Mongol opens at Varsity Theatre in Toronto June 6th

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Although I generally dislike foreign films, a good story makes subtitles disappear. Mongol is every bit as good as, and perhaps better than most Hollywood historical epics.

Yesterday I watched Mongol in a sneak peek screening that I won free passes for at the Varsity Theater in the back of the Manulife building at Bay and Bloor in downtown Toronto. This is probably the only place in Toronto where this movie is playing right now; its in 'select theaters' only until June 22nd, 2008.

Mongol is an absolutely stunning historical epic by Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov. The unforgettable story relates the most dramatic events in the life of the legendary warrior hero Genghis Khan. This beautiful film masterfully blends action and emotion against an arresting landscape - it’s like a Chinese Braveheart, but better.

Co-written by Bodrov and Arif Aliyev, the story centers on the most desperate years in the life of a boy named Temudgin (Odnyam Odsuren) who was born in 1162AD. Every school boy is told that's when the Crusades were pulsing through Europe into the Levant; now this movie tells us that new heavy cavalry units were also dominating the politics in Eastern Asia too. The line of dialog, 'Every Mongol must have a horse' is a theme in the story that follows Temudgin all through his bitter childhood to the battle that sealed his destiny. The great khan also profited by not neglecting his personal and family life, and the eventually prove to be quite important in his success.


The adult Ghengis Khan is portrayed by the famous Japanese actor Asano Tadanobu (Star of Kitano's Zatoichi, Last Life in the Universe), who is simply magnificent. Asano Tadanobu's achievement is matched by his co-stars, including the radiant newcomer Khulan Chuluun as Temudgin's wife Borte, and the Chinese actor Honglei Sun (Yimou's The Road Home) as the Mongol chieftain Jamukha, Temudgin's friend and enemy.

Deviating from the standard depictions offered in most films and books, "Mongol" offers a multi-layered portrait of the future conqueror, revealing him not as the brute of hoary stereotype, but as an inspiring, fearless visionary. Mongol is everything that Oliver Stone's pseudo-epic, Alexander tried to be.

There have been other films about Genghis Khan, but I don't think any of them come anywhere close to matching the skill level Mongol manifests in all departments, from the storytelling to the acting, cinematography, editing, and even the music is terrific.

Watch movies with subtitles in the theater

If you absolutely have to watch a film with subtitles, you should watch it in the movie theater and not home on DVD.

When you watch a beautiful film with subtitles on DVD you miss the beautiful parts. That’s because your eyes must always semi-focus on the bottom of your TV screen to keep track of the dialog.

When you watch a movie with subtitles in the theatre however you’re looking up at a huge screen and your perspective is such that your peripheral vision can absorb more of the scenery and even the text is easier to read.

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Comments

[Rudy Goo-liani]

I have a question
Does this movie focus on his childhood more than his life as a warrior leader? That would suck. And why such a limited release? It's been floating around film festivals for over a year now. I personally like subtitles. You never miss a quote with subtitles. Viva Genghis.