Mongol: The Rise to Power of Genghis Khan is just the latest movies to look at one of history's most powerful and influential leaders.

Directed by Sergei Bodrov the film follows nine year-old Temudgin (Odnvam Odsuren) and his father travelling through the immense, sprawling Mongolian steppe to find the young Temudgin a bride.

Based on leading scholarly accounts and written by Bodrov and Arif Aliyev, Mongol delves into the dramatic and harrowing early years of the ruler who was born as Temudgin in 1162.

As it follows Temudgin from his perilous childhood to the battle that sealed his destiny, the film paints a multidimensional portrait of the future conqueror, revealing him not as the evil brute of hoary stereotype, but as an inspiring, fearless and visionary leader.

Mongol shows us the making of an extraordinary man, and the foundation on which so much of his greatness rested: his relationship with his wife, Borte, his lifelong love and most trusted advisor.

Temudgin must also go head to head with his dearest childhood friend and deadliest enemy, Mongol Chieftain Jamukha (Chinese actor Honglei Sun), whom he must fight to establish supremacy.

Russia has never been known as a movie industry heavyweight until a handful of years ago when Timur Bekmambetov's action adventure Night Watch broke the mould.

Off the back of this success the Russian film industry has gone on to make this sweeping historic epic that really is one of the best movies of 2008.

Filmed in the very lands that gave birth to Genghis Khan, Mongol transports us back to a distant and exotic period in world history; to a nomad's landscape of endless space, climatic extremes and ever-present danger.

In a performance of powerful stillness and subtlety, celebrated young Japanese actor Asano Tadanobu (Zatoichi, Last Life In The Universe) captures the inner fire that enabled a hunted boy to become a legendary conqueror.

While Khan was known as one of history's greatest leaders it's the look at his home life and relationship with his wife that really provide some of the most tender moments in the movie. Mongol doesn't delve into the his conquering focusing instead on the events and people that made him the man he was behind the hard exterior.

Film by film the Russian film industry is growing in confidence as well as being accepted by a more western audience and Mongol shows that they can mix it with the British and Hollywood filmmakers as this is a beautiful piece of filmmaking.

The films epic battle scenes and intimate love story give it the look and feel of an old fashioned epic that don't grace cinema screens all that often.

However if you want to see the fury and wrath of Khan you may have to wait for a sequel.

Mongol is out on DVD now.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw