Review of Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan (2007) by Wes K — 04 Feb 2010

Just FYI -- Over the coming days I'm using Netflix Instant to watch a string of films that I've missed throughout the years. So all of you, my friends, can share in this experience. Please don't defriend me, haha. So, yeah, onto Mongol:

I found the cinematography to be outstanding, and along with the acting, made for an enjoyable film. The plot is a bit too repetitive for my taste -- I lost count of the number of times Temudgin gets captured and escapes, but once or twice is enough to show me how bad ass he is. Four or Five escapes doesn't tell me anything new. Because of this, the film sacrifices more interesting alternative plot points such as Temudgin assembling his army to take on a rival, summarizing this plot point in a Voice Over. Meh.

Speaking of assembled armies...the battle scenes, while bloodlusty, lacked an intensity that one finds in other epics like Braveheart or even King Arthur. I was trying to figure out why this is and I believe its two things: not enough differing camera angles, and the editing feels a bit loose. Add to this the fact that we know (or you should know) that Temudgin goes on to become Genghis Khan, and a lot of the tension is muted -- save the natural tension of curiosity.

Definitely worth watching though. The performances were engaging and for the most part convincing, and a nice reminder that there are some superb actors living beyond Hollywood, and Europe for that matter.