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Tadanobu Asano, Honglei Sun, Khulan Chuluun, Odnyam Odsuren, Amarbold Yuvinbayar ... see more see more... , Bayartsetseg Erdenabat , Amadu Mamadakov , Ba Sen , Bu Ren , Aliya , Tegen Ao , Channing Tatum , Ba Tu , Ba Yin Qi Qi Ge , Deng Ba Te Er , Ying Bai

Based on the controversial writings of Russian historian Lev Gumilyov, director Sergei Bodrov's look at the early years in the life of the Mongol conqueror stars Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano as Temud... read more read more...gin (as he was then known), Honglei Sun as Mongol chieftain Jamukha, who was both Temudgin's close friend and mortal enemy, and newcomer Khulan Chuluun as his wife, Borte. Born in the year 1162, Temudgen's childhood was marred by tragedy and peril. But a great battle would seal Temudgen's fate forever, and though history often paints him as a brute, the truth is much more complex. Few historians make mention of the role Temudgen's wife, Borte, played in advising her husband and elevating him to greatness. With Borte by his side, Temudgen would rise to become a fearless visionary whose legacy would still prove potent enough to stir controversy centuries after his death. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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75% liked it

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86% liked it

100 critics

R, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Sergei Bodrov

Release Date: June 6, 2008

Keywords: action, epic

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DVD Release Date: October 14, 2008

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Stats: 3,534 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,534)

  • paulsandberg
    May 24, 2012
    paulsandberg
    As I watched the great Mongolian horsemen of the 1200's as depicted in the film Mongol, I couldn't help but think that George RR Martin borrowed heavily from them in creating his Dothraki in Game of Thrones.

    Mongol tells a romanticized version of the early years of the boy who... read more became the man to unite the great and ever warring tribes that roamed the steppes: Genghis Khan.

    We meet Genghis as a nine year old - being taken by his father a Khan (or tribal leader) to select a bride from a rival tribe in order to bring peace between their two tribes. On the way they stop and visit with a friendly tribe where young Genghis is enamored by a girl one year his senior. He asks his father if he may "practice" his choosing on the lesser tribes girls, and then befuddles his father by actually selecting one. Never a man to go against custom, the father gives his blessing to the union, knowing that it will anger the rival tribe.

    From there Genghis goes through several trials and tribulations as he grows to manhood as it is clear - being a Mongol isn't for the meek. I found their rituals and customs fascinating, almost more so than the story being presented; that of an undying love amongst all the strife.

    The film strives for a bit of grandeur yet it is when it focuses on the everyday that the film shows the most insight. Not that the grandeur isn't there - filmed on location in Mongolia you get taken in by the stark beauty of the endless frontier. The cinematography is truly beautiful and soulful as the film attempts to present its tale realistically - but unfortunately gets a bit too artsy- often resorting to slow motion camera work when depicting the million and one fight scenes. And yet there is a certain style and grace exhibited here as well, especially in the grand battle scenes where one cannot help but think of the book "the art of war".

    It's unfortunate that the film occasionally stumbles, as when Genghis is released from a small prison cell where he has been held for months, and jumps athletically down the escape route - man, I know I'd be stiff as hell being cooped up in a 5 foot square box.

    It is obvious here that the writer and director think very highly of their topic - but sadly fall into the usual biopic trap - calling Genghis Khan the greatest warrior and conqueror that ever lived... blah blah blah - the exact same thing came at the conclusion of Alexander; though I will say that Mongol has a much tighter narrative and is much more linear than that god awful film.
  • itsjustme2004
    October 14, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    Very good movie, and VERY well done. The fight scenes are just amazing. I didnt realize until the end that he was Genghis Khan. I just love movies with historical content, and this one did not disappoint.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    July 3, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    A very good film chronicling the exploits and reign of Genghis Khan. This is a terrific film with an excellent cast of actors. Mongol is a very beautiful film and if you love foreign film, you'll love this one. This is a powerful film about the greatest conqueror who ever lived.... read more Mongol is a stunning historical epic in the style of Braveheart. A great historical film that has a lot of action as much as story, this is a film that will please history buffs as well as film enthusiasts.
  • MovieGeek13
    April 30, 2009
    MovieGeek13
    There are scenes of greatness in Mongol. Take for example, the scene where Genghis Khan, known in this movie as Temudgin, tells his son how he chose his mother well. His wife replies, "You did not choose me. I chose you" ti which Temudgin replies after a moment of thought, "Tr... read moreue!" Mongol is about the man who would become one of history's greatest conquerers, and this movie focuses on how Temudgin's family life played an essential part in setting him in the path of his destiny. His wife remains his only constant through many ordeals of slavery, clan disputes, betrayal, and brotherhood. The problem is that the film oversimplifies a lot of these events. We never truly understand why after the death of his father, the remaining tribe wanted to hill Temudgin. Nor do we ever really see the Mongol way of life, which the characters speak so highly of throughout the film. In essence, it's an action picture that should have been a grand epic.
    Many of the films scenes are beautifully shot and constructed. But others feel redundant, as if we've seen them in countless Hollywood action epics. Specifically, the battle scenes seem too much like Braveheart. A well made and watchable film. But not a great one.
  • gor41
    March 21, 2009
    gor41
    Handsomely shot but dull telling of Genghis Khan's early years. Lots of slow-mo blood spurting but little originality to enliven proceedings.
  • garyX
    March 12, 2009
    garyX
    Mongol charts the life of Genghis Khan, from boy who sees his father assassinated, is abandoned by his clan and has his bride abducted, to the feared leader conqueror of half the known world. Well, some of it anyway. Mongol bears all the hallmarks of a quality historical epic, fr... read moreom the beautiful cinematography and fantastic costume design to the brilliantly staged battle sequences. Although he's obviously no John Wayne(!), Tadanobu Asano makes a charismatic Temudgin, and the relationships between his pragmatic and wily wife (nicely played by the striking Khulan Chuluun) and his brother turned enemy are interesting and well done. Unfortunately, the rather glamourized script seemed to lack focus; it happily showed his happy home life as loving husband and father in a way that reminded me of the early stages of Braveheart, but would then skip over huge swathes of his life. One minute he's a lone warrior, frolicking with his family in a field, the next he's in command of half of Mongolia, facing his brother on a battlefield. How did these events came to pass? Search me. Still, what there is is very well done, if a little episodic; I just wished it had concentrated a bit more on the parts of his life I was actually interested in.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    January 27, 2009
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Greatness comes to those who take it."

    Based on the controversial writings of Russian historian Lev Gumilyov, director Sergei Bodrov's look at the early years in the life of the Mongol conqueror stars Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano as Temudgin (as he was then known), Hong... read morelei Sun as Mongol chieftain Jamukha, who was both Temudgin's close friend and mortal enemy, and newcomer Khulan Chuluun as his wife, Borte. Born in the year 1162, Temudgen's childhood was marred by tragedy and peril. But a great battle would seal Temudgen's fate forever, and though history often paints him as a brute, the truth is much more complex. Few historians make mention of the role Temudgen's wife, Borte, played in advising her husband and elevating him to greatness. With Borte by his side, Temudgen would rise to become a fearless visionary whose legacy would still prove potent enough to stir controversy centuries after his death.

    Review
    While the plot contained some dubious twists and had rather strange and slow pacing, the overall effect of this movie is stellar. The cinematography rivals, while being similar to, movies such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". The score was amazing. The acting was, to my English speaking eyes and ears, convincing. The few combat scenes were filmed and choreographed to great effect. I am not sure how historically accurate this movie is, but it works as an enchanting piece of cinema. Highly recommended to anyone who likes art films and historical epics. Seriously, the locations make me want to take a vacation to the steppes immediately. Highly recommended.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    November 2, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Good stuff, a little less mysticism could make this even better. But don't worry, this is no Apocalypto.
  • sanjurosamurai
    October 20, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    astounding. this film blew me away. the only thing keeping it from perfection is the slightly choppy telling of parts of the story, but there are so many things about this film to love. the cinematography is among the best i have ever seen, period. the locations are beautiful... read more, building an awe within me surrounding the world we live in. the acting, considering no one has heard of these actors, was near perfect. the counterfieters was a great film, but this should have beat it last year for the oscar for best foreign language film. absolutely amazing.
  • TheMachinist
    October 18, 2008
    TheMachinist
    There's been a lot of writing about this film in the cinema medias. It got my attention but it failed to give me the feeling of being fully entertained.

    It looks good but the script leaves so many things explained. Ok, I understand that the filmmakers have planned to do a trilog... read morey about the Genghis Khan but if other filmmakers have succeded to put a complete, whole story (even if it would be a start of a trilogy) into a 2 hour feature, why haven't these guys? Maybe the lack of experience/talent?

    For example the battle, in the end, that was supposed to be a huge event on the screen, was a complete failure. There's no excitement in it.

    Perhaps the second part will save the disappointment of the first one when we see Genghis Khan conquer the world...

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan F. Richards
July 11, 2008
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com

When we think of the fearsome Genghis Khan, we don't picture him as ever having been a little boy. But he must have been, and that is where this grand throwback to the sweeping historical epics of yes... Full Review

Stanley Kauffmann
June 29, 2008
Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic

Mongol has just enough characterization to sustain its own reason for being -- cinematic fullness. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
June 27, 2008
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

A thoroughly rousing hunk of celluloid, a war saga that blends the sturdiest conventions of old-fashioned heroic storytelling with a few pixilated battle enhancements - check out the soaring blood glo... Full Review

Roger Moore
June 26, 2008
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Mongol, from its thrilling battles to its intimate romance, has the look, scale, story and feel of an old-fashioned epic in the best and biggest sense of the word. Full Review

Richard Roeper
June 23, 2008
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

The action sequences here are first-rate, the performances are uniformly excellent, the cinematography as good as I've seen in any film this year.

Walter V. Addiego
June 20, 2008
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle

There are plenty of haunting landscapes... along with the sort of warfare scenes that define epics, but also an unexpected take on one of history's most fearsome leaders. Full Review

Tom Long
June 20, 2008
Tom Long, Detroit News

A broad, old-fashioned epic in the David Lean mold. Full Review

Wesley Morris
June 20, 2008
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

Bodrov and Arif Aliyev wrote the film, which was one of this year's foreign-language Oscar nominees, and their account is framed as a drama of inflamed loins and intense loyalty. Full Review

Roger Ebert
June 20, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A ferocious film, blood-soaked, pausing occasionally for passionate romance and more frequently for torture. As a visual spectacle, it is all but overwhelming, putting to shame some of the recent hist... Full Review

Colin Covert
June 19, 2008
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Mongol is the first film of a proposed trilogy that charts his conquest of half the known world. If the sequels match this one, they can't come soon enough. Full Review

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