Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #249 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-12-03
• Rating: Exempt
• Formats: Colour, Digital Sound, Dolby, PAL, Subtitled
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 340 minutes

Synopsis
Following on from the sensational LONG WAY ROUND, travelling compadres Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman set off an all new adventure, journeying 15,000 miles from Scotland's most northern point in John O'Groats to Cape Town, the most southern tip of the African continent.

Synopsis
Following the phenomenal success of Long Way Round, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are back with a brand new adventure - this time riding the Long Way Down. From the northern most point of Scotland at John O'Groats to the Southern Most tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas the intrepid pain undergo exhausting conditions, treacherous terrain and many emotional, moving and awe-inspiring moments on this incredible 15,000 mile journey. Taking in Western Europe and riding down through Africa Ewan & Charley will mix their love of motorbikes with a passion for meeting people and visiting places of natural beauty and cultural importance.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant follow up to LWR
Having watched both the DVDs they are very good. I was in Cape Town not long after they had been and gone so can say the scenery was stunning and sunshine was great. A lot of preparation for the trip which is a lot of hard work and getting visas is a nightmare. They have guts to go and do something like that which other people only complain and do not actually do anything. If I had the money and time then I would have liked to do something like LWR as the wilderness in Mongolia was fantastic. Not many places let in the world where you can go and be at one with nature.

Get over it and stop complaining !!!
While it's true that LWD is not as special or adventurous as LWR, it's still a good ride and unique in its own right. Yes, the trip/editing seems too rushed; yes, Mr. and Mrs. McGregor should've done a bike trip on their own time; and yes, the support crew plays a more substantial role this time, which ultimately decreases the sense of isolation and true camaraderie felt by our two noble voyagers. Nevertheless, LWD is still fun and in the same spirit as the original. LWR can never be replicated - it's just too unique. LWD is simply different, so please get over it and stop complaining !!! Would you wish it had never been made?

The only complaint I will voice, which is mostly about the marketing aspect, is this: Despite the fact that the trip was rushed, the editing could've compensated for this a little were the series stretched out over at least 8 or 10 episodes. The producers probably felt they had a shoe-in DVD product to cash in on, and they were right. Just about everybody who bought LWR bought, or will buy, LWD. So in all likelihood, the producers believed they could repeat their marketing scheme from LWR by releasing an OAV version of the series, followed by an "extended" edition, forcing fans to double-dip to get the whole experience. This practice sucks but it is not for me to judge the gods or laws of the market. However, it's bittersweet when greedy marketeers mess up, and in the case of LWD I think they have, ensuring that we all lose out in the end; because due to overwhelmingly negative reviews of LWD by angry fans of LWR, should an extended edition of LWD be made, I don't think fans will buy it.

Mind you, they haven't released an R1 or R0 NTSC version yet, so maybe they'll corner the market that way. Anyway, I'd re-buy an extended edition at a reasonable price because I love the series and would rather have it than not have it. I don't want to reward greedy blundering, but having what I want on my DVD shelf is all that really matters to me.

Disappointing.
There is little I can say that hasn't been said already. Firstly they should have allocated much more time for the trip and secondly Mrs McGregor should have stayed at home. People are right in saying that Charley seemed very put out by the idea and the atmospehere and the camaraderie of Long Way Round was missing.The editing was poor as well. Why do we need an hour contain prep (little different to LWR) but then have several African countries squeezed into another? The constant whingeing irritated me as well, particularly in the first half of the trip. A lot is just glossed over.

The only reason that I am giving this 2 stars is that Charley had to put up with a lot and is always enertaining (the best film from this team in my opinion is Race to Dakar without Ewan). He is sometimes volatile and sometimes opens his mouth before he engages his brain but comes over as a really likable guy. Ewan McGregor comes over as spoilt and indulged in this and does not come over as well as in LWR. Also Charley seems to be up for anything when Ewan seems to bottle out. I suppose it is the insurance policy.