The Last of the Mohicans Review

Something else you all must know is I love Daniel Day-Lewis' work as an actor. He has the power to physically, mentally and emotionally change himself to play any character he sees fit. I have seen many of his films, and he never seems to disappoint me. He cares about his career as an actor to the point where he may wait 5 years until, what he sees as, a good script comes around. In the case of the film that I am reviewing today, Day-Lewis seems to contribute to an overall amazing cast. I am talking about Micahel Mann's The Last of the Mohicans. *WARNING* This review definitely contains spoilers!

The Last of the Mohicans was released in 1992 and also stars Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig and Wes Studi. Based on the novel by James Fenimore Cooper, this film is set during the French and Indian War where three trappers Hawkeye (Day-Lewis), Chingachgook (Means) and Uncas (Schweig), guide a British Colonel's daughter (Stowe) through a treacherous battlefield. Hawkeye, a white man raised as a Mohican, begins to fall in love with the daughter as they reach her father. Meanwhile, a constant war rages on as the French militia communicate with a tribal leader known as Magua (Studi) who seeks revenge against the British for murdering his family. Tensions rise higher and higher as both sides of the war struggle to survive.

MAGUA!

 LIKES

• The first thing about this movie that I really enjoyed from the first 5 minutes on was the soundtrack. The score is just simply incredible. It really captured the intensity of the war unlike any other. It had a Native American feel to it, if that makes sense. You just have to hear it to understand. 
• Wes Studi is amazing in this movie as well! He plays a character that has absolutely no remorse, and will not stop until his thirst for vengeance is quenched. Even when he kills people in the movie, his expression is absolutely blank, especially when he kills Uncas in the third act. It gave me chills just seeing how apathetic he was.
• The third act of the movie is worth waiting for! There is an awesome showdown between Chingachgook and Magua. Uncas was his son, and when he sees his death, Magus immediately goes on his hit list, and the consequences are not pretty!
• The fight scenes were well rehearsed, and intense. They kept me on the edge of my seat mainly because the natives were barely wearing anything, so I automatically assumed that the carnage would be much worse, and I was right. 

DISLIKES

• The romance between Hawkeye and the Colonel's daughter seemed to be forced and unnecessary in my opinion. It just did not add much complexity to the story. I mean yeah when she is captured he goes after her, but he would have to do that anyway whether he loves her or not because he is obligated to protect her, so what's the point? It was like the director was approached by a friend of his who said, "There is too much violence and depression in this movie! Force a love interest please!" It just seemed to turn into a date movie. Now don't get me wrong, I am all for love interests, but not when it seems like it was scripted to appeal to those people who want to see some hanky panky! It just frustrates me. I hope you understand where I am coming from. 

Forced love interest!

• Like I said, I love the third act, but I wish that Uncas was killed off earlier in the film, not because I hate his character, but just so the vengeance that Chingachgook seeks would be pent up longer, and make the revenge that much sweeter for him when he killed Magua.

OVERALL

• This film is a good action film that seems to capture the drama and intensity of the French and Indian War. Sure there is that forced love interest, but you know what, it is still a good movie, and if it has Daniel Day-Lewis in it, I am always game.

RATING 7/10

That's it from me for this week! Tune in next week for more movie mania!