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In Bruges
This is the first of a few hidden gems. This film plays out as a dark comedy of errors as two hit-men are sent to Bruges, Belgium for vacation. This movie is hilarious, brutal, unpredictable and managed to show Collin Farrell as a solid actor. You find out why he asks "who would ever come to *(%%#@ Bruges? I didn't even know where Bruges @*% was!" and shortly after add the city to a vacation checklist.
Lost in Translation
I hated this movie upon release. I don't know why; maybe it was my overexposure to Hollywood blockbusters or i simply didn't "get it". This movie follows two very different American visitors to Tokyo. Bob (Bill Murray) meets Charlotte (Scarlette Johansson) in a hotel bar where they bond through exploring a vastly different Japanese culture. There is little dialogue, but this movie shows that those with whom you share the strongest connection is often expressed in the unsaid. I feel like booking a ticket to Tokyo.
Eurotrip
Readers may wonder why such a brain dead movie appears on my list? The truth is that its sole purpose is to make us laugh at immature humor and boobs; and it it succeeds admirably. The focus is on a pair a siblings and their two friends who help the central character track down his ultra-hot German pen-pal. With stereotypes plentiful, this movie is the nightmare and the fantasy of what we would want a Eurotrip to be.
Everything is Illuminated
This film is criminally underrated. It is based on a book about a young American Jew (Elijah Wood) who travels to modern Ukraine to collect family artifacts. He's led to the elusive village of his not so distant ancestors by a young man and his grandfather who run a tour company. The movie shows that no matter how little we know of each-other, or how large the culture gap appears, we can find others to relate with and rely upon in the most happy or painful places.
Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade
This is a true adventure classic. Indiana and his father (Sean Connery) reunite to track down the holy chalice before the Nazis do. This movie takes us to America, Italy, Germany, Syria, Austria and uses anything with an engine in between. The action scenes are epic, the humor is top notch and there is an amazing character arc with Indiana Jones and his father. This movie is everything an action-adventure should be.
Paris, J' taime
This is a semi-experimental film composed of about fifteen five minute shorts. The only tangible connection all stories share is their unique settings within Paris. As seen from the title, the theme is often based on love. But don't fear, the movie is far from a chic-flick. Some segments are obviously stronger than others, but the movie shows the real, the bizarre and the mundane features of one of the world's favorite cities.
Dumb and Dumber
This movie is one of my all time favorite comedies. It follows a buddy roadtrip storyline that makes Jim Carry and Jeff Daniels one of the best comedy duos of the last 20 years. These two dorks are trying to get a briefcase back to a woman one of them drove to the airport. The title is ironic as this film has such clever insertions of humor you never see coming. Only a film like this will make you want to travel across America in a van dressed like a dog.
Before Sunset
This movie is a sequel to Before Sunrise. There is no need to worry because you figure out the backstory within minutes. Ethan Hawke and Julia Deply play two people who reunite for an afternoon in Paris after sharing a perfect night in Vienna a decade earlier. Both wrestle with the question of "what might have been?" as they now live moderately successful, but often unfulfilled lives. The two contemplate the consequences of parting from each other and the impact it had on their future relationships. This movie is so naturally acted and smoothly composed that you feel as if you're people watching for 88 minutes. I cannot recommend this movie enough.
Up in the Air
This is certainly a film for its time. It is centered around a man (George Clooney) who lays off employees for a living. As he says, since the people have employers who don't have the guts to do the dirty work, he his flown in to do it for them. This movie shows the ups and downs of constant travel and the hell it can reek on relationships. The movie is both sad and funny and easily relatable as we all find it difficult to settle in a transient world.
The Darjeeling Ltd
This movie only reaffirms my belief that trains should be used more in modern film. This little masterpiece focuses on the reunion between three brothers as they travel across India on train, bus, vespa and four-legged animals. The difficulties posed show the strain and meshing experienced between family or friends while traveling. The bipolar struggle between dependency and independence make for hilarious, as well as sad revelations about the brothers' relationships. This constant culture barrier, much like Lost in Translation, almost co-stars with the actual actors as a catalyst to the charactors' fortune and misfortune.
Vicky Christina Barcelona
I'll be honest, I'm one of the few who never had a desire to see Spain. However, this film has made me reconsider. Yes i take kindly to Scarlette Johansson... and Penelope Cruise, but Woody Allan wrote a fine story. The movie is light and colourful despite this issue in focus. Two friends travel to southern Spain for a cultural vacation where both fall for the same man. One is married, and one is not. As you can tell, its easy to see the conflict. This movie also highlights the conflict between desire and expectation that is often submerged in present day relationship dynamics. Shot entirely on location, I can see why Spain tops a travel checklist.
Lord of the Rings (triology)
Ok who hasn't seen at least one of these films? Director Peter Jackson put New Zealand on the big screen which looks more like a moving postcard. We are more familiar with the nation's bigger brother: Australia, and its various landscapes, but Frodo, elves, monsters and humans made the small island nation of New Zealand a world unto itself. The scale of these movies is unparalleled as a hobbit travels and epic journey through war to destroy a ring that controls all.
