Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan (+ Digital Copy) | 
| Director: Sergei Bodrov
Actors: Tadanobu Asano, Khulan Chuluun, Ji Ri Mu Tu, Amarbold Tuvshinbayar, Aliya (ii)
Studio: New Line Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $27.98
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Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 1042
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 125
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: TRNDN40383D
UPC: 883929028788
EAN: 8839290287882
ASIN: B001F34HT6
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: October 14, 2008
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Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 10/14/2008 Run time: 126 minutes Rating: R
Amazon.com
First entry in a proposed trilogy, Mongol vividly captures the beauty and brutality of ancient Mongolia. Beginning in 1172 and ending in 1206, Sergei Bodrov's Oscar-nominated epic presents future conqueror Ghengis Khan as more lover--and fighter--than diplomat. Against his father Esegui's wishes, nine-year-old Temudjin chooses his own bride, whom he marries in the years to come. Hopes for the future, however, turns to thoughts of vengeance when the clan forsakes the boy upon Esegui's death. While Temudjin (now played by Zatoichi's Tadanobu Asano, a quietly commanding presence) makes his way in a cruel world, turncoat Targutai (Amadu Mamadakov) becomes the new khan. When an opposing clan kidnaps Temudjin's wife, Boerte (Khulan Chuluun), he eventually retrieves her, but betrays blood brother Jamukha (Sun Honglei, Seven Swords) in the process, leading to further enslavement and more Kurasawa-style slicing and dicing. Throughout his travails, Temudjin comes to believe that Mongols must unite to share the same language, culture, and set of values. Sustained by his faith in the god Tengri and the devotion of Boerte, Temudjin sets out to wrest control of Mongolia from Jamukha and his women and children-killing hordes. Except for an over-reliance on CGI during the climactic battle sequence, Mongol equals the scope and grandeur of historical predecessors, like Braveheart and Hero. If much of the cast is Chinese and Japanese, Bodrov, who directed Prisoner of the Mountains, conjures up authenticity through detailed costumes, Mongolian dialogue, and remote Central Asian locations. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 One of the Best Historical Films in Years November 22, 2008
This film should have won the academy award for Best Foreign Film. It is a uniquely authentic presentation of the legend of the rise of Genghis Khan, done by a Russian director, a Japanese lead, Mongolian cast, and in the Mongolian language. It is superbly acted and puts the viewer in the world of twelfth-century Mongolia. The climactic battle at the end presents the most accurate rendition of Mongol fighting styles ever committed to film. This film was a delight from start to finish. I only wish that a bit more had been shown of Genghis Khan's rise to supremacy after uniting the tribes of Mongolia.
One Wife One World November 19, 2008
I viewed this movie in the theaters and was totally impressed, so impressed I was moved to seek out another movie about Genghis Khan produced for the Japanese market, "Genghis Khan to the Ends of the Earth", and the book, " Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World." Based upon the latter, the Japanese produced DVD seems more accurate, as the story lines in both while similar diverge at times. The Japanese production is focused on Genghis Khan's [more appropriately Temujin, his name before he became Khan] mother and her voice narrates, whereas this DVD focuses on Temujin's relationship with his wife Boorte. The defining difference is that this movie is in Mongol where the Japanese is in Japanese. Thid DVD appropriately focuses on the "blue Wolf" which is Temujin's tribe, versus the japanese DVD penchant to focus on eagles or hawks. All in all it was a good DVD with a strong story line, but I am skeptical about the story itself, but since there is no definitive history, one must draw their own conclusions. I recommend the DVD for its visuals, but also suggest that those who want more should check out the other sources above.
An Ambitious and Beautiful (Re)vision of Genghis Khan's Rise to Power. November 14, 2008
"Mongol" is a sweeping epic of the life of Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan, intended as the first installment in a trilogy. This first chapter brings us the legendary childhood and youth of the great military leader, up to the point when he unites Mongolia under one rule. A spare voiceover narration takes us back to the fateful day when 9-year-old Temudjin (Odnyam Odsurem) chose his young bride and lost his father, Khan Esugei (Ba Sen). Temudjin (Asano Tadanobu) then spends nearly 20 years as a fugitive from his father's successor Targutai (Amadu Mamadakov) and his clan's traditional enemies, the Merkits. Enslaved repeatedly and always intent on reuniting with his wife Borte (Khulan Chuluun), Temudjin dreams of a more peaceful and unified Mongolia. When he finally gains his freedom it is only his equally ambitious "blood brother" Jamukha (Honglei Sun) who stands in his way.
The earliest source of information about Genghis Khan's youth is a poem entitled "A Secret History of the Mongols" that was written after his death. It may be fanciful, and there is a 10-year gap in information, in any case. But "Mongol"'s Russian director and co-writer Sergei Bodrov has used the poem as inspiration to construct his tale of Genghis Khan's origins. Temudjin is also presented in such a way as to appeal to more modern values: a man who believes in the greatness of his country, but also generosity to his warriors, loyalty to family, and rule of law. Bodrov doesn't attempt to disguise the legendary nature of his subject. He presents Temudjin as enjoying the favor of his pan-god Tengri and coming to power through destiny as much as through perseverance.
This is an action movie with bloody battles as well as a quasi-mythic biography, and I found the CGI heavy-handed in the final battle. But "Mongol" is a Hollywood-style epic amazingly made for only $20 million. Filmed amid stunning landscapes in remote Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan, it and looks like it cost three times that. This is a majestic recreation of Genghis Khan's rise to power, but it's not entirely lacking in humor. Borte is a shrewd and loyal wife who ironically tends to bear children by other men, much to the audience's amusement, if not Temudjin's. Sergei Bodrov embraces the recent trend to cast actors who must learn their lines phonetically. Asano Tadanobu is Japanese, and Honglei Sun is Chinese. Both men have an imposing presence, but the film is in Mongolian with optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles. There are no bonus features on the New Line 2008 DVD.
Riveting, Inspiring, Absorbing, Provoking, Just a GREAT All-Around Gift November 8, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
ON STRIKE UNTIL AMAZON STOPS DELETING FAVORABLE VOTES FROM FANS AND COUNTING NEGATIVE VOTES FROM THOSE WHO HATE THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE BOOK BEING REVIEWED MORE THAN THEY CARE ABOUT THE REVIEW.
I was going to multi-task as a I usually do, watching a DVD while reading a book (Constitutional History of Secession)--that idea lasted less than 30 seconds.
From the very first visual this movie grabbed me. This was so good that I spent a third of the time standing up in front of the TV (in part to read the subtitles but in part because this is what I do when a movie really grabs me intellectually and spiritually), and a third leaning forward ffrom the sofa in the fireplace room.
The movie ENDS with battle scenes. The build-up is spectacular on all fronts--cinematography, casting, script, acting--there is not a single bit of this movie that is not five-star wake up and smell the roses GREAT.
I am sitting here thinking of what else to say, just shaking my head. At every level, from personal loyalty to personal strength to family ties to blood brothers to brave in battle to the nuances of corruption, I had a RIVETING good time with this movie. I was ABSORBED.
A few other DVDs I admire as much as this one, but each a slightly different kind of absorbtion. This movie (above) is epic in every sense of the word. The first DVD, is an alterantive view of Tibet which is on the other side of China from Mongolia, but in my view equally important as Mongolia, both autonomous cultural zones.
Tibet - Cry of the Snow Lion
Gladiator (Widescreen Edition)
Henry V
Braveheart (Special Collector's Edition)
Lawrence of Arabia (Collector's Edition, 2 discs) - DVD
The Last Samurai (Full Screen Edition)
We Were Soldiers (Widescreen Edition)
The Snow Walker
A Man Called Horse
A great epic in the vein of Spartacus, without the Hollywood sentimentality October 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I love historical epics, especially when they are crafted with skill, love and care. This movie is as grand as anything since Spartacus, with breath-taking cinematic views and reasonably careful adherence to reality. The main difference here is the quiet unsentimental story-telling style that actually presumes more credit for the audience's intelligence and has a very polished feel. I am totally amazed by the director's ability to immerse the viewers in an alien culture yet maintaining our interest throughout a 2+ hour show. In this respect, he is as successful as An Lee in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, which is surely a high praise.
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