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Your Three Favorite Settings
1. Piz Gloria (OHMSS): Pretty obvious, I'd think. There's scarcely a more beautiful place on earth than the top of a Swiss Alp. But it's not just the breathtaking scenery that makes Piz Gloria so great. The building's lighting (lots of reds, oranges and blues) is mid-century marvelous, as is the architectural design itself. Fleming himself could not have chosen or even constructed a more perfect setting for Blofeld's operations.
2. Afghanistan (TLD): Not so obvious. But being a bit of a desert dweller, I'm naturally attracted to settings such as this. I simply love the expanse, and the towering mountains off in the distance. When watching this sequence, I really am transported to Afghanistan at the tail end of the Cold War.
3. Las Vegas (DAF): If you're a devotee of classic, old Las Vegas, this setting is for you. If not, you can be forgiven for not appreciating it. As for me, I love the shots of all the old casinos and signage that have been imploded and plowed under in the name of "progress," the majesty of the Las Vegas Hilton, the splendid tackiness of the Palms Mortuary, and the remoteness of the surrounding area.
2. Afghanistan (TLD): Not so obvious. But being a bit of a desert dweller, I'm naturally attracted to settings such as this. I simply love the expanse, and the towering mountains off in the distance. When watching this sequence, I really am transported to Afghanistan at the tail end of the Cold War.
3. Las Vegas (DAF): If you're a devotee of classic, old Las Vegas, this setting is for you. If not, you can be forgiven for not appreciating it. As for me, I love the shots of all the old casinos and signage that have been imploded and plowed under in the name of "progress," the majesty of the Las Vegas Hilton, the splendid tackiness of the Palms Mortuary, and the remoteness of the surrounding area.
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Comments
San Francisco, AVTAK. One of my favourite cities.
Greece, FYEO. Stunning. Beautiful waters and unusual landscapes, such as St. Cyrils.
2. Shanghai (Skyfall)- I've never seen a modern urban city look as stunning as this at night. I've never seen any city that visually blew me away like this one did.
3. Egypt (TSWLM)- Part of "The Seven Wonders Of The World". Countless travelers over the centuries have gazed in awe at the sheer scale. Enough said.
2. Japan (Yolt) - mostly the Medieval countryside: splendid beauty
3. Scaramanga's Island, Thailand - relaxing on the beach with Ms. Anders, complete with Tabasco table service courtesy of Herve Villachaize - doesn't get much better than that. Plus Scaramanga's dwelling is beautifully accented with mid-century touches like the use of stonework on the walls.
Runner's Up:
Karlovy, CR - a city on the river, lots of bold colors
India, OP - all of it has a very travelogue feel that is perfect for Bond
Pretty much all of FYEO feels like being on vacation, however I don't think it was quite filmed as brilliantly as it could have been given the settings.
Another good one. I wish more of SF could have been set in Shanghai.
I, too, love the entirety of the Swiss setting in OHMSS. The little village of Murren is charming. Heck, I even liked Bern. My dream Bond junket is to stay a while in Bern, take a train to Murren, and spend a bit of time there, preferably right around Christmas.
I also agree on Scaramanga's Island. Such a bizarre landscape! And, indeed, the design of Scary's house is splendid. In most ways Gun is actually a rather visually stunning film.
Piz Gloria: OHMSS
Kingston Jamaica: Dr. No
Scaramanga's Island: The Man with the Golden Gun
If I'm not mistaken, weren't only the establishment shots set in Shanghai and the indoor scenes set in Pinewood? So Bond never actually set foot there. It would have been great to see Bond on the streets of Shanghai - though logistically and financially I understand the challenge.
For me, I prefer the more remote and private setting of Crab Key over the more touristy vibe of the Bahamas. But of course I would take both: '62 Jamaica and '65: pretty much are the ultimate vacation spots.
The beach where Bond sucks the sea urchin sting out of Domino looked remote and private enough for me and the pale white sand against that lush turquoise sea just seemed absolutely perfect for my taste, mind you if you were to throw in a bikini clad Ursula with Crab Key, well that would be a whole different story...
1. Piz Gloria, OHMSS: Bit predictable I know, but it can't be denied, a gorgeous, surreal setting, that also has a secluded, lonely, ominous feeling to it, especially in the scenes at night time.
2. Harlem/San Monique/New Orleans, LALD: Just love the 70s vibe, and the settings are groovy, these places looked really cool, love the Blaxploitation style, especially in Harlem and New Orleans and San Monique (By which I mean Jamaica) is beautiful.
3. Nassau, TB/CR: In both films, despite the gap in years, it felt the same, such a cool vibe and the lovely beaches and the resort style makes me want to live there.
Honourable Mentions:
Hong Kong, TMWTGG
Rio De Janeiro, MR
Istanbul, FRWL
Las Vegas, DAF
1. Crab Key Jamaica.
2. Piz Gloria.
3. Karnak (Egypt).
2. Las Vegas. A perfect time capsule of Bondian sleaze. I desperately want to stay at the Whyte House.
3. Piz Gloria. Beautifully hidden away in the Swiss Alps, not to mention Ken Adam's brilliance in constructing it. The perfect mix of obvious evil and elengance.
2. Lake Como
3. Porto Cervo, Sardinia
But there have been so many other great settings, its very tough to pick only 3..
Honorable mentions:
Piz Gloria and Cortina D'Ampezzo.
Agreed, but I was so well satisfied with the aerial shots, the high rise interior sets, and felt like I got the real life feel of the city at night. And I'm sure the Pinewood interiors were spot on for the actual building, they would have researched that much for authenticity. Daytime would have been a completely different animal, so they could get away with what they did here. I just don't get the complaints about what we got.
Piz Gloria gets a lot of love, indeed beautiful and scenic, but not my absolute favorite. I can only take so much of all that snow. The FYEO locations in Corfu were lush, and the Italian Alps ain't so bad either. The Bahamas are always outstanding for the colorful water (can't wait to stay at the Ocean Club I'm booked there in the spring of 2015 and taking the complete Bond tour of locations), and there of course who could forget Rio? I wish they'd go back there in the near future. My Dad was there on leave during the Korean War and always said it was the most spectacular city he'd even seen.
2) Japan, Tokyo and the countryside. YOLT I think has probably the best use of a location in any Bond film.
3) Space. How brilliant would it be to go to space? ;)
2. Cortina, Italy- I love the mountainous, snowy landscape in the first portion of FYEO. The ski chase is very well executed using the locations!
3. The Bahamas in Casino Royale and Thunderball- basically speaks for itself!
I think Scary Island is really Phuket, which was obliterated by that tsunami several years ago.
It was a victim of the tsunami? Oh dear....man, what a beautiful landscape gone to ruin. That's disappointing!
1) Italy
2) Greece
3) Switzerland
It's still intact and very much full of tourism from what I can find:
<url>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293920-d553518-Reviews-James_Bond_Island-Phuket.html</url>;
<url>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phang_Nga_Bay</url>;
Ken Adam sat OHMSS out.
Switzerland
Japan
1. New York City, USA - I love it a little more every time that I go. It's a fascinating place. It would be fun to go to the Met or MoMA with Moore's Bond, too!
2. Jamaica - I have fond childhood memories here. My Mum was born in Kingston and I spent time there, Montego Bay and Spanish Town growing up. I believe Dr. No was filmed a lot around Kingston and St. Ann's Parish and Live And Let Die was filmed around MoBay.
3. Miami Beach - Perfect for people watching! I'd eavesdrop onto Connery's "Man-Talk."
Places I'd Love to Visit:
1. Tokyo, Japan - Japan in generally has always really fascinated me. Progressive yet steeped in tradition.
2. Vienna, Austria - I think I mentioned that "The Third Man" was one of my favourite films in the favourite films thread. It always just looks so pretty on film. I wouldn't mind going on a date to the opera with Dalton's Bond, either.
3. San Francisco, CA - Because I've had a handful of people tell me that it's one of the coolest places in North America. It seems it! I hear the food is amazing, too.
1.) Beach in Cuba - GE. With that setting sun and the waves crashing in, the place looks like heaven.
2.) Dr. No's Island - DN. I could see me spending many a day getting some sun, having a Mojito, and smoking a cigarette on that beach...sans dragon, of course.
3.) Lake Como, Italy - CR. It's Lake Como, it's Italy, what more do you need to know?
Well, then, whoever made it really outdid themselves. It's up there with Adam's best.
1. The Caribbean:
Bahamas - Nassau/Paradise Island
Jamaica - Crab Key/'San Monique'
Cuba - Havana/'Isla Los Organos' (actually filmed in Spain)
Haiti - Port-au-Prince
2. North Africa:
Egypt - C-C-Cairo and Pyramids!/Karnak
Morocco - Tangier
3. Italy:
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Venice
Sardinia - Costa Smeralda
Lombardy - Lake Como
Tuscany - Siena
Honourable mentions:
Japan
Miami
Outer space