Five Movies that Make You Want to Travel

1. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(2003) - The epic film stars Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Viggio Mortesen, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Billy Boyd, and a multitude of other popular actors. The amazing Peter Jackson directs this masterpiece, and the producers are Peter Jackson, Michael Lynne, Mark Ordesky, Barrie M. Osborne, Rick Porras, Tim Sanders, Jamie Selkirk, Robert Shaye, Ellen Somers, Fran Walsh, Bob Weinstein, and Harvey Weinstein.

Based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Two Towers is the second in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In this movie, Frodo and Sam, hobbits from the Shire, are on their way to the land of Mordor to destroy the dreaded One Ring in the fires of Mt. Doom. Meanwhile, Aragorn, Legalos, and Gimli are searching for two other hobbits, Pippin and Merry, who were taken by Uruk Hai, and in their search, the man, elf, and dwarf encounter Eomer and the Riders of Rohan who have been cast out of the kingdom of Rohan by the evil Wormtongue, an assistant to the diabolic wizard Saruman, who has possessed King Theoden, the ruler of Rohan. With the help of the good wizard Gandalf, Theoden is released from Saruman's spell and is told of the danger in which his people are due to the vicious army that Saruman has produced. As a result of this knowledge, Theoden orders his people to go to Helm's Deep, a supposedly secured fortress. Aragorn, Legalos, Gimli, a band of elves, and a few Rohanians must defend Helm's Deep against an enormous army of Uruk Hai, and in the end, Gandalf shows up with Eomer and the Riders of Rohan who save the day.

This movie was filmed in New Zealand, and the footage from this film as well as the other two Lord of the Rings movies makes me want to go and visit this beautiful land. I love the scenes of the majestic snow capped mountains and the lush green fields filled with flowers.

2. Two Brothers (2004) - This moving film stars Guy Pearce, Freddie Highmore, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Oahn Nguyen, and Philippine Leroy Beaulieu and is directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. The producers are Jean-Jacques Annaud, Ben Spector, Flore Michiels, and Jake Eberts.

This beautiful film tells the tale of two Bengal tigers who are separated at a young age and must endure different ways of life. The ending is a happy one, and the natural footage contained in the movie makes me want to take off to Cambodia and Thailand (the two countries in which this film was made). The jungle scenes and ancient temple remains are nothing short of breathtaking.

3. Anna and the King (1999) - This exotic movie's cast includes Jodie Foster, Yun-Fat Chow, Ling Bai, Tom Felton, and Syed Alwi and is under the direction of Andy Tennant. The producers include Ed Elbert, Eric Angelsen, G. Mac Brown, and John Jashni.

Based on the diaries of Anna Leonowens, this lavish movie gives an account of Anna's experiences as a British widow who becomes the teacher and governess of the children of King Mongkut, ruler of Siam during the 1860's. The king and Anna develop a relationship, and this film provides insight into the political situation of the time as well as the events that bring this unlikely pair together.

This movie was filmed in Malaysia, and its setting is simply gorgeous. Viewing all of the ornate architecture and the lush green of the natural scenery, I just want to jump on a plane and go visit this exquisite part of the world.

4. Last of the Dogmen (1995) - This intriguing movie stars Tom Berenger, Barbara Hershey, Kurtwood Smith, Steve Reevis, and Andrew Miller and is directed by Tab Murphy. (http://www.amazon.imdb.com/title/tt0113617/) The producers are Thomas Hedman, Donald Heitzer, Hannah Hempstead, Mario Kassar, and Joel B. Michaels.

This adventuresome movie tells the story of a Montana bounty hunter who recruits the help of an anthropologist to find out what happened to three escaped prisoners in the Oxbow Quadrangle. The unlikely pair find a group of Cheyenne warriors and their families who have been untouched by the outside world, and the remainder of the story tells what these two individuals do to try to keep the group free from outside interference.

This film was shot in Cuernavaca, Mexico and in various parts of Canada, and it makes one desire to go and visit such states as Montana and Wyoming with their splendid terrain. It also invokes the feeling of wondering if there really could be an undiscovered group of Native Americans who are alive and well out in the wild.

5. Flicka(2006) - This emotionally stirring movie stars Tim McGraw, Maria Bello, Allison Lohman, Ryan Kwanter, and Danny Pino and is directed by Michael Mayer. It is produced by Kevin Halloran and Gil Netter. (http://amazon.imdb.com/title/tt0434215/fullcredits#cast)

Adapted from the 1941 novel My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara, this compelling movie tells the story of a friendship between a free-spirited, rebellious 16-year-old girl named Katy McLaughlin and an equally strong-minded Mustang mare named Flicka. For further details about the plot of the movie, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flicka.

Several parts of this movie were filmed in the picturesque regions of Sheridan, Wyoming, and this film makes me want to hop on a horse and ride to this beautiful country. Having been an admirer of horses from an early age and seeing that same affection in my 10-year-old daughter, this production almost persuades me to want to open my own sanctuary for mustangs in this gorgeous part of the United States.

While different in their settings and landscapes, all five of these movies encourage viewers to go and check out these particular parts of the world. I am sure there are a multitude of other movies that cause the same effect in others, but for me, these five are the most alluring.