Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embark on a grueling quest to motorbike from London to New York. Going east through Europe, Asia and then to Alaska, they experience different cultures and ... Read allEwan McGregor and Charley Boorman embark on a grueling quest to motorbike from London to New York. Going east through Europe, Asia and then to Alaska, they experience different cultures and have to overcome the elements and adversity.Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embark on a grueling quest to motorbike from London to New York. Going east through Europe, Asia and then to Alaska, they experience different cultures and have to overcome the elements and adversity.
Storyline
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- TriviaThe journey lasted from April 14 2004 to 29 July 2004 and covered 18,887 miles (30,396 km), spread over 12 countries.
- Quotes
Ewan McGregor: [doing a video diary] Where in this place called White Horse... maybe it's not called White Horse.
Ewan McGregor: [takes video to motel room, Charley answers door] Charley.
Charley Boorman: Yeah?
Ewan McGregor: Where are we?
Charley Boorman: In a motel.
Ewan McGregor: No, what's the name of the town?
Charley Boorman: Uh... something donkey. Isn't it? Slim's Donkey or Knuckle Donkey? Starving Donkey! Ur... I donno.
Ewan McGregor: [now inside the motel room] Ok, the upshot is we have no idea where we are. Can't remember the name of the town that we're in. Oh! It might be on the receipt.
[checks receipt]
Ewan McGregor: Hungry Horse!
- Alternate versionsOn its original airing, the series featured seven episodes. The original 2-disc DVD set comprises these original episodes. The show has subsequently been re-edited into a 10-episode series. Notably, the preparation for the trip has been extended over two episodes. There is also additional footage during the trip itself. There is also an entirely new tenth episode, a retrospective of their journey. This extended series has been broadcast on Sky television in the UK, and is also available on a new 3-disc DVD set.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Long Way Up: Colombia, Panama & Costa Rica (2020)
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!
- cf99-1
- Mar 15, 2005
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- El mundo en moto con Ewan McGregor
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