Charley Boorman
Discussion
MaxAndRuby said:
Is he actually famous for anything other than being MacGregor's mate? What did he do for a living before appearing in travel programmes?
Acting careerThanks to his father he got an early start in the film business as a child actor, first appearing in Deliverance (1972) and then returning to cinema as a young Mordred in Excalibur (1981), and The Emerald Forest (1985) also directed by his father. More recent films include The Serpent's Kiss (1997) on which he met his best friend Ewan McGregor, and The Bunker (2001). He has recently taken time off from movie work for various motorcycling adventures.
HTH.
Los Angeles said:
Speaking for myself, I have no opinion on the biking duo's televised exploits except to say I find their series both adventurous and contrived. All those lonely journeys, scrapes and japes ... followed by a film crew in a nice warm Range Rover.
Nissan Patrols
[/pedant]
Boorman is a clown. He's such a drama queen. Its only thing that put me off the series really. Boorman being amazed by everything and being so "heartfelt" and "geniune", I think my telly started secreting actual treacle.
If you want proper motorcycle adventure, check this bloke out
http://www.nicksanders.com/
No film crew. No Nissans. Usually the wrong bike/tyres tool for the job.
Hard as nails.
Edited by 308mate on Friday 2nd January 11:10
Edited by 308mate on Friday 2nd January 11:12
It's TV, without the smoke and mirrors and a bit of contrived scripting plus a bevy of cute production assistants running around and wiggling their chesticles so the front of camera "talent" can "discover" that amazing view or other wonder then it would be bloody boring TV frankly.
Take the latest Boorman series, the bit where he had to take a speedboat to get somewhere... but the boat didn't have navigation lights so couldn't run in the dark... but had to set off late so it was touch and go... yet they had a problem so it went dark before arrival.... bla di bla.
Was it a schedule to meet some ferry or other timetabled event? Nope so they could have a kip in a hotel overnight and then have another contrived adventure when the same fricking boat turned up next morning a bit late because they'd been filling up with gas.
Having said that, the Long Way Round was epic stuff, real difficult terrain, soul destroying knackering stuff, especially across Siberia etc. Long Way Down was contrived and a bit crappy. Latest one without obi-wan Jnr was just pants. Sorry Charles but just tooooooooo contrived.
Another example of contrived for TV was the first series of River Cottage. There he was, poor old destitute Huge Fearnley Whittingstall living hand to mouth, hoping his veggies grow and his hens lay or else he'll starve, hoping he makes a few quid at the farmer's market so he can buy a new pig and take it home in his kanckered trailer behind his totally ballocksed and inappropriate Pink Ford Corsair droptop. Yes poor old millionaire HFW.
TV, smoke and mirrors, it's all in the edit. You can save the lives of seven children single handed, wrestle an alligator, and perform brain surgery with a biro case and a rusty spoon, nurse back to health several fluffy bunny wabbits but if the largely pre-determined script says you are a rich obnoxious twunt, then that is how the edit will ensure the programme turns out by zooming right in on the five seconds when your sunny disposition fades because you are genuinely not feeling well and the director makes eight totally fricking stupid demnds in the space of two minutes.
Take the latest Boorman series, the bit where he had to take a speedboat to get somewhere... but the boat didn't have navigation lights so couldn't run in the dark... but had to set off late so it was touch and go... yet they had a problem so it went dark before arrival.... bla di bla.
Was it a schedule to meet some ferry or other timetabled event? Nope so they could have a kip in a hotel overnight and then have another contrived adventure when the same fricking boat turned up next morning a bit late because they'd been filling up with gas.
Having said that, the Long Way Round was epic stuff, real difficult terrain, soul destroying knackering stuff, especially across Siberia etc. Long Way Down was contrived and a bit crappy. Latest one without obi-wan Jnr was just pants. Sorry Charles but just tooooooooo contrived.
Another example of contrived for TV was the first series of River Cottage. There he was, poor old destitute Huge Fearnley Whittingstall living hand to mouth, hoping his veggies grow and his hens lay or else he'll starve, hoping he makes a few quid at the farmer's market so he can buy a new pig and take it home in his kanckered trailer behind his totally ballocksed and inappropriate Pink Ford Corsair droptop. Yes poor old millionaire HFW.
TV, smoke and mirrors, it's all in the edit. You can save the lives of seven children single handed, wrestle an alligator, and perform brain surgery with a biro case and a rusty spoon, nurse back to health several fluffy bunny wabbits but if the largely pre-determined script says you are a rich obnoxious twunt, then that is how the edit will ensure the programme turns out by zooming right in on the five seconds when your sunny disposition fades because you are genuinely not feeling well and the director makes eight totally fricking stupid demnds in the space of two minutes.
He seems like a very genuine, nice bloke who happens to have had a great deal of luck. Don't think he is the best man to do those programmes though and the one he's done on his own is not great and I gave up after a couple of episodes.
I am jealous. Why wasn't my dad a film director and why couldn't I be Ewan's best mate!!! Why....why... WWWHHHHYYYYY!!!!
I am jealous. Why wasn't my dad a film director and why couldn't I be Ewan's best mate!!! Why....why... WWWHHHHYYYYY!!!!
308mate said:
Los Angeles said:
Speaking for myself, I have no opinion on the biking duo's televised exploits except to say I find their series both adventurous and contrived. All those lonely journeys, scrapes and japes ... followed by a film crew in a nice warm Range Rover.
Nissan Patrols
[/pedant]
Boorman is a clown. He's such a drama queen. Its only thing that put me off the series really. Boorman being amazed by everything and being so "heartfelt" and "geniune", I think my telly started secreting actual treacle.
If you want proper motorcycle adventure, check this bloke out
http://www.nicksanders.com/
No film crew. No Nissans. Usually the wrong bike/tyres tool for the job.
Hard as nails.
Edited by 308mate on Friday 2nd January 11:10
Edited by 308mate on Friday 2nd January 11:12
I,m guessing family money has helped him on his way as well. His adventures are a lot more dangerous but he is a bit pompous. I suppose it was either that or climbing Everest will uncle Edmund Hillary.
Apologies if I'm wrong but he's childrens name's lead me to this conclusion.
I have to say I quite like Charley, he's lead an interesting life and done stuff most of us will only dream about. Certainly he's been lucky in that his parents are not badly off and that he's mates with Ewan McGregor which boosted his profile considerably.
But who here wouldn't take those opportunities given half a chance?? I recently read Charleys book 'Road to Dakar' about his attempt on the Paris-Dakar Rally. After long way round, he had a choice, he could have gone back to fitting kitchens (his day job between acting) or he could exploit this opportunity. He took the braver of the two options in my opinion and I admire him for that.
I think a lot of the negativity towards him on this site is down to jealousy. But he strikes me as a genuine bloke making the best of what life has given him. Good on him I say.
But who here wouldn't take those opportunities given half a chance?? I recently read Charleys book 'Road to Dakar' about his attempt on the Paris-Dakar Rally. After long way round, he had a choice, he could have gone back to fitting kitchens (his day job between acting) or he could exploit this opportunity. He took the braver of the two options in my opinion and I admire him for that.
I think a lot of the negativity towards him on this site is down to jealousy. But he strikes me as a genuine bloke making the best of what life has given him. Good on him I say.
I'm torn
I like the bloke - I think he is a really nice guy
I have done several long trips similar to what he has done (granted not all the way around the world or whatever) but I have ventured into (by car) the far east and some of Africa.
When I went, yes I went as a group and yes we had some "security" (in Africa anyway!) but to be honest, a lot of the time we were not within 50 miles of anyone else we were with.
I do totally admire them for what they have done and, I freely admit, I am jealous of his trips, and especially jealous of the fact that he has profited from them.
I don't understand jealously to be honest though - if I see someone who has done something great, then I am impressed and congratulate him rather than thinking d
head...
I like the bloke - I think he is a really nice guy
I have done several long trips similar to what he has done (granted not all the way around the world or whatever) but I have ventured into (by car) the far east and some of Africa.
When I went, yes I went as a group and yes we had some "security" (in Africa anyway!) but to be honest, a lot of the time we were not within 50 miles of anyone else we were with.
I do totally admire them for what they have done and, I freely admit, I am jealous of his trips, and especially jealous of the fact that he has profited from them.
I don't understand jealously to be honest though - if I see someone who has done something great, then I am impressed and congratulate him rather than thinking d
head...Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff