By The Will of Genghis Khan

MTI Video

DVD and Blu-Ray

R1 DVD

Russian with English subtitles

This film is a dramatisation of the rise to power of Temujin, who was later to become known as Genghis Khan. It covers his youth, his isolation into exile when his father was killed and his subsequent return to lead his clan to power. By uniting the other Mongol clans with force where necessary he brings peace to the steppes. It is not without cost. Many good men, including his two closest childhood friends, die in the slaughter. He agonises over their deaths but believes Tengri, the Blue Sky God, must approve or Temujin would have been struck dead already’

The film is a combined Russian and Mongolian production. It was shot on location where many parts of the old lifestyle still exist. It could have been made in any rolling grassland area with mountains in the background but somehow the steppes have a unique look and beauty that give the film an authenticity.

The famed Mongol horsemen and their battle tactics stand out for action and skill. Thousands of horsemen and soldiers were recruited from the ranks of the Mongolian Army. In the battle scenes it looks like their traditional horsemanship skills are still alive and well.

The battles are huge and bloody, which seems to be typical of Chinese historically-based films these days. They are not afraid to spend money on hordes of extras and somehow this looks more realistic than CGI.

The English subtitles are a bit rough but don’t detract from the film. If you can handle the close-up violence and bloodshed it is a good drama and the best Genghis Khan film yet.

Reviews appear on the Synergy website with a single cover image. In the digital and print edition, reviews appear with multiple images and with expanded content.

This review will appear in Volume 3 No. 6 of the digital and print edition of Synergy.

We recommend you download the free digital edition (or buy the print edition) to get the most from Synergy. The print and digital editions of Synergy also include a large selection of articles and features not found on the website. If you have a limited download quota you can view the digital edition via the Issuu viewer on the digital edition page.

If you came to this page directly (and missed our menu), click here to go to the front page of Synergy Website or use the following link: http://www.synergy-magazine.com