09-24-2005, 12:57 PM
Bought this series on DVD from Amazon UK (we have a multiregion player) purely because it was their number one selling documentary, so I thought I'd take the risk. It is currently airing on Bravo in the U.S. I'm sure they'll repeat it. No sign of the DVD here yet though.
http//www.longwayround.com/lwr.htm
I thought it was the most fantastic series.
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman (director John Boorman's son), who are close friends and crazy about motorbikes, decide to go to New York, the "...long way round". That is through Europe, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia, Russia, Alaska, Canada and the U.S.
They travel with a third motorcyclist, an Italian cameraman and because they are going through some of the world's most isolated areas (particularly Siberia and the "road of bones" in Russia leading up towards Alaska) they are followed at a respectable distance by a support crew.
The 6-part series works both as an amazing travelogue through parts of the world we rarely stop to consider (Kazakhstan and Mongolia were quite beautiful and the people were amazing) and the gruelling physical challenge of motorbiking the whole thing. My interest in motorbikes is nil but I still found their trip completely enthralling and followed every part of the challenge on the edge of my seat.
What also really made it for me was the very British humour they both shared. They were both funny and irreverant. They came across at times as bumbling British lads out for a bit of a laugh. It was like rock and roll version of Michael Palin's travelogues. Instead of walking into the 16th century church of bones in the Czech Republic with quiet reverance, they would stride in and say "F*** me! Look at that!" This doesn't mean they were boorish or disrespectful to the people or places they visited.
Couldn't reccommend it more. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
http//www.longwayround.com/lwr.htm
I thought it was the most fantastic series.
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman (director John Boorman's son), who are close friends and crazy about motorbikes, decide to go to New York, the "...long way round". That is through Europe, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia, Russia, Alaska, Canada and the U.S.
They travel with a third motorcyclist, an Italian cameraman and because they are going through some of the world's most isolated areas (particularly Siberia and the "road of bones" in Russia leading up towards Alaska) they are followed at a respectable distance by a support crew.
The 6-part series works both as an amazing travelogue through parts of the world we rarely stop to consider (Kazakhstan and Mongolia were quite beautiful and the people were amazing) and the gruelling physical challenge of motorbiking the whole thing. My interest in motorbikes is nil but I still found their trip completely enthralling and followed every part of the challenge on the edge of my seat.
What also really made it for me was the very British humour they both shared. They were both funny and irreverant. They came across at times as bumbling British lads out for a bit of a laugh. It was like rock and roll version of Michael Palin's travelogues. Instead of walking into the 16th century church of bones in the Czech Republic with quiet reverance, they would stride in and say "F*** me! Look at that!" This doesn't mean they were boorish or disrespectful to the people or places they visited.
Couldn't reccommend it more. Thoroughly enjoyed it.