Movie Review: Mongol

Not to be missed by academics, arm chair travelers or just plain old film-goers out for a rollicking good time Mongol charts a very uneven course. Told smartly with time capsules relating to the era our story follows the plight of a young boy named Temudjin who has some God-like qualities. Oh, to be fair, this young lad turns to God on various occasions for guidance. And well he should.

Early on we see the tribal practices of Temudjin’s people who live a bare existence. Conflict between different clans erupts into out and out warfare quite often with our boy becoming a man in no short order. After taking a wife, Borte, at the ripe old age of ten we next see Temudjin locking horns with a fellow clan. Divisions run deep in society and grudges last an eternity. Born to poverty and destined to hero worship our Temudjin ultimately meets a friend named Jamukha who turns out to be anything but.

Epic battles that can rival anything from The Lord of the Rings except here the fantasy element is passed over for a gritty realistic tone. Cast as the mercurial leader Temudjin who undergoes quite a journey from free man to captive to warrior/hero is Japanese acting ace Tadanobu Asano. At his side much of the time is newcomer Khulan Chuluun who will dazzle you blind as the lissome Borte. Fair-weather friend Jamukha is played out by Chinese actor Hoglei Sun in this war-torn tale that shows the butchery of battle and inner strengths needed to survive and perhaps even prosper.

Glorious costumes and gorgeous cinematography that make full use of Asia’s majestic topography make Mongol a very insightful look into one of the world’s most fabled and ruthless rulers.

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