Product Description

Brand new,STILL IN SHRINKWRAPPING,from the UK

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7479 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-10-22
• Rating: Exempt
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 54 minutes

DVD Description
Ex-Python Michael Palin began his new and illustrious career as a global adventurer with this BBC-produced travelogue, journeying across the UK by train, from Derry to Kerry, reminiscing about his childhood hobby of trainspotting.

Synopsis
From Derry to Kerry, Michael Palin takes a rail trip across the glorious Irish countryside in search of his own ancestors.

Customer Reviews

Palin before Palin
I was a fan of Michael Palin's late 80s/early 90s travel programmes. He's taken for granted too much; it's an extraordinarily difficult achievement to be friendly without dumbing yourself down, and although Palin was always known as the 'nice Python', he clearly has a few demons - what else explains his (to me) inexplicable fascination with the self-destructive Ernest Hemingway?

This DVD consists of his first effort at travelogue, a 1980 contribution to 'Great Railway Journeys of the World', and also a 1994 contribution to the same series, now gone and sadly missed, although I suspect there aren't that many great railway journeys left. The 1980 programme is about going from Euston to the far North-West of Scotland, and it's interesting to watch because Palin hasn't quite hit the right note yet; his nerdish fascination with trains is a little bit too evident, and he's occasionally liable to drop into purple patches about things being 'images of England', or whatever. Likewise, when he hits Scotland, there's a very faintly patronising note. The 1994 programme, made after he'd been around the world a couple of times and was presumably humbled a bit by the experience, is about going from the North of Ireland to the far South, and he's on top form; the tone of friendly but mildly ironic enthusiasm is just right, and he seems more genuinely interested in the stuff that he's supposed to be interested in. It's also interesting to me, as a snapshot of the North in the last year or so before the first IRA ceasefire, when the society was changing to a less sectarian and less violently inclined climate but the political situation and the paramilitary groups hadn't yet caught up.

Let's face it, a Michael Palin travel DVD is something that you will watch when you want to watch somebody being good-humoured and intelligent in a strange environment. It's hardly 'tough' or 'challenging', but when (for example) you have a small infant who has only just been put to bed after a long time of trying, a Palin DVD is a godsend - absorbing and funny and interesting without making too many demands on your sorely tried patience.

Besides which, let's face it, the guy is a national treasure. Think of all the sketches he's written, think of the ex-leper, the Cheeseshop proprietor, the Pet Shop proprietor...think of the Fish-Slapping Dance, for goodness' sake. It's not like he hasn't earned his dues.

2 Episodes years apart
I am rather keen on Mr Palins' adventures so was slightly disappointed to discover that there were only two episodes on this DVD. For some reason, I thought I'd get a few hours entertainment for my £5.98. Alas 54 minutes was all I received.

The content was interesting enough, though his humour in the 1st episode was still that of an actor trying to impress.

I only bought this DVD as I did like his trips around the world in 80 days Around The World In 80 Days [DVD] [2002]

and again, I bought the New Europe collection. He was okay as an ageing traveller, but he seemed to stay in bars and cafes in every country his visited that sold Carlsberg or Coke. Michael Palin's New Europe : Complete BBC Series [DVD]

Full Circle is on my wish list as I recall enjoying that on TV in years gone by. Full Circle With Michael Palin [DVD] [1997]

Derry to Kerry
As always the very likeable Micheal on good form as he searches for one of his ancestors in Ireland. Highly entertaining and well produced, with some spectacular shots of a steam train running along the coast.

Whoever wrote the first 'official' review above hasn't looked at a map in a while! The review states about Micheal "journeying across the UK from Derry to Kerry"!! Last time I looked Kerry was most definately not in the UK!!