Awesome Movie Locations You Can Actually Visit

How many times have you watched a movie and thought, “Wow, I wish I could go there!” While a lot of today’s movies are done in studios with green screens, many of the physical locations used by films of the past are still around. From the lush green landscapes of The Lord of the Rings to the futuristic setting of Gattaca, you can visit these locations and step into the movies. Maybe you can re-enact a favorite scene, or take some Instagram shots that will make your friends jealous. Either way, here are some famous movie locations you can visit and re-live some of your favorite cinematic moments.

1) Tongariro National Park -- New Zealand (The Lord of the Rings)

Whether you want to visit the cubby homes of Hobbiton or the vast fields of Rohan, New Zealand is mecca for Lord of the Rings fans. Companies like Twizel offer a variety of tours that will take you to spectacular filming locations and the little that remains of some of the sets used in the movie. The film is said to have been responsible for the revival of New Zealand’s tourism industry.

2) Ennis House - Los Angeles (Blade Runner)

Image Credit: Ennishouse.com

Many remember the futuristic landscape depicted in the Harrison Ford film, but the house that belonged to Deckard is one of the coolest architectural structures in science fiction films. You can visit this house in Los Angeles. The Ennis House is a creation of Frank Lloyd Wright and thus considered a landmark.

The home was built in 1924 for retailer Charles Ennis and is one of four of his Los Angeles homes that use the textile and perforated concrete design.  There were 27,000 of these blocks used to construct the home.

Ennis House was sold in 2011 to a local businessman who is planning a total restoration of the property.

3) Tikal National Park - Guatemala (Star Wars IV: A New Hope)

Do we really have to explain why visiting this location would be awesome? This location was used as the setting for Yavin 4 in Star Wars: A New Hope. Imagine the selfies you could take wearing storm trooper helmets. 

Tikal National Park is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site, so you can expect to have it around for a long time. This location is a must on your list.

4) Marin County Civic Center - San Rafael, California (Gattaca)

Sticking with our sci-fi theme, this Californian architectural wonder was used in two sci-fi classics: George Lucas’ THX 1138 and Gattaca, which starred a pre-Kill Bill Uma Thurman. The civic center was the last building to be commissioned by Frank Lloyd Wright.

5) New York City - New York (Ghostbusters...and more)

We could do an entire blog post about movies filmed in New York, but we decided to mention Ghostbusters. Despite the sad passing of Harold Ramis (Egon), Ghostbusters 3 is still going to be done. While we’re sure many NYC sites will be used, the most iconic location in the movie, the firehouse, is still there for all to see. Head to the Tribeca neighborhood to find the Hook & Ladder Station 8, which served as the Ghostbusters’ home base. 

There were recent rumors that the firehouse may be closed or sold due to budget related issues.

Movie Lingo - Sound Like a Pro on Your Next Movie Set!

If you’re a fan of movies you might be aware of the vast amount of vocabulary words that cater specifically to the world of production. If you don’t, well, that’s what we’re here for. Every profession has its own vocabulary; think about the medical world and even sports, but movie terms are in a league of their own. Here is a list of 10 movie terms that range from seemingly unrelated to completely bizarre.

Magic Hour

This one isn’t so bad, especially if you have also been exposed to photography or modeling. There are two “Magic Hours” in the day--the hour before sunrise and the hour right after sunset. At this time, the lighting is optimal for the film crew to shoot buildings and other cityscapes without drowning out surrounding details like car headlights.

Magazine

Think AK instead of Cosmo. On a movie camera, the magazine is a light-proof chamber that holds film. While most current movies are filmed digitally, there are still plenty of directors keeping it old school. These chambers can hold 400 or 1000 feet of film.

Pans

Nope, nothing to do with your kitchen. Pans are when a camera moves across a horizontal access. Do you have a smartphone? If so, this term should sound very familiar to you--think “panoramic”!

Sun Guns

At least this term makes you think of movie westerns. Sun guns are mounted lights the provide major illumination. They are usually positioned on the left and right sides of scene to light it up to avoid harsh shadows.

Apple Box

A lot of people are familiar with this term, but in case you aren’t, apple boxes are strong wooden boxes typically used to give an actor some height. There are also pancake boxes, but they are flatter (no, really).

Baby Legs

One of the more bizarre terms in movie lingo, baby legs refers to a small camera tripod.

Bed

You would think this term refers to a prop, but it actually refers to the music used in the background of a commercial. The bed serves as the narrator’s “soundtrack.”

Juicer

Nope, nothing to do with Jack LaLanne. A juicer is the set’s electrician.

Score

Often confused with a movie’s soundtrack, the score is original music composed for a movie or TV show. For example, the famous themes from “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” are part of the film’s score--not the soundtrack.

Trailer

Your friends might call these the “previews”, but those in the know understand these video snippets used to advertise upcoming movies and get the crowds excited are actually called trailers. Go ahead, correct them next time!

Five Cursed Movie Productions

Horror flicks are always fun to watch. Even if you aren’t afraid of the bad guys, you can always laugh at your friends or fellow movie goers as they jump at every sight and sound. But sometimes, the stories about life on set are more terrifying than the move itself. While accidents can, and do, happen during the filming of a movie, sometimes the incidents that happen frequently, and repeatedly, and before you know it one word begins to run through everyone’s mind: curse.

A number of movies have been declared as cursed. Most of them have dark subject matter that would seemingly bring in the bad vibes, but other movies with much more innocent storylines still have accidents that cause the public to deem the set cursed. In this post, we’ll examine some of the most cursed movie sets of all time. It’s up to you to decide if it’s curse or coincidence.

The Exorcist

If a movie makes the audience physically ill as it plays, you know there have to be some truly horrifying sequences in it. The Exorcist is considered the most cursed movie set of all time. Even subsequent installments of the film were plagued by freak accidents. A total of 9 people died during the making of the first installment. One of the actresses suffered a severe spinal injury after a stunt went wrong, and the cast and crew would complain of things going bump in the night in their own home. Perhaps the most terrifying story from the set involves the film’s premiere in Rome. The premiere was set up near two 16th century churches with very large crosses at the top. During a freak storm, bolts of lightning struck the crosses and sent them crumbling into the plaza below.

Superman

What could be so cursed about America’s superhero? While it seems Henry Cavill, the franchise’s latest Superman, has remained unscathed, the Superman franchise first got its “cursed” label after the death of the original Superman--George Reeves. Reeves, whose name was quite similar to America’s Superman Christopher Reeve, was found dead in his own apartment in 1959. While the press deemed it a suicide, no prints were found on the gun, not even Reeves’. Later on, Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse and paralyzed from the neck down, a story which gained a lot of publicity that stayed with Reeve until his untimely passing. Other actors from the Superman movies also suffered misfortunes of their own. Margot Kidder and Marlon Brando were nearly crippled by psychiatric disorders, and comedian Richard Pryor (Superman III) developed MS three years later. Hardly any of the actors from the earlier franchises experienced successful careers after starring in the Superman films.

The Poltergeist Franchise

If the cast and crew don’t even like mentioning their days on set during Poltergeist; you know it was bad. Most people remember the little blonde girl that sat in front of the television and declared “They’re here”, but many don’t know she developed a severe flu and died from complications shortly before the release of the third film.

The actress who played her older sister in the first movie was strangled to death by her boyfriend. The crew constantly had to fix props that would fall during filming. The props were also known to disappear and reappear in other locations, and the crew’s equipment was constantly malfunctioning. While the characters in the movie were cursed by moving into a house built over a burial ground, it is said “The Poltergeist Curse” was started by the crew’s decision to use real human remains in the film.

Omen

If your movie is about the son of Satan, chances are the production process won’t always be sunshine and rainbows, but the incidents that happened during filming were truly horrifying. The majority of the cast and crew were nearly killed by IRA bombings. Any airplane connected to the film did not fare well. David Seltzer (scriptwriter), Gregory Peck (actor), and executive producer Mace Neufelds’ airplanes were all struck by lightning. The special effects consultant crashed his car on Friday the 13th, and his assistant was cut in half by the car’s front tire. Remember what I mentioned about airplanes? Another plane meant for the film crashed and killed everyone on board. Everyone.

Rosemary’s Baby

Keeping with the “Satan’s children” theme, we have Rosemary’s Baby. The fact that it is a Roman Polanski film should creep you out enough, but things didn’t really start to go south until after the film was complete. However,  Mia Farrow came in with a stroke of bad luck of her own. She had just been served divorce papers by old blue eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. She also had to eat raw liver on set despite being a lifelong vegetarian--something Polanski forced her to do. Once the movie was completed, the bad luck transferred to Polanski and the crew. William Castle (producer) suffered from kidney failure, and was said to have screamed out lines from the movie while in the hospital. The film’s composer died of a brain clot (like a character in the film). A year and a half after the movie, Polanski made the terrible mistake of moving into a house previously owned by someone that ticked off Charles Manson.

Yes, that Charles Manson.

Polanski’s pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, was killed by Manson’s minions. Later in life, Polanski would be charged with molesting a minor. The same building where Rosemary’s Baby was filmed was the same building where John Lennon was assassinated--and it just so happens Charles Manson was obsessed with the Beatles, who wrote a famous little song called Dear Prudence. Dear Prudence was about Prudence Farrow...Mia Farrow’s little sister. Still think it’s all just coincidence?

Cinco De Mayo Red Hot Savings Event

Join us for Cinco De Mayo now through May 5th for our RED HOT SAVINGS EVENT!  Enjoy Savings on major name brands like Octane Seating, Berkline, and More.    

Take 15% off the Octane Edge in Premium Leather, no matter how many seats you purchase.  This stylish design has quickly risen the ranks in popularity and now stands as one of our top customer favorites.  Made with scale to accommodate families of all shapes and sizes, the premium top grain leather used on this home theater lounger is luxurious and soft to the touch.

Enjoy Our Berkline 48 hour sale - where Berkline seats will ship from our warehouse in 48 hours - and which offers up to $200 off your order depending on how much you spend. Berkline seats included in this great offer are the iconic Reno and Tangiers models that have lead this established home theater brand for almost a decade now.  Features like storage and tray tables are included free of charge in the Reno under this event.

Looking for something other than Octane or Berkline?  We got you covered - take an additional 5% off the brand of your choice*(excluding Palliser).  This promotion started today and ends on Cinco de Mayo so hurry fast and call us now to order!

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The Past and Future of Television

It’s a bit of a trend to say you don’t have a television at home. Some people fear their minds will be “poisoned” by today’s programming, and others don’t want a distraction of that kind in their home. Considering 98% of American households have had televisions since the 90’s, the notion of someone NOT wanting a television these days is rare. This 1927 invention revolutionized entertainment and is now readily available in a variety of sizes, prices, and formats--but it wasn't always that way.

All your base are belong to us.

When you hear the term “cathode ray” you probably think of a retro sci-fi movie with men in silver space suits. But the cathode ray was actually a main component of early television sets which were called picture tubes because of the ray’s structure. Images were first created by coding radio waves or scanning images onto a rotating disk. There were no transforming robots or blue aliens on these television sets. The first image ever projected from a television was a line. Yes, just a regular line and then a dollar sign.  As for the size of these “picture tubes”, all you had to do was set aside a small space if you were able to purchase one, because they measured in around 5” x 12”.

1955 Zenith Remote Control

You might have heard of the RCA company--especially if you’re reading this blog. Well, they considered the television such an important invention that they invested $50 million into its development. When World War 2 came around, however, the buzz quickly died down, and production pretty much halted when larger companies turned to producing materials for the war effort. Once the war was over and the “baby boom” generation was born, the evolution of the television went full speed ahead.

Cable? 1940’s. Color television? Patented in 1904, authorized to broadcast in 1953. Remote controls? 1956. People seem to have this idea that the 50’s were some sort of dinosaur age when it came to technology (no Instagram!?) but the opposite was true. Remember that line that was projected? Americans now had the ability to chose from a handful of television shows like “Howdy Doody”. They got their news information from two 15 minute daily broadcasts, which was a huge deal considering Americans only received news from the radio before those brief reports.

Ancient VCR Tapes

The 80’s saw a boom in television accessories like the VCR and, of course, Nintendo, but the 90’s ushered in the future of television sets. Parental controls, the sleep timer, and the picture-in-picture feature all appeared in the 90’s. While plasma TV’s were still in their experimental phases, the technological aspects of television weren’t the only ones changing. We were being exposed to sitcoms like Roseanne, and a little something called reality television. Programming was changing just as fast as the tech.

The 2000’s brought on the death of analog television. HD and BluRay became household terms and TiVO appeared to make sure you never missed out on your favorite shows. After 2009, all televisions turned to a digital format. Televisions also changed physically--they became thinner, lighter, and bigger at the same time.

3D TV In Your Home

What can we expect in the years to come? We already have 3-D television and Google Glass. Sony is playing pioneer this time. They are already working on a “4HD” television that has a resolution of nearly 4,000 pixels horizontally. That’s like bringing theater-quality viewing into your home. Also, this “4HD” television measures a huge 84” and costs a hefty $25,000. Other things you can do with 25K? Travel to Europe and Asia, buy a car, put a down payment on a home, and attend a few semesters at a university--it all comes down to priorities.

So, if you want to experience the future of television and you already have a 3D TV at home, start saving your pennies and set aside some space.

Keeping Gadgets Clean

We love our tablets, smartphones, and HDTVs. Like it or not, technology is here to stay, so we might as well learn how to take care of our gadgets and keep them in excellent condition--after all, you might want to sell your current model on eBay the moment your favorite company releases a new model. But before you reach for your “All-in-One” cleansing solution, you might want to check out our tips below. As a matter of fact, your home use cleaning products should be kept as far away from your gadgets as possible.

Clean Your Ceiling Fans & Vacuum Your Rugs

I promise this is relevant to technology. Rugs and carpets are dust houses. Think of all of the traffic they experience throughout the day--the dirt they take in from your shoes or your pets. Now stand in your living room and look up. Hey! When’s the last time you cleaned that ceiling fan? If you look closely at the blades, you might notice a collection of dust bunnies along the edges. This combination of dust from above (and below) will show up quickly on glassy surfaces--you know, like the surface of your television. So, make sure you don’t ignore these areas. They need to be cleaned more often than you think.

Movies Every Home Theater Should Have

No home theater is complete without an impressive movie collection. While technology continues to to advance and the visual quality of our favorite flicks changes, we purchase those same movies with every update to keep our library fresh. There are certain movies that people consider "must haves"--usually heart-wrenching masterpieces like Schindler’s List or cinematic legends like Citizen Kane. But a movie’s notoriety doesn't always mean it will earn a spot on your shelf. Sometimes, when it comes to a home theater collection, it's all about the bang! The special effects, the thrilling soundtracks; some movies must be seen over and over again--no matter what critics might say. So, which movies do we recommend? Here are some of our staff favorites in no particular order.

Copyright Universal Studios, 1993

Jurassic Park (1993)
We now know (sadly) that there's no way to extract dino DNA from a piece of amber, but that doesn't mean we don't want to go back to Jurassic Park every once in awhile. While the movie franchise expanded into a trilogy (and soon, a quadrilogy) there's nothing like the original movie. With impressive special effects and a soundtrack by score master John Williams (Star Wars, Indiana Jones), this movie is one to watch with full surround sound. If you can't see your glass of water  tremble when the T. Rex roars, you're not doing it right.

Watch the official Jurassic Park Trailer

Copyright DreamWorks, 1998

Saving Private Ryan  (1998) 

Considered one of the greatest war movies of all time, Saving Private Ryan needs the audio quality of a stereo system to bring the battle to you. While it is gory, it is also an honest picture regarding the horrors of war. While rooting on Tom Hanks and his soldiers as they hunt down Nazis and look for Private Ryan, you'll also want to make sure your seat is soft and comfortable. The movie is long at 169 minutes, but the flick is well worth it.

Watch the official Private Ryan Trailer

Copyright Alfred Hitchcock, 1960

Psycho (1960)
A&E’s Bates Motel series is creating a new audience of Norman Bates fans, but the black and white horror classic is what really belongs in your collection . Alfred Hitchcock created a slew of noteworthy movies, but Psycho, based on the life of serial killer Ed Gein, is the Hitchcock film people most often recall. While the shower scene is usually the main topic of conversation when it comes to this film, many don't remember exactly how twisted Norman Bates was. Let’s just say, he was the original mama’s boy.

Watch the official Psycho Trailer

Copyright Tri-Star Pictures, 1991

Terminator 2 (1991)
You know the catchphrase and remember the music, but Terminator 2 was also known for it’s groundbreaking special effects. The robotics and the liquid metal transformation of the movie’s villain (the T-1000) created an all-to-real world where machines have taken over. Considering the advancements Google is making with their technology, the future portrayed in the Terminator movies might not be as far away as you think.

Watch the official Terminator 2 Trailer

Copyright Disney, 2010

TRON: Legacy (2010)
Say what you will about the original TRON, but this Disney movie was the birth of computer animated movies. The sequel to TRON, which came over 20 years later, was a visual and musical spectacle worthy of any sound system and a 3-D television. With a soundtrack by the techno duo Daft Punk and incredible graphics in the blue-toned world of The Grid, TRON: Legacy is a fun movie viewers of any age can enjoy.

Watch the official Tron Legacy Trailer

With the summer movie season approaching, we’re sure we will be adding quite a few movies to the list, but for now it’s a good starting point.

Movie Marathon Ideas

You have your luxurious new seating and a crystal clear television screen ready for your viewing pleasure--but what do you do with it? Sure, you can watch the game (if there is one) or maybe catch an episode of your favorite sitcom, but nothing beats watching an amazing movie with the lights dimmed low and a bowl full of warm popcorn. To add some variety to your movie night, we’ve come up with some movie marathon ideas to make your home entertainment, well, more entertaining

Black and White Movie Marathon

Go back to the days of analog television and cookie-cutter families with a black and white movie marathon. Serve up classic cocktails (of which you can find the recipes on Google) and request your friends wear their Sunday best. No microwaveables ,please! All snacks should be baked (or bought--no one has to know) and absolutely no smart phones or tablets allowed---those things didn’t exist back then.

Movie suggestions: Casablanca, Psycho, Some Like it Hot, Roman Holiday

The Geek Chick Marathon

Okay, so being a geek wasn’t really considered “cool” until shows like The Big Bang Theory came around, but now, he who has the best home theater becomes the alpha geek out of the group of friends! Your thickest-rimmed glasses and faded band t-shirts are the required attire, and while tablets are allowed this time, they should only be used to announce your party to the world via social media. Pizza and beer are on the menu for the night.

Movie suggestions: Blade Runner, TRON, Star Wars: A New Hope, Back to the Future

The Fright Night Marathon

For some reason, people always wait until Halloween to watch horror movies. Then they go overboard with Jell-O eyeballs and marshmallow ghosts. But who wants to wait until October to have a scary movie marathon? Host a Fright Night marathon with your friends at any time of the year. Instead of kitschy party treats, you and your friends will take part in a drinking game to test your fear leves. Every jump is a shot and every scream is worth two! As for the dress code? It doesn’t really matter, does it? Psycho killers aren’t worried about your fashion sense.

Movie Suggestions: Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Exorcist, REC

The 80's Marathon

The 80’s were awesome. We wouldn’t have blockbuster franchises like Transformers and video games like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City without the music, cartoons, and movies of that era. The dress code and the menu should reflect the kaleidoscopic rainbow of the 80’s-- colorful and sugary. Get the rainbow sprinkles and the Day-glo socks! It’s time to have a seat with your best friends to check out these classic 80’s (and 80’s inspired) movies. And yes, it’s okay to wear your sunglasses at night.

Movie Suggestions: Scarface, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Top Gun

We could go on with our movie suggestions, but we know how personal movie choices can be. Try to think of your own movie marathon themes and gather up your best friends. You could all take turns picking themes and homes, but we have a feeling everyone will want to come to your house after seeing your awesome home theater set up.

Southern Motion Makes A Splash

Southern Motion Furniture is a relatively new company in the realm of furniture - only having started 17 years ago - a mere baby - where many established US based furniture companies are multiples, if not centuries older than that.  Their age has not stopped them from becoming a force to be reckoned with and it always amazes our team how concerned other brands seem to be at the mere mention of the ‘Southern Motion’ name.  

That type of reaction only happens when a company is doing something better than anyone else.  And those fears are justified.

Having focused only on motion furniture, they have become masters at their trade.  Now they are including home theater seating in their line and we are excited to present their full range of theater seats.  Here are is a run down of the models by popularity from our customers after having had them live for just a few weeks:

Viva Model 2577

The Viva is so unique in its styling that you are guaranteed not to ever see this made by any another brand.  The arm rests are backward sloping and arc in a very contemporary design that looks like the chair you would expect to see the Captain of the Starship Enterprise sitting in.  

The seat back is layered with dense padding that runs down the full length of the chair to the very end of the chaise styled foot rest.  The comfort factor is a 9 out of 10 and the Viva can be ordered in many colors in fabric, leather and bonded leather.  We have seen this seat in black and it looks breathtaking.

One criticism leveled at the Viva is the lack of padding on the arm rest.  While I did sit in this seat, it was not for an extended period of time, but I still found the arm rests to be very soft and comfortable with no noticeable discomfort at all.

NFL Legends Show Humble Respect for Life on the Grid Iron

In terms of luxury homes owned by professional Athletes, current Denver Broncos Quarterback, Peyton Manning has an absolutely beautiful mansion in Cherry Hills, Colorado.   His home is valued at $4.5 million dollars and features a wine cellar, billiards room, and home theater room.  What is most confusing to us is that his home theater looks like an average den or family room.  The room itself is classy and full of grace, yet may be found in any upper middle-class American home.

As a career football player one would think that retired Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway would want a simply amazing space to relive the golden memories of six AFC Championships and two Super Bowl victories, but it seems that his high-tech entertainment room is simply ordinary.  As a native Colorado professional Home Theater retailer, we would love to give his entertainment room a makeover.

Terry Bradshaw, former quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers listed his $9.9 million dollar Oklahoma 7500 square foot ranch home which sits on 650 Acres of beautiful Oklahoma land.  This rustic home features 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, and 2 partial bathrooms with an array of relaxation options like a pool, tennis courts, a barn, an exquisite outdoor grilling arena and a simple entertainment room.  We got a good look at the listing for his home couple of years ago, and it doesn't look like this house has a home theater either!  The former athlete's photographed entertainment room consisted of a billiards and gaming table, coupled with a fully equipped old-fashioned juke box. 

Joe Montana, a legend in the history of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs listed his 500 acre Tuscan-Style Napa Valley estate for a whopping $49 million dollars which remained on the market at that price from 2010 until 2012.   We scoured the web but could not find a single photograph of an entertainment room or home theater on this property. 

We are a bit confused.   We assumed that someone who loves the game as much as they do would need the prestige, comfort, and bragging rights of a luxurious home theater fully adorned with relics and mementos of their successful careers.   So why do so many star NFL Quarterbacks have meager home theaters? 

Our best guess is that life on the field has given them a unique perspective.   Rather than sitting back and watching the game, they prefer to live it.