DVD Reviews

The Last of the Mohicans: Director's Definitive Cut – Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Oct 7, 2010, 20:06 GMT

An epic adventure and passionate romance unfold against the panorama of a frontier wilderness ravaged by war. Academy Award(R) winner Daniel Day-Lewis (Best Actor in 1989 for My Left Foot) stars as Hawkeye, rugged frontiersman and adopted son of the Mohicans, and Madeleine Stowe is Cora Munro, aristocratic daughter of a proud British Colonel. Their love, tested by fate, blazes amidst a brutal conflict between the British, the French and ...more

If there’s anyone who goes back and tinkers with their films more than George Lucas it may be Michael Mann. His interpretation of James Fennimore Cooper’s novel was not safe from revision either.

This version corrects some mistakes of the tinkered version, but is still not the version you may have fallen in love with in theaters.

Mohicans Chingachgook (Russell Means), his son Uncas (Eric Schweig), and his adopted “white son” Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) are drawn into the 1757 French and Indian War. Col. Edward Munro (Maurice Roeves) has summoned his daughters, Cora (Madeline Stowe) and Alice (Jodhi May), to meet him at his garrison.

To that end, he’s sent Maj. Duncan Heyward (Steven Waddington) to escort the ladies and the party is to be led by native guide Magua (Wes Studi). They’re ambushed by Huron hostiles and Magua turns on the people he’s been tasked to escort, but Hawkeye and his family rescue the ladies from the villains.

Along the way, Hawkeye and Cora fall in love but the threat of Magua keeps them apart.

In a controversial move, Michael Mann went back and recut the film in a director’s cut. This version wasn’t met well by fans of the original cut. Mann has once again went back in and recut the film in what’s labeled a definitive director’s cut.

Maybe he heard the complaints with his other cut and has corrected some of them, but by no means is this version that you saw in theaters. He’s restored the Clannad song, a bloodier death for our villain, and took out the over-exposition at the end.

I’m sure a more detailed list will be found on the internet as fans compile all that’s been restored.

The film is certainly a sweeping, powerful one and features some fine work from Day-Lewis, Stowe, and the cast. Studi makes a fantastic villain and his reasons for his villainy may not exactly be unwarranted. It’s also a beautiful one visually. I recall telling people that if for anything you could always go to see the film for the sweeping shots of the lush, green forests and other natural wonders.

That sense of wonder is only enhanced by the great Blu-ray transfer. I still would’ve loved to have a double disc set with the original theatrical cut, but this new version at least gets closer.

Last of the Mohicans is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.40:1). Special features include a new commentary from director Michael Mann, the 42 minute, high definition “Making of the Last of the Mohicans” with Mann, Day-Lewis, Stowe, Studi, and many more giving new interviews, and 2 trailers (3 minutes total) in standard definition.

It doesn’t seem like a lot but its comprehensive and actually quite a nice package of supplements. The theatrical cut and deleted scenes would’ve been great, but that didn’t happen.

Last of the Mohicans is a sweeping romance that also offers tons of action as well. Maybe the perfect date movie since we have romance for the ladies and battles for the guys? No matter the case, the transfer is fetching and the supplements, though a bit meager, are worthwhile.