Torrent files are a way of dispersing and spreading files. You need to download the program "Bit Torrent" which allows you to download the files. Its kind of a p2p program that is self-propogating by definition (you have to upload the file to others as you are downloading new parts). Similar method as the overnet/edonkey and gnutella2 networks, but more specific and self contained than those other networks. The *.torrent file is just the initial file that contains the information so bit torrent can seek out others users with the file and start donwloading