Last Visited: Diamonds Are Forever Other films shot there: The Godfather, The Hangover, Now You See Me Highlight: It's basically just hotels and casinos. But for something a little different to the ones you've seen in the Ocean's films and The Hangover, perhaps The Golden Nugget- if only because it has a swimming pool with a Shark Tank housed in the centre. Doesn't get much more Bond-esque than that! Why? Similar to Amsterdam in that it is pigeonholed as a place purely for having a good time, but it lacks Amsterdam's charm and personality. The modern Las Vegas we know today was, much like Dubai, willed into existence by businessmen. This is exactly the kind of place one could imagine Bond hiding out in to take some downtime or go rogue. It seemed Kitsch when Sean Connery visited it in Diamonds are Forever and seems even more kitsch now. It's a great example of city mirroring the state of mind Bond might be in. Likelihood (out of 5): 3
12. Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Last Visited: Never Other films shot there: Armadillo Highlight: The arch of the Qala-e-bost fortress is particularly striking Why? Here's the first upset of the list- why would Bond visit the Helmand Province? Keep in mind that it was rumoured to be a location considered for what was then known as "Bond 23"- f course, it wouldn't be shot directly on location, but somewhere in the Middle East would substitute for it. This is exactly the kind of place that Bond should be going- he is a Naval Commander, and it's not crazy to suggest he may have seen conflict in his time. Bond's whole personal timeline is easily retconned and adapted. This is the kind of place a hard-ass villain might hide in order to escape Bond's clutches. Perhaps the big bad is the leader of a terrorist ring, as was Iron Man and the Ten Rings. Bond has visited Afghanistan before, of course- back in The Living Daylights when the country was under Soviet occupation. That brought controversy about the film, and that is yet another reason Bond should visit the region- the franchise is one of the great running commentaries both on the state of the world and the trends of the action movie throughout the last 50 years. Bond 24 doesn't necessarily have to be overly political, but in this day and age, Daniel Craig's modern Bond is a hell of a lot more likely to go here than, say, Roger Moore might have. Likelihood (out of 5): 4
Aspiring Director, Screenwriter and Actor. Film is my passion, but I indulge in TV, Theatre and Literature as well! Any comments or suggestions, please tweet me @IAmOscarHarding
