Joanna James
Situated on Phuket Island, Phuket is famed for the stunning beauty of its beaches and landscapes not only as a scenic holiday destination but also for the array of mesmerising backdrops for movie shoots. Here are some of the best movies shot on this hauntingly beautiful island.
American filmmaker George Lucas featured real-world locations to bring Kashyyyk, Alderaan and the fires of Mustafar to life in the great movie Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. The famous karst limestone cliffs of Ao Phang Nga National Park admired by many visitors from luxury hotels in Phuket as well as the dense vegetation of Krabi were selected to create the home planet of the Wookiees, Kashyyyk to have the right effect. These locations have become great tourist attractions since this film was released.
Directed by Daniel Boyle based on the novel The Beach by Alex Garland this movie of the same name was filmed on Hat Maya on Koh Phi Phi Island in Phuket, Thailand. The movie was a hit just as much as the book by Alex Garland was popular due to the main star Leonardo DiCaprio and also due to the picturesque scenery of the location. Although the tsunami hit the bay badly in 2004, it is now welcoming visitors to admire the bay and enjoy the location. The best way to get to this enchanting location is by ferry or speedboat.
Casualties of War, the 1989 American War Drama Film written by David Rabe was directed by Brian De Palma. Presented as a flashback by a Vietnam War veteran this movie featuring popular stars Michael J Fox and Sean Penn is based on the events of 1966 during the Vietnam War. Kanchanaburi, Phang Nga and Phuket in Thailand were used for filming in 1989 as filming could not be done in Vietnam due to the strict conditions of the political regime at that time.
This breathtaking location situated in Phang Nga Bay is now widely known as James Bond Island due to the filming of The Man with the Golden Gun featuring Roger Moore. The tall limestone karsts emerging vertically from the depths of emerald waters look astonishing as if they would topple over any moment making it an intriguing location for the movie. This iconic site is a popular tourist bucket list item now attracting visitors from all over the world.
The 1993 war drama Heaven and Earth written and directed by Oliver Stone is an engaging story about the life of a Vietnamese woman and the consequences of the Vietnam War on her life based on a true story. The Chinpracha house as seen in the movie is situated in Old Phuket Town and is open to visitors now. Many guests from SAii Laguna Phuket show a keen interest in visiting this house. The village life of Vietnam for the movie had been filmed in the scenic Krabi area.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
