On Thin Ice [DVD]

 

 

Create your own review

ON THIN ICE was originally shown on BBC2. It follows Ben Fogle and James Cracknell as they prepare for and then take on the race of a lifetime - the race to the South Pole.
The series begins with an exploration of their preparation. This includes the physical preparation; training on a beach pulling a huge tyre behind them to simulate pulling the load of equipment they will need to survive whilst on the ice, to first encountering subzero temperatures. At the very beginning of the series, you also watch them as they try to recruit a third member of their team. This, as with many other aspects of the project, is met with setbacks and false starts meaning that even before they set foot on the ice, the race is in jeopardy.
Personally, I think the first couple of episodes or so, where you are watching them as they prepare for the race, is just as important as the remaining episodes. It shows what they have to consider even before they set off. For example, the first person they recruit as their third member has potential filming commitments, but will only be able to let them know if they can commit to the race almost at the last minute. This along with sickness from a previous expedition means that Ben and James have to face differing levels of commitment, leading to one of them questionning the other's commitment to the team.

Admittedly, however, the series really does take off once they get onto the ice and the race begins. This is when they have to face upto exactly what they have chosen to tackle. As Ben says, if you do not have respect for Antartica, it will eat you up and spit you back out. All members of the team have their own struggles to cope with, but in such a harsh environment, one person's struggles affects all those around them. As the dasy they spend on the ice increases, and their bodies suffer, you truly get to see into their souls. The exposed plateau of the ice has a way of also exposing the people that try to take it on head first.

This was a fascinating series. To watch people push themselves both physically, mentally and emotionally was sometimes uplifting and at other times uncomfortable viewing. On the way to the South Pole, selfishness can mean the end for all team members, not just the one individual.
Highly recommended - I have great respect for all who took part in this race.

Team hugs and tears might not have been the order of the day when Scott went to the Antarctic, but here's plenty of them in this five-part series about modern-day adventurers. It reveals that a team race to the South Pole, pulling sledges in the style of the original explorers, is very far removed from the exploits of Scott and Amundsen.
However, the final two episodes reveal just how far and how hard the British team can push themselves to reach their goal and - maybe - stand a chance of winning an international race against overwhelming international competition. I started watching and thinking `what a bunch of girls'... and by the end I was cheering the boys on.

Each 60 minute episode follows the progress of James Cracknell (Olympic athlete) and Ben Fogle (adventure TV presenter) on their next big adventure to win the gruelling race to the South Pole. After rowing the Atlantic, they set out to find a third team member for the Antarctic challenge, and then have a year to train and prepare before the event. The race itself involves ski-pulling sleds which weigh 200lb some 500 miles across treacherous ice and snow, followed all the way by the cameras. The winds reach 100mph and the temperatures fall to minus 50-degrees. The conditions are grim: perfect material for a TV documentary...
And this series does get under the skin of the participants. It shows them at their moments of weakness and dispute, when things aren't going well and all three team members have their doubts about each others' ability to cope with the conditions. No one shoved a camera at Scott when he'd just failed to complete a relatively simple training exercise and was at his most demoralised - yet the boys allow themselves to be filmed when during times of failure which makes their efforts to succeed all the more impressive. There's a distinct lack of stiff upper lip, but that's modern life for you.

The British team are racing against some of the most experienced and fit artic explorers in the world. The Norwegian team, ex-special forces, are the obvious favourites and the Brits are the complete outsiders. The British team also has to train while working around normal life, which in this case involves horrid tropical diseases, pregnancy, filming commitments and the uncertainty of the third team member's commitment. The first three episodes are dedicated to the pre-event organisation and to be honest there's too much preamble. These three hours could have been condensed down to two because it's only when the race actually starts that the series really takes off.
Set against the stunning blue and whites of Antarctica, the race itself is gripping. The teams plod ever onward, navigating around the dangers of cracked ice fields, all the while walking their feet to the bone (almost literally) and risking frostbite with every breath. They endure the worst: altitude sickness, infected blisters, pneumonia, absolute fatigue and more - and they keep on going. They trudge 16 hours a day - then longer - then longer still, forgoing rest in order to keep up with the experienced competitors they are racing against. In the end, the race boils down to the determination of the British team to get to the South Pole as a threesome: to endure the unendurable, and not to give in. They could opt to stop and call it a day - the thrill of the final episode is whether they make it to the Pole. Or not.

So for me this series could have been edited better: more about the race and less about the prep. I would have liked to see more about the other teams and their progress. But overall it's a fascinating record of the race, and of the human determination to accomplish a goal.
8/10

This was simply amazing to watch...Loved the determination, the tears, the laughs, the hard days -Ben Fogle has always inspired me to push myself in the outdoors but I finished watching this wanted to do something even more. I cried along with them at the end - Such a fascinating thing to watch. Very highly recommended.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 12 customer reviews...

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Awe inspiring
These men pushed themselves to the limit in this remarkable race to the south pole. It is absolutely compelling viewing. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Geralt of Rivia

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable
My wife and I enjoyed this DVD very much.The story starts from when they first started training for this great adventure. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Mr. C. Mayo

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Adventure
Another fantastic series and the three of them came across as great mates. Quite incredible how much pain they had to endure to achieve success with this voyage. Read more

Published 15 months ago by C. Brown

5.0 out of 5 stars On thin ice
product arrived in excellent condition and in time,very please with both the product and the service,thankyou

Published 16 months ago by Clive

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic documentary
Absolutely brilliant! Watching these guys as they struggle to cross the antarctic is astounding. They go through every single human emotion and you feel it all with them. Read more

Published 21 months ago by Lisa

4.0 out of 5 stars 3 men 3 different goals 3 different results
Ben and Ed are very likeable chaps, James is severe and extreme. The scenery and cinematography is stunning. The quality is excellent. Read more

Published on 23 Jan 2010 by Belle Epoque

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!
My partner started watching this on BBC when it was originally shown. One evening I sat down with him when it was on and couldn't believe how interesting it was (not having... Read more

Published on 15 Dec 2009 by R. Thomas

5.0 out of 5 stars Mary
Excellent book- I don't usually like real life adventures, but found it difficult to put down.Very interesting about the interaction between the 3 in the team- competitive... Read more

Published on 29 Sep 2009 by Dr. Mary E. L. Davis

5.0 out of 5 stars Birthday present for daughter
Daughter has a crush on Ben Fogle & James Cracknell so this was an ideal gift for her and she was thrilled to bits. I must say I found it good too

Published on 1 Sep 2009 by D. Walters

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 12 customer reviews...

Search Listmania!