Charley Boorman - By Any Means (DVD)

It's no Long Way Round, but IS worth a watch Firstly, I appreciate that many fans of Long Way Round/ Down (LWR) will miss Ewan McGregor, after all, he's a big film star and it was exciting to watch him facing precarious situations during the former series. Indeed, although he's a sometime actor too, Charley Boorman is only really famous due to his friendship with Ewan, and while Ewan could undoubtedly carry a series on his own, Charley is less charismatic and less able to carry it off. For Charley's delivery isn't exactly polished and at times his language/ actions can be a bit crass and 'workman-like'. For instance, I think they should definitely have edited-out the bits focussing on his sweaty body parts! That said, many viewers will like his enthusiastic and down-to-earth demeanour, and admire him for coming across as a decent, normal bloke. I have to say that he comes across as just that, and appears to be a family man who's great with kids and likes a laugh. But does that make 'By Any Means' interesting to watch? The answer is yes and no. 'By Any Means' is not 'on the edge of your seat' interesting like LWR was at times, lacking any real drama to speak of. It's also a bit formulaic, and frankly I'm not sure that there's much mileage left in the concept of man, mate and cameraman travelling across the globe for the guys to bother filming any more series unless Ewan (sans wife) or some other top actor comes back onboard. However, 'By Any Means' IS worth watching, if not just to see the amazing scenery and all the different cultures they encounter, albeit briefly. Okay, so anyone could do what Charley, producer Russ and cameraman Mungo did, finances permitting, but the guys definitely went on something of an adventure (they did visit 25 countries after all). Also, even though they're not the biggest characters (some may even find Russ a bit annoying to be honest), you do get a sense of camaraderie among the group and I really felt for them when Mungo had to return to England due to injury. Lastly, while LWD/ LWR undoubtedly inspired plenty of people to get motorbikes and *intend* to go travelling, this latest series could inspire people to actually go on a trip somewhere by more conventional and sensible means, and for that it has to be worth something. While LWR/ LWD appealed largely (though not exclusively) to bikers, 'By Any Means' might appeal to the sort of people who like to watch Stephen Fry and Paul Merton travelling across China/ India/ USA etc, although be warned that Charley et al do not really engage with the locals much and you won't learn a huge amount about the different cultures. The only caveat I have to buying this DVD is that the production company have a habit of releasing a better, 3-DVD set six months later, so perhaps you should wait for that one unless you're buying it as an Xmas gift?

enjoy the ride I am throughly enjoying this series in actually fact more than LWD and LWR, Charlie is flourishing and exceedingly engaging to watch, He never moans and its a pleasue to hear him say how genuinly fantastic these far flung places are up close. He comes across very well and would be a joy as a travel companion, I find he says what the viewer is thinking , well certainly me anyway. I always felt he was very much in Ewan's shadow in the other two and quite honestly should not be, he was as big a part of the journey as him. Certainly LWD was spoilt with Ewans wife insisting on coming, sure shes a lovely lady but it spoilt the dynamice duo somehow. I don't think I would bother buying the book but the tv series had been a wonderful journey to watch, look forward to watching what this lovely man does next.

Dull dull dull. Oh lord - here we go again. Charley buffoons his way around the world - and films it. The editing and occasional appearances by bland Russ leave so much to be desired. How Charley manages to survive these journeys without a local, or one of his own crew, thumping him ... his diplomatic skills are non existant - Bruce Parry he is not. The excitement of travel is absent. It's painful to watch this on TV - don't put yourself through the ordeal of watching it on DVD...

We'll wait and see....... Firstly, i have enjoyed this series. It's been good to see Charley shirk off the annoying Scotsman (You are not funny McG, the silly voices are not amusing) and do something on his own. Russ seems determined to become a presenter (he started edging in with LWR and LWD) but at some point he will have to accept that he is an irritating kind of chap or melodramatic at best. I wonder about the marketing ploy for this series, can we expect the normal straight 6 part DVD release of then a few months later an extended one with 'additional scenes not previously seen', followed by a standard Blu ray release then Blu ray 'with additional scenes' then a re-edited ten part series as shown on the discovery channel follwed by a new DVD release, followed by....... and so and on. Anyway cynicism aside, well done Charley but please don't take the mickey with the DVD releases, we're buying customers (and not all idiots) after all and have seen through the profiteering!

Give this a chance I've really enjoyed this series. Charley gets a bad press and I myslef have grown to like the guy more after reading all the books and watching the DVDs. His enthusiasm is infectious and he doesnt moan like Ewan Mcgregor. Long way Round was super but this series is entertaining and a good watch