TT3D is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best films I’ve seen this year. It truely is an amazing achievement.
The Isle Of Man TT Races are the fastest and most iconic road races in the world. For decades thousands have flocked to the small island in the Irish Sea to watch men pit themselves against the track which winds through villages, country roads and the mountain at speeds of up to 200mph. There are no slide zones, no tyre walls, no gravel pits. The TT races are the ultimate test of pushing bike and rider to the absolute limits, sometimes paying the ultimate price. Images of Guy Martin sliding out of a fireball and Connor Cummins dropping off the edge of the mountain are shocking to say the least. TT3D manages to encapsulate this passion and insanity.
Not only does TT3D capture the spirit of the races perfectly, it is a fantastic film in all its forms. The camera work is superb, using the very latest technology to film the riders at breakneck speeds, bringing them down to slow motion so the viewer can appreciate the strain bike and rider endure, you can actually see the bikes flex as they corner, accelerate, brake and jump round the course. This isn’t eye candy to titillate, the film makers use the syntax of angles, frame rate, lenses and more to help tell the story of the TT and the riders who take part. It serves to enhance the understanding of what these guys are actually doing. This is intelligent film making.
Another area where the film excels is how the stories of the riders and the island are told. We get to follow the charismatic Guy Martin in his obsessive pursuit of a TT trophy, John McGuiness (King of the Mountain), the incredible success of Ian Hutchingson and the horrific crash and near tragedy of local legend Connor Cummins.
I watched Senna the other day. There is no doubt that he was the greatest car driver of our time, but as a film it falls short of TT3D.
The TT races which happen every summer on the Isle of Man are one of a kind. There are other road races all over this country and the rest of the world but non come close to the spirit of the TT. TT3D is the most exciting, interesting and at times sad and heart breaking (the coverage of riders who have died and the families left behind strike a chord with any bike rider) film to buy right now. If you are passionate about motorbikes, or looking for a well crafted documentary, this is the only film for you.
Available in Blu-Ray 3D, Blu-Ray and DVD from Amazon on November 28th. Buy this film and head to the Isle of Man TT, it will change your life.
Gillan Williams
