Genghis Khan: Conqueror of Kings, Emperor of All Men

Honor, family, loyalty and betrayal

The film starts with the leaders of opposing tribes agreeing to stage a contest and agreed by all, the winner will become the ruler of the land. Temujin, who was representing his father's tribe, won the contest but without strength or much skill but through his intelligence.

However, Burchou, one of the leaders of the competing tribes, follows his ambitious assistant's advice and breaks his promise. One night, he ordered his army to attack Temujin's tribe and to kill all including Temujin's father but Temujin managed to escape.

Temujin, starved and thirsty, defends himself from Burchou's soldiers chasing after him into the mountains. From a sly and cunning competitor, exposes himself as an intelligent and a worthy leader, shooting improvised arrows and pushing rocks against his enemies. Eventually, he is captured by one of Burchou's soldiers and returns him to his tribe to claim his throne and defeat Burchou in order to unite the Mongolian tribes.

Although the film was said to have budgetary limits, stones rolling over the mountains like it were weightless, or the wardrobe and hairstyles, i find the film exciting and it amused me.

The narrative has its ability to resonate with its audience despite of its budgetary limits and this makes the film enduring. Fortunately, the story and its performances has strength and it smoothed out the rough edges of the film itself.

“On this battlefield, man has no better weapon than his intelligence, no other force but his heart.” -Dr. Jose Rizal

The movie served as a highlight of what the Filipinos experienced during the Spanish times. The torture, the inequality between the indios and mestizos, and the struggles of the Philippines in the hands of the Spaniards. It also showed the "patriotism" that was induced in every Filipino's mind.

Some scenes in the movie were from one of his novels, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) which also showed how the Filipino suffered from the hilaw invaders. Like the friar who rapes a woman and beats a little boy because he was accused of stealing.

I like the part where Paciano told Pepe that he should go to Europe to continue his studies there and to freely write about the Philippines' condition. And Rizal did what Paciano said so. He did what Paciano and his comrades wanted. 

My favorite scene in the movie was when Teodora told the story of the moth and the lamp to the young Pepe. Sadly, Rizal became the moth (gamu-gamo) who came near to the lamp's fire and burned himself. Like the moth, Rizal went near to the flame even if he knew it was dangerous. He wrote Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, novels depicting the cruelty and injustice of the Spanish government. His defiance then led him to his death. Also, when Luis Taviel, who has been appointed to defend Rizal on his trial, admitted that he is ashamed of being a Spaniard. 

The actors did well on portraying every role especially Cesar Montano as Jose Rizal. The movie was Marilou Abaya's obra maestra.