I’m an avid fan of Anthony Hopkins. Since he’s in this movie, I figured it would be good. It’s better than good though. I’m not really a motorcycle enthusiast, but anybody into cycles, would really love this movie. See, I loved it because I can relate to the desire, the need really, to push limits.
The dude Burt, from New Zealand, worked his whole adult life developing his Indian motorcycle. Fine tuning iteratively every single nut and bolt, racing it on the beach by himself. He really lived a very passionate life about this single desire. It was his goal to race on the Bonneville Salt Flats in SLC, Utah. It is about his journey to the flats, and what he brings on his finest days there.
I also love going very fast, and this movie is about that too. Not about the physical consequences of crashing at high speeds. It’s about living without trying to *see* where the edge is, instead to at least once in your life *feel* that fine line and come to terms with it. Acceptance rather than denial. So, maybe I’m going overboard, but the look on Burt’s face when he gets to step onto his Indian and race it, is just priceless.
IT was beautiful to watch, and as a fellow lover of all things fast (former speedskater), it really got my heart thumping. At one point, I was curled up on the couch, gripping my favorite couch pillow, screaming at the tv and my hubby- you can do it Burt! I can’t imagine the excitement that first day he raced on those salt flats! Just thrilling.
A very good movie. It doesn’t start out fast and grab the audience, but after a bit you find yourself pulled into Burt Munro and his adventure.
The overall pace of the film is slow, in that you see lots of the day-to-day things that happen to Burt, the details of his trip. You feel like you really get to know the character, and while the climax of the movie is never really a mystery, you’re anxious and elated as Burt suffers through setbacks and then overcomes them.
The beach race scene drew a “wow!” out of both of us!
Sounds like a “must see” to me. Sammy Pierce (an Indian restorer) used to say, “The janitor at the Indian Factory could take two Ex-Lax and crap a better motorcyle than Harley every made.” (LOL) ;-D
But, the old Indian Flatheads (side valve) were soon left behind by the overhead valve Harley Knucklehead introduced in 1936. Just like in the automotive world where the overhead valve Chevys soon left the flathead Fords in the dust. But during WWII Harley suspended production of the Knuckles to make Flatheads for the Army. In spite of their inferior performance, the Army only wanted Flatheads. Probably to simplify the logistics of parts and standardize the training of their mechanics.
Harley set a land speed record in 1970 at Bonneville with their streamliner powered by a single 89 c.i. Sportster engine. It was built by Werner Riley of Lakeshore Harley Davidson in Chicago, Illinois. This was the reason they came up with the famous “Number One” logo.