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Amazon.co.uk Review
In Pole to Pole, Michael Palin follows the success of his original global trek, Around the World in 80 Days, with a race against time to get from the North Pole to the South Pole. Palin balks at nothing, tries just about anything and always finds time for a spot of tea. En route Palin stars in a crayfish documentary in Novgorod, attends a baby-rolling ceremony at a Cypriot wedding, gets stuck in a Nile traffic jam, buys chicken in Wadi Halfa, goes camel shopping in Khartoum and is prescribed tree bark by a Mpulugu witch doctor to get rid of his evil shadow. Even when things go according to plan, Palin travels in unusual ways--by dogsled on Spitsbergen, barge down the Dnieper, train roof across the Nubian Desert, van through the Sudan, hot-air balloon over Kenya and down Lake Tanganyika on the "African Queen". With curiosity, courage and his standard aplomb, Palin plunges himself into the local cultures, beating himself with birch branches in a Finnish sauna and wallowing in mud in an Odessa sanatorium. It all makes for an armchair traveller's delight. --Tara Chace
DVD Description
Michael Palin's second challenge is to travel from the North to the South Pole, by land and sea. The crossing is varied and frequently gruelling, passing through Russia days before the abortive Gorbachev coup, then on through Turkey, Egypt, Sudan and South Africa, hopefully arriving in time to catch the only ship from Africa to Antarctica.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
'Pole To Pole' is yet another fantastic documentary from Michael Palin and an excellent follow-up to 'Around The World In 80 Days.' It appeared at first difficult to see how a sequel would work, after the first '80 Days' series, but with his now well known format, Palin carved another enjoyable adventure out of what already seemed a difficult journey.
'Pole To Pole' does not have the same sense of deadline or urgency as '80 Days', but this is entirely self-explanatory, since the former was set around the travels of fictional Verne adventurer Fogg, who did in the book travel the world in that specific time. This time round, Palin does have the opportunity to spend more time on the places he thinks would be of most interest to the viewer, and the parts in Africa are especially captivating. Filmed during the famine and millitary oppression that still haunts Africa to this day, it is a clear and at some times brutal account of life in poverty stricken Africa.
This journey takes quite some time longer to complete than '80 Days' which is not surprising since they chose to follow the thirty degree longitude line in order to cover the most amount of land; and there is a great deal in this DVD. It was recorded in 1991, a year that saw a lot of change across the world, from Russia to Africa, and Palin brushes with this change and its effects on the people with his usual light hearted humour and optimism.
'Pole To Pole' does not have the same sense of deadline or urgency as '80 Days', but this is entirely self-explanatory, since the former was set around the travels of fictional Verne adventurer Fogg, who did in the book travel the world in that specific time. This time round, Palin does have the opportunity to spend more time on the places he thinks would be of most interest to the viewer, and the parts in Africa are especially captivating. Filmed during the famine and millitary oppression that still haunts Africa to this day, it is a clear and at some times brutal account of life in poverty stricken Africa.
This journey takes quite some time longer to complete than '80 Days' which is not surprising since they chose to follow the thirty degree longitude line in order to cover the most amount of land; and there is a great deal in this DVD. It was recorded in 1991, a year that saw a lot of change across the world, from Russia to Africa, and Palin brushes with this change and its effects on the people with his usual light hearted humour and optimism.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The second in the excellent Palin travel series, where Michael's off on another globe trotting adventure.
Inspirational and simplicity in itself: Michael this time sets out to journey from the North Pole to the South Pole following as closely as possible the 30 degree longitude line, without resorting to air travel until absolutely necessary. Well that's it in theory anyway!
Inspirational and simplicity in itself: Michael this time sets out to journey from the North Pole to the South Pole following as closely as possible the 30 degree longitude line, without resorting to air travel until absolutely necessary. Well that's it in theory anyway!
The series is filmed in the excellent spontaneous fashion of 'Around the world', which adds a genuine touch of realism which is often missing from many documentary series. Follow Michael on his journey through 17 countries experiencing many cultures and traditions along the way, as well witnessing some major historical events unfolding such as the fall of the Soviet Union and the abolition of apartheid.
This adventure does not quite surpass around the world perhaps, but none the less is avid viewing. Michael as ever is in top form with his excellent witticisms at just the right moments, as well as his uncanny knack of mixing so well with people of all nationalities and backgrounds. Relive Michael and his team's trials and tribulations as they battle ever on against various obstacles to complete this colourful journey.
The series could almost be used as a modern history study due to the sheer momentum of events which took place in the countries they had travelled through. If only all learning was this much fun!
The Series is filmed as eight 50 minute episodes spread across 3 DVD discs with a post filming interview with Michael. Each episode is very nicely chaptered at the key scenes as well as an overall scene selection for all episodes on each disc. The picture quality is excellent, shame it is only presented in 4:3 aspect ratio rather than perhaps a wide screen format (but this is just a minor gripe). This really is an excellent accompaniment to 'Around the world', do your self a big favour and buy it!!! This is one you can watch many, many times.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Pole to Pole, by Michael Palin is more of a adventure book than a travel guide mainly because of the fact that it was filmed and written around 15 years ago. The thing about Michael Palin is that he writes like an average adventurer, not a snobbish 'I am better than you' adventurer. That, along with the fact that he always tells the truth about the countries and places he visits, and the fact that he uses humour to describe mix-ups, and confusion, makes his books so enjoyable to read. Just in case you are wondering, Pole to Pole is from the North Pole to, well, the South Pole, going through 17 countries (there was still the Soviet Union at this time) and taking various types of public transport.
Pole to Pole is the second book in the trilogy that consists of 'Around the World in 80 days', 'Pole to Pole' and 'Full circle'. All three are interesting, vibrantly discribed, and written with the right amount of humour (not too much, but not too little)
This is a good travel/adventure book, and for a relatively low price too. You should buy this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very happy bunny.
I'm very happy to say this was delivered so quickly...I was a bit desperate for it because it was a gift to a very ill relative and thought it would pass away the hours nicely for... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Blondie !!
Brought as present
As title says - Brought as present
The person who received it seemed well chuufed at getting it
The person who received it seemed well chuufed at getting it
Published 15 months ago by Mr. K. B. Sullivan
Michael Palin Pole To Pole
Wonderful, Michael Palin has a great sense of humour,
very educational, a definite must have.
Delivery by Amazon was Excellent.
very educational, a definite must have.
Delivery by Amazon was Excellent.
Published 18 months ago by Phil.Gil.
wonderful
another instalment of the excellent travel series from michael palin...although not as good as Himalaya or Full Circle this is still an excellent series that is visits some of the... Read more
Published 22 months ago by rob_hawke
POLE TO POLE
I HAVE OWNED THIS SERIES ON VHS SINCE IT WAS RELEASED AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF AMAZONS EXCELLENT PRICES NOW IT AS BEEN PUT TO DVD THE QUALITY IS MUCH BETTER. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Steven Purdy
pole to pole palins second outing as an explorer
palin in his glory traveling the globe with information and wit there could be no other apt enough for the trek pole to pole thoroughly enjoyable for all ages.
Published on 4 Mar 2010 by Anthonyaulds
Really enjoyable book
If you have not got the time to watch the whole pole to pole series on DVD, then this book goes along way to help with that. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2009 by Mr. Clark Gillies
Cancer Research Support
Fantastic condition! Bargain price for school! And good way to support charity. Thank you.
Published on 17 May 2009 by Caroline Powell
From the back cover...
In Pole to Pole we join Michael Palm on the second of his epic challenges. Travelling from the North Pole to the South Pole in a comic race against time, he experiences every... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2008 by Angel Silver
A completly delightful read.
This is the first Michael Palin book I've read, so i can't compare it in quality to any of the others, but I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, much more than I expected... Read more
Published on 7 Oct 2007 by F. Franklin
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