Since 1907 there has been a motorcycling event held on the Isle of Man known as the Tourist Trophy. Raced at great speeds around the winding roads, lanes and streets of the Isle, it's as dangerous as it is exhilarating. There has been over 230 deaths caused as a result of the races held on the Isle; so just what sort of person gets on those motorbikes and takes up the challenge?………

Barry Sheene was scared of it, he wouldn't ride it. Southern Softie.

Forget the 3D aspect that was a part of the film's release, for although it's undoubtedly ace in that format (judging by the supreme quality of the 2D Blu-ray version I saw),this documentary film does not need gimmicks or window dressing to sell itself. This is a pure and honest character picture that is based around a high speed race festival of some standing. Much like the brilliant Senna documentary from earlier in the year, this too is not just a film for motor sport fans. It's selling point is that it attempts to get under the skin of what makes these race riders tick, showcasing their reckless dedication to the sport they love so passionately. Even when faced with death of friends and family in the races, or untold serious injury to themselves, they are undaunted in their willingness to get back on a fast bike ASAP.

It's not as if these are irksome characters either, these bikers are affable human beings, easy to identify with and support. No egos on show, and no nasty underhand tactics being used to gain an advantage, they all share a common goal and believe in said goal with modesty and principals firmly intact. At the centre of Richard de Aragues' film is Guy Martin, the epitome of the down to earth racer who rides at the festival. Leather clad and with Wolverine sideburns, Martin is a wonderfully rich character, full of bon mots as he speed talks about anything from masturbation to the unbelievability of a man eating his own head! Martin provides much of the humour on show. That the film successfully blends such humour with the inevitably more sombre moments is a testament to the fine work by de Aragues and his editor, Beverly Mills.

Sombre comes in the form of death, two riders were killed at the 2010 meeting that the film focuses on, Australian Martin Loicht and Paul Dobbs of New Zealand. Dobbs' widow Bridget is a willing participant in the film, and her input is beautifully tender whilst helping us outsiders to understand the passion and drive of someone like her passed on husband. The race footage shown is brilliantly shot, real adrenalin pumping and often hair-raising into the bargain, and the back drop of the Isle itself is gorgeous, beautifully photographed by Thomas Kürzl, making this still further an essential Blu-ray package. Are there missteps? Well it didn't need an American narrator as it sounds out of place, one can only presume that Jared Leto is a fan and was seen as a good link for the American audiences? While there's a slight problem with making the ebullient Martin the main player, in that the achievements of the other riders featured perhaps doesn't get the glory it should. You will find yourself rooting for Martin for sure.

I'm not a motor sport fan myself, I admire them but would never call myself a follower. In the space of 12 months motor sport has had two film documentaries of supreme standing. Just like Senna, TT3D: Closer to the Edge is not only one of the best sports based films of the year, it's one of the best films of the year, period. 10/10

What i know about Motorcycle racing you could write on the back of a postage stamp but that doesn't matter a jot when you watch TT3D Closer to the edge.

This is a superb documentary about the Isle of Man road races that are held once a year and where many people die in the pursuit of mastering the famous but deadly dangerous roads on the island.

Most of the film revolves around maverick rider , Guy Martin , who has an odd but very likable personality. A man who has never won a race and is prepared to devote his entire life to his sport . He's not interested in having a family or doing what most men of his age do , he just wants to race bikes.

This is an eye opening documentary that really highlights the devotion these men have to racing. Many people die , including during the filming of this , yet their families know it's what these man live for , so they accept the consequence's .

Some of the camera work is amazing. We experience what the riders see , thanks to a brilliant helmet cam and my only regret is that i didn't see this in 3D .

'TT3D: Closer to the Edge' is probably the best documentary I've seen in a while. To put it into perspective, I know very little about motor bikes and even less about motorcycle racing.

If you also know nothing about the TT Isle of Man racing tournament then this documentary gives you a great explanation of the whole thing. With stories from motorcyclists and workers at the races and with some narrative which occurs infrequently throughout the film, you begin to have a decent knowledge about this.

The documentary aspect itself is pretty good but not great. The narration of the film is a bit too infrequent and uneven at some points but it does provide a great deal of information. It is the people in this documentary that make it great; Guy Martin, who becomes the focus of the film, is simply hilarious. An immediately likable person, Guy provides a lot of comedy in the film and you end up wanting him to win at least one race by the end of the film.

The camera work is pretty spectacular, there's good use of sweeping landscape shots across the Isle of Man but also the footage from bikers' helmets as they are racing on the TT is quite terrifying because it shows you just how fast and how dangerous the circuit is.

Overall, if you think this film looks interesting but haven't watched it because you feel you don't know enough about it, watch it. It explains everything so well and by the end of it you have a great understanding of the races.