The Last of the Mohicans (Director's Expanded Edition)
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.49 You Save: $5.49 (37%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $5.50 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Last of the Mohicans (Director's Expanded Edition)
Movie Review: I Really Get Into This Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Sometimes a film version of a novel falls greatly short of the original material (as in Demi Moore's execrable 1995 re-invention of The Scarlet Letter) and at other times a motion picture rises far beyond the story upon which it is based: happily, this version of The Last of the Mohicans is probably the foremost example of the latter possibility. This is simply among my favorite movies of all time, and how anyone can fail to be swept up by this one mystifies me. Telling a superior version of James Fenimore Cooper's hopelessly plodding 1826 classic, with the verdant Appalachians of North Carolina standing in for the 1750's New York of the book, there is everything one could want here, from violent war, to tender love scenes, a stirring score, to panoramic captures of natural beauty so perfect it's little short of a sin to show this movie in anything but widescreen format. Daniel Day Lewis, always captivating in his performances, delivers as the central character, the heroic white man raised as a Mohican, Hawkeye (here re-named Nathaniel Breen) who first leads a band of newly-arrived Scots through danger to a British outpost in the wilds, and then later after surviving a brutal massacre, tracks the woman he loves across the frontier and to a hostile Huron village, where he undertakes a courageous rescue. That's of course a razor-thin description of the multi-faceted plot, but trust me, there's more going on here than I could easily describe in a review three times this size. This director's cut took me a moment to appreciate, since I'd seen the theatrical release so often on VHS, but having watched both versions now, I think there is a scope to this release on DVD that enhances the film for even a mega-fan like me. Movie Review: Incredible, Magnificent, Reverent, Beautiful, Tear-Inducing
Summary: 5 Stars
Director Michael Mann's "Last of the Mohicans" is an incredible film-watching experience. I don't often go to the theater and I even rarer see films multiple times, 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 picure 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 ambience of the film is equal parts historic, realistic, pure, brutal, beautiful and reverent.
-- This film contains perhaps the greatest love story in film history. During the "Look of Love" sequence Nathaniel stops and turns around 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. Nathaniel ultimately 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.
-- 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 initially comes off as a ultra pro-British dork, he ultimately proves his incredible bravery and noble character.
-- One of the most potently 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 Amazon reviewer fittingly called the film an "Eastern."
-- The entire 15-20 minute climax, which includes Chingachgook's final fight with Magua, is truly 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 specific 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.
Anyway, don't listen to these people that rail against the director's cut mainly because of the omission of the Clannad song. They're right that Mann should have never cut the song, but other than that his new cut is actually superior to the original (although I fully 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. You haven't lived until you've seen this film. Sometimes I'm guilty of being over-generous in my film ratings, but not with this one. Heck, I'd give "The Last of the Mohicans" a 1000 stars if I could; it's that brilliant, moving and outstanding!
Movie Review: Very good
Summary: 5 Stars
A very good movie. The directors cut has some nice extra features that are a must for the Last of the Mohicans fans. Highly recommendedMovie Review: The Last of the Mohicans (Director's Expanded Edition)
Summary: 5 Stars
Love this movie!!! Director took liberties with the story but WHO CARES? Did YOU ever read the book?? Both Daniel Lewis and Madeline Stowe look and act brilliantly. Music is stunning, cinematography breathtaking. Direction is crisp and visceral. I just love this movie!!!Movie Review: Great historical fiction!
Summary: 4 Stars
I daresay that Mann's adaptation of the film is better than Cooper's book. Expanded scenes are slight, but fun additions to the a fantastic film.