Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 No lessons learnt! November 25, 2008
alliep (uk)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The real shame here is that the very things that people are not happy with - the rushed journey, the feel that they were just `ticking boxes' in terms of reaching destinations and modes of transport, are all comments that have been put to the production company, via email and also on the Long Way Down website forum. I am a very huge fan of Charley Boorman, I think he is a genuine gem, interesting to watch and incredibly likeable, but unless the comments by viewers are listened to, then I wonder how many more chances he will get with viewers? As a fan, I get a lot of feedback from other people, and most of the feedback I got was how rushed this series was, and how disjointed it felt. With Ewan not there, that chemistry is absent, but Charley is charismatic enough in himself. It's the constant dashing from place to place in an `Oh look, here's a boat that just happens to be empty and able to take us on the next leg' fake style that doesn't help. We tend to lead busy lives, and to be honest, the thought of sitting down after a week running around after my kids, working, running the house, seeing my friends only to watch someone else chase around is not what I want. I'm after escapism, new worlds, new cultures and new people with a different take on life. If I want rushed and busy, I just get up in the morning! Also, there were nowhere near enough motorbikes. Charley withough a bike - it's just wrong!
 Complete Charley October 19, 2008
Lancebastion (stratazon.co.uk)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Unlike most reviews for this thusfar I thought I'd wait to see the whole series. How can you really comment if you haven't?
Before I start my review of the series I'd say that watching this on DVD is the way to go. This kind of adventure should seem epic and long, put it on and watch 3 episodes back to back. Not in a weekly form. I found Long Way Down much better on DVD than on TV due to this. Oh and one more thing, it's not as good as Ewan McGregor And Charley Boorman - Long Way Round [Special Edition] [2004], few shows are, so don't expect it to be.
So, it's Charley on his own, but not for the first time. Charley Boorman - Race to Dakar follows Charley as he and his team enter the infamous Dakar Rally. In this Charley has to show his abilities as a Biker and presenter, good training for By Any Means.
By Any Means is a different adventure altogether. Gone are the BMW motorbikes, replaced by over 100 different types of transport as Charley goes from Ireland to Australia 'by any means'. Really this is one big, nerdy transport documentary, showing how people move around the world, talking more about machines than cultures. This isn't a documentary about soaking up cultures as per the previous outings. Things get trickier as the series goes on, climaxing in a some dangerous events in the last episode.
Charley does well, he's obviously a good guy and is willing to show all to the camera (literally). This is more like your mate going on an adventure than a TV/Film star, which is By Any Mean's charm.
I've enjoyed it on TV and I'll do even more so again on DVD.
I Disagree October 15, 2008
Helsby Hamster
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I thought it was a really good video diary of the journey. Charley is a very honest presenter and a naturally warm person. Great show and I'd like to see more. Amazing!
by all means wait till the full version comes out October 14, 2008
Mr. S. gilbert (melton Mowbray England)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
hi
i've been watching this on iplayer and it's a great program the only thing i'd say is w.a.i.t until the full 'extended version' hits the shops the production company have a habit of releasing the product on dvd then re releasing it with more added bonus content just a couple of months later...that's what happened with the long way down and i bought the first version so felt somewhat annoyed at being short changed on extra's by being enthusiastic about the program...would have been nice to be given the option of a download area for those who were first to buy..still learned my lesson and will wait fo the proper dvd version this time.
other than that this is a great journey to watch charlie 'do his thing'
stee
It's no Long Way Round, but IS worth a watch October 13, 2008
You're reading the opinion of (UK)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Firstly, I appreciate that many fans of Long Way Round/ Down (LWR) will miss Ewan McGregor, after all, he's a big film star and it was exciting to watch him facing precarious situations during the former series. Indeed, although he's a sometime actor too, Charley Boorman is only really famous due to his friendship with Ewan, and while Ewan could undoubtedly carry a series on his own, Charley is less charismatic and less able to carry it off.
For Charley's delivery isn't exactly polished and at times his language/ actions can be a bit crass and 'workman-like'. For instance, I think they should definitely have edited-out the bits focussing on his sweaty body parts! That said, many viewers will like his enthusiastic and down-to-earth demeanour, and admire him for coming across as a decent, normal bloke. I have to say that he comes across as just that, and appears to be a family man who's great with kids and likes a laugh. But does that make 'By Any Means' interesting to watch?
The answer is yes and no. 'By Any Means' is not 'on the edge of your seat' interesting like LWR was at times, lacking any real drama to speak of. It's also a bit formulaic, and frankly I'm not sure that there's much mileage left in the concept of man, mate and cameraman travelling across the globe for the guys to bother filming any more series unless Ewan (sans wife) or some other top actor comes back onboard.
However, 'By Any Means' IS worth watching, if not just to see the amazing scenery and all the different cultures they encounter, albeit briefly. Okay, so anyone could do what Charley, producer Russ and cameraman Mungo did, finances permitting, but the guys definitely went on something of an adventure (they did visit 25 countries after all). Also, even though they're not the biggest characters (some may even find Russ a bit annoying to be honest), you do get a sense of camaraderie among the group and I really felt for them when Mungo had to return to England due to injury.
Lastly, while LWD/ LWR undoubtedly inspired plenty of people to get motorbikes and *intend* to go travelling, this latest series could inspire people to actually go on a trip somewhere by more conventional and sensible means, and for that it has to be worth something. While LWR/ LWD appealed largely (though not exclusively) to bikers, 'By Any Means' might appeal to the sort of people who like to watch Stephen Fry and Paul Merton travelling across China/ India/ USA etc, although be warned that Charley et al do not really engage with the locals much and you won't learn a huge amount about the different cultures. The only caveat I have to buying this DVD is that the production company have a habit of releasing a better, 3-DVD set six months later, so perhaps you should wait for that one unless you're buying it as an Xmas gift?
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