Mongol: Review By slysnide

The first in a trilogy by director Sergei Bodrov, "Mongol" is a rocky retelling of an ancient poem about Genghis Khan that was written after his death.

Plagued with historical inaccuracies, the film immediately draws into question what exactly is was that Sergei was trying to accomplish here. For while a quick opening scene in 1192 depicts him in a cell in the Tangut Empire, it flashes back to 1172 where many inaccuracies in his life then arc the movie. It seems that Bodrov wanted Genghis Khan to be seen in a better, and more heroic light. Although since this is about the rise of Genghis Khan to power, then there's not much villainy to be shown. But considering that this is Act 1 of an ambitious trilogy, then viewers would expect it to be historically accurate.

Despite these inaccuracies, they do not spoil the overall enjoyment of the movie, which is a relatively simple story of love, betrayal, and revenge.

{note: the next two paragraphs help tell the film's plot, but divulge some small spoilers-read with caution}

The film begins with Khan Esugei (Ba Sen) travelling to the Merkit tribe so his nine year old son Temudjin (translation: iron worker) (played by: Odnyam Odsuren) can select a wife whom he's inclined by tradition to return to and marry five years later. For Esugei, having Temudjin select a wife from the Merkit tribe is a great honor for both tribes, and will settle old quarrels with them. However, the obeying son shows his first signs winning his way when he selects ten year old Borte (Bayertsetseg Erdenbat)to be his wife from a tribe they visit along the way.

Shortly thereafter, the film quickly develops the threat against Temudjin's life when a surprise assassination by an enemy tribe promotes Temudjin to the rank of Khan in his tribe, which in turn prompts looting from rebellious tribe members who can't fathom being under the leadership of a mere boy. The respected and now self proclaimed Khan Targutai (Amadu Mamadakov)is now the leader of the tribe, has abandoned Temudjin, his mother, and other weak tribe members. And it all happens within the first fifteen minutes or so.

Anyway, it's from there that the film takes off, slowly, and after managing to evade death from Targutai (which by Mongolian custom must occur for his title of Khan to be made official, since Temudjin is the official Khan), Temudjin has a less than amazing life which is supplemented by vast visuals of the Mongolian plains, the introduction of Temudjin's childhood friend Jamukha (Amarbold Tuvshinbayar), and actor Tadanobu Asano who gives a lacking performance as the older Temujin.

The slow pace to the story is a bit annoying, but it doesn't kill the movie, but rather puts you in a dreary state of wonder as to how a man so great started out as a boy so povershed. Hence why you keep watching it.

Years later, older Jamukha (Sun Honglei) is an overall good addition to the movie, as Temudjin isn't too enthusiastic of a character. Though his love for Borte (Khulan Chluun) whom he continually leaves to instead further his militant ambitions, never weakens, vice-versa.

As the movie trails on, small time quarrels lead to big time battles of revenge that didn't seem right for the movie. Sure it fit the story, but the gaps in time between these battles aren't explained, which bugs me, since you don't conjure & command an army of thousands out of thin air. Some of it was digital of course, save for 1500 horses and trained riders/actors, but the whole thing kinda felt off considering how the rest of the film was more personally based, while these later parts become more ambitious, and feel more like what you'd expect Act 2 of the trilogy to be like.

Despite this, the characterizations are great, and carry the movie well. But the way the movie has those two great different feelings of how it's being told kinda cuts my rating down a bit. Plus the slow pace isn't necessarily enviable for the movie, but it's still good.

The visuals and acting are the same considering that half the time I think I'm in Rohan and the other half the time I think I'm in the wonderful world of CGI, which is partially true. As for the characters, they too seem out of sync with the situations there in at times, such as how Temudjin thinks it a necessesity to conquer Mongolia, while Borte (Khulan Chuluun) doesn't see the point, and would much rather live in peace with him...though isn't disappointed by his accomplishments. ;)

Because the story has many historical inaccuracies, and has these two conflicting feelings of personal storytelling and militant storytelling, I downgrade both the story and the director who would be at fault for it.

{And why it took 14 months to just film this movie is beyond me, but it tells me that the next one will be out sometime next year in the East, and maybe 2011 out here}

Overall, Sergei Bodrov did a decent job with this B+ movie, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.