Mongol

A film by Russian Sergei Bodrov that tells the epic story of the early life of young Temujin (played by Japanese Tadanobu Asano) and how events lead him to become the legendary conqueror Genghis Khan. It is planned to be the first in a trilogy about Genghis Khan’s life. The story basically shows how behind a great man there is always a great woman (he he) and in his case is Börte (played by Mongolian non-actor Khulan Chuluun) the wife that gives great advises and is behind him no matter what happens.

This Germany, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia production is a great epic movie with excellent cinematography and breathtaking views of the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia and Kazakhstan and some nice choreographed battles. But is hard for me to think that this movie is nominated for the 2008 Academy Awards Best Foreign Film representing Kazakhstan. It is majestic, it is great, it is interesting, well at least more than the Counterfeiters but this is not better than my favorite Romanian movie!

The movie has already win some honors in the 2007 Russian Golden Eagle Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Sound Design, honors that make total sense as the movie has spectacular costumes and excellent sound. Also the film was in competition at the 2nd Cinema Rome Film Festival

This is a crowd pleaser that because all the action during the battles will appeal to wider audiences and they will forget the nice slow pace of some scenes. I suppose it is a must be seen movie because is nominated for the Academy Awards and the outstanding cinematography.

Enjoy!