Director Michael Mann's Last of the Mohicans is an action and adventure lovers treat!

Set in 1757, in the New World, it gives the viewer an idea of some of the issues that caused the colonists to revolt against "Old England" a scant twenty years later.

The story is well known, from James Fennimore Cooper's novel of the same name. It concerns Hawkeye, a white raised by the Mohicans and his adoptive father Chingachgook and brother Uncas. These three help the daughters of British Colonel Munro escape from their sworn enemies the Huron, who are supporting the French. Many exciting adventures befall the protagonists and the ending is bittersweet and compelling.

Daniel Day-Lewis is brilliant as the frontiersman Hawkeye, with great supporting help from Russell Means, as Chingachgook, and Eric Schweig, as Uncas. These three form the nucleus of the story and are a treat to watch, especially old Chingachgook, as they deal out blows to their dreaded enemies the Huron. Heading the enemies is Magua, enviably brought to life by Wes Studi in a career-making performance. There is violence and action aplenty for all action fans, in fact, it is so realistic it will make you turn away!

The duplicity of the British and the French are well illustrated in this movie, playing colonists against the Indians and the various Indian tribes against each other. The great powers' fundamental disrespect for the colonists is evident in the portrayals, and frankly, it made me mad!

Rounding out the story are the beautiful Cora and Alice Munro, played by Madeleine Stowe and Jodhi May, respectively. While the love scenes were not my favorite part of the movie, they were well played and convincing. It was, apparently, Mann's vision to bring the romance to the story (missing from the book, or at least de-emphasized)to get women to watch the movie. Anyway, it worked! I have heard lots of favorable comments about this film from the ladies.

The music is very compelling and recorded in surround sound. You'll want to turn this movie up! To complete the picture is some of the best cinematography I've seen in a long time -- equal to if not superior to Dances with Wolves.

Viewers who like Last of the Mohicans will also enjoy Dances With Wolves and Black Robe.



Recommended: Yes