Mongol (B+ or 3/4 stars)
A slave boy in 12th century Mongolia aims to avenge his father by becoming a Khan in 'Mongol', an Oscar-nominated foreign film directed by Sergei Bodrov. After freeing himself from slavery, Temudjin (Tadanobu Asano) was able to marry the love of his life, Borte (Khulan Chuluun), have children, & fulfill his destiny; even when faced with dangerous foes & insurmountable obstacles. This film manages to tell a BIG story, but on a surprisingly personal scale. I felt the 1st half hour plodded along too much. But overall, this is a fantastic, gorgeous, & quiet epic about one of history's most infamous leaders, Genghis Khan.
Born in 1162, Temudjin was the son of one of Mongolia's finer kings. This film follows him from his perilous childhood, to his slavery, to his freedom, to his alliance with a powerful & charismatic Mongol chieftain named Jamukha (Honglei Sun), to the betrayal of that alliance, which resulted in a demonstrative battle btwn. the 2 of them (at the conclusion of this movie). Sprinkled throughout the proceedings are inside looks at what Mongol life must have been like some 800 + years ago (marriage traditions, eating habits, etc.). 'Mongol' paints a multi-dimensional portrait of Genghis Khan, a man whose name is synonymous with words like 'violence', 'death' & 'tyrant' ... but actually was a good man at heart; a man who aspired to be a good husband father, & Just leader of his people.
It was his wife & children who kept him going; got him through the rough times, through imprisonment, & torture. No man is completely innocent. We know Khan's reputation as a killer. But according to this film (adapted from factual writings), he was not merciless. Yes, he struggled for power. Yes, he extinguished thousands of enemies. But he did so because they did not follow the Mongol code of living (to honor & respect their traditions, their sacred land, their women, & their children). He was quite the man. And knowing that he goes on to conquer 1/2 of the world (including Russia in 1206), one can assume a sequel(s) will be made from the success of this film. I, for one, am very intrigued to learn beyond Genghis Khan's formative years (his family life, his successes & his defeats).
Tadanobu Asano is wonderful as the adult Temudjin/Genghis Khan. His Khan is strong & lethal when he needs to be. But he's subtle ... even warm when around his family, his advisors, & his minions. Honglei Sun is great as Temudjin's dearest friend, and eventually, his deadliest enemy. He's quite amiable; but boy, can he flip a switch & turn monstrous, as well. And Khulan Chuluun is excellent as Temudjin's INCREDIBLY loyal, spirited, & loving wife, Borte. Year after year, she stayed by his side. And even though they share a passionate moment in the middle of the film, most of their scenes together are gentle & tender.
Call 'Mongol' an exotic historical drama; a tale of survival & triumph. It offers sumptuous landscapes, inventive cinematography, beautifully choreographed battle sequences & clarity in storytelling. And because we're dealing with tribesmen, the sense of danger (while you watch) always keeps you on your toes. As mentioned, the 1st 30 min. really tested my patience. The screenplay also has its share of silly moments. But I'm astounded by the turn around it makes (enabling me to give a higher rating). It's just one of those rare movies that completely wins you over in the end. Never did I think that a film with as minimal of dialogue and as visceral a display of pillaging/killing would be one of my favorite films of the year, thus far.
Born in 1162, Temudjin was the son of one of Mongolia's finer kings. This film follows him from his perilous childhood, to his slavery, to his freedom, to his alliance with a powerful & charismatic Mongol chieftain named Jamukha (Honglei Sun), to the betrayal of that alliance, which resulted in a demonstrative battle btwn. the 2 of them (at the conclusion of this movie). Sprinkled throughout the proceedings are inside looks at what Mongol life must have been like some 800 + years ago (marriage traditions, eating habits, etc.). 'Mongol' paints a multi-dimensional portrait of Genghis Khan, a man whose name is synonymous with words like 'violence', 'death' & 'tyrant' ... but actually was a good man at heart; a man who aspired to be a good husband father, & Just leader of his people.
It was his wife & children who kept him going; got him through the rough times, through imprisonment, & torture. No man is completely innocent. We know Khan's reputation as a killer. But according to this film (adapted from factual writings), he was not merciless. Yes, he struggled for power. Yes, he extinguished thousands of enemies. But he did so because they did not follow the Mongol code of living (to honor & respect their traditions, their sacred land, their women, & their children). He was quite the man. And knowing that he goes on to conquer 1/2 of the world (including Russia in 1206), one can assume a sequel(s) will be made from the success of this film. I, for one, am very intrigued to learn beyond Genghis Khan's formative years (his family life, his successes & his defeats).
Tadanobu Asano is wonderful as the adult Temudjin/Genghis Khan. His Khan is strong & lethal when he needs to be. But he's subtle ... even warm when around his family, his advisors, & his minions. Honglei Sun is great as Temudjin's dearest friend, and eventually, his deadliest enemy. He's quite amiable; but boy, can he flip a switch & turn monstrous, as well. And Khulan Chuluun is excellent as Temudjin's INCREDIBLY loyal, spirited, & loving wife, Borte. Year after year, she stayed by his side. And even though they share a passionate moment in the middle of the film, most of their scenes together are gentle & tender.
Call 'Mongol' an exotic historical drama; a tale of survival & triumph. It offers sumptuous landscapes, inventive cinematography, beautifully choreographed battle sequences & clarity in storytelling. And because we're dealing with tribesmen, the sense of danger (while you watch) always keeps you on your toes. As mentioned, the 1st 30 min. really tested my patience. The screenplay also has its share of silly moments. But I'm astounded by the turn around it makes (enabling me to give a higher rating). It's just one of those rare movies that completely wins you over in the end. Never did I think that a film with as minimal of dialogue and as visceral a display of pillaging/killing would be one of my favorite films of the year, thus far.