I sort of ran across this one by surprise at work. It really caught my eye because I have been getting into the Ghengis series by Conn Iggulden, which I have reviewed. I was curious to see the story play out on screen. This film is basically like the first book in the series in that it follows young Temudgin through the early years of his life as a child and through early adulthood as he slowly brings the various Mongol groups together into a single nation.

Temudgin's father was a khan, who was killed by a traitor among his own people. Only the tradition of not killing children and women allows Temudgin and his mother to flee their group and go into hiding. It proves to be a solitary life as the future great khan comes into manhood, but he uses it to become a man his father would be proud of. After he starts to establish a small group of followers, Temudgin returns to the group in which his promised wife Borte lives. He brings her back with him, and they find themselves truly in love even though his stature has fallen.

Borte ends up being taken by a rival tribe, and Temudgin finds that he must turn to his good friend Jamukha, the khan a fairly strong tribe, for men to try and go regain Borte's freedom. Temudgin uses the experience to test his mettle, and finds that he is not only a good strategist, but also a man others are willing to follow. Two of Jamukha's men opt to follow Temudgin as the men part ways. It is the first rift that will lead them to become brutal enemies over time.

The acting in this movie is really good. As the scenes shift between the brutal (and incredibly gory) sights of battle to touching moments between Temudgin and Borte as well as his friendship with Jamukha. Somehow the dichotomy is accomplished so Temudgin never comes across as being the terrible brute the history often portrays.

The one big challenge for many people is the fact that the movie is presented in the Mongol tongue. It adds a sense of realism, but it also means viewers need to read subtitles.