This film about the great Tatar * conqueror Genghis Khan who stated as the ordinary boy called Temujin is the best film about Genghis Khan so far before the the debut of the Kazakh film Mongol in 2007.
The reason for this is because its production and directing as a costume drama is good that makes it enjoyable though as a notable drama it fails to be an epic as the story line is wooden that spoils the overall film.
The famous John Wayne disaster "The Conqueror" can compensate for this as the story line and its representation of the characters is much closer and darker to the rise of the real Genghis Khan. The advantage this film has over the central theme of The Conqueror is that it highlights Genghis Khans conquests of China and Central Asia.
Despite the anecdotal/ anachronistic and soap based story line the music, costumes, cultural representations and its filming locations in the beautiful former Yugoslavia which was a good choice makes this film a good costume drama on an interesting man.
The only way this film could of been made as an historical epic in the era of the zenith of their productions is that the theme central to it should of been about the Khans rise as represented in the Conqueror - which should of disappeared in to the abyss before moving to his conquests and narration of his legacy which gave the film depth.
Here is a list of were the film misses the point completely
James Mason takes on the role of Yue li Chitsei a captured official who organised the empire.
* Many reviewers have said of the cast who play in this film as not being Asian enough. This is true for the Chinese who are clichéd and are not correctly represented. However the characters playing "Mongols" such as Omar Sharif and Francois Dorleac were for the time well cast and well played and they can be accepted in their roles by being presented as Turkic (Tartar) as the Mongols were known at their height.
The famous John Wayne disaster "The Conqueror" can compensate for this as the story line and its representation of the characters is much closer and darker to the rise of the real Genghis Khan. The advantage this film has over the central theme of The Conqueror is that it highlights Genghis Khans conquests of China and Central Asia.
Despite the anecdotal/ anachronistic and soap based story line the music, costumes, cultural representations and its filming locations in the beautiful former Yugoslavia which was a good choice makes this film a good costume drama on an interesting man.
The only way this film could of been made as an historical epic in the era of the zenith of their productions is that the theme central to it should of been about the Khans rise as represented in the Conqueror - which should of disappeared in to the abyss before moving to his conquests and narration of his legacy which gave the film depth.
Here is a list of were the film misses the point completely
- Temujin was raised by his mother after his fathers death he was not a slave and his tribe the Kiyats deserted him and he lived like a bandit
- He only wore a yok when an enemy of his Targutai Khan captured him but he escapes out of his own cunning and astuteness
- Robert Morley the Chinese emperor takes on the role of Toghrul Khan a powerful ally turned rival
James Mason takes on the role of Yue li Chitsei a captured official who organised the empire.
- Jamuga (Stephen Boyd) was initially an ally turned rival though here he takes more on the role of Targutai and in the later part of the film he takes on the role of Kuchlug Khan who only has a minor and insignificant role in the film
- Shan (Telly Savages) has no relevance in the story and therefore the Chinese king can take his place in his battle with Genghis Khan. The Shah of Khiva insulted Genghis khan when he consolidated his domains he did not make an alliance with his rivals nor did he engage in industrial slavery
- An assemblé of tribes proclaimed him Genghis Khan a title of universal ruler after ousting his rivals and absorbing the other tribes.
* Many reviewers have said of the cast who play in this film as not being Asian enough. This is true for the Chinese who are clichéd and are not correctly represented. However the characters playing "Mongols" such as Omar Sharif and Francois Dorleac were for the time well cast and well played and they can be accepted in their roles by being presented as Turkic (Tartar) as the Mongols were known at their height.