Mongol

Put aside those Borat jokes for just one minute and prepare to be blown away by a film revolving around Kazakhstan’s second most famous son. Based on facts rather than a screenwriter’s fertile imagination, this epic recounts Genghis Khan’s life from hunted child to one of the world’s most historic and visionary leaders, told in chapters highlighting key points in his life. As Genghis, Tadanobu Asano delivers a performance to rival any recent Academy Award winner, while the scenery and battle scenes are among the most awe-inspiring ever filmed. Best of all, they were shot at the same locations where Khan once walked. From the soundtrack to the flawless editing and jaw-dropping cinematography, Mongol stimulates the senses and stirs the soul. Some films you have to watch and some you have to experience, so on no account wait for the DVD release - see this one on the big screen for maximum effect. [Kevin McHugh]