Mongol (2008)

Cast and Crew

Director

Producer

Screenwriter

Starring

• Tadanobu Asano
• Honglei Sun
• Amadu Mamadakov
• Ying Bai
• Aliya
• Tegen Ao
• Khulan Chuluun
• Amarbold Tuvshinbayar

Movie Story

Based on leading scholarly accounts and written by Bodrov and Arif Aliyev, "Mongol" delves into the dramatic and harrowing early years of the ruler who was born as Temudgin in 1162. As it follows Temudgin from his perilous childhood to the battle that sealed his destiny, the film paints a multidimensional portrait of the future conqueror, revealing him not as the evil brute of hoary stereotype, but as an inspiring, fearless and visionary leader. "Mongol" shows us the making of an extraordinary man, and the foundation on which so much of his greatness rested: his relationship with his wife, Borte, his lifelong love and most trusted advisor.

Filmed in the very lands that gave birth to Genghis Khan, "Mongol" transports us back to a distant and exotic period in world history; to a nomad's landscape of endless space, climatic extremes and ever-present danger. In a performance of powerful stillness and subtlety, celebrated young Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano (Zatoichi, Last Life in the Universe) captures the inner fire that enabled a hunted boy to become a legendary conqueror. Asano's achievement is matched by those of his co-stars, including the radiant newcomer Khulan Chuluun as Temudgin's courageous, spirited wife Borte, and the Chinese actor Honglei Sun (The Road Home) as the Mongol chieftain Jamukha, Temudgin's dearest friend and deadliest enemy. Masterfully blending action and emotion against some of the most arresting terrain on earth, Bodrov delivers an exciting and awe-inspiring tale of survival and triumph, and a love story for the ages.

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Reader's Reviews

Beautiful! Panoramic images are unforgettable yet shown without pressure. Its another movie experience of watching-a-film-while-living -the-life of,in this case, Mongolians. Soundtrack (Folk-Rock band-Altan Ugar) is sooo cool- I like the fusion.

posted by Cineaste on Aug 13, 2008

A central character with no personality, soppy romantic dialogue (at about the Titanic level) and silly supernatural overtones with no explanation (come on - what's with the slo-mo wolf?) , causing the film to border on science-fantasy, all packaged up with as much gouting blood and shining gore as possible. Hmmmm. Disappointing. For great Mongolian landscapes I recommend Mongolian cinema - try 'The Weeping Camel'. This protracted big-budget epic did nothing but disappoint.

posted by Mongol on Aug 12, 2008