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James Fenimore Cooper's trusty old nineteenth century novel 'The Last of the Mohicans' has provided a surprisingly sound springboard for a film that tries and succeeds in restoring a profound respect for the Native Americans. Yes, it is a story about the Indians and their culture desecrated by the arrival of European entrepreneurs and colonists all relating to Hawkeye/Nathaniel Poe (Daniel Day-Lewis), who as a child was taken by the Mohawk tribe and raised by wise Chingachgook (Russell Means) with the graceful skills and philosophy of the Native Americans. And it is through his eyes that we are brought into the universe through the eyes of the Indians. The story is well known and needn't be elaborated once again. Suffice it say that Hawkeye becomes the scout who leads British family Munro including Colonel (Maurice Roëves) and his daughters Cora (Madeleine Stowe) and Alice (Jodhi May) into upstate New York and along the way find altercations with the French and with the Huron Indians, especially one Magua (Wes Studi) whose loathing for Munro's devastation of his village drives him to vengeance against the entire Munro family. Hawkeye and his ally Uncas (Eric Schweig) protect their lieges while steadfastly holding to the honor of their heritage. And of course during the harrowing events Hawkeye and Cora fall in love and Hawkeye takes great risks against his own life to ultimately defend Cora and her family. Yes, there are many battle scenes, great reenactment of the scenery of the novel, and villains in all camps that provide the stormy progress of the novel. But it is in the quiet moments where Chingachgook speaks about the Great Spirit, the sanctity of nature, and his waiting to join the Great Council in the sky as the last of the Mohicans that the film's power is best communicated. The acting is very fine and the cinematography is splendid. This is a film worth seeing, one whose 117 minutes fly by leaving the viewer with a renewed respect for Native American philosophyRead full review
This is a great movie. Well made and “timeless “. Based upon the James Fenimore Cooper classic. Won one Academy Award. Should have won more.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
If you never read Last of the Mohicans or any of the other Leatherstocking Tales series by James Fenimore Cooper then this movie may, possibly, be entertaining. However, if you have read them, this movie is a travesty and a smear of the original book. The only principal portion of the original story left unchanged is the title. Everything else has been materially altered to suit the needs of a shallow attempt at popularizing this great American classic. Plot is chopped up and reassembled, main characters are deleted, added or terminated, previously non-existent plot lines are added, ridiculous romantic angles are contrived. The movie bears little or no resemblance to the original story. I can only attribute the previous positive reviews of this cinematic mess to a total ignorance of the original story. The fact that many reviewers write about their ebay purchase experience rather than the movie itself seems to support this conjecture. All-in-all a movie best overlooked.Read full review
Great movie about the French and Indian War in the 1750’s that was written by James F. Copper.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
This dvd is far shorted than the longer "English" version, but far more entertaining. The scenery is far better than the longer version. I like it!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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