Trekkie's Top 10 Scenorific Films

These are the films that make people run out and impulse-buy airline tickets.  They may or may not have substance, decent dialogue or good acting, but damn if I can't watch them over and over because the scenery steals the show.  All were shot on location and the locations needed no makeup!  Here we go:

1. Laurence of Arabia

Been there, seen that, Jordan is a desert-lover's paradise!  It's a gorgeous country and often not thought of at all.  Though with all the uncertainty in the Middle East, it's one of the only safe countries to visit these days.  Head down to Wadi Rum for those unforgettable canyon views  :)

2. The Beach

You can have Leo, I'll be hanging out with that ocean, thank you!  

3. Out of Africa

Always stunning, good story - that really plays up the beauty of the land, as does the music.

4. Hideous Kinky

Underrated Kate Winslet character piece, this is the true-ish story of a young mom who drags her 2 young kids out of tenement London and off to Morocco.  Filmed in and around the pretty parts Marrakesh, I felt like I was transported back there - only things missing were the piles of garbage on the street corners.   Anyway, after watching the movie, you can see why the place was such a Mecca on the hippy trail.  Oh, and the KW role is Sigmund Freud's granddaughter.

5. 6 Days & 7 Nights

Ok, this is just gratuitous beach-front eye candy, plain & simple.  And that was probably the only reason it was even released.  If Polynesia makes ya drool, this one's for you!

6. The Sheltering Sky

A Paul Bowles gem directed by Bertolucci, this is another Morocco showpiece.  Only this one ranges all over Morocco and is about a husband and wife who go through it and run away together in their own dark way of trying to salvage their marriage.   The travel eye candy al-most steals the show, but the actors/sets/direction gives it a run for its money.  Really a must-see.

7. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Gratuitous Savannah Georgia book and film.  See the movie first, then definitely follow with the book.  Then go there!  Town & surroundings are full of pretty things to see, and make sure to get yourself invited to a house party.  Or just crash one and make new friends. 

8. Under the Tuscan Sun

Yet another sappy female drama - really shows how life can tear ya down but then you can get right back up and grab life by the ghoulies.   Most people can't run off to a character-fabulous Tuscan villa to renovate when this happens, but ain't that the magic of Hollywood?  *le sigh!*

9.  Pride & Prejudice (the Joe Wright version)

Most people, whether they admit it or not, are suckers big old houses and beautiful countysides, and this film delivers in abundance.  Big plus is that the costumes and sets reflects the grit under the nails of people who really lived in that time, even the well-off.  Unless, of course, you were super super well-off.

10.  Waiting to be discovered!