Director Michael Mann's "Last of the Mohicans" is an incredible cinematic experience. I don't often go to the theater and I even rarer see films multiple times (at the theater, that is), but when "Last of the Mohicans" was released in 1992 I saw it twice. I then got my hands on the VHS as soon as I could.
I recently watched the VHS again and was incredibly moved! The original VHS is, incidentally, the theatrical release of the film. I was reminded of all the numerous elements that make "Last of the Mohicans" the definitive reason why people make and watch motion pictures in the first place. I was so moved, in fact, that I was compelled to buy the "Director's Expanded Edition," which many fans criticize, mainly due to the omission of the Clannad song ("I Will Find You") and a smattering of supposedly hip lines by Nathaniel.
I'll compare the theatrical release to the director's cut at the end of this review. Allow me to first point out the numerous highlights of the film:
-- The casting is perfect: Daniel Day-Lewis as Nathaniel, Madeleine Stowe as Cora Munro, Wes Studi as Magua -- heck, everyone's fabulous.
-- The score by Randy Edelman is one of the greatest in motion picture history. It's as good or better than any you can think of, including "Conan the Barbarian," "Where Eagles Dare," "The Last Valley," "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," etc.
-- The plot is simple and the film runs less than two hours, but there's a definite epic scope to the picture. More than that, the ambiance of the film is equal parts historic, realistic, pure, brutal, beautiful and reverent.
-- This film contains one of the greatest non-soap operatic love stories in motion picture history. During the "Look of Love" sequence Nathaniel stops and turns to gaze at Cora. Cora looks up and asks, "What are you looking at, Sir?" Nathaniel simply responds, "I'm looking at you, Miss." Cora finally looks back at him; first hesitatingly, then fully, then finally with a knowing smile. They just look at each other and Nathaniel returns the smile, turns and departs. Without a word, we KNOW that Nathaniel and Cora are in profound awe and love of each other. Later, when they finally passionately embrace it's potent and moving. This simple scene blows away any overt love-making scene you can think of.
-- The primal Magua is a great villain, compelled to hatred, bitterness and revenge for numerous understandable reasons.
-- Magua's two pow-wow interludes with the French general (Patrice Chereau) are imaginative, surreal and powerful.
-- The French and Indian War skirmishes and Fort battles are realistic, compelling and brutal.
-- Cora's sister Alice (Jodhi May) is only 15 years old and the fierceness of the frontier is simply too overwhelming for her. She almost commits suicide but Uncas (Eric Schweig) saves her.
-- After Nathaniel and his Indian stepfather and stepbrother barely escape the clutches of Magua by jumping from a waterfall there's an unexpected and powerful interlude featuring the magnificent Clannad song "I Will Find You." Unfortunately this song was inexplicably cut from the director's edition. Apparently Mann felt it was anachronistic; it's not, it perfectly fits the feel and era of the picture.
-- Although Major Heyward comes off as a ultra pro-British dork, he ultimately proves his bravery and noble character.
-- One of the most memorable scenes is Alice's ultimate response to the prospect of living the rest of her life as Magua's slave-squaw. I cannot describe how magnificent and moving this episode is!
-- The picture was filmed in glorious Chimney Rock Park in Western North Carolina. One reviewer fittingly called the film an "Eastern."
-- The entire 15-20 minute climax, which includes Chingachgook's final fight with Magua, is compelling, imaginative and flawless. Chingachgook is played by Russell Means, by the way.
COMPARING THE THEATRICAL CUT TO THE DIRECTOR'S CUT: I feel Michael Mann's cut is superior to the theatrical cut of the film. He only adds about 3-4 minutes of extra footage and it all works, with the possible exception of Chingachgook's near cringe-inducing final rant at the climax. Mann cut every one of Nathaniel's silly "hip" statements, which was a good decision in my opinion (not that they were THAT bad, but they simply weren't very realistic; fun maybe, but not realistic). As already noted, Mann's biggest mistake was to cut out the perfectly-fitting Clannad song. In the new cut that sequence just plays out in an unimpressive, bland manner. All I can say is that I'm glad I have the VHS because I can still play the Clannad song-sequence when I get to that particular scene (of course, the theatrical release has been released on DVD as well).
Anyway, don't listen to these people who rail against the director's cut mainly because of the omission of the Clannad song. They're right that Mann should never have cut the song but, other than that, his new cut is actually superior to the original (although I admit that I'd rather have the original cut WITH the Clannad song than the new cut WITHOUT it).
BOTTOM LINE: "The Last of the Mohicans" is simply one of the greatest films ever made. Sometimes I'm guilty of being over-generous in my film ratings, but not with this one.
GRADE: A+
I recently watched the VHS again and was incredibly moved! The original VHS is, incidentally, the theatrical release of the film. I was reminded of all the numerous elements that make "Last of the Mohicans" the definitive reason why people make and watch motion pictures in the first place. I was so moved, in fact, that I was compelled to buy the "Director's Expanded Edition," which many fans criticize, mainly due to the omission of the Clannad song ("I Will Find You") and a smattering of supposedly hip lines by Nathaniel.
I'll compare the theatrical release to the director's cut at the end of this review. Allow me to first point out the numerous highlights of the film:
-- The casting is perfect: Daniel Day-Lewis as Nathaniel, Madeleine Stowe as Cora Munro, Wes Studi as Magua -- heck, everyone's fabulous.
-- The score by Randy Edelman is one of the greatest in motion picture history. It's as good or better than any you can think of, including "Conan the Barbarian," "Where Eagles Dare," "The Last Valley," "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," etc.
-- The plot is simple and the film runs less than two hours, but there's a definite epic scope to the picture. More than that, the ambiance of the film is equal parts historic, realistic, pure, brutal, beautiful and reverent.
-- This film contains one of the greatest non-soap operatic love stories in motion picture history. During the "Look of Love" sequence Nathaniel stops and turns to gaze at Cora. Cora looks up and asks, "What are you looking at, Sir?" Nathaniel simply responds, "I'm looking at you, Miss." Cora finally looks back at him; first hesitatingly, then fully, then finally with a knowing smile. They just look at each other and Nathaniel returns the smile, turns and departs. Without a word, we KNOW that Nathaniel and Cora are in profound awe and love of each other. Later, when they finally passionately embrace it's potent and moving. This simple scene blows away any overt love-making scene you can think of.
-- The primal Magua is a great villain, compelled to hatred, bitterness and revenge for numerous understandable reasons.
-- Magua's two pow-wow interludes with the French general (Patrice Chereau) are imaginative, surreal and powerful.
-- The French and Indian War skirmishes and Fort battles are realistic, compelling and brutal.
-- Cora's sister Alice (Jodhi May) is only 15 years old and the fierceness of the frontier is simply too overwhelming for her. She almost commits suicide but Uncas (Eric Schweig) saves her.
-- After Nathaniel and his Indian stepfather and stepbrother barely escape the clutches of Magua by jumping from a waterfall there's an unexpected and powerful interlude featuring the magnificent Clannad song "I Will Find You." Unfortunately this song was inexplicably cut from the director's edition. Apparently Mann felt it was anachronistic; it's not, it perfectly fits the feel and era of the picture.
-- Although Major Heyward comes off as a ultra pro-British dork, he ultimately proves his bravery and noble character.
-- One of the most memorable scenes is Alice's ultimate response to the prospect of living the rest of her life as Magua's slave-squaw. I cannot describe how magnificent and moving this episode is!
-- The picture was filmed in glorious Chimney Rock Park in Western North Carolina. One reviewer fittingly called the film an "Eastern."
-- The entire 15-20 minute climax, which includes Chingachgook's final fight with Magua, is compelling, imaginative and flawless. Chingachgook is played by Russell Means, by the way.
COMPARING THE THEATRICAL CUT TO THE DIRECTOR'S CUT: I feel Michael Mann's cut is superior to the theatrical cut of the film. He only adds about 3-4 minutes of extra footage and it all works, with the possible exception of Chingachgook's near cringe-inducing final rant at the climax. Mann cut every one of Nathaniel's silly "hip" statements, which was a good decision in my opinion (not that they were THAT bad, but they simply weren't very realistic; fun maybe, but not realistic). As already noted, Mann's biggest mistake was to cut out the perfectly-fitting Clannad song. In the new cut that sequence just plays out in an unimpressive, bland manner. All I can say is that I'm glad I have the VHS because I can still play the Clannad song-sequence when I get to that particular scene (of course, the theatrical release has been released on DVD as well).
Anyway, don't listen to these people who rail against the director's cut mainly because of the omission of the Clannad song. They're right that Mann should never have cut the song but, other than that, his new cut is actually superior to the original (although I admit that I'd rather have the original cut WITH the Clannad song than the new cut WITHOUT it).
BOTTOM LINE: "The Last of the Mohicans" is simply one of the greatest films ever made. Sometimes I'm guilty of being over-generous in my film ratings, but not with this one.
GRADE: A+