1. Kong: Skull Island (2017)
The 2017 film about a group of adventurers who cross paths with Kong, the kaiju-sized gorilla on Skull Island, brings northern Vietnam’s rural beauty to the big screen.
Many scenes in this bank-breaking movie were shot in various spots in enchanting Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh and Quang Binh provinces.
Kong emerges on screen towering above the seascape of limestone karsts of Halong Bay, and is later shown meandering through the wetlands of Van Long, adding to Skull Island’s primeval feel.
For the grand finale, the colossal caves of Tu Lan and rugged, jungle-covered crags of Trang An serve as perfect backdrops to the earth-shaking battles between Kong and the underground creatures of Skull Island.
2. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Based on Kevin Kwan’s best-selling book, this 2018 rom-com showcases Singapore’s eclectic landscapes – a mix of glitzy modern structures and old world charm.
Protagonist Rachel Chu’s drama-filled visit to her boyfriend’s native Singapore is set against some of the Lion City’s most iconic landmarks.
There’s Rachel’s arrival at Changi Airport, her chat with her best friend in a cafe along Bukit Pasoh Road and the OTT wedding shindig at the fantastical Gardens by the Bay.
But for romantics, nothing beats the dreamy wedding ceremony scene, replete with a water-filled aisle, beaming lanterns and meadow-like grass shot in CHIJMES, a former convent turned trendy dining and entertainment hub.
3. Anna and the King (1999)
Loosely based on Magaret Landon’s semi-fictional novel Anna and The King of Siam, this 1999 period drama starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat was filmed in Malaysia.
Penang’s heritage buildings on Armenian Street make for the perfect facsimile of bustling Bangkok in the late 1800s, when British widow Anna Leonowens arrives in Siam to teach King Mongkut’s children English.
The island state’s other iconic heritage buildings such as the Khoo Kongsi Clan Temple and Syed Al-Attas Mansion also make an appearance, while the 118-year-old Penang City Hall is transformed into the Siamese Royal Courtroom.
In Perak, the ruins of Kellie’s Castle is the main setting for the explosive fight scenes between Siamese and Burmese soldiers.
4. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
The beguiling beauty of Angkor Wat takes centre stage in Simon West’s 2001 action-adventure flick Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
Enigmatic, fearless explorer Lara Croft travels to Cambodia in search of a mysterious artifact that’s also wanted by the Illuminati, an evil secret society.
A majority of adrenaline-rushing fighting scenes and jaw-dropping stunts were filmed within the ancient walls of Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap.
This sprawling 400 square-kilometre complex houses scores of mesmerising ruins of the Khmer Empire, including temples that appear throughout the film, such as Ta Prohm – now dubbed the “Tomb Raider Temple” – and Bayon.
5. Eat Pray Love (2010)
Bali experienced a major boom in tourism after the release of the 2010 film Eat Pray Love, and it’s easy to understand why.
Based on Elizabth Gilbert’s eponymous memoir, Liz, a down-and-out divorcee, travels the world in search of happiness and unexpectedly finds it on the mystical Indonesian island.
Liz’s sojourn throughout Bali was mainly filmed in Ubud, a district 25 kilometres north of Denpasar renowned for its hypnotic, natural beauty.
Fans of the film will remember Liz (Julia Roberts) cycling through the lush Tegalalang rice terrace and walking around the bustling, colourful Ubud Traditional Art Market.
Some of the unforgettable seaside scenes, including the heartbreaking exchange between Liz and her lover, were filmed on Padang Padang beach, a well-known surfers’ paradise.
According to airasia.com
