(Saturday and) Sunday cinema

Been playing catch up with my film-watching, having been away quite a bit, so last weekend I saw two very different films.

First there was Mongol which is the story of Ghengis Khan's rise to power. It is a film of contrasts with beautiful landscapes and cinematography interspersed with some of the bloodiest fight scenes I've seen in a long while (and just in case you missed it, some of the blood spurts are slowed down just for a second or two).
Through the historic tale is woven threads of the legend that surround this powerful historical figure which add just enough mythical sparkle without pushing it into the realms of pure fantasy.
And I can't comment on it without mentioning the actress who plays Ghengis's wife, Khulan Chuluun, who is just painfully beautiful and I couldn't take my eyes off her when she was on screen.
Second film and what was my actual Sunday cinema was Edge of Love with Sienna Miller, Keira Knightley, Cillian Murphy and Matthew Rhys.
Now I'm not a massive Knightley fan as I think she is overrated as an actress and as to Miller, she's always been just a pretty face but I was actually pleasantly surprised.
Set in London and South Wales during the second world war, Knightley and Miller play the former lover and wife respectively of poet Dylan Thomas. The film tells of the relationship between the three and then later four, when Vera (Knightley) marries. Thomas is played with craft by Rhys as a moody, self-centred, bon vivant and cad whose ability with words enraptures and ensnares the two women almost to the point of tragedy.
The rapport between the two female leads comes across with such warmth and naturalness it makes a very convincing and engaging friendship on screen. There is much to admire in the performances with both  having a convincing stab at the welsh accent and Knightley singing remarkably well.
A refreshingly sophisticated and intelligent chick-flick is probably the best way to describe it.