|
|
71 of 71 people found the following review helpful:
Palin's Peak Practices, 24 Nov 2004
If you've been following Michael Palin's Himalayan excursions on the television, then you'll know almost exactly what you're getting here. If you haven't, but have been a spectator to some of Palin's other epic voyages, you may find that his approach to the Himalayas is a little less frenetic than, say his round the world trips. Given the dominance of the mountain range and the lack of oxygen, a slightly more laid back approach is understandable.Michael Palin does what he always does - he acts like a thoroughly decent human being, good humoured, good natured, absorbed by the people and country around him. In an era where holidaying has become an excuse for booze, sex, and coarse behaviour, regimented by airlines, tour operators, and the lure of grotesque theme parks, Palin again demonstrates that travel and adventure can be a gentlemanly, gentle act. He conveys a polite humanity and sense of wonder, proving that you can travel the world without glossy brochures. For most people, simply being there might be excitement enough, but Palin finds mini adventuresa plenty ... with local herdsmen, school kids, or simply sitting on a train. The landscape dominates the whole trip. It is the ultimate landscape, the roof of the world, but it's a landscape wounded by conflict. Palin counterbalances the warfare by interviewing the Dali Lama. He doesn't take sides, he doesn't judge, but you get a sense of his exasperation - surely peace is easier that war? Palin clowns, he observes, he listens, he describes. The camera work picks out the visual wonders of the land. It's the sort of production which makes your mouth water and your feet start to itch, the sort of production which has you pouring over maps and deciding you won't be going to Belgium for your holidays this year. Beautifully shot and produced, Palin his usual charming self - this is a delight from start to finish. It's stimulating, it's entertaining, and it's excellent value with three discs giving you the television series plus some entertaining extras.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
The high point of Michael Palin's career?, 2 Jun 2006
Actually, I think I liked the first three of Michael Palin's travelogues ("Around the World in 80 Days", "Pole to Pole" and "Full Circle") better than the three that follow ("Hemingway Adventure", "Sahara" and "Himalaya"). So from that point of view it's not correct to call "Himalaya" the high point of Michael Palin's career.
The big difference is that each of the first three series was documenting a trip made by Michael Palin, and the trip itself was the central element that provided a focal point for the TV series.
In the last three series, and especially in "Himalaya", one gets the feeling that the traveling was secondary, and that the purpose of the whole exercise was primarily to find places and people and events that would make "good TV".
"Himalaya" was, of course, a fantastic trip, and the TV series that covers it is very interesting. Many countries around the Himalayan Mountains were visited, some of them well off the tourist track and some of them with security problems such that the team needed armed guards. Specifically, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Nagaland, Assam, Bhutan and Bangladesh were visited. A total of 3000 miles was traveled during 125 days (6 months), and many beautiful and exciting images, encounters and interviews resulted.
Some of the best parts in the series include Michael Palin making several treks on foot up into the mountains, the highest trek going to Everest Base Camp at 5480 m (18000 ft). Well done, considering that Michael was 60 when he did the trip.
Other high points (ha, ha) include visiting the Dalai Lama, milking a yak, talking to a retired headhunter, buying booze in Pakistan, having an almost-encounter with Maoists in Nepal and sailing off into the sunset in the Bay of Bengal. All situations where the special Michael Palin wit and charm comes through strongly.
The down side is that it all seems a bit too artificial, a bit too motivated by "is this good TV?" The traveling itself is hardly mentioned at all, and in reality the filming and traveling was done in several visits to the area over a period of 11 months. Nor is there a continuous route from start to finish; instead Michael and the team seem to jump back and forth from place to place in order to find the elusive "good TV" locations and events.
The DVD version of the TV series is on three discs containing the six one-hour programs. In addition there is the following extra material:
- an introduction by Michael Palin, 3 minutes.
- 125 minutes of additional scenes - mixed quality, some good, some not so interesting.
- an interview with Michael Palin, 27 minutes, very good.
Highly recommended. Despite my negative feelings about the producers focusing on finding "good TV" instead of focusing on the trip as an undertaking, this is, of course, really good TV.
Rennie Petersen
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
Palin's Peak Practices, 30 Jun 2005
If you've been following Michael Palin's Himalayan excursions on the television, then you'll know almost exactly what you're getting here. If you haven't, but have been a spectator to some of Palin's other epic voyages, you may find that his approach to the Himalayas is a little less frenetic than, say his round the world trips. Given the dominance of the mountain range and the lack of oxygen, a slightly more laid back approach is understandable.Michael Palin does what he always does - he acts like a thoroughly decent human being, good humoured, good natured, absorbed by the people and country around him. In an era where holidaying has become an excuse for booze, sex, and coarse behaviour, regimented by airlines, tour operators, and the lure of grotesque theme parks, Palin again demonstrates that travel and adventure can be a gentlemanly, gentle act. He conveys a polite humanity and sense of wonder, proving that you can travel the world without glossy brochures. For most people, simply being there might be excitement enough, but Palin finds mini adventuresa plenty ... with local herdsmen, school kids, or simply sitting on a train. The landscape dominates the whole trip. It is the ultimate landscape, the roof of the world, but it's a landscape wounded by conflict. Palin counterbalances the warfare by interviewing the Dali Lama. He doesn't take sides, he doesn't judge, but you get a sense of his exasperation - surely peace is easier that war? Palin clowns, he observes, he listens, he describes. The camera work picks out the visual wonders of the land. It's the sort of production which makes your mouth water and your feet start to itch, the sort of production which has you pouring over maps and deciding you won't be going to Belgium for your holidays this year. Beautifully shot and produced, Palin his usual charming self - this is a delight from start to finish. It's stimulating, it's entertaining, and it's excellent value with three discs giving you the television series plus some entertaining extras.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
What the world should undrestand and know, 1 Jul 2006
Excellent is a word which underestimates this "Journey of Understanding". Michael Palin excells in this BBC travelogue with insights even a person like me ( born in that part of the world) found exhillerating. I envy the oppurtunities he's had to travel and in my opinion ranks among the best travellaire/documentors of "human" exploratory knowledge.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
Best photography Gripping to the end, 8 Mar 2005
By A Customer
I was never a great fan of Michael Palin's escapades, as he always appeared to much in a hurry and flippant in his interview style without respect for his immediate surroundings or cultures.But this was different, as one could tell he was moved, almost spiritually, by the people, cultures and amazing landscapes. He has shown less of his flippant side and appears to show some real interest in the people he met, rather than trying to make an image for himself. Shame he did not make more valuable time when meeting with the Daila Lama. It was clear that the subtle messages given by the Daila Lama went totally over the head of Michael. Shame, great opportunity missed, I say. His team of camera men, directors and all the other team members, should be awarded a blue ribbon of excellence. The photography was truly stunning and continuity was almost faultless. Never the less, this is defiantly his best travel log and I can only recommend anyone to watch it again and again and never tire of it
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
The Best So Far!, 2 Feb 2005
By A Customer
I have watched Michael Palin's "Around the World in Eighty Days", "Railroad Travels", "Hemingway Travels" and "Himalaya". I have to admit that "Himalaya" is my favourite series so far. The route itself is amazing but accompanied by Michael's charm, wit, and humanity, the adventure becomes simply irresistable. I have to give Michael Palin and the BBC crew credit for their bravery for not avoiding dangerous locations like Cashmire. I also liked that this adventure was less hurried than "Around the World in Eighty Days" or "Pole to Pole", for example. This gave Michael Palin the opportunity to present each place with more depth and understanding.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Rather disappointing, 19 Jan 2005
By A Customer
I asked for Michael Palin's 'Himalaya' on Dvd for Christmas, as I live in France, so had not seen the series on tv. I must say that I am very disappointed with the programme. Michael Palin is charming and on the whole good humoured, but on occasions he comes over as an old moaner. Of course, the route he takes is extremely difficult, but one gets the impression at times that he wishes that he had not been roped in to doing this latest series. The scenery is stunning, the people charismatic and Michael is witty, I just hope that next time his adventures will see him doing more of what he does best, interviewing and describing with passion. I will not be watching the dvd a second time.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
Not one of Michael's better efforts, 25 Jan 2005
By A Customer
Having seen, and loved, everyone of Michael's other adventures, this one was a bit of a let down. The scenery was stunning, but it seems like Michael is running out of steam and enthusiasm doing another one of these treks. I like the older formula where Michael has a strict time table and has to get to a certain place by a certain time in order to catch the last train/boat/plane etc. In this series, he just wanders around the mountain range stopping into village after village. Many of the interviews are too long and rather dull. I doubt I'll be watching this series again. Time to put on Pole to Pole and have some fun.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Palin's best series, 28 Nov 2007
I have been a fan of Michael Palin's travel series for a while now and this is my favourite of all of them. In Himalaya, Michael Palin travels through this highly mountainous, and in places troubled, region going from the Khyber Pass through Pakistan, India, Tibet, China, Bangladesh and more. Along the way Michael meets the usual group of weird and wonderful people and visits many beautiful and fascinating places.
I have long been fascinated by the Himalayas and this series takes a wonderful look at the area as a whole and the people who live there. Michael Palin is always interesting and funny, seemingly able to put everyone he meets at ease and he is in top form for Himalaya. The DVD also includes interviews with Michael Palin from before and after his trip as well as some extended scenes, all of which are interesting. In my view, although Sahara is a close second, Himalaya is the best documentary Michael Palin has produced and is one of my favourite documentaries of all time.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
