Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

DipitySkillful an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Siflutter It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

mharlyn-merritt I was so stoked to see that Charley and Ewan decided to embark on another bike journey together. Africa was a revelation and a visual smörgåsbord. I enjoyed their reactions and the tensions that emerged and subsided, which gave us access to their humanity. Including more of the support crew added dimension, although I do agree that Claudio should have been given more play. Enjoyed the pre-trek prep. Could have done with less griping about time pressure. Thought it was a bad decision to make this a plot point because there were so many other interesting suspenseful things. Really thought the energy and focus dropped off when Eve Mcgregor joined the trip. She added nothing. I felt there was some hidden agenda going on that had nothing to do with the spirit of the adventure. I agree with a previous post that said if she wanted to participate more in her husband's recreational passions she should have done that off camera. As a viewer I somehow felt used by her insinuating herself into the situation. It was like inviting yourself to a rock concert with your son and his friends, or showing up at rehearsal wanting to be part of their band. Hope she does not tag along on the next one.

Bart Watch the SE not the original 6 episodes of Long Way Down. The Special Edition contains 10 episodes with some great footage previously cut.Ewan, Charley and Claudio are reunited for another adventure, this time from the top of Scotland to the bottom of Africa. Ewan's wife Eve also makes an appearance for part of the trip (closer to the end) riding her own bike with the guys. Instead of just riding footage, this Special Edition has some fantastic and much needed visiting time at various villages, towns and wild animal reserves. Ewan and Charley get to meet some interesting people from all walks of life, from farmers to Presidents. And what African documentary would be complete without some wildlife? You get a bit of that here too sprinkled throughout the series. Ultimately this makes it a much more enjoyable documentary to watch (compared to the original release) as you get to experience Africa with Ewan and Charley a bit more 'properly'.As a motorcyclist and a fan of travel in general I hope that Ewan and Charley will take more trips. It's a pleasure to watch such well shot documentaries and good friendships grow stronger.Ewan and Charley, if you're reading this, please take me with you on your next trip!! :-)

frebo3 As a follow-up to "Long Way Round", the video account of their earlier, disaster-prone 200X reality TV experience circumnavigating the globe Eastward from London to NY on BMW motorbikes, Ewan McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman undertook another "reality" ride in 2007 - a 16,000 mile trip from the northern tip of Scotland to Capetown, South Africa. Dubbed the "Long Way Down", the series showcases the riders as they make their way across Britain, France and Italy, and then, after a ferry ride across the Mediterranean, southward in Africa with stops in multiple countries, including off road campsites, villages, and UNICEF facilities in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and finally South Africa, visiting 18 countries in all.They made the trip across Europe and Africa in 2007, and the 8 reality episodes began on American FOX Reality TV at the beginning of August, 2008. The DVD set is now available as well.Let me get one thing clear up front - I HATE almost all "reality" TV! Watching, phony, role-playing people in phony role-playing situations under artificially induced stress and conflict is an idiot's art form.Who will be the last fat person off the island, or who will the Playboy bunny date, or who will the bachelor millionaire hook up with are questions in which I have ZERO interest.But as an ardent motorcyclist, watching two by now very experienced long distance riders plan for and execute a long and adventuresome trip through the unknown is BRILLIANT! I initially saw a 2-hour High Definition "Director's Cut" of LWD covering the entire trip that was a one-time event in selected movie theaters on July 31st. It was awesome! The first theater I got to (20 minutes early) had a few dozen motorcycles parked in front – but the theater was sold out. Fortunately I was able to get to another theater where a few front row seats were left and sat down for one of the most smile-inducing films I've ever seen.Several hundred bikers from all walks of life – from hairy "outlaws" in leather to button-downed BMW riders in Topsiders oohed and aahed, and laughed and shouted in unison as Ewan and Charlie confronted the challenges of long distance riding in conditions that ranged from ideal (mild weather, good roads) to extremely bad (skin soaking downpours, hellish heat, knee deep mud, rutted trailways or powdery sandstorms).Helmet-cams were used to great effect to impart the visual sensations of riding – and helmet microphones captured the kind of spontaneous comments that all riders make to themselves or their riding companions when confronted with the beautiful, the bizarre, or the bad that one frequently encounters on two wheels.Riding from North to South, the riders also had many opportunities to interact with people from all walks of African life - from the highly westernized to totally non-Western tribal people. The DVD set also captures the vast diversity of the African landscape like no other travelogue that I've ever seen. Although Ewan and Charlie had a team of "fixers" in Land Rovers and security escorts on call for much of the trip, it was still a unique travel adventure for all concerned.All in all, the 2 hour film and the DVD set are both wonderful condensations of an 85-day trip, full of real adventure - probably better classified as a documentary of a real travel adventure – like climbing Everest, or riding the Tour de France – than as a mere "reality" series.

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.