Billy Connolly - World Tour Of New Zealand (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Really funny and packed full of interesting places .
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I love this man! If you are already a fan of Billy Connolly then you will love this 2 disc DVD of his 'too old to die young' tour which was actually the first leg of his tour filmed in 2004 and the fourth part of his World tour. (The other 3 parts of his world tour are of Scotland, which was the first and filmed in 1994 with a 6 episodes. The second was a fabulous tour of Australia, with 8 episodes and was filmed in 1996. And the third was England, Ireland and Wales - filmed in 2001 with 8 episodes.) The disc also contains 3 bonus audio tracks: 1.Billy's Bobby, 2.Wandering Soul, and 3.Billy's Fast Waltz.

The running time is 312 mins and rated 15 but if you're not used to Billy's personality, you should know that he swears …a lot! (His wife Pamela actually thought he had tourette's when she met him because he swore so much!) Although the way he does it he could probably get away with swearing at the Queen! If there were such a thing as the 'best swearer', the 'Big Yin' would be it, without question!

Anyway, the tour kicks off on the South Island of New Zealand, In Invecargill, (which is apparently is the southern most city in the world), where Billy dons a leather jacket (complete with 'too old to die young' and a picture of a skull wearing glasses on the back!) Gets on his Harley Davidson trike and sets off on his amazing journey. Along the way there's laughter (lot's of laughter!), fascinating insights into the cultures, people, Maori traditions, fantastic scenery, and wonderful stories from across the Country. With live shows mixed in with exploration and tales of old, it's never dull!

Episode 1.
Stewart Island is the first stop on Billy's map, which according to Maori legend is considered to be in the anchor of Maui's canoe. It has a population of only 255 people, the tiny (for what he's used too) Town Hall in which the audience filled with 125 people (half the islands population) was just as much a treat for him as it was for them.(he said it was "in many ways one of the highlights of the tour,") He shows us a huge anchor chain that represents the island being anchored down (which a man shot at in protest when it was built!) I however think it's brilliant. He then looks at eel fishing and later heads off to the second stop on his map, Dunedin. Here he explores cave drawings which date back to 1100. And tells a heart-warming story about 'somebody's darling'.

Episode 2.
Billy leaves Dunedin and sets off to Queenstown where here he travels up high to do a naked bungee jump….yes that's right Billy gets in the buff once more and leaps off the edge with no fear. (but before doing so said " I don't want to hear 'Oh Sh*t' when you're doing this!" as they buckled him up before jumping.) Billy then heads off to his next stop on the map, Greymouth. Here he meets a guy who shows him how jade is found in its purest form and is then worked (by rubbing) into a thing of beauty. He also meets the Kokatahi band and takes a helicopter ride to see some of the most stunning views on earth.

Episode3.
Here Billy leaves Greymouth and stops at Christchurch. Where he sees the pieces of iron girders from the twin towers disaster, which were put there in memory. Whilst on stage Billy reads out a hilarious letter from a fan asking (in a very unorthodox way) for an autograph, and sees a guy who draws sand pictures on an enormous scale. He then leaves Kaikoura and goes to Nelson where he visits 'the world of wearable art', and discovers some very interesting bras! His next adventure takes him whale watching, were he's lucky enough to see huge sperm whales diving under and showing their tails.

Episode 4.
Billy is now heading over to the North Island of New Zealand to Wellington and sees some interesting sculptors on the way, including a huge wind wand, that Billy names 'smarties on a stick' and an interesting brail monument. He then visits an architect who is such a talented guy (he could design me a house anytime!) We see some amazing portraits of Elvis and Jonah Lomu made of toast! And are guided around the stage he'll be performing on and tells the tragic story of the New Plymouth rail disaster that killed 151 passengers.

Episode 5. (Disc 2)
Billy leaves Wellington and goes to Palmerston North, here he drives down 'the forgotten highway'. In New Plymouth he sees a wind wand and a huge wedge of cheese that is actually a water tank. He gets in a helicopter and flies over a huge Maori tattooed face in the side of a mountain. The next stop on his map is Napier where in 1931 the biggest earthquake to hit New Zealand destroyed the whole town, it was later rebuilt in a beautiful 30's style. He then heads over to Rotorua were he takes a dip in a hot river whilst wearing a possum swimsuit!

Episode 6.
Billy's up on the top of Mount Tarawera that lies on the volcanic fault line, it blew up in 1886 burying an entire village. He then takes a look at the village present day that was buried by ash and mud. He also tells a great tale about a Hells Angel in surgery when an earthquake hits! From Rotorua to Waitomo were Billy swings in on a rope in St Benedict's cave to look at the amazing stalagmites and taste sugarstone. He then visits the Marai village where the Maori people live and sees their way of live. He later moves on to Waihi and looks at Kauri tree (which are some of the largest trees in the world) and then off to see a gold mine.

Episode 7.
Leaving Waihi for Auckland, he visits an aquarium (fantastic places!) To sit with penguins, look at sharks through the clear tunnel and see the octopuses (that used to escape at night to eat the crayfish!) He's then off to a museum were he sees Richard Pearce's flying machines. And then over to the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, which he then jumps off! (fully clothed this time!) and lands like "a bundle of washing" at the bottom. Later he visits a Maori tattooist who draws a traditional facial tattoo on him.

Episode 9.
The final episode sees Billy at 'Dancing camp damn' were he blows a bullock horn,
and takes a look at what he describes as "the best toilet you've ever seen". Made with beautiful designs from mosaic tiles and coloured glass bottles, it really is extraordinary. He then heads off from Russel to Kaitaia to a meeting house which is a place of learning for young Maori. Digs for tuatua, a type of shellfish and finally, to the famous Ninety mile beach.

There are so many jokes and stories Billy tells it's hard to pick out the best, but here are a few that made me laugh out loud!
"Bad hair day" a woman in a lift comments on his hair.
"Call it a Pavarotti pie for all I care-shut up an' get out my face!" Talking about the argument between Aus and NZ over the Pavlov a.
"Hells angel on the beach" guy goes into surgery and later comes round on a beach due to an earthquake and says, "Oh...it's just like earth!"
"….shake a stick at, till you're blue in the face- wouldn't say boo to a goose…who would!" about the English language.

Fantastically funny and really interesting! An unforgettable journey round a truly magical place, (which I definitely want to see for myself after watching!)

Thanks for reading x