Mongol, worth the bloody battle scenes
Posted by blk1 on June 29, 2008
Mongol, was a nominee for Best Foreign Language film this year. It was a loser but for 2 hours last night, I was totally engaged by Gengis Khan and his rise to power. A history major in college, I worked hard to avoid the warrior rulers. Gengis was one, but Sergei Bodrov, the director/screenwriter is dedicated to setting the record straight about GK’s true contributions. Sure he killed without a tear, but he did offer his people a vision and some sense of law and order.
The first of a planned trilogy, this installment focused on GK’s early years. At 9, on a trip with his father to pick his future, wife (imagine) GK takes his charge seriously and selects his future wife from a weak tribe, not the one on his father’s list, but his father applauds his decision.
By the end of the trip his father is dead and he is on the run. Not what you would expect for GK. He is hunted, he is tortured, he survives and flourishes, eventually
The boy and adult actors are terrific. GK”s future wife is wonderfully created and their bond is romantic and powerful. AND the look of the film is gorgeous, even the battle scenes. I did cover my eyes when the blood began to flow, but each frame of the movie seemed to be crafted cinematically, like a series of gorgeous paintings. I think the look of the movie is enough to hold your attention for the 2 hours and then fold in a great story and wonderfully drawn characters, and you have a movie to enjoy and reflect on.
Of course Sergei the writer must have enjoyed creating his version of GK, and all the better for his romantic side, but if 50% of this story is historically accurate, I’m satisfied. I left the theater wondering about how GK came to his unique vision, surely he needed more than a few trips to visit the sacred wolf. We are with him for long sequences, when he could be sharing his plans with us.
Oh well, I’m still urging you to see this one.
Of course it feels authentic with the Kazakhstanian/Mongolian dialogue and shot on location in Russia and Kazakhstan.
It’s still with me.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Sounds like a stirring movie. I’ll watch for it.
Lynn
June 29th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
And then I want to see what you think. Come back and leave me your review, okay?
Bonnie
July 1st, 2008 at 1:59 am
Okay - I will. I’m putting it on my Netflix cue tonight!
Lynn
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Did you see this movie at a theater or rent it? It’s not on Netflix yet, and not at the theaters here either. I put it on my save list.