A different way of telling a story

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Erstwhile Conservative cabinet minister Michael Portillo is charming in Great British Railways and he's never short of an interesting story to tell at each stop through England, Wales, Scotland, Belfast, and the Republic of Ireland. Michael also has a series where he travels across continental Europe, and also the USA.I'd love to see Michael take us through India, Australia, the Middle East, Mexico and so on.

Love to watch him go to places we would like to go to, and like seeing places he goes to that we have been to. He is not a "professional" presenter, and doesn't mind making a fool of himself by joining in local dancing or singing, even if he is tone deaf and has two left feet.

Former British Cabinet Minister Michael Portillo travels around England and southern Scotland by train comparing the towns and cities where he stops with an 1850 "Bradshaw's" railway guide. This series is a gem which will appeal to anyone with an interest in railways or in Victorian Britain.Michael Portillo is not a professional TV presenter and this adds a touch of freshness to the series which is not normally found in such productions owing to everything being carefully planned and choreographed. Although some of his interviews with local people are planned, the most entertaining meetings are with people he chats to after chance meetings in the street, in restaurants or on trains. I look forward to a second series!