As time goes on, historical figures can take on mythical proportions. For me, one of those figures would be Genghis Khan. In my mind he has grown to this brutal, larger than life figure. How else could I have looked at him for what he had achieved back in the early years of the 1200’s? So with that mindset, I was taken aback by this massive undertaking of a movie that focused on his early years, when he was simply known as Temudjin. At the age of 10 he had promised his future bride he would return to her and he kept that promise. It really said something about his character for keeping that promise while becoming orphaned, pursued and enslaved. Considering this background, it only fueled my fascination for the man who was to become known as Genghis Khan. Played masterfully by Tadanobu Asano (Thor, Ichi the Killer) as the adult Genghis, one can say this film was also part love story. With his wife Borte, played by newcomer Khulan Chuluun, they formed a bond that would be the foundation to his formable drive in taking what he felt he deserved. Visually the movie was beautifully filmed with massive panoramic scenes and huge battles. There was violence and several bloody parts. I do not know how much of this story was true, but I did not care.  As far as I was concerned I was seeing how a man of below modest means started on his path in life, to become one of the most famous people in history.  Mongolian with English subtitles.

3 1/3 stars — DVD