I saw Mongol almost a week ago. I wasn’t even aware it was nominated for an Oscar (for Best Foreign Film). It didn’t win but I’m hardly surprised.
The movie aspires to portray Ghengis Khan‘s early life. I understand there will be 2 more movies to follow. It does a decent job of portraying the 12th century nomads of Mongolia. It was shot on location in Kazakhstan and Inner Mongolia (a Chinese province).
I guess this first part was intended to show why Temudgin (played as adult by Tadanobu Asano) became who he became. It focuses on several important episodes – his choice of bride, the poisoning of his father, the relationship with his half-brother, and the numerous captures and escapes.
The photography and the art direction are excellent – they really contribute to an epic but authentic feel. The characters do not disappoint either.
My only problem is that the movie seems incomplete – maybe because it’s intended as a part of a trilogy. We don’t get to see Ghengis Khan and his Golden Horde until the very end, the last battle scene.
Apart from being a tad overindulgent in some of its CGI sequences, 
It’s a good thing Rachel Weisz got an Oscar because her presense made 
Spike Lee has just come out with an autobiography, That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It. That’s probably behind his desire to talk to the media, including Slate.