The Thieves - Kim Yoon-seok (2012) - (A version of) Avenida da Praia Grande, Macau

I mentioned in earlier posts about how many scenes have been digitally manipulated, some subtly, some not so. Here's an example of the rather more severe end of the spectrum.

The scene is of Chen's (Simon Yam) car crash following his shootout and high speed car chase. The building he has crashed into is the "Tribunal Judicial de Base" (Macau's Law Courts) on Avenida da Praia Grande. The right hand side of the image below seems okay, at least to a point. However, the other elements of the image simply don't exist at this location. On the left is the facade of the Fortuna Casino Hotel, which is located 600 metres and several blocks away, and in the far distance (more or less south) you can just make out the Grand Lisboa and HSBC buildings - in an area where they do not exist. There are other elements in the image that I haven't even been able to identify and could be located anywhere.

Anyway, I just find it a bit weird that the filmmakers felt the need to do this on a couple of occasions, although I commend their ability to do it quite convincingly. These days it's hard to know what is real anymore. 

I've just noticed that another shot from the film shows what this area actually looks likes. So this is the real view down Avenida da Praia Grande. The Tribunal Judicial de Base is immediately out of frame to the right.

Asia-Pol Secret Service - Wang Yu (1966) - Avenida da Praia Grande, Macau

After picking up a tail on Avenida do Dr.Oliveira Salazar, Yang is followed along the Praia Grande. I'm not sure of the exact location but perhaps some Macau experts can recognise the buildings on the side of the road.

Asia-Pol Secret Service - Wang Yu (1966) - Avenida da Praia Grande, Macau

Following on from the distant view of Macau, we next have a close up as the bad guy'scar drives along the praya. There are a few landmarks to spot if you know your Macau geography including the St Lawrence Church (Igreja de São Lourenço) that can be seen with it two square towers facing the outer harbour area (left background of the second image, centre of third).

The Last Time I Saw Macao - João Rui Guerra da Mata (2012) - Avenida da Praia Grande, Macau

Da Mata reminisces about when the stone wall that still runs along the Avenida da Praia Grande marked the edge of the waterfront. Reclamation has put paid to that as expected, but rather than reclaim all the land infront, Macau also created a couple of landlocked lakes called Sai Van and Nam Van.

Narazumono - Ken Takakura (1964) - Club Militar, Macau

The first proper actor-on-location shot from Narazumono is in front of the Club Militar building along Avenida da Praia Grande. These days it's painted pink and white but back in the 60's it looks like it was completely white or perhaps very pale blue, I can't really tell. Note the classic Macau pedicab that the guy arrives on.