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Mongol

Director: Sergei Bodrov
Actors: Aliya, Tegen Ao, Tadanobu Asano, Ying Bai, Khulan Chuluun
Studio: Warner Bros.
Category: Movie

Buy New: $3.99

Rating:

33 reviews
Sales Rank: 131

Genre: Drama
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 126 Minutes

ASIN: B001I9M7GM

Theatrical Release Date: January 1, 2007
Release Date: November 10, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Synopsis:

Award-winning Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov illuminates the life and legend of Genghis Khan in his stunning historical epic, MONGOL. Based on leading scholarly accounts, MONGOL delves into the dramatic and harrowing early years of the ruler who was born as Temudgin in 1162. As it follows Temudgin from his perilous childhood to the battle that sealed his destiny, the film paints a multidimensional portrait of the future conqueror, revealing him not as the evil brute of hoary stereotype, but as an inspiring, fearless and visionary leader. MONGOL shows us the making of an extraordinary man, and the foundation on which so much of his greatness rested: his relationship with his wife, Borte, his lifelong love and most trusted advisor.

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Customer Reviews: Read 28 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

I can't vouch for the historical accuracy... September 10, 2008
Andariel Halo (Phenomynouss@hotmail.com is my real e-mail)
28 out of 29 found this review helpful

...but considering the minimal budget (20 million dollars American) and the genuine Mongolian (some areas so isolated that new roads had to be built to get the film crews there) locations filmed, this was a fantastic movie that was well-paced for an introduction to the life of Temudjin, who would become the Genghis Khan.

Despite the low budget, nothing in the movie looks cheaply filmed; everything looks like that of a big budget film six times more expensive, from costumes to makeup (and the craggly dirt buildup on Temudjin during his time in captivity). I don't speak Mongolian, so I can't tell whether the accents spoken are accurately Mongolian, but for an American audience, it was great for authenticity (rather than having them speak Russian or Kazakh).

The movie excels in two particular aspects which really make this one more than just a casual ancient-world flick; the battles and the people.

While Genghis Khan is demonized in the West as a barbarous conqueror, he is seen like a hero in the East, and this movie serves to show him as both and neither, making him more than just black or white, but a fully fleshed out person with ambitions to uniting all the Mongol tribes as one beneath him. He is utterly believable as a human being, fallible, and seemingly very much driven by his love for his wife and children, whom he nevertheless must leave constantly to fulfill his dream.

There is also Jamukha, who manages to be both a piggish, slothy figure, and a noble, loyal friend to Temudjin, when their dreams conflict and they become enemies, with a very painful and realistic portrayal of just why Jamukha would betray Temudjin, and his lack of joy in facing his opponent on a field of battle.

Then there's the battles. As any Ancient/Medieval war movie to be expected, it is bloody. My only annoyances in a puritanic-historian way were the suits of armor, which seemed not to be made of much metal as they would have been in Mongolian times.

Another minor thing that becomes a little excessive, and arguably rather like a recurring joke is shots of blood, showing them being spilled in thousands of thick drops rather than in fountains or bursts of liquid.

The final battle sequence manages to both utilize the Mongolian expertise in archery and cavalry and innovate with something both insanely risky and never before seen in Medieval battle depictions. Likely seen in the trailer, as Jamukha sends the bulk of his cavalry force at Temudjin's center, he unleashes a very small number of thickly armored cavalry, armed with double curves swords, which then rush through the enemy cavalry, using the swords to slash at the enemy's sides like Scythed Chariots.

The armored cavalry is a kamikaze force, as after brutalizing the enemy cavalry, Temudjin has his archers unleash a flood of arrows on the force, killing the cavalry on both sides down to a man.

Overall a great movie, which doesn't sacrifice the macro-story of Genghis Khan and his dream of a Mongol empire for the micro-story of Temudjin's love life. Of which I wrote virtually nothing about.

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Flick! October 11, 2008
J. Davis (Tulsa,OK)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

To say this movie is a historical documentary failure would be a shame. What it was to me was a film that was entertaining to watch, with an epic story that got you into the charactors. The cinematography was huge, with beautiful wide shots.
I went to the theater to see this flick not knowing much about it, and I looked at the audience from time to time, one gentlemen was on the edge of his seat! This movie was far better than any other movie about Khan that I've ever seen (including John Waynes). Nobody seems to care that other actors have played Ghenghis throughout the ages, which is to say that I don't know why people are upset a Japanese actor played the role. I thought he did an outstanding job.
I have recommended this film to friends, which typically I don't do and have'nt done in a long time.
I don't know if the DVD will have over-dubs, but the sub-titles were very easy to read in the theater.
I'm giving this movie 5 stars cause it's like an Asian version of Braveheart, which is'nt historically accurate but highly entertaining!

5 out of 5 stars

Riveting, Inspiring, Absorbing, Provoking, Just a GREAT All-Around Gift November 8, 2008
Robert D. Steele (Oakton, VA United States)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

20081214 DEPARTED AMAZON WITH OUTRAGE OVER THE MANIPULATION OF VOTES.

I was going to multi-task as a I usually do, watching a DVD while reading a book (Constitutional History of Secession)--that idea lasted less than 30 seconds.

From the very first visual this movie grabbed me. This was so good that I spent a third of the time standing up in front of the TV (in part to read the subtitles but in part because this is what I do when a movie really grabs me intellectually and spiritually), and a third leaning forward ffrom the sofa in the fireplace room.

The movie ENDS with battle scenes. The build-up is spectacular on all fronts--cinematography, casting, script, acting--there is not a single bit of this movie that is not five-star wake up and smell the roses GREAT.

I am sitting here thinking of what else to say, just shaking my head. At every level, from personal loyalty to personal strength to family ties to blood brothers to brave in battle to the nuances of corruption, I had a RIVETING good time with this movie. I was ABSORBED.

A few other DVDs I admire as much as this one, but each a slightly different kind of absorbtion. This movie (above) is epic in every sense of the word. The first DVD, is an alterantive view of Tibet which is on the other side of China from Mongolia, but in my view equally important as Mongolia, both autonomous cultural zones.
Tibet - Cry of the Snow Lion
Gladiator (Widescreen Edition)
Henry V
Braveheart (Special Collector's Edition)
Lawrence of Arabia (Collector's Edition, 2 discs) - DVD
The Last Samurai (Full Screen Edition)
We Were Soldiers (Widescreen Edition)
The Snow Walker
A Man Called Horse

5 out of 5 stars

A great epic in the vein of Spartacus, without the Hollywood sentimentality October 27, 2008
M. Wang (CT United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I love historical epics, especially when they are crafted with skill, love and care. This movie is as grand as anything since Spartacus, with breath-taking cinematic views and reasonably careful adherence to reality. The main difference here is the quiet unsentimental story-telling style that actually presumes more credit for the audience's intelligence and has a very polished feel. I am totally amazed by the director's ability to immerse the viewers in an alien culture yet maintaining our interest throughout a 2+ hour show. In this respect, he is as successful as An Lee in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, which is surely a high praise.

5 out of 5 stars

Before the Golden Hordes November 26, 2008
P.K. Ryan (Albany, NY USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Although this compelling film is about the life of the infamous Ghengis Khan, he was not given that name until after the time period covered here. His birth name was Temudjin, and the film follows him from a nine year old boy, until approximately his early thirties when he unites the numerous Mongol tribes under his banner. As one would expect, life on the Mongolian steppe in the 12th century is harsh; constant tribal warfare, being kidnapped and sold into slavery, having your bride stolen by a rival tribe, seeing your father poisoned to death; this is the environment that molded the young Temudjin into a hardened killer. The film is very violent, but it is also beautiful in its own way. Even in such a harsh atmosphere, there is room for love, loyalty, brotherhood, and honor. I can't speak for the historical accuracy, but the film does seem to paint a relatively benign picture of Temudjin, his betrayal of his blood brother Jamukha notwithstanding. Considering that the guy was essentially a mass murderer, I can definitely see how some would call this a whitewash. From a technical perspective, the film is nearly flawless; breathtaking cinematography, great acting, amazing score, fight choreography, costumes, etc. The film is put together very well. One is tempted to compare 'Mongol' to such historical epics as Braveheart and Gladiator, and in some ways it is similar, but I would say Mongol is less romantic, and more realistic, but equally good in its own way.