MovieChat Forums > Long Way Round (2004) Discussion > Poor show!

Poor show!

posted 16 years ago by jayhale31
12 replies | jump to latest

I really wanted to like these two but they just came across as two self indulgent tossers with too much money and time on their hands.
They dont even appear to be real friends, there is no banter between them and their conversations often appeared forced and awkward.They dont argue enough to be true friends.
Not really a good idea for a tv show either as most of the trip was just them riding bikes non stop, i mean they put the whole journey across America into one hour long show because nothing happened!
So come on lads, get some decent acting work done and spend some time with your families!

[–] tilo1166 16 years ago

I have no intention in arguing with you on the vast majority of your points, mostly because I have no real opinion, but too much time on their hands? WTF kind of horsesh!t is that? Right, because what most people spend their entire lives doing is so important. I would love to take a massive trip like they did and I plan to at least once in my life. Having an adventure, doing what makes you happy, visiting new places.. this is what our time is for. I quite seriously would prefer to live cheap and spend more time living life than have a big house and fast car and lots of toys and waste my life doing some pointless job. It's like we're all supposed to live for retirement, but by then you're too old to really benefit from the time off. It's too fncking late.

[–] colt_89 16 years ago

OP, I feel this isn't your sort of show, so, therefore just because you didn't enjoy it, doesn't make it bad. I myself loved the show, and Charley and Ewan seemed like very good mates, not everyone has to argue with one another, hell, when your on a show like this you don't have to be friends to get quite annoyed at others. Hell Charley got annoyed at both Russ and Claudio. Maybe clever editing cut out arguments between Ewan and Charley because the creators felt it would pull away quality from the show, or pull away enjoyment, I don't know, but this show in all honesty is not a "poor show", it's just not your type, I think.

EDIT: It appears I'm right, go to this thread here and you'll see that the book tells the trip in more detail.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403778/board/thread/14730989

Please check out some short reviews here.
http://filmandtv-reviews.blogspot.com/

[–] sackofwhine 9 years ago

BRAVO!

[–] willywilly 15 years ago

The problem with this show is very simple. These guys dont know anything. Nor do they have much curiosity. All they have to say about a place they visit is how colourful, nice, amazing or different it is. If they spot something of interest they say that looks like such and such. They never bother to find out what it might actually be. They don't seem to care much.

Still, as someones holiday video it's not bad and they do cover some impressive ground. Just don't call this a documentary.

[–] mrfacetious 15 years ago

"Poor Show" - Disagree. Long Way DOWN was a poor show.

[–] aloep 15 years ago

Not really a good idea for a tv show either as most of the trip was just them riding bikes non stop,

Riding bikes through remote parts of the world and impressive landscapes that most people would never get the chance to see otherwise. I enjoyed the show.

[–] prometheus1816 15 years ago

Riding bikes through remote parts of the world and impressive landscapes that most people would never get the chance to see otherwise. I enjoyed the show.

Precisely the reasons I enjoyed both "Long Way Round" and "Long Way Down". The remote areas of Mongolia they went to in LWR were amazing. Also seeing places like the interiors of Russia I've read about, but didn't see until this show. I also loved the parts of LWD where they went through Africa. Again, places I could only dream of goting to.

"Sometimes my ruminations are too confusing for someone not inside my head." -Anon

[–] Sonatine97 15 years ago

I thought LWR was excellent from beginning to end. Yes it could be argued that either or both guys weren't always genuinely interested with their sight-seeing of some cities and countries, but overall they did a brilliant job. Plus they were on a relatively tight schedule so they probably didn't have enough time to really relax and absorb the culture & the landmarks.

In addition each episode only lasted about 40 odd minutes, but they probably had hours and hours and hours of unused film in stock. Editing the best bits for each episode must have been quite difficult trying to get the combination between keeping the show moving, but also staying long enough in any one place to make it interesting for the viewer too.

And I looked & I beheld a pale horse & the name that sat on him was Death & Hell followed with him.

[–] LoftyBear 14 years ago

Sonatine: From what was said in the book Ewan and Charley's experience of the trip was always the number one priority. The filming of it came in as a way to try and recoup costs, also had they shown the "uncut" version it would have been very hardcore. Have you ever tried watching the Paris-Dakkar rally live? Hour after hour of bikes going through the desert, not exactly inspiring. Some would equate it to watching paint dry, or watching cricket or curling. :)

[–] booster654 15 years ago

Lol, I've read some incredibly dumb posts and some whacked out opinions here but that one takes the biscuit. Maybe you're just trying way way to hard to be sarcastic, I cant figure it out.

[–] LoftyBear 14 years ago

I think what some of you are missing is that this was not intended as a travel documentary. It was intended as a travel log of two guys on bikes riding around the world.

Admittedly I have not seen the video of it yet, so can't comment on it; but I am reading the books and yes there were arguments between Ewan and Charley. It would be very surprising if there were not with them being together day after day like that.

Also they had a long-standing friendship after meeting while filming "Serpents Kiss" which was released in 1997.

[–] 9 years ago

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