Genghis Khan probably deserved this instead of The Conqueror.
Tadanobu Asano: Temudjin
Odnyam Odsuren: Young Temudjin
Khulan Chuluun: Borte
Sun Honglei: Jamukha
Pai Ying: Merchant with Golden Ring
Aliya: Oelun
Tegen Ao: Charkhu
Directed By: Sergei Bodrov
Written By: Sergei Bodrov and Arif Aliyev
Release Date: June 6, 2008
Running Time: 126 minutes
Rated R for sequences of bloody warfare.
This is the second film I have seen detailing the rise to power of Genghis Khan. In retrospect, I have come to the conclusion that his life is incredibly difficult to translate to the big screen. Just watch The Conqueror from 1956 with John Wayne if you don’t believe me. It is highly regarded as one of the Duke’s worst efforts. Luckily Director Sergei Bodrov has improved the tale since that disaster with this grand epic. Mongol possesses its flaws, but is certainly entertaining and as faithful to the true events as anyone could hope for.
Temudjin’s life begins in 1162, and the movie starts of with him as a young man preparing to choose a future bride from the Merkit clan alongside his father. This will settle an old debt. However, Temudjin decides on a girl from a different clan named Borte. Years later, following the unexpected death of his father, Temudjin leads his existence by constantly fleeing from the clutches of his enemies. He is a man who is always one the run, but he does forge friendships, and acquires skills. Through numerous captures and strings of bloody battles, Temudjin remains alive. Mongol leads up to the battle that formed his destiny.
To be honest, I saw this many months ago, and had not seen a trailer, nor read any information about the plot. All I knew was that it was an Oscar nominee. When I discovered that the main character of Temudjin would become Genghis Khan, I thought it was a superb way of ending the movie. Little did I know that this was a common fact, and that eventually the poster would display who the plot chronicled. Apparently, depending on the success of Mongol, the world might be given a full Genghis Khan trilogy for those who are eager to watch his conquests.
Unlike The Conqueror, actual Asians, and some Mongolians were cast in the pivotal roles. This enhances the proceedings greatly. In addition, it was shot on the soil of Mongolia. Sergei Bodrov proves to have the talent and ambition of David Lean or Ridley Scott with his adept molding of battle sequences and shots of vast landscapes. He also understands intense and memorable imagery. Many scenes stick out as vivid and bold.
The acting is fabulous. Every cast member approaches the material with dignity and respect. Tadanobu Asano is gripping and impossible to ignore in the lead. Bodrov crafts him as an inspiring, confident, and visionary leader, instead of a ruthlessly evil tyrant. His scraggly appearance is intimidating, and his gaze penetrating. Asano knows exactly how to expose this legendary figure, who some love, and others hate. Moving supporting turns are handed in by Khulan Chuluun as Borte and Sun Honglei as Jamukha.
While the special effects and majestic battles are amazing, the structure is riddled with problems. Mongol feels like a setup from one battle to the next. Not enough time is spent on the extraordinary journey Temudjin made prior to his ascension. He survives so many perilous situations, torture devices, and dangerous terrains that accepting it will not be easy. I suppose Khan’s life was stranger than fiction, and I have read that the conditions and status when he was sporadically on the run are largely debatable. This adds a layer of aggravation for the filmmaker, but at least Bodrov included plenty of thrills for distractions.
The absence of sufficient recorded history hurts the chances of receiving a film without holes, but Sergei Bodrov wins over the audience with some of the most exotic and remarkable depictions of mass carnage in years. The fact that he was able to complete Mongol on a meager budget of 20 million, and come out with such a striking result is a testament to his abilities. Mongol might not be Oscar worthy, but it is a fine foreign submission, primarily due to the commitment of the cast and crew.
The 411: Mongol is not a film to watch for historical accuracy, although Director Sergei Bodrov did do what he could to unearth factual accounts of Khan’s life. Liberties are taken, but that is ok. This film captures a unique spin on the man that would become such a towering leader. The performances are superb and the battle sequences are truly magnificent. I would recommend seeing this in the theater above anything else. You would receive the best experience that way. Mongol could have been a 3 hour epic, and might have been better that way, but as it stands, it is barely average.
great review. I saw this movie last night and it was excellent. I did some fact checking on wikipedia afterwards and was surprised at how accurate the film was.
Posted By: fury (Guest) on July 10, 2008 at 05:12 PM
