The late Heath Ledger in The Four Feathers Copyright: (c) Paramount Pictures and Miramax Films Photography Credit: Alex Bailey, Jaap BuitendijkThe late Heath Ledger in The Four Feathers Copyright: (c) Paramount Pictures and Miramax Films Photography Credit: Alex Bailey, Jaap Buitendijk
It is common knowledge that a traditional gap year, sabbatical or whatever you prefer to call it, generally involves some form of travel to a far off location. A get away from the hustle and bustle of a supposedly highly demanding academic or working world.
We at OriginalSteps.com in typical extraordinary superhero-like fashion, have gone a little out there to add time travel to the mix. The reason being that the typical Gap Year has changed and many individuals seem to be on a trend of using a break or gap at various stages of their life and not just after high school or university but literally slap in the middle of working life!
Making the gap year to be somewhat a kind of escape from reality or a refreshing “power nap” from a stressful career. Here are our choices of films and television series which could inspire a Gap Year!
Time travel madness:
There is no comparable feature film or television show that can compete in illustrating this type of gap year than the 90’s classic film franchise “Back to the Future”. Reason being, it is a great way to learn about history, science and future, and also about how not mess with the space-time continuum or whatever Doc aka Dr. Emmett Brown was rambling on about, whilst on your gap year!
The escape from reality Gap Year:
A Good Year starring Russell Crowe is a film FirstStep.me has mentioned as a reference to taking a gap year many a time. The reason, well it breaks away from a career in the fast-tracked corporate world of investment banking in London and takes Crowes’ character to the extremely tranquil setting of Provence in France. A break that eventually leads to a career and location change. Something a good gap year could do for you.
Then you have adventurers who always seem to be on never ending Gap Years but actually it is their job – awesome careers we say!
Any Lara Croft or Indiana Jones movie and of course the film Sahara epitomized such gap year themed jobs. It is all about treasure hunting and literally hopping to every corner of the world seeking new adventures. All of these movies inspire the idea of getting up and doing something adventurous – breaking the monotonous 9 to 5 work routine.
The Four Feathers – quit the army and go save your mates!
The late Heath Ledger impresses in this periodic action film. Trekking through the desert to help save his friends in a war he didn’t even believe in.
The late Heath Ledger in The Four Feathers Copyright: (c) Paramount Pictures and Miramax Films Photography Credit: Alex Bailey, Jaap BuitendijkThe late Heath Ledger in The Four Feathers Copyright: (c) Paramount Pictures and Miramax Films Photography Credit: Alex Bailey, Jaap Buitendijk
Then there is Eat Pray Love – one of the better adaptations of a book making it to the cinema. Perhaps that had to do with Julia Roberts starring as the lead. Still good fun and also helps individuals with ideas on how to deal with divorce - yikes!
Into the Wild has a super sad ending but it is this movie’s idea of seeking adventure that grabs us – the book is a also worthwhile read for sure!
EuroTrip – one of the all-time favorite youth adventure travel movies. Involves a giant road trip across Europe as the main character “Scotty” tries to find the girl of his dreams with his best mates in tow!
Interrail - a French film about a youthful group of recent graduates embarking on an adventure through Europe.
Interrail - images courtesy: Apollo Films
Noteworthy television series – mostly reality based!
The British channel E4 has put together a comedy backpacking adventure called Gap Year - with the first destination being China! Looks awesome!
Survivor – this one took the world by storm, though not quite a gap year in the traditional sense, it was a gap from the real world altogether in various locations across the planet.
The Amazing Race - a Gap Year travel adventure on steroids with cameras following individuals racing each other around the planet.
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown - the world famous chef travels the planet discovering various cultures and interesting cuisine.
Naked and Afraid – this is a travel, adventure, gap year journey and survival skills course - all rolled into one and done in the nude! Not sure why but guess that fitted with the title of the show...
Bear Grylls has done a number of shows that will not only inspire but probably better prepare you if your Gap Year goes slightly or rather, horribly wrong!
Travels With My Father - Jack Whitehall is basically chaperoned by his father on a Gap Year adventure of sorts...
Notable mentions when it comes a book that rocked but didn't quite make the grade in film adaptations, check out Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours (Around the World in Eighty Days) by Jules Verne! Then of course the OriginalSteps.com powered Breaking Stereotypes documentary series is worth a watch along with Shenaz Treasuryvala in Culture Shock. Not forgetting the Travel and Discovery Channel plus anything to do with Sir David Attenborough.
These film and television shows are examples that can help inspire individuals with their gap year choices. If you want to find out more about movies, well then keep track of the industry on IMDb.com, Yahoo! Movies and Empire Magazine!
Editors note: no rankings applied to this feature as the referred productions will hopefully inspire a Gap Year!
