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Overrated

As Good As It Gets

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Only 5 reviews so far? Contrary to what some reviewers would have you believe this is a film that is clearly well made. The sets, costumes and period detail is exceptional. The camera work and direction, at least to my untrained eyes, appears to be top notch. While the story was unfamiliar to me it was interesting and well paced. Whether these accounts are historically correct or are depicted without bias is utterly irrelevant to the average movie goer. If you like well conceived, believable, detailed dramas about other lands and peoples then this is worth a long look. The acting is excellent, especially the role of the Mongolian matriarch played by Roza Khayrullina. Her authority and air of nobility is palpable. There is very little action in this film. However, there are numerous portrayals of brutality and violence as these are really unavoidable. Why is there no bluray?

I stumbled upon it today on Netflix while eating lunch. I watched it for about a half-hour, but found it to be a waste of time and quit after 30 minutes. It's evident that there's some great acting and direction at work in this production, but it totally failed in the storytelling department. I think it's a good thing for the screenwriters to be from the "show", not "tell" school of film making, but more exposition would have helped. It seemed like Game of Thrones without enough back story. Maybe something got lost in translation since it is dubbed. I found the depiction of the Mongols to be totally misleading. As a history buff, I understand that the Mongols ruled the largest and most diverse empire in the history of the world for more than 200 years. However, I don't think that feat was done by what this film depicts as the most boorishly brutal group of "hillbilly" Mongols this side of Urals. It's as though the director had studied some isolated tribes in Mongolia and grafted his impressions onto his depiction of the Mongol ruling class. For all their ruthlessness, the Mongols of the Golden Horde were more worldly and diplomatic than the bunch depicted in this film. Some historians consider the Mongol Empire the first multinational corporation. If the movie Mongols had ruled Russia, I doubt that they would have been able to hold onto power for a decade instead of a few centuries. If the Russians had allowed themselves to be conquered by this sorry group, it does n't really make the Russians look too good either.

We don't need silly superhero, fantasy or alien monster movies when close examination and depiction of history is all that's needed. Indeed there are plenty of thrilling tales of yesteryear found in all parts of the world that make far better stories than magic rings, space travel and kryptonite. I'll take Saint Alexius over Wolverine any day. And, by golly, you may learn something too! I know that I'd take my chances with a host of Hollywood demons before attempting to cut a deal with the the Mongolians who comprise the Horde. But I'm clowning around too much. This is just a well shot, paced, acted and directed film. Especially remarkable about THE HORDE is the ambiguous treatment given Saint Alexius' "miracle"; i.e., maybe it's the strength of belief and maybe it's just dumb luck. Honorable mention must also be awarded the English translation - no small feat given the potential pitfalls. My recommendation: THE HORDE is an under-rated gem. Bonus recommendation: If reincarnated avoid at all costs Eastern Europe circa 14th century.

Russia, once film art superpower the land of Viertov, Eisenstein, Tarkowskij where is your film art gone? Since years hardly anything watchable, only few interesting movies but this trash is embarrassing. Script enough for 10 max 20 minutes short film, poorly filmed, zero historical value, no concept other than paranoid, hyper racist anti Asian propaganda. The portrayal of the Mongols reminds of Goebbels anti Jews propaganda. The paradox is that recently seen a Mongolian film and compared to this KGB/orthodox church sponsored rubbish it was well done, interesting, artistically valuable. This miserable production reminds of those Italian mythological movies from 60s except it lack their charm. Hope Russia will find its way back to genuine cinematic art that it was once such a beacon.