Reviews

I first saw this beautifully filmed documentary many years ago and never forgot it. The most interesting parts for me were the trek to base camp and traversing the ice fall. Many of the shots in the movie offered unique perspectives that really showcased the scale and grandeur of the region. I felt that sometimes the thoughts of Miura were overly philosophical and romantic, but what I was hearing was a translation from Japanese to English, so final conclusions are not possible without understanding Japanese. The actual skiing down Everest sequence was short but dramatic. I think that skiers could empathize more with the difficulties of trying to stay in control on such hard and bumpy ice! Crazy stuff! One reviewer had noted that Miura had died shortly afterward but this is not the case. Apparently he became the oldest person to summit Everest when he did it at age 75 in 2008. Quite a man! All these years later, The Man Who Skied Down Everest is as much about climbing Everest in 1970 as about actually skiing down Everest.

OK I am a hardcore sport bike rider with a little off road riding thrown in. To be honest I knew Ewan better for his narration of the movie FASTER, about MotoGP, than for his acting roles. I bought the book and DVD not really knowing much about the story or journey. Both my wife, who is not interested in motorcycles, and I loved the DVD. We both loved seeing the different lands and cultures they rode through. Also it was great to see how they were so constantly welcomed and helped by those they met on the trip. What made the production entertaining was the great editing, and Charlie and Ewan who were interesting and funny. If you like travel and adventure then see "Long Way Round". Then start thinking about getting a bike:)

FASTER does a great job of showcasing the incredible spectacle that is Grand Prix motorcycle racing. One could argue that MotoGP is the most exciting motorsport on the planet with the most skilled racers. This documentary goes inside the sport and puts us in a position to really get an idea of how fast these bikes go and how skilled the riders are that master them. MotoGP is a sport where the reality of the speeds and risks involved speak for themselves, and FASTER does a perfect job of conveying the message without getting in the way. In a world where too many films rely heavily on special effects, FASTER is a reminder that reality can be the biggest thrill of all. For fans of motorsport this film is a must see. For others the film will have you not believing what you are seeing and being entertained by the larger than life personalities and their rivalries. FASTER gets to the heart of MotoGP racing and takes the audience inside the sport. There's not a more thrilling ride out there on film!