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Mongol tries to be an epic like such pictures as "Lawrence Of Arabia" and "Dr. Zhivago" but just misses as it doesn't have quite the granduer and sweep of the former and the love story isn't tat involving.
It is basically the story of the early years of Genghis Khan with some logic and/or explanations here and there. Filmed all over China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan there are many magnificent scenes of mountains, desert and flat lands, some breath taking.
The main themes are what made Ghengis Kahn who he was, his friendship with Jamukha who makes him a blood brother and their eventually becoming enemies and, finally, the love story between him and his future wife who he picks out as such when they are 9 and 10 years old.
Too many things are left unexplained like are their children his, how he amassed a large army, the wolf and the sky 'gods' if that is what they are.
The film was nominated for an Oscar as best foreign film and has easy to follow subtitles and none of the actors will be familiar to American audiences but this doesn't distract from the film.
Of the actors Khulan Chuluun playing the wife has a beautiful face but not really much to do except express her love and belief in the young Genghis. Tadanobu Asano as Ghengis has a very interesting face and conveys both the future warrior and loving husband who would become the feared Genghis Khan though why is never really shown. The third one who makes an impression is the blood brother played by Honglei Sun who goes from leader to captive never losing his bravado or his strength of character. (His ear ornament at first was distracting as it looked like one of the many ear phones people are wearing today!!)
Though I was expecting it I was still taken aback by all the violence. The body count, and bloody scenes, are far more than I have seen in any movie in a long time and very graphic.
Covering the years from 1172 to 1206 this is the first of a trilogy eventually, I assume, showing the Genghis Khan as we in the Western world see him though this first part certainly shows a warm, caring family man with just a hint of the cruelty that was to be part of his reign.
Hopefully the second part will live up the epic that this first part wanted to be. In all probability I will see the second film when it comes out though I am sure the violence and body count will be even higher. Hopefully the love story will take a more important story line to soften the action that will certainly take place.
