I was so stoked to see that Charley and Ewan decided to embark on another bike journey together. Africa was a revelation and a visual smörgåsbord. I enjoyed their reactions and the tensions that emerged and subsided, which gave us access to their humanity. Including more of the support crew added dimension, although I do agree that Claudio should have been given more play. Enjoyed the pre-trek prep. Could have done with less griping about time pressure. Thought it was a bad decision to make this a plot point because there were so many other interesting suspenseful things. Really thought the energy and focus dropped off when Eve Mcgregor joined the trip. She added nothing. I felt there was some hidden agenda going on that had nothing to do with the spirit of the adventure. I agree with a previous post that said if she wanted to participate more in her husband's recreational passions she should have done that off camera. As a viewer I somehow felt used by her insinuating herself into the situation. It was like inviting yourself to a rock concert with your son and his friends, or showing up at rehearsal wanting to be part of their band. Hope she does not tag along on the next one.
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rachel_wildman7920 February 2008Granted the LWD didn't have the kind of edge Long Way Round had but lets not forget, Ewan and Charlie never started this with the intentions making it into a DVD. It specifically says at the beginning of LWR that they initially planned to film it themselves as their own record but a second thought was to do it properly.
This is not a made up drama series, it's real life... they don't write what comes over the next boarder, what's over the next hill... take it as you come. I am glad that they were kind enough to let us into their adventure.
Really liking the Long Way Down Under idea though. -
mikeymac719 November 2020I feel like perhaps this will get buried because people may see it as a motorcycle show before a travel show. Charley and Ewan really bounce of each other well (though not as well as Long Way Round or Long Way Up), and I enjoy seeing just two friends share this incredible experience with each other.
As noted in other reviews, the rushed nature of this series brings it down a bit and I'm glad that they address it in the show, though it being too late to change the schedule. Charley just ignoring requests to not wheelie always made me laugh as it just shows how much fun he was having out there.
(I have mini grips with the team member Dave (one of the Americans) but he's not there enough to cause any real annoyance.
Then of course the big one...Eve. I have no idea why she is there and it feels as though his "star power" created an environment of no one really telling him no other than his mate Charley. Throwing a wife in this late in a trip and one that's allowed two friends to just be laid back and make jokes just threw off the entire energy between the two. It doesn't ruin the show but it would've been better had she not been there.
Just watch it and enjoy it. Great look at the world and an admirable way to travel. -
The first adventure seemed to be an actor's version of travelling around the world. But the cameras and support team did allow us to be in on their great adventure to pretty much unseen (to non-locals) parts of the world.
Long Way Down re-unites the old team, now all good friends for a trip to another adventurous part of the world, Africa. Race to Dakar could be viewed almost as a scouting trip for this journey.
To begin with Charley and Ewan say that they don't want to do a three and a half-month journey again but curiously their second journey seems to be 3 months long. Their schedule is more compressed and less free-ranging, and they have been allotted less episodes to tell their story in (one less episode makes a noticeable difference). And affecting it even further is the unusual addition of a fourth rider, Ewan's wife, for 10 days of the journey, who up until a few months before the starting date had never ridden a motorbike.
The presentation is identical to Long Way Round due to being made by the same people, and the journey starts off fairly similar in the European leg (a more adventurous route along the Balkan peninsula was abandoned in the planning stages). Also they have again chosen to use large, heavy BMW motorbikes, but presumably due to the X5's fragility in Race to Dakar, the support vehicles are two Nissan Patrols.
The series starts to get interesting when they reach Libya where US citizens are not allowed. Minus two of the crew, Charlie and Ewan are shown around some Roman ruins that rival those in Rome. Until more equatorial latitudes are reached, Charlie and Ewan essentially complain about the tight schedule and not being able to enjoy the experience. They relax as the scenery turns green and they reach areas with more infrastructure, and essentially have a blast the rest of the way except for the frequent border crossings. By the time the scenery turns brown (but not desert) again they are trying to savour the last of their experience. However most of what we see only seems like scratching the surface, if the story was a little more in-depth it may have captured the feeling of adventure than the first journey had. As it is it only seems like an extended highlights reel and unfortunately in a few places has a home movie feel to it as it is essentially a gathering of friends and family.
Overall I think it's a good look at another less well-known part of the world, Africa, but it seems a little flat and forgettable in comparison. It is still (mostly) compelling viewing and makes me want to explore Africa myself. -
blackhawkdesign-11 August 2008Long Way Down is the feature cut of the second season of the road trip documentary featuring Ewan McGregor and his buddy Charlie Boorman on their motorcycle adventure from the Northern tip of Scotland, to the southern tip of Africa. Brushing up on the past adventure is not a requirement for getting your visa for this trip. The film suffers mildly from the lack of build-up and planning for the trip, which would have added more of an introduction to the traveling company, but the ramping right into the adventure helps the pace of the 2+hr film. As a whole the film works as an African postcard, a buddy road trip, and the greatest advertisement for adventure tourism ever made. It is impossible to watch this film and not have an immediate desire to skip the beaches of Hawaii for the far-reaches of the African wilderness. McGregor and Boorman featured equally are both likable, and yet oddly familiar. They are the friends on any vacation that you realize the longer you stay with them, the more disagreeable and yet likable they get. McGregor checks any star ego he may have at the Scotland border, often embracing his lack of motorcycling skill "I fall down a lot", and is surprised when he is not mobbed while visiting the original 1977 Star Wars set in Tunisia. Unlike the rest of the celebutard reality shows that infest the airwaves, Long Way down is not about following the everyday life of a celebrity, it's about following two friends on the adventure of a lifetime one of which just happens to be obi-wan Kenobi.
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I suppose I am slightly disappointed with this effort, though I guess anyone will admit that after "Long Way Round", it would take something really extraordinary to beat the feeling you got from it. I mean, "Long Way Round" is simply such an exceptional work that anything else will seem a little bit ... average in comparison. Thus, I don't want to write off "Long Way Down" right away, because it is also a great series, and certainly worth watching. However, it isn't as pure and adventurous as "Long Way Round".
The first part of the trip really seemed rushed, which took away from the series. I believe someone mentioned (probably Charley) that Ewan's film engagements made the window so tight, so I guess they didn't have a choice, if they wanted to do the same team, with both Charley and Ewan. I know this doesn't sound as a good excuse, but I guess everyone has to accept that Ewan McGregor is a big star and doesn't have as much free time as he would like to (certainly not the three months and more they had in "Long Way Round"). Nevertheless, I also wish it didn't have to be like this, because it made many people miserable, Charley and Ewan included, and it showed on camera.
The second part was really the most up to the feel of "Long Way Round", they took more time to simply enjoy the countries they passed through and talk to people, the same they did during the previous trip. Besides, it was the part of Africa that is less modernised (in what we in Europe or North America see as modern society), and somehow more enjoyable. Altogether, this is my favourite part of the series (that is, episodes 3 and 4, I guess).
As far as Ewan's wife is concerned, I don't think anyone, myself included, has the right to question the decisions they made. Since everyone on the team was OK with Eve being there for part of the trip, though people were apparently having doubts, but mostly for security reasons, then it's not our business to argue about it. I agree that maybe Eve's presence made it look like more like a family holiday, but hey, if someone so much wants to see the real thing, no one really stops him of taking a buddy and making the trip himself. There were a few people taking the same route, but up, so I guess it's not impossible.
Anyways, it was a good one, but it has the misfortune of being "Long Way Round"'s sequel. I think if it were the other way round, "Long Way Down" would get much better reception. I do agree that the fewer number of episodes also plays a part in that "not quite there" feel, so I'm looking forward to an extended DVD version, because I'm sure they have plenty of material taken during that trip.
And, of course, I'm looking to the next instalment, rumoured to be "Long Way Down Under", and I wish all the best to Ewan and Charley in doing it. -
rhyslightnng28 November 2020I loved Long Way Round, solid 10 out of 10 travel and adventure Doc, so I had high hopes for long way down! At first however, I thought I was in for a disappointing ride. During the first African leg of the trip the crew have set themselves a strict deadline. This means for the first couple episodes they always just seem to be in a major rush, everyone is stressed and no one is really able to experience the country's they are travelling through, they stop at a couple major tourist destinations, which are great to see, but then they move on. I was hoping to experience the people and the culture, like in their first outing, as well as enjoy the biking and this did not seem to be the case. I persevered however and once they had meet and passed their deadline, everything fell back into place. No longer were they rushing through every country they got to, they were able to relax, enjoy and experience their adventure. Taking their time and adding a few extra aerial excursions to make up for lost experiences, the crew and the viewer are able to finally see the and feel the heart and soul of Africa, the cultures, the food, the wildlife and the landscapes as well as learn about the struggles and history of many of these countries. In the end, it was a worthy successor to LWR, slightly hampered by a rushed start.
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Sequel lives up to the Original, Ive watched this series half a dozen times. The only part of the series that I hated and most people didn't like was Ewans wife (now Ex) demanding she come on the trip. Like she never road a bike b4 yet she wants to ride through Africa, delusional. It forced the team to find a pet of the trip that would be easy for her to ride. They couldnt go off-road with her, and the. You remember when Ewan broke his leg, his wife left him to go skiing with the others. You can tell she's not a good person, even when Ewan was showing her the bike and how to work things, she screamed "I know I know I know" then immediately she couldn't even start the bike because she never Pressed the Green Start button. I hate people like her, glad she was done and dusted by the 3rd long way up trip. Charlie did not want her on their trip.
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nancyblaine-466143 July 2023I'm a woman and an adventurer on my own terms. I loved "Long Way Round"-read the book, even-but did not know this series existed until two days ago. As buddy film and travelogue, their format is accessible and fun. Incredibly beautiful people and places, as well as expressing that initial travel angst of "with impossible timetables, I cannot participate in the landscape!" When they can simply fall in love with a tree and some quiet, and a sunset they'll never forget: that's why we travel. I loved the behind-the-scenes with the whole team illustrating when there was a safety net, and when there was not. I was genuinely pissed off about Eve deciding at the last minute to disrespect their expertise and months of logistical work by imposing herself as a potential liability. There were so many ways she could have shared Ewan's experience without forcing herself onto a production and team dealing with very serious complexities, as if it was all a bicycle tour in Tuscany. I found it so selfish: whoever edited the whole thing together definitely agreed. I would have taken notes and organized a trip to see the best spots with him later. She added an unfortunate level of passive-aggressive melodrama into a tale of serendipity, adventure, generosity, danger, teamwork, etc. Now I'm watching "Long Way Up!" All so inspiring and beautiful.
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bart-3087 September 2010Watch the SE not the original 6 episodes of Long Way Down. The Special Edition contains 10 episodes with some great footage previously cut.
Ewan, Charley and Claudio are reunited for another adventure, this time from the top of Scotland to the bottom of Africa. Ewan's wife Eve also makes an appearance for part of the trip (closer to the end) riding her own bike with the guys.
Instead of just riding footage, this Special Edition has some fantastic and much needed visiting time at various villages, towns and wild animal reserves. Ewan and Charley get to meet some interesting people from all walks of life, from farmers to Presidents. And what African documentary would be complete without some wildlife? You get a bit of that here too sprinkled throughout the series. Ultimately this makes it a much more enjoyable documentary to watch (compared to the original release) as you get to experience Africa with Ewan and Charley a bit more 'properly'.
As a motorcyclist and a fan of travel in general I hope that Ewan and Charley will take more trips. It's a pleasure to watch such well shot documentaries and good friendships grow stronger.
Ewan and Charley, if you're reading this, please take me with you on your next trip!! :-) -
Traveling vicariously with Ewan McGregor 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. -
crocelover15 April 2015I actually saw this series before I watched, Long Way Round. I was not disappointed in the least. I was amazed by so many things in this program: the beauty of Africa, the struggles of the people, their openness, the wonderful friendship between Charlie, Ewan and the crew. I loved seeing how completely humble, caring and super funny Charlie and Ewan were especially. What an excellent example of a strong and lasting friendship. I admire their courage and sense of adventure.
I thought Eve, (Ewan's wife) joining them for part of the trip was brilliant! To the nay sayers, I say, look at her courage in learning to ride a bike, her dedication and her obvious love and appreciation for her husband. She was an appreciated addition; being friendly with all, and making an effort to keep herself in the background so as to give Charlie and Ewan their adventure time. Why would anyone complain about a wife wanting to join her husband in an epic adventure? Besides, Eve is truly lovely! I highly recommend BOTH series. It's a wild ride of fun, learning and laughter. -
liz60025-33-6417915 August 2021Geez, they're traveling very long journey, through some very interesting places -- but they are always in such a rush. AND, the guys never stop whining-- about the trip and about each other....
Some interesting places and people overall. But it's the complaining that takes away so much from a trip they'd been anticipating for more than 6 - 12 months. -
snedeker-cathy23 May 2016I loved the trip to Africa but really feel Eve McGregor joining the trip brought tension to Charlie's and Ewan's relationship and their rapport seemed forced through much of the trip. I said to my screen, "Gee McGregor grow a pair and tell her no", but he didn't listen and even defends the decision by suggesting her addition brought kittens, rainbows and unicorns to the trip meaning she was just so down to earth and helpful to all the people they encountered that her presence was a gift.
With the addition of Mr. McGregor's father, brother and mother,this series seemed to be all about pleasing Mr. McGregor; not about filming a buddy travel film and that is a shame. -
royzkeano8 February 2008Watched the whole of LWD on Love film after catching most of it on the TV. I was just left mildly interested, but ultimately uninspired. I still can't quite put my finger on it, other than say to LWD just didn't deliver.
The reasons for this I feel are 1. Six episodes, as opposed to 10 on the extended LWR DVD. So felt rushed, someone said they went though three countries in one hr on one of the episodes? The guy's said they didn't want to be away from their family's for an extended period of time- no problem with this but the schedule compromised the quality of the show. A lot of moaning in particular.
2. Support crew were a main character as much as Charley & Ewan- this of course completely understandable in Africa where they were often in unstable territory, so need to stick together, but from an exploration/enjoyment point of view made it a less appealing show.
3. Ewan's wife, Eve, being a part of the trip- just didn't understand why they allowed a rider with virtually no experience to ride in a really tough environment- also no explanation of when she passed her bike test, we see her doing her CBT & then nothing? It was quite clear that Charley was not in favour, although he cover this well, so as not to upset Ewan. I think most of the crew, other than David Alexanian were think the same thing.
4. Lack of detail- LWR seemed to cover a lot more & seemed more "from scratch" whereas LWD was more corparate & rushed. I don't think the audience cared so much for the characters & where didn't seem t be in so many compromising situations.
I watched Race-to-Dakar as well. Also read the book, and found that more interesting, though not enough to buy it.
LWD did have some good points in it though. Seeing the ferry from Italy to Tunisia, as described in Ted Simon's Juniper's travels was great; seeing how different counties dealt with not having medical care- as we know it; the great work that Unicef do & the history of the conflict that went on- & is still going on in Darfur.
Love watching these guys & hope they take more care with Long Way Up! -
frebo36 March 2009As a follow-up to "Long Way Round", the video account of their earlier, disaster-prone 200X reality TV experience circumnavigating the globe Eastward from London to NY on BMW motorbikes, Ewan McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman undertook another "reality" ride in 2007 - a 16,000 mile trip from the northern tip of Scotland to Capetown, South Africa. Dubbed the "Long Way Down", the series showcases the riders as they make their way across Britain, France and Italy, and then, after a ferry ride across the Mediterranean, southward in Africa with stops in multiple countries, including off road campsites, villages, and UNICEF facilities in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and finally South Africa, visiting 18 countries in all.
They made the trip across Europe and Africa in 2007, and the 8 reality episodes began on American FOX Reality TV at the beginning of August, 2008. The DVD set is now available as well.
Let me get one thing clear up front - I HATE almost all "reality" TV! Watching, phony, role-playing people in phony role-playing situations under artificially induced stress and conflict is an idiot's art form.
Who will be the last fat person off the island, or who will the Playboy bunny date, or who will the bachelor millionaire hook up with are questions in which I have ZERO interest.
But as an ardent motorcyclist, watching two by now very experienced long distance riders plan for and execute a long and adventuresome trip through the unknown is BRILLIANT! I initially saw a 2-hour High Definition "Director's Cut" of LWD covering the entire trip that was a one-time event in selected movie theaters on July 31st. It was awesome! The first theater I got to (20 minutes early) had a few dozen motorcycles parked in front but the theater was sold out. Fortunately I was able to get to another theater where a few front row seats were left and sat down for one of the most smile-inducing films I've ever seen.
Several hundred bikers from all walks of life from hairy "outlaws" in leather to button-downed BMW riders in Topsiders oohed and aahed, and laughed and shouted in unison as Ewan and Charlie confronted the challenges of long distance riding in conditions that ranged from ideal (mild weather, good roads) to extremely bad (skin soaking downpours, hellish heat, knee deep mud, rutted trailways or powdery sandstorms).
Helmet-cams were used to great effect to impart the visual sensations of riding and helmet microphones captured the kind of spontaneous comments that all riders make to themselves or their riding companions when confronted with the beautiful, the bizarre, or the bad that one frequently encounters on two wheels.
Riding from North to South, the riders also had many opportunities to interact with people from all walks of African life - from the highly westernized to totally non-Western tribal people. The DVD set also captures the vast diversity of the African landscape like no other travelogue that I've ever seen. Although Ewan and Charlie had a team of "fixers" in Land Rovers and security escorts on call for much of the trip, it was still a unique travel adventure for all concerned.
All in all, the 2 hour film and the DVD set are both wonderful condensations of an 85-day trip, full of real adventure - probably better classified as a documentary of a real travel adventure like climbing Everest, or riding the Tour de France than as a mere "reality" series. -
aurorahenelius21 November 2021Had the best time ever watching this. I'm not at all into motrocykles but found it super interesting, Charlie and Ewan are just fabulous, and so Is the rest of the team. I absolutely loved it!!
The only bad part was Eve inviting herself . It was quite evident that Charlie didn't want that, and Ewan probably didn't either, he just couldn't really tell his wife he didn't want her along.
But apart from Eve it was good. Getting to see Africa and the African culture and how hospitable and generous and kind the people were was truly beautiful! A great show and a ten out of ten for me. -
markthemoneyman2 July 2016This is a very interesting show especially for motorcycle enthusiasts. The greatest part is seeing that Ewan and Charlie are just regular people. The funniest part is the fact that Ewan is almost never recognized, even when he visits the location of a Star Wars set in Tunisia that is now a tourist site. Then, in the middle of nowhere Africa, a young boy recognizes who he is. CAUTION: The F bomb is dropped a few times but not very often. Remember, it is a bunch of guys alone in the wild. There is no violence or gore except for one occasion. In the middle of nowhere Kenya they stop for the night. One of the local police who is along for security pulls a goat out of the car. Then they cut its throat, butcher it, and grill for the crew. The crew seems surprised at the action. If you're squeamish you may want to fast forward through this part.
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jboothmillard27 July 2009I watched Long Way Round on DVD, and I was very excited when I heard about this follow-up series. Basically, actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman return for another journey around the world riding on BMW motorbikes. They plan a journey that would take them 15,000 miles from John o' Groats, Scotland to Cape Town, South Africa, travelling southwards through Europe and Africa. They are joined by the support crew in four-by-fours, director/producers David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, and cameramen Claudio von Planta and James Simak. The crew would link up with them at borders and help with logistics, equipment and supplies, but otherwise, they were on their own, with handheld and helmet cameras. Ewan and Charley travel through the United Kingdom, Italy, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. They stay mainly in hotels, but occasionally were given places to stay from natives of the countries and camped where possible. During the journey they meet many interesting people, see the famous sites, experience the culture, and eat food, and they visit UNICEF projects (Ewan is an ambassador). They go through many towns, villages, and cities, and through various types of scenery, including forests, mountains, deserts, jungles, and rivers, through hot, cold, wet, and windy weathers. There are many challenges along the way, including dangerous territories, hostile environments, tough terrain, and occasional accidents, but team try to remain optimistic, and there are some surprises along the way (Ewan is surprised by his mother Carol appearing). They are also joined on the last lengths of the journey by Ewan's (then) wife Eve Mavrakis, who trained to ride a motorbike. The six-part series is full of struggles, success, and exploration, the sights make for wonderful viewing, and you really get the sense of adventure from the two best friends. It has the catchy title song by Kelly Jones, lead singer of the Stereophonics, Ewan and Charley and the members of the crew are great characters, this is perfect for anybody who likes a road trip, motorbikes and seeing the world, a fantastic travel documentary. Very good!
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alanpuzey7 December 2021Of Charlie and Ewan's three motorcycle trips, I enjoyed this one but found it not as good as the first and the third.
The first had originality and more spontaneity, whilst the third was technically better and more polished - plus it had the interesting addition of new electric vehicles.
Africa was definitely a challenge and well undertaken by the guys, but a few of the earlier episodes were slow and monotonous - though the later episodes picked up well. -
Snarkysteff26 May 2023It takes until they're in Africa proper before this really takes off but it's hindered by Ewan's wife, who insists on getting involved with the trip.
It's not terrible around her and I admire her chutzpah, but frankly, I am not surprised their marriage later failed. Inserting herself into the adventure, even if only a bit... oof.
But aside from that - the scenery, the people, the encounters, they camaraderie, the wildlife... what's not to love?
I really hope they do more. Australia, perhaps.
I wish more people had the curiosity and enthusiasm about cultures and places shown by these two guys. Our world would be far better. -
Even with Eve tagging along this was my favorite of the series. The vistas and people of Africa were quite nice. So much so that I can't wait to go there myself. They could have easily made twenty episodes and I really wish they had.
That being said... the elephant in the room was Eve, Ewan's wife, imposing herself not only into the show but on to the trip as well. Her neurotic character was on full display and, in my mind, an embarrassment for all. Eve's inexperience on bikes should have the deciding factor of her not going to Africa. (not really the place for a beginner to be sure)
They are divorced now and its the best thing to happen for Ewan. In a perverse way it makes me happy. -
pwatm5 February 2023The inclusion of Ewan's wife really ruined this show. She had no interest in bikes, can't ride and just came out of jealousy. She ruined the dynamic between Ewan and Charlie, Ewan having to Miss part to pamper to his incompetent wife. She is such an irritating person, very clingy to Ewan and had no place in this adventure. I imagine Charlie must have felt very much like a spare part. I guess the was included to make it more "reality" show, but that was the brilliance of the other two shows- didn't pamper to the masses. She fell Off on the first corner-how useless is that! Not a biker, not her dream, no place.
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I absolutely loved Long Way Round. It was an adventure with 2 lads that inspired and intrigued.
So when this documentary was aired, I was excited to see the next leg of the adventure. But the first episode was pretty much like Long Way Round. Same issues, same struggles, same everything really. A tad boring.
Then they head off to Africa. A place I was looking forward to explore with them. Unfortunately they were constantly rushing and talking about time. Africa is soooo not about time. Besides, I was hoping to watch this without being reminded of the pressures of my day job. Instead the constant issues about time was exhausting to watch. I didn't want to watch endurance, I wanted to watch adventure.
Then Ewan decided to take his wife along. Yawn!! What a buzz kill. She looks lovely and it is wonderful he wanted to share it with her. But that is a poor entertainment decision, as she was bland and boring and overbearing. Absolutely killed it for me. He shouldve taken her on a different trip on his own time.
Ewan also winged constantly, complaining and moaning. Africa is not for the faint hearted and surely he shouldve known that. Not to mention, if I wanted to hear some one whine Id go back to work instead of trying to relax in front of the telly listening to his complaining.
He also seemed more aware of the camera and playing up for the camera than the first. This felt like a more calculated money making scheme than 2 mates wanting to ride bikes. It felt fake and forced.
Honestly, this one was a huge disappointment for me. A heavy painful experience that I wish I didn't see. -
imdb-2345725 October 2020The journey becomes uninteresting after a while as it lacked the adventure of discovery of Long Way Round. Instead this becomes a sort of stamina journey to just get there on a tight schedule. The time on a bike affects the narrative and the spontaneous feeling of Long Way Round is absent in this which is a great shame. The friendship also appears to be a little forced in places and lacks the character give and take of the original. This time they are conscious of the commercial aspect of the trip and it loses something because of it. Disappointed.