....as a NETFLIX rental and can only recommend it to history buffs who'd like to learn the entire story of Genghis Khan, as told by screenwriters.
The Link
This introductory movie only covers his childhood and young manhood.
The director, Sergei Bodrov, apparently plans this initial historical adaptation to be the first part of his trilogy about the Oriental version of Alexander the Great, whose Mongol hordes on horseback terrified and conquered even more of the world coming from the opposite direction.
I'm sure I'll watch it all, if and when it's made, and I predict this first film, that's mostly about the childhood of this great leader and innovative warrior, will prove to be the least interesting of the three parts.
The subtitles didn't turn me off, but this movie isn't for a casual viewer because this part of the story just isn't all that compelling.
I'm sure Genghis Khan, himself, would agree that his adult years as a world conqueror and an empire builder are/were much more interesting, exciting and rewarding than his difficulties and adventures as a kid.
Heck, without some family photos or a movie like this one to remind him, his Chinese childhood was probably just a blurred, fire drill-like memory for him anyway.
If you saw Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" or Kevin Costner's "Dances with Wolves," you might notice that "Mongol" shares some themes, scenes and twists with those movies.
But this storyline doesn't move nearly as well as did those flicks.
Remember, those two films each had the advantage of taking us to their respective adult climaxes and even beyond.
This movie viewed slowly (more like real life, here even interrupted); of course, isn't that the privilege of a biopic?
As the first part of a trilogy, I found this cinematic offering to be necessary only for biographic completeness.
I'm looking forward much more to the rest of the story.
And if the rest of Genghis Khan's story isn't forthcoming as the director has indicated it will be, his introductory movie, IMHO, becomes almost pointless and completely forgettable.
I never thought I would find any part of John Wayne's miscast Mongol movie role as "The Conqueror" praiseworthy in any way, but, so far, I guess it's still the best overall movie about Genghis Khan yet made.
The Duke was so unbelievable as to be laughable, ambling sideways cowboy style, in that Far Eastern Western.
The Link
Omar Sherif also starred in a mediocre movie called "Genghis Khan," which I saw in the '60s and will choose to disregard.
Then there was Mel Brook's comedy classic, "Blazing Saddles," wherein Alex Karras, as "Mongo," decked a horse with his fist.
The Link
And in "Flash Gordon," the space hero traveled to the planet Mongo where Max von Sydow (playing Ming the Merciless) was the local Oriental-looking
tyrant.
The Link
<Queen> Flash, ah ahhhhhh <Queen>
Mongo, Mongol......who wants to be picky?
br>
Thus, so far, I think "Genghis Wayne" has benefited from a fortunate (for him) lack of serious, actual Mongolian movie match ups.
That hopefully could change, when the rest of this planned trilogy comes out.
And Genghis Khan might finally be allowed to take his rightful historic place, far ahead of Mongolian barbecue, as that distant country's most important iconic export.
So take your pick, you history buffs, see this first movie for imaginary completeness or just wait for the probably more interesting sequels.
The Link
This introductory movie only covers his childhood and young manhood.
The director, Sergei Bodrov, apparently plans this initial historical adaptation to be the first part of his trilogy about the Oriental version of Alexander the Great, whose Mongol hordes on horseback terrified and conquered even more of the world coming from the opposite direction.
I'm sure I'll watch it all, if and when it's made, and I predict this first film, that's mostly about the childhood of this great leader and innovative warrior, will prove to be the least interesting of the three parts.
The subtitles didn't turn me off, but this movie isn't for a casual viewer because this part of the story just isn't all that compelling.
I'm sure Genghis Khan, himself, would agree that his adult years as a world conqueror and an empire builder are/were much more interesting, exciting and rewarding than his difficulties and adventures as a kid.
Heck, without some family photos or a movie like this one to remind him, his Chinese childhood was probably just a blurred, fire drill-like memory for him anyway.
If you saw Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" or Kevin Costner's "Dances with Wolves," you might notice that "Mongol" shares some themes, scenes and twists with those movies.
But this storyline doesn't move nearly as well as did those flicks.
Remember, those two films each had the advantage of taking us to their respective adult climaxes and even beyond.
This movie viewed slowly (more like real life, here even interrupted); of course, isn't that the privilege of a biopic?
As the first part of a trilogy, I found this cinematic offering to be necessary only for biographic completeness.
I'm looking forward much more to the rest of the story.
And if the rest of Genghis Khan's story isn't forthcoming as the director has indicated it will be, his introductory movie, IMHO, becomes almost pointless and completely forgettable.
I never thought I would find any part of John Wayne's miscast Mongol movie role as "The Conqueror" praiseworthy in any way, but, so far, I guess it's still the best overall movie about Genghis Khan yet made.
The Duke was so unbelievable as to be laughable, ambling sideways cowboy style, in that Far Eastern Western.
The Link
Omar Sherif also starred in a mediocre movie called "Genghis Khan," which I saw in the '60s and will choose to disregard.
Then there was Mel Brook's comedy classic, "Blazing Saddles," wherein Alex Karras, as "Mongo," decked a horse with his fist.
The Link
And in "Flash Gordon," the space hero traveled to the planet Mongo where Max von Sydow (playing Ming the Merciless) was the local Oriental-looking
tyrant.
The Link
<Queen> Flash, ah ahhhhhh <Queen>
Mongo, Mongol......who wants to be picky?
br>
Thus, so far, I think "Genghis Wayne" has benefited from a fortunate (for him) lack of serious, actual Mongolian movie match ups.
That hopefully could change, when the rest of this planned trilogy comes out.
And Genghis Khan might finally be allowed to take his rightful historic place, far ahead of Mongolian barbecue, as that distant country's most important iconic export.
So take your pick, you history buffs, see this first movie for imaginary completeness or just wait for the probably more interesting sequels.
