By the Will of Genghis Khan
Directed by Andrei Borisov
Courtesy of Ed Baran Publicity / Epic Pictures Group
Released: September 28, 2010

Many movies based on historical figures usually portray them in a stereotypical fashion, meaning they show the audience basically what history classes have already taught us. Still, others would have us believe unsubstantiated and sometimes nonsensical claims about these historical figures, often times adding more myth than truth. But sometimes, on rare occasions, a film comes along that captures the subject in a plausible and realistic light.

By the Will of Genghis Khan is one of those rare gems that accurately follows historical accounts while vividly bringing the character of Genghis Khan to life.

The film starts with the birth of Temujin (which is the birth name of the great Khan) and chronicles his younger years. As a boy, Temujin forms bonds with many of the young men around him, but most specifically with Jamuka. Temujin and Jamuka become blood brothers and create a bond that lasts over the course of their lifetimes.

But as age comes to both men, so do differences in opinion. Temujin has a burning desire for law and order…at any cost. Jamuka, on the other hand, believes in the law, but does not agree with Temujin’s idealism on how it should be obtained. As a result, bloodshed is inevitable. Although he does not wish it, Temujin ends up wages a war with the other clans. His ultimate goal: to unite all of the clans under one banner and implement law into a somewhat lawless land. Unfortunately, Jamuka is on the other side.

This film is stunning in scope and breathtaking in vision. Shot on location in Russia and Mongolia, the visuals in this film are amazing and only add to the viewer’s immersion into the film. Director of Photography Yuri Berezhnev is to be commended for his visualization of each scene and his ability to draw the audience in for each shot. One of my favorite backdrops from the film is a massive iceberg-flow out in the ocean that moves slowly behind a character that is standing on a cliff.

The stellar performances given by each member of the cast also contributed to this film’s success for me. Minor characters, no matter how small, were given the necessary doses of reality needed to move each scene along. Not to mention the attention to detail given to the costumes and props. No expenses appeared to be spared when it came to outfitting this production.

The battle scenes were absolutely amazing, with (as far as I could tell) no CG shots incorporated at all. According to the website, hundreds of Mongolian horsemen were used, with thousands of extras added in as foot-soldiers. The action was eager and solid, a true testament to fighting of that time period. And the stunt-work left me wondering if people had actually been hurt in those scenes (I can’t count the number of times a warrior slid to the ground along with his horse).

By the Will of Genghis Khan is truly a magnificent film. My only complaint about the production is the lack of an English voice-over on the DVD, and that is only a minor inconvenience. Otherwise, this film is excellent, and one that will definitely go in my collection.

MSB