Customer Reviews

Long Way Down: Complete TV Series

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As I knew I would, I liked this extended version of LWD better than the shorter one. As many of the reviewers have said, the very tight schedule they had to follow towards the beginning of the trip diminished the enjoyability of it a little, but not enough to dampen my overall enthusiasm for the series. I followed their voyage as they were making it through the BBC website, which was fantastic! Seeing this just made me feel like I was on the trip with Ewan and Charlie. I enjoyed LWD just as much as LWR, but for different reasons. They were more of a cohesive team in this one, even though there was some tension.

In that vein, the addition of Eve into the trip was a major contributor to that tension. I'm a woman, so rest assured this doesn't stem from a "boy's own" attitude. I just thought that Eve should not have inserted herself into the trip. She put Ewan in a very tough position, because you HAVE to support your wife publicly. That's just the way it works. So, she put Ewan in the position of having to broach the subject to a bunch of friends (especially Charley), who were hoping to have another adventurous /male-bonding kind of trip. If Eve wants to join Ewan on trip, she can do that anytime. She doesn't need to be a part of these major outings. I'm glad her screen time was rather abbreviated, and I hope she doesn't insist on being a part of Long Way Up, should they actually do that trip. I prefer the strictly male, fun-loving, boy's bonding kind of trip sans any wives.

As mentioned before, the beginning of trip was so rushed, and the guys so tired, that tensions and emotions bubbled over. That's understandable. Traveling of any kind can be tiring, but covering those kinds of miles on a motorcycle has to be just exhausting. Despite that, there were some really fun, enjoyable moments from Scotland to Libya. One is definitely the Moto Guzi factory. It's a hoot to see how enthusiactic Ewan is with the more comfortable seat on the classic bike! A very moving time is their visit to the CHAS house in Scotland. The people they encountered in this first part of the trip, the scenery, and the moments shared between friends starting a major adventure together more than make up for any tensions.

The rest of the voyage through the African continent is really engaging. It's fascinating to watch as the terrain, the people, and the cultures change almost day by day. I had no idea that Ethiopia is so green and beautiful! Most of us only remember the drought-stricken images we saw during the 1980s. It seems to be just a fabulous country, with wonderfully warm people. It's also a joy to see Ewan's rapport with the children he encounters. He is well-known for his love and compassion for children, and you can see that children just adore him.

One thing I would change is to add more footage that involves the support crew - especially Russ and David. I really enjoy seeing the dynamics of the relationships with the whole team. There was more of that in LWR than in this one. A classic support crew moment in LWD is when Dai Jones "loses" his passport. It's hilarious!

Some LWR fans felt letdown by this series, but I think that's mainly because they were hoping for LWR 2. This was a completely different trip - with different requirements, different cultures, different dynamics, different terrain, and different desires on the part of the participants. It was no less enjoyable for those differences. I wouldn't want to watch a replicated journed to LWR in just a different setting. It's entertaining BECAUSE of the differences. If you enjoy learning about different cultures and places that most of us will probably never get to see firsthand - all from the perspective of very likable, though very human, motorcycle enthusiasts - then you will enjoy LWD!!!

I watched "Long Way Round" but enjoyed this one even more. The footage of travel through Africa is beautifully done and I give high praise to Claudio and the other photographers. You can tell that Ewan and Charley are truly moved by their surroundings and the wonderful African people. They really didn't want to stop this journey. In this film you will see Roman ruins,Victoria Falls, Ugandan gorillas, hippos, elephants, and many more African animals. After watching this film, you will want to travel to Africa and also donate to Unicef. It will make you happy and have you grinning from ear to ear. I recommend it highly.

I think by Ewan's own comments `this trip was rushed'. Although it brings together the same crew as the much better 'Wrong way round' series the experience is lessoned by the constant need to get from John O Groats (most Northern point of mainland UK) to Cape Town within the three months allowed due to Ewan's movie commitments. The strain this puts on the group is great to watch if you enjoy `group dynamics' but a little annoying when all you really want to see is the countries and the people.
However it does have its moments, the ruins in Libya are an amazing undiscovered wonder of the world and always the chance encounters unplanned but captured brilliantly by having those always present cameras. The series relaxes and improves as they travel further.
There is nothing unique in what they are doing, but their openness and willingness to explore and accept what they see and learn is refreshing as a reminder to those of us who have travelled in a similar way.
All in all worth buying and enjoyable, but the first series Wrong Way Round still ranks as one of the best motorcycle odyssey shows out there. Buy that as well then cancel a whole weekend because you'll not want to stop watching them. I hope they release some extras with this DVD not broadcast by the BBC here in the UK.

Long Way Down - Complete Series [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Australia ]

I was excited about this one after seeing the first one (The Long Way Round), but I was really disappointed to see that there were only 6 episodes on this disk as opposed to the some 10 - 12, maybe more on The Long Way Round.

This one was rushed and I can understand that Ewan McGregor had other obligations to meet, but what a disappointment this one was!

Hoping they do a Long Way South through South America because quite frankly, this one sucked a fat one.

Let me get past comparisons with the first program LongWay Round. This was shorter, but with better production values, warmer, more family, more people in the visited countries.

The second and third in the series of five shows were interesting for a number of reasons. 1. They displayed how hard it is to travel in Africa because of the dicey politics. 2. Weather can be really terrible and exhausting for bikers. 3. The inclusion of Ewan's wife Ev in the planning and preparation was a model of how to be inclusive, without prejudice even though the threat of more than one personal storm was always on the horizon. The second and third shows were rough because of the rushed feeling, the complaining, and strange video editing. They could have spent more film time at the Moto Guzzi plant and little was said or done about the historical things in Europe and Italy specifically.

Aside from that, when they had the time to do a little tourism or take shots of the background, it was great. The fourth, fifth, and sixth shows were more relaxed and more fun. The people they met, the places they visited, the roads, all made for a much nicer trip than LongWay Round. Ev's riding, even though it made Charlie feel like a fifth wheel, was a great promo for motorcycling in general. Girls, it's time to ride with your guys!

Traveling vicariously with Ewan McGregor (Island) and Charley Boorman in Long Way Round, I was pleased to see them continue their adventures in LONG WAY DOWN, a trip from the top of Scotland to the bottom of Africa.

I thoroughly enjoyed Long Way Round. Their travels were tremendously entertaining, with absent roadways, accidents, and playful banter that made it a fun travelogue. It was also strange to see such out-of-the-way places where roads vanished, streams swelled requiring special crossings, and the people that turned out and took them in. It was a microcosm event where we got inside the heads of both the travelers and those they visited.

But things changed for the worse with Long Way Down.

First is the overuse of the helmet cameras and microphones. The sound was often exceptionally muffled, forcing one to rewind the DVD and turn up the volume in hopes of hearing what was said. The helmet cams, too, gave poor quality video and were often grimy or rain-splattered, not letting the viewer enjoy the sites around Africa and beyond.

And where Long Way Round started off with a bang, giving us some great entertainment right from episode one, Long Way Down didn't really pick-up for me until episode four when we are fully entrenched in Africa's amazing countries.

It was also a bit perturbing to see so much time given over to their time with UNICEF. Although I think this is a very worthy cause, it isn't why I like watching travel diaries like this. I want to experience the road and the people and the countryside. Having it on the DVD's extra features was fine, which is where most of the UNICEF information should've remained (I still would've watched the extras, too).

For those familiar with Long Way Round, they'll be happy to learn that Claudio is back in the saddle with our two boys, filming every move and crashing and burning yet again! The guy needs to pay closer attention to the road.

There's been some negative comments made about Ewan's wife's choice to join them on one leg of the journey. I thought this was excellent. She turned out to be a good diversion for Ewan and Charley, as well as quickly becoming an adequate motorcyclist.

I will also say that it was wonderful to see so many different cultures as the two crossed the African plains. I was particularly impressed with Ethiopa, which I'd always pictured as arid and depressing. But here we get to see the lushness of its green, verdant lands ...and it's incredibly gentle people.

Indeed, all of the people Charley and Ewan meet are amazingly gracious and hospitable. Perhaps even more than the tough roads they traveled. Many miles and many friends were passed during this trip. And I'm glad I watched it. Just not as glad as when I'd finished Long Way Round.

This series gets down to the nitty gritty of a trip through the African continent by two movie stars. It shows, in it's own way, some of the beauty and some of the harshness of that continent. It's funny in places, sad in places, and downright tearful in others. The motorcycle ride aspects are very true to life (having made many myself but all in the US.) Sometimes the movie is even a bit crude, just what life on the road would be!
We watched an episode each evening, eagerly awaiting the next day's adventure.
Well worth the cost.

I am a huge fan of Long Way Round. What a great experience! I've seen the entire series several times and it never gets boring. So I looked forward to watching the sequel. Perhaps Africa is just too civilized, but there was less action, less danger, less interest.

Apparently Ewan and Charley were at odds to some extent and perhaps I was sensing that. Less of a feeling that two buddies were excited about having an adventure together.

If you loved the first series, you will probably want to see this, but I can't give it 5 stars.

If you liked the first one, Long Way Down won't disappoint you. I couldn't watch it on TV when it came out, as I was overseas, so I ordered the DVD as soon as I could. The show is fun, eyeopening and flows really well. I found out things about Africa I would have never otherwise had the chance to. Love the bikes, love the boyish humor, and love the positive message of this trip. The only little bone that I would pick with it all is that it's got a little too 'branded', too 'commercially focused', but that is understandable in this day and age, I guess.

The chemistry between Charlie and Ewan feels a little strained with Eve joining the trip, and I'd be curious to find out if they are still as good friends as they were after the first trip.

The highlight of the show is Ewan's white shoes!

I hope they will make Long Way Up (from Patagonia to Nova Scotia)....Man! KTM must be kicking themselves.

I was a bit apprehensive about purchasing this series without seeing it, and having read reviews that this wasn't as good as Long Way Round. I absolutely loved the first series and didn't want to be dissapointed but let me tell you, this series was just as good as the first. The idea is seeing places that one would never think of going to to, and after seeing the places Ewan and Charley went (i.e. Lybia, Ruwanda) I was not dissapointed.
It was not the same as the first series to be sure, but that is ok. No second is like the first, and it had new things to see and experience, although admittedly when they had to absolutely fly through Tunisia, Lybia, and Egypt it was a bit dissapointing but still fun to watch.
I was also intriugued by the dynamic Ewan's wife, Eve, made on the trip for the 10 days she was there. I thought it would be lame but it turned out that she was a real sweet addition to the trip so it was a good surprise.
Not as many river crossings as the in the first one and more civilization than the first as well (not as many spans between cities I mean) but it was fantastic. Good show to watch with a buddy who also likes bikes, or if you don't like bikes, just an entertaining show to watch. :)