Long Way Round Race To Dakar – Complete 8 DVD Box Set
March 31, 2010 by admin · 5 Comments
Product Description
Collectors Edition Box Set contains Long Way Round, Race To Dakar & Long Way Down. 8 DVD set containing a massive 24 1/2 hours! Take three trips of a lifetime in the company of best friends Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, as they straddle their beloved motorbikes and cross unlikely terrain to reach some of the world’s most far-flung corners. Powering through notoriously desolate countryside, they ride from London to New York via Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia and Canada In Long Way ‘Round, and from the northernmost tip of Scotland descending through Western Europe and Africa to South Africa’s southernmost point in Long Way Down. These DVD stories cover their adventures and misadventur… More >>
Many others have commented on the details of these documentaries, so I won’t take the time. You should be warned, however, that this is not for family viewing due to foul language throughout. I’m a big fan of Ewan and this really bummed me out. If you have no qualms with filthy language, you’ll love it. If you do, you’ll be saddened.
Rating: 2 / 5
I live overseas and due to unreliable TV service I was only able to catch an episode now and again on either Long Way Around or Long Way Down. I got hooked on the series after reading “Jupiter’s Travels” and while the book is a good read, there are gaps so it’s difficult to follow how he gets from one place to the other. I enjoyed the EwanMcGregor and Charley Boorman series or at least the two where they are together. While I got tired of hearing how hard it was or I miss my family, the entertainment came from the challenges they faced and the places they visited. As for being hard and tough – thus the reason for their complaints I can’t see it. They had GREAT bikes, tons of gear and a support crew. So well stocked and supplied I think I saw only one repair made on the road. This isn’t a negative, just saying when you come well stocked and supported it’s hard to fail. They didn’t rough it in the bush much, enjoying the comforts of a hotel most nights. But all in all I have no regrets purchasing the set.
I do however take offense to the third DVD, Race to Dakar. Shortly into the DVD, during one of the first diary cams Charley’s attitude suggests he is already defeated. He is complaining that now he has to put up since his mouth has gotten him into this mess. My gut told me this wasn’t going to have a nice outcome and when Charley failed to finish any of his training races and chose instead to rush off to the doctor any chance he got, it said it all. He was looking for an excuse to quit.
The debate a few evenings before the kick off of the race between Charley and his fellow riders on who was in charge was sheer stupidity. I got through episode 4 before quitting and have to say, the only good point was the comments made by the British rider the trio kept bumping into. Interestingly, he never complained. Nor the two who were supporting themselves or the lady who has tried the race 6 times. The only one complaining relentlessly is Charley and it was HIS IDEA. He complains about the dust, the rocks, the dunes…DUDE, it’s the RACE TO DAKAR. What did you think you were getting into. He even flew out and observed the conditions.
As for the sheer nonsense on the BMW SUV. Complicated things but the training the drivers went through was silly. They should have been learning how to drive cross country, difficult terrain, negotiating obstacles, and making on the spot repairs. As in one of the early DVDs, their mishap occurred when they were SPEEDING across the desert. A bit of caution and the vehicle makes it. Guess if they were true adventurers and knew that if they broke it they would be stranded perhaps they would have used a bit more common sense.
I would have rated this set 5 stars had the Race to Dakar not been in the set.
Rating: 2 / 5
This review is for the 3 series boxed set of Long Way Round, Long Way Down, and Race to Dakar. I won’t repeat what others have said about the wonderfully interesting travels and trials that Ewan, Charlie and the team faced on their exploits. It all makes for great viewing and living vicariously through Ewan and Charlie. I will say however, I was shocked at the excessive amount of foul language throughout the shows. Ewan and Charlie are real potty-mouths! My goodness. I was wanting to share this DVD series with my son, but I sadly will not because of the almost constant swearing. A real shame because there is a lot to learn on these shows about the places they visit. BE WARNED; THE LANGUAGE IS VERY COARSE AND NOT FOR CHILDREN! It makes me wonder if Ewan and Charlie let their small children see these shows! I would give it 5 stars if it were not for the language.
By the way, my first boxed set contained 1 DVD that was in PAL format and thus would not play. I had to return it to Amazon for a replacement.
Rating: 4 / 5
WOW what a great investment…Recommended to me by my friend MP I am ONLY into disc 2 of 8 and i have another 22 hours of viewing pleasure. This is a wonderful set and is taking me to places i shall never ever even be able to go in my life. I am thankful for this suggestion and I do trust my friend’s suggestions as he is one of the WORLD’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHERS and when he recommends something I listen. This DELUXE set is the way to go and worth 5X’s more than the asking price of 35.00.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU MP for your suggestion
Rating: 5 / 5
Too cool for school. Especially the camera team. The dudes rule the roads! Live to ride and ride to live. Be the bike!
Rating: 5 / 5