Sergei Bodrov's 2007 account of the early life of legendary Mongolian Ghengis Khan, was the intended first part of a trilogy, charting the rise and conquering heroism of the brother who went on to invade half the world.
It's best seen as less of a history lesson and more of a popularist action adventure, with history thrown in. I have to admit that I didn't learn a huge amount and in any case the bracing and sweeping (& often gorgeous) cinematography steal the scenes so much that the subtitles become very second place and it's easy to concentrate less on what is being said. (& read, of course!)
That widescreen spectacle is never less than audacious and is always visually entertaining. From beautiful almost static shots, to full- blooded battle scenes, that are always inventive and involving, this history 'lesson' is very much for modern audiences. Add the requisite slo-mo battle slaying and CGI'd blood spatters, this flick knows both its technology and its target viewers.
So, what sets this apart from any other modern Hollywood historical epic? Well, aside of the above, there are no known actors that we can recognise and relate to, which certainly adds to the authenticity. Then, there's the outstanding locations and scenery, with filming undertaken in Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan and (I guess) cheaper labour costs, actual people instead of CGI'd crowds.
Then, there's the music - the OST would be worth buying on its own, ranging from the poignant to the powerful, often with locally sounding instruments and voices, this really enhances both the mood and tone of the whole movie. Nominated for an Oscar in the Foreign Language category, too, this is one rousing spectacle that entertains, but I'm afraid the Q&A session after would be notable by its non-attendance.
It's best seen as less of a history lesson and more of a popularist action adventure, with history thrown in. I have to admit that I didn't learn a huge amount and in any case the bracing and sweeping (& often gorgeous) cinematography steal the scenes so much that the subtitles become very second place and it's easy to concentrate less on what is being said. (& read, of course!)
That widescreen spectacle is never less than audacious and is always visually entertaining. From beautiful almost static shots, to full- blooded battle scenes, that are always inventive and involving, this history 'lesson' is very much for modern audiences. Add the requisite slo-mo battle slaying and CGI'd blood spatters, this flick knows both its technology and its target viewers.
So, what sets this apart from any other modern Hollywood historical epic? Well, aside of the above, there are no known actors that we can recognise and relate to, which certainly adds to the authenticity. Then, there's the outstanding locations and scenery, with filming undertaken in Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan and (I guess) cheaper labour costs, actual people instead of CGI'd crowds.
Then, there's the music - the OST would be worth buying on its own, ranging from the poignant to the powerful, often with locally sounding instruments and voices, this really enhances both the mood and tone of the whole movie. Nominated for an Oscar in the Foreign Language category, too, this is one rousing spectacle that entertains, but I'm afraid the Q&A session after would be notable by its non-attendance.