20 Reasons Why You Rock: The Last of the Mohicans
One might say that writing this post is clear indication that I have an obsession with this film. They’d be right. I have seen this movie countless times and haven’t stopped nor slowed my re-watches since that first time I saw it in theaters back in 1992. It is as much a part of my cinematic DNA as any other film or series. It’s one of those movies that I’m proud to include in my “All time favorites” list and not one of the few that might seem embarrassing among a certain type of people. Place a copy of this in my casket and blast me off into space. That’s how I want to spend eternity.
Enough of that, let’s get to the list…
1. Hunting scene with the three mysterious Natives. They track and shoot an elk before taking it to a local cabin to eat with friends. It’s a wonderful scene that tells us an awful lot about the characters before we ever even learn their names.
2. Major Duncan is a tragic character because of his love for Cora Monroe (Madeleine Stowe) and her denial of his marriage proposal. There are times when we dislike him and almost hate him, but all that he does is because of his belief that he and Cora should be together.
3. The ambush on the road blew me away as a kid. I already had a deep love for anything Native American and this movie came out at just the right time. I can picture me as a boy watching this with my body floating over my seat and my eyes glued to the screen.
4. Magua is another tragic character. Taken from his home and away from his family. Adopted by another tribe and forced to live a lie. Now, he’s full of vengeance and at the command of a large contingent of warpathing Natives.
5. When the three Mohicans finally spring into action to save the decimated English soldiers, it is beyond awesome! We get a taste of each man’s “special abilities”. Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) with his rifle. His father’s wild sword thingy, and Uncas’ gritty fighting style. Just magical to watch and something that I tried to emulate in my back yard with my wooden tomahawk and knife.
6. The sets on this film are incredible. The budget on the film went way over but every bit of it shows on screen. It feels like a world that doesn’t exist anymore. I was lucky enough to visit some of the areas where the movie was shot and it was almost like a pilgrimage for me as I breathed in the peaceful, calming beauty.
7. The movie also deals with class warfare in a very colonial sense. Much of that is based less on possessions and riches but protection. The folks with less means aren’t able to properly defend themselves and seem to live on the edge of society and constantly on the brink of destruction.
8. My goodness…the siege of Fort William Henry. It’s a set that was rumored to have cost $6 million. Again, it’s a fantastic piece of camera work as we get to see the Fort from multiple angles, vantage points, and both inside and out.
9. There are a few things that feel like they are unstoppable in this film. The War Party that takes out the Cameron’s farm is one of them and the other are the French mortars that are threatening to pound them into dust.
10. When they send the courier into the forest and cover him from the wall….that’s about as good as it gets. I couldn’t tell you the probability of hitting all of those targets at that range but I can tell you it looks badass on screen.
11. The passionate embrace between Hawkeye and Cora is couples goals.
12. You can really see the devastation of the inhabitants of the Fort as they’re marching away from it. The historical record is quite different from the happenings in the film but who the hell cares? This is one of the best scenes in the film.
13. Everyone who loves this movie has that one guy he always watches when the big ambush happens. I can’t take my eyes off of him. I’ve been watching this dude for 30+ years and I’m always hoping he makes it. He never does…
14. The battle where Magua’s Huron ambush the retreating English is beyond words good. Culminating in the rescue of Cora and her sister by the Mohicans, I would place this battle up there with my favorites in movie history. Especially when you consider the ensuing canoe chase and waterfall scene as part of its natural conclusion. This is peak American cinema.
15. The French and Indian War (as it’s known in America) is unique to me because it feels so “American” without such a thing existing at the time. We have multiple European powers vying for control of territory that doesn’t belong to them while Native tribes battle on both sides to retain some sense of power. It’s also extremely important from a history standpoint since many of our early American heroes tasted action in this war and learned from fighting in the dense forests and against what we might consider guerrilla tactics today.
16. I’ve recited the lines spoken by Daniel Day-Lewis before he leaps into the waterfall so many times, but I’ve never done it before leaping into a waterfall myself. Maybe someday.
17. No way that dad could keep up with those young bucks as they chase down their ladies. I’m not even close to his age and I wouldn’t stand a chance running up those hills and mountains.
18. Crazy scene as Cora is about to be burned alive and Duncan takes her place. What a baller move. No matter what you think about the guy up to this point it all changes. He has completely redeemed his character and died (horribly) in a way that makes him a hero.
19. The final 15 minutes of this movie is epic as fuck! The remaining followers of Magua take their prisoner up into the mountain only to find Uncas as beat them there and is on a suicide mission to rescue the young daughter of Monroe. Seeing and hearing him get carved up by Magua is brutal but no less respectable. He dies a warrior’s death and then is followed by the young lady he meant to rescue.
20. Grizzled dad don’t fuck around. He sprints into battle like me when I get that horny text from the wife. Both of us come out guns blazin’ and release everything we’ve got. I’m normally not doing it on a mountaintop but Chingachgook whips his sword around with a ferocity that I could never manage and slays the villain before he’s even able to react. The ultimate ending to a film that haunts me with its beauty. I’ll never stop watching and loving this film.
