman who had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having – a husband, a house, a successful career – yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. She decided to step out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.
- Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians, movie that caused a huge buzz, but deservedly. Not only is the movie the first American film in two decades to star an all-Asian cast, but it’s also one of the most well-written, well-produced, fun romantic comedies ever released. The story, for those who aren’t familiar, follows a Chinese-American woman from New York, Rachel Chu, who discovers that the man she’s been dating for about a year, Nick Young, is actually part of the wealthiest family in Singapore. During a vacation from her role as an Economics professor at NYU, she travels with him to Singapore to attend his best friend’s wedding — only to encounter his, well, “crazy rich” family, including Nick’s mother Eleanor, who does not approve of Rachel dating Nick. As you can imagine, the film showcases some amazing spots in Singapore, for example, Gardens by the Bay, Hawker Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Raffles Singapore Hotel, etc.
- The Bucket List
Do you have your bucket list of places you want to visit in your life before you die? Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) have, they star as two terminally ill cancer patients who decide to break out of the hospital and live their last days to the fullest. Edward is a corporate billionaire who is currently sharing a hospital room with blue-collar mechanic Carter. Though initially, the pair seems to have nothing in common, conversation gradually reveals that both men have a long list of goals they wish to accomplish before they kick the bucket, and an unrealized desire to discover what kind of men they really are.
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Do you like adventure? Walter Mitty (played by Ben Stiller) was a normal guy having a normal job but one day his life transforms into one big unexpected adventure. He used to be the visual embodiment of “wanderlust,” following a daydreaming, work laden Life magazine employee as he embarks on a journey, his own imagination couldn’t have conjured. Looking for one lost, cover-worthy photo slide from renowned photojournalist Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn), Mitty heads from the streets of Manhattan to Greenland to Iceland and even to the Himalayas. It’s a stunning, fantastical movie that’ll get even an armchair traveller up to the passport office.
Don’t you know who is an armchair traveller? Read our previous article about travel tips during the COVID-19 quarantine.
- Our planet
For all the documentary lovers, Our Planet is a must-see. It is a British nature documentary series made for Netflix. However, during the Corona pandemic, it was published also on YouTube! The series addresses issues of conservation while featuring these disparate animals in their respective home regions, and has been noted for its greater focus on humans’ impact on the environment than traditional nature documentaries. Centering around how climate change impacts all living creatures.
TIP: Don’t forget to watch also the behind the scenes videos!
- Into the wild
Knowing who you are is an important part of your scope on Earth. Christopher McCandless decided to give up everyday life and go to the American wilderness in Alaska. He was not looking for adventure, but he was searching for himself. He was taking a journey into the beauty, into the danger, into the wild. A powerful story that is likely to bring you tears. Inspired by the true story. The book is also great!
- Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The movie about a group of seven retirees might seems to be boring at first, but nothing is boring when it happens in incredible India. The wonderful Marigold Hotel, based in Jaipur, India, is intended to be a resting place for a group of classy retirees from Great Britain. It is supposed to be a place where they spend their well-deserved old age, surrounded by luxury and conveniences. They think so until, longing for change and a new life, find themselves at the gates of a not-quite-finished hotel. Thus, it begins a humorous and romantic adventure in a land of unexpected joys and possibilities.
- Lost in Translation
We consider Lost in Translation as a real classic and one of the best travel films ever. It is a beautiful film that shows the fun and unexpected side of travelling in a new country. It is about the many little random travel experiences that stay with you long after you return back home. From the upmarket Park Hyatt hotel to the neon-filled karaoke bars and streets, the movie is like a tourism ad for Tokyo. But more importantly, it’s a melancholy portrayal of loneliness—even in a city filled with millions of people.
Warning: The sights and the energy of Tokyo will get you planning a trip to Japan soon (after the Corona situation)!
- Beach
And finally, we just have to mention Beach with amazing Leonard DiCaprio. Being young, being able to travel the world and enjoy life, that’s something! With the promise of adventure, a young American backpacker Richard is coming to Thailand. Travelling, he claims, is a search for experiences, a search for something new, special. And this is exactly what awaits him! Everyone who has ever visited a Thai beach is sure to know the film, right?
