"Long Way Round" (2004) TV mini-series

User Rating:

9.2/10   

Creators:

David Alexanian
Charley Boorman
Russ Malkin

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

28 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Adventure

Tagline:

2 men, 2 bikes, 20,000 miles...

Plot:

This documentary series follows actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on a motorcycle trip around the world...

Plot Keywords:

New York | Motorcycle | Mongolia | Journey | Travel

Cast

Ewan McGregor	...	Himself (7 episodes, 2004)
Charley Boorman	...	Himself (7 episodes, 2004)
David Alexanian	...	Himself (7 episodes, 2004)
Russ Malkin	...	Himself (7 episodes, 2004)
James Simak	...	Himself (7 episodes, 2004)
Claudio von Planta	...	Himself (3 episodes, 2004)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Australia:M (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Company:

Elixir Films

Trivia:

In 1997, prior to making this series, actor Ewan McGregor was in an episode of the American TV series "ER" which was similarly titled: "ER: The Long Way Around (#3.15)" (1997).

Quotes:

Ewan McGregor: [jedi impression] You must do what you think is right, of course... I need my cloak! it doesn't work without my cloak!

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Star Wars (1977)

The ultimate real life road movie

I have never seen Ewan McGregor as a real "movie star" and Charley Boorman is a journeyman actor.

The camera-work is okay, sometimes excellent and often good.

I don't like motorbikes and abhor contrived "reality TV".

Why have I watched this series twice already then?

This is a story about 2 friends who go off around the world and see *real* wilderness -not David Attenburgh like Serengeti - the real wilderness that is on the doorstep of Europe. As much a political and social wilderness as a geographic one.

Ewan and Charley are genuinely interesting and real people. They get fed up, hungry, tired. They sometimes argue and often get scared. This all goes to make a fascinating insight into both a "land that TV documentaries forgot" and a relationship that is as real as the cultures they ride through.

Being on motorbikes, they are forced to experience the journey first hand and the films are all the better for this - in fact it would have been a waste of time without them.

Ewan said "it's all about the motorbikes". Well, it isn't. It's all about Charley and Ewan and - more importantly - their friendship. It's all about the people they meet and the fascinating and often moving experiences along the way. As it happens, they had 2 wheels and a reliable BMW engine to help them along - but don't dismiss the biggest land mass on Earth and 2 good friends.

This is what television should be about. Good on the guys for having the vision, determination and stupidity to do this. Thanks!