Fantasy Favourites Filmed in Vancouver
Fantasy Favourites Filmed in Vancouver
A well-made fantasy film with a believable background has the power to transport you backwards or forwards in time; take you to mystical worlds outside the realm of reality; or send you to galaxies light-years away from our solar system. Fantasy fans will glimpse Vancouver in many big-screen adventures, including some of our favourites listed below.
This family-oriented adventure that defies the boundaries of time and space stars George Clooney as a former boy inventor who teams up with an optimistic teen (Britt Robertson) on a mission to find the enigmatic “Tomorrowland”. Like many fantasy productions shot in Vancouver, major scenes – such as those at the World’s Fair – were filmed at the University of British Columbia. Visitors to the campus today can check out relics of yesterday at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, a sprawling cabinet of curiosities; or escape reality with a stroll among the trees at the Greenheart TreeWalk. Rewatch Tomorrowland and keep an eye out for the HR MacMillan Space Centre and Museum of Vancouver – both are easily recognizable in the film, and they are situated right beside each other in Vanier Park. Guests to this picturesque area can make an afternoon of it by also visiting the nearby Vancouver Maritime Museum, before strolling down to the waterfront and taking in the views of False Creek. Here, you can catch a False Creek Ferry for Granville Island, Yaletown and other exploratory destinations around the city.
The Marvel superheroes with otherworldly powers face off against the truly fantastical Silver Surfer and planet-eating Galactus – and of course, many of the destruction is undertaken against a #VeryVancouver background. Downtown’s architecturally magnificent Marine Building plays the “Baxter Building” in New York; the art deco structure is close to myriad attractions on the waterfront (including FlyOver Canada, a thrilling cross-country “flight” ride; and the iconic sails at Canada Place) and is also a stop on Fans of Vancouver’s Hollywood North Walking Tour. Back at the University of British Columbia, the magnificent Chan Centre for the Performing Arts transforms into a pulsating dance party; visitors can catch a different type of musical performance at one of the venue’s many shows by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. And when you arrive in Vancouver, slow down and check out the surroundings at Vancouver International Airport, which plays – you guessed it – an airport in Silver Surfer.
This futuristic fantasy stars Will Smith as a technophobic homicide detective who investigates an apparent suicide that might have been committed by a robot. The gleaming city where the action takes place is devoid of greenery – difficult to pull off in Vancouver, though the production team managed to hide every trace. Fans of the film will recognize The Ovaltine Café, a historic café of the same name situated in Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood; the district is a coffee hotspot, so be sure to make time for café-hopping while you’re here. Then, swing by the spot where Will Smith meets up with Shia Labeouf’s character in front of Shaw Tower in Coal Harbour; the waterside neighbourhood is filled with sprawling parks to explore (none of which you’ll see in I, Robot) and edged by the ocean-hugging seawall. Treat yourself to an aerial view of the ‘hood (and the rest of this photo-ready city) on a floatplane tour with Harbour Air – and make sure you bring your camera!
Planet of the Apes
This fantastical adventure series grapples with morally complex storylines while showcasing eye-popping special effects and stunning scenery. The series was filmed in several North American cities, including Vancouver and on Vancouver Island where the region’s lush parks, forests and waterfront were on full display. Visitors won’t want to miss Stanley Park, the city’s sprawling downtown green space where several zoo scenes in Rise of the Planet of the Apes were shot. In Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, several scenes were filmed in Capilano River Regional Park in North Vancouver; fans can capture a similar rainforest experience at nearby Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. More jungle action was filmed in Golden Ears Provincial Park, a 40-minute drive from Vancouver in the suburb of Maple Ridge; the park is filled with hiking trails and home to Alouette Lake, where visitors can windsurf, canoe and camp, among other outdoor pursuits. In War for the Planet of the Apes, Vancouver Island is the star with extensive filming taking place in Ucluelet, Long Beach and Tofino. Guests can travel between Vancouver and Vancouver Island aboard BC Ferries or floatplane.
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