tinyone2
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.
The_Real_Review
Ewan McGregor is likely the reason people initially watch this and then gets on your nerves quick. He ruins the trip by inviting his wife (grow some balls), is "surprised" the roads in Africa are garbage (are you serious?) and fawns over people living in primitive conditions (No Ewan, living in the stone age is not "romantic").I am just surprised at the poor preparation for the trip considering they did this before. 1. Ewan still cannot ride a bike without falling off. (At least Charlie's skills have improved)2. Their riding gear was not water proof. (Yet advertise on their website it was the same company that Che Guavara used?)3. They use BMW bikes again for their supposed "reliability" yet last time had the frames break on multiple bikes, multiple time and now have the shocks fail on multiples bikes. Top that off with a worthless kickstand "safety" switch preventing Ewan's bike from starting. Anything worthless like this that can break on an adventure trek should be removed from the bike before you leave. (or make the cover protecting the switch out something like say... titanium?)Long Way Round was much more interesting, especially in Russia. Africa does not look interesting let alone exciting to visit. The only thing I was surprised about was how good the roads were in Tunisia. Ironically just like LWR the only time they got threatened was in Arab countries. (Ewan seems oblivious to this fact)They needed to focus more time on the gear and bike preparation and give Claudio more camera time. Claudio, Charlie and the crew are much more interesting than whining Ewan. Fast forward past the UNICEF parts... boring
rachel_wildman79
Granted 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.
Zhivko Yakimov
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.
