Mongol: Genghis Khan's Rise
Sergei Bodrov’s Staple Fare to Summer Cinema & Romance Films
From Alexander to Cortez, great conquerers always have their own special place during America’s summertime movie fixture. Tradition continued on the summer of 2008 with Russian Director Sergei Bodrov’s latest film centered on the early days of the man who would become Genghis Khan, aptly titled “Mongol”.
Synopsis
The film begins with the humble childhood of Temudjin, the son of a strong khan. They are traveling because Temudjin must choose his wife to be. Along the way, he encounters Borte, who actually chooses him. This relationship they have with each other becomes the pivotal center of this movie as Temudjin faces the trials of losing his father, losing his tribe, and losing his loved one and reclaiming her (and vica-versa) through his own charisma, his knowledge of war, and the blessings of the god of the sky, Tengu, whom appears to him in the form of a wolf and his wrath in the form of lightning.
Twenty Years into One Movie
The history of Genghis Khan is interesting in that there is so much going on, but it seems that it is also the biggest problem the movie has. Timelines are forcedly pushed to moments in Temudjin’s life that are interesting or bear some significance historically. While this is appropriate considering this movie covers at least twenty years of the young conquerer’s beginnings, it also seems to be an awkward blend of scenes as a result. We have no real sense of time, save in scant moments when we are reminded of what year it is or in the progression of pregnancy, but the tale feels so scattered at times that it is as though everything was forced with a sense of rushing all the way, most of the time forcing us to be unable to appreciate the cinematography the film offers, save when it offers strange inconsistencies such as raiders coming in at night and, one scene later, following our protagonists in the day.
Worse still is the way the movie seems so self-serving towards the protagonist. Temudjin is the main character, yet he is surrounded by characters who love him. Those that disagree him, few that they are, become main villains. It seems that almost everyone believes Temudjin has a destiny for something greater, whether they know him or are strangers. Possibly one of the worst decisions the film makers made was with Jamukha, a childhood friend of Temudjin, who was converted from a local boy in simple clothing with long hair into a shaved bald man in black with ear jewelry the moment he becomes an adult and potential rival. The predictability they offered in discerning who is bad and who is good is almost offensive.
Mongol: The Rise in Power of Genghis Khan's Love?
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that this film is not so much an action tale as it really is a love story. The relationship of Borte and Temudjin is so strong that we are not so much treated to the details of Temudjin’s “rise to power,” as the title suggests, but the details of how he keeps trying to come back to Borte. If this film was not billed as a movie of a man who would become conqueror of an empire greater than Rome, then it would have been easier to take. The previews offered very little to convince viewers otherwise, unfortunately.
Brevity vs. Usefulness in Subtitles
Translation seems to do little to bolster this tale by any account. The subtitles are simple to the point where they are bland. Was the decision made to reflect the language of the Mongols? Was it to make it more accommodating for those who wish to avoid reading? While having subtitles simply for the sake of understanding what is going on, the emotions you see on film seem to already compensate for most of the simple explanations that are offered in text. Because of this, it seems the only time when subtitles have any critical value is in the beginning, as the young actor who plays the childish Temudjin seems incapable of expressing emotion.
This... is... Mongolia!
If there is anything that should be particularly praised, it is in the combat scenes the movie offers. Although they are few and far between, Sergei manages to pull off an entirely different style from the pace of the movie when he shows the art of war in a way reminiscent of the frenetic style shown in Frank Miller's 300. Some of the effects you can visibly tell as being too synthetic to feel convincing, but there is so much going with such a feel of fury that you have to try to notice it to see it. Unfortunately, again, these are scenes that are few and far between from the meat and bones of the romance.
Verdict
In the end, this movie may leave you feeling uncomfortable. While it fulfills every niche of what epic movies should be like, it felt jumbled, especially when one considers all the angles the movie tried to claim. The fact is that this movie is more of a love story than anything else, which is a surprise when one considers this was a man who was notorious for inseminating many women with his genetic legacy. There is news of Bodrov working on two more movies to complete this saga. One can only hope that they promise something that feels more consistent with what the audience expects to be seeing.
You Might Like it For:
- Epic Scale of Film
- Historical accuracy of most of the events
- Intense Love Story
- Well-Executed Action scenes
- Scenery
- Pure Mongolian dialect
