Mongol: An international cinematic masterpiece. Genghis Khan kicks ass.

Mongol is an incredible, expansive, and epic film. Braveheart meets 300 meets Troy meets Genghis Khan.

It's an international film created for only $20 million by a relatively unknown team of filmmakers and an international crew from 40 different countries. It was nominated for Best Foreign Film last year, and to me it's a wonder how it didn't win.

The story revolves around Temudgin, the future leader who would go on to become Genghis Khan, one of the most powerful conquerors there ever was. Unlike Alexander, who was born to inherit his empire, Temudgin was the son of a lesser warlord who spent most of his childhood in abject poverty and persecution.

The plot itself is relatively simplistic, but the action/pacing is well done and it's a rare glimpse into a world and time long past. And luckily for us, it's just the first of a trilogy.

4.5 / 5 stars