Jane Austen discussion

Over the next two weeks, we're talking about the 1992 adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans. It stars Daniel Day Lewis and Madeleine Stowe, and was directed by Michael Mann. Enjoy!

I absolutely LOVE Daniel Day Lewis in this movie!!!! While I could do without the violence --ick!-- his famous line, "You stay alive, no matter what occurs....I WILL find you!" just sets my little heart afire. Sigh. So romantic. I also love the scene between them where he's staring at her and she asks, "What are you looking at sir?" His reply is a saucy, frank, "I'm looking at you miss."

SWOON.

I haven't seen this movie, but I will I think Daniel Day-Lewis is a great actor, I saw him in My Left Foot, and he was amazing. Also saw him in the Age of Innocence with Winona Ryder.

I'll be rewatching this ASAP. I know it is one of my husband's favorties. He loves the soundtrack, as well. Funny thing is though, the violence is the one thing I do remeber about this movie. Maybe this time I'll cover my eyes through the bad scenes ;) I own it on VHS, so it couldn't have been that terrible.

Isn't this a book by by James Cooper set during the the Seven Years' War? Yes or no if Daniel Day Lewis is in it, I like it. The man is such a brilliant actor, he must act more often though.

I just finished watching it. I was amazed with the story line and I thought Alice was great. That she would go over the cliff after her man died. The cinematography was amazing. To see the vastness how it used to be. I thought I would be turned off by all the fighting but it was necessary, because let's face it war is cruel and deadly. Enjoyed it from beginning to end.
Amalie, I think the war was between the French and the English, and the Indians that were there already. Daniel Day Lewis stars in it. Author is James Fennimore Cooper, if I am not mistaken. I may go and read the novel. DDL has been in the Age of Innocence, My Left Foot which earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, II think. He is good!

I just watched this one. There was lots and lots of violence, but it wouldn't be such a great movie without it. I'd say what makes it great is the feeling of helplessness and chaos thoughout. A world without order is one scary world.

The book is not really like the movie. Most of the characters are the same, but the war is different and what actually happens in the book is far different than in the movie. I saw the movie first and then read the book (not the typical way I like to do things, but considering I was only 16 or 17 when the movie first came out, I wasn't as concerned about adhering to that rule), but I was shocked about how different it is.

If you've seen the new Masterpiece Theater's version of "Emma", you'll notice that the woman who played Alice played Mrs. Weston--Jodhie May.

I heartily agree with you all--this is a wonderful film that holds up. I have the "Directors Extended Edition" DVD and hadn't watched it in awhile. I'm glad I saw the film again. The romance is swoon-worthy, and the violence strong but not distracting--it feels like a necessary part of the story. It was a bit jarring to realize again how soon the French and Indian War came before the Revolutionary War. America certainly had a bloody beginning. Also, the cinematography is stunning and the music exceptional. What a movie!

Yes, the war played a huge part in the film, but it didn't detract one bit from the romance that was blossoming between Hawkeye and Cora, it was worth watching. At first I thought it was going to just be a bloody war movie, which they do have to show the realism of that. The scenery was just amazing, especially all the wooded forests.

Jenny wrote: "The book is not really like the movie. Most of the characters are the same, but the war is different and what actually happens in the book is far different than in the movie. I saw the movie first ..."

I knew that was her! I meant to go check the cast list on-line, but it slipped my mind. Thanks for letting us know, Jenny.

I watched this movie for the 1st time last night. I thought it was a nice balance of mixing a love story in the mist of a war. Some of the scenes were breathtaking . . . and I enjoyed the acting. I definitely agree with Robin regarding the character Alice. It had to take a lot of courage to make that jump and as I sat there watching her come to that decision I was crying my eyes out - heart-wrenching. I was so mad at her man (name??) for not waiting for help before charging, though I can understand it. It seems a scene like this is pretty common in war movies.

I think at another point in the movie, Alice wanted to go over the waterfall, when they were all escaping, from the Ottawa Indians, and I remember Cora stopped her, her man was Hawkeye's brother, once when they got attacked and he helped her and brought them to safety. I don't know what Meagu or whatever his name was the evil Ottawa Indian would have done to her, but she stood for a moment and decided that what she was to do was more fitting to go with her rescuer since he was already dead, and he went over the cliff. The look in her eyes was very telling, because who knows what the Indian had in store for her, not a good outcome I am sure, since Cora left with Hawkeye. The part that was kind of a nice gesture when they had Cora's friend the one who wanted to marry her, Hawkeye shot him when he was on the stakes and getting burned.So that put him out of his misery. I want to read the book, I am sure it will be different than the movie, as someone stated earlier. A very profound thought provoking movie. I am glad that I saw it.

Robin wrote: "I think at another point in the movie, Alice wanted to go over the waterfall, when they were all escaping, from the Ottawa Indians, and I remember Cora stopped her, her man was Hawkeye's brother, o..."

It is EXTREMELY different from the movie. For example, the love interests are different. Who you think should be together from the movie is not together in the book. That alone threw me for a big loop. Plus, if you can believe it, the book is actually even MORE violent than the movie.

Yes, books tend to be much more descriptive in that way. I saw enough brutality in the movie, so I guess I'll give the book a pass. Thanks, Jenny.

I read it (and reported on it) for credit in both my college American literature class and American history class, or else I'm sure I wouldn't have read it myself. Needless to say, it's not a book that will end up on my Kindle! LOL!

If the book went along the same way as the movie than I would read it, but with books they can have more license to be descriptive in their war scenes as they want. Now if the movie didn't reenact war and the fighting Indians now that is another story. They must have downplayed it somewhat.

The book is certainly a lot different than the movie, though I can understand Hollywood's reasons for changing so much (today's audiences only look for certain things in a movie...). I like both. The movie's big pull for me is the scenery and the music (the last scenes up in the mountains were filmed at Grandfather Mountain in NC).


Jodhie May also played Anne Boleyn in the BBC's version of "The Other Boleyn Girl."

I may watch The other Boleyn Girl. I am thinking of reading the Mohicans book, since I can usually tell if will be something I am interested in within the first two pages. Same with videos,if it doesn't capture my attention, I won't watch it.

Ah, I wish I could join this. I've not seen the movie and at the moment I just don't have time. But I've read the book I think, because character's you talk about sounds so familiar.

But, my God! the song in this "I Will Find You" by Clannad is amazing. Haunting. When I travel to Kandy (the hill country of Sri Lanka) I listen to this, have it in my i-pod. Really enjoyable.

Amalie wrote: "Ah, I wish I could join this. I've not seen the movie and at the moment I just don't have time. But I've read the book I think, because character's you talk about sounds so familiar.

But, my Go..."

Having read the book will only frustrate you when you have a chance to watch the movie, as very little from the book is the same in the movie (as often happens). Although, to me, the romantic matches in the movie were MUCH better than the book. :-)

Robin wrote: "The book is certainly a lot different than the movie, though I can understand Hollywood's reasons for changing so much (today's audiences only look for certain things in a movie...). I like both. T..."

Thank you for the info about the scenery, Robin. It was driving me crazy through the film about where it was filmed. I thought it could have been New York State.

Jenny wrote: "Amalie wrote: "Ah, I wish I could join this...
...Having read the book will only frustrate you when you have a chance to watch ...."

Ah! Jenny I'm bit snobbish,in a friendly way :) when it comes to the movie versions of great books but the thing is, I don't remember much about the novel other than bit of the plot and few characters. So I may not enjoyed it that much. One thing was there were many names for one character.

So the movie has different romantic matches from the book?

Amalie wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Amalie wrote: "Ah, I wish I could join this...
...Having read the book will only frustrate you when you have a chance to watch ...."

Ah! Jenny I'm bit snobbish,in a friendly way ..."

********SPOILER!!! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE BOOK, DON'T READ THE WORDS BELOW!********

Yup. A minor one, in a way, is that Duncan is in love with *Alice*, not Cora. And he does not burn at the stake. The one for whom it was intended does. There is no love interest between Hawkeye and Cora, or between Hawkeye's Mohican brother and Alice (obviously, as she's in love with Duncan). Those are the biggest changes that I can remember (mainly because they shocked me so much in how different they were from the movie). I don't recall if the girls' father is killed or not. But I do remember that there are many more times they are surrounded by hostile Indians and are forced to hide or fight their way free.

Now it's all coming back to me. Thanks Jenny, yes it's pretty different. I didn't think it was that different. When I 'hypnotize' myself on 'I Will Find You'(which I found very recently from the movie) I thought it's a reference to Hawkeye and Cora.

And, no Colonel Munro doesn't get killed I think. I'm not sure, I don't remember well. I think he continues to help search for his daughters.

Still I do not say a word against this movie. First of all, this is a well claimed movie and everyone here seems to love it and secondly Daniel Day-Lewis is a great actor and doesn't just act on any movie. I might watch this but it will not go according to the schedule here.

Jenny, so the book is a lot different than the movie. That is a shame, since it made since from a story angle who liked whom. I don't see Duncan liking Alice. And I think they added Duncan burning for dramatic effect, esp. when Hawkeye shoots him to put him out of his agony.
Amalie, I don't think the schedule is that rigid, you have a while to get the movie, up until the 15th I believe. But thanks for your insights as far as the book is concerned.

Ok, I watched it. It's a really good movie. Excellent cinematography the scenes are really haunting in a nice way. I've never seen this before, why I wonder.

No it's not the book. There is more romance in the movie but we aren't compariing the book and the movie so never mind. I think I even like the movie version better. But they should've kept Cora more true to the book. She is half-white half-African in the book. Her mother is a Caribbean or something.

Amalie wrote: "Ok, I watched it. It's a really good movie. Excellent cinematography the scenes are really haunting in a nice way. I've never seen this before, why I wonder.

No it's not the book. There is more..."


Really???? I did not remember that. Of course, it's been 15 years since I read it...

She is portrayed as Anglo in the movie. We were just posting because the book is different from the movie, Duncan likes Alice, and obviously Cora is mixed race. I didn't think the book deviated so much from the movie. I guess that is artistic license. In the movie Hawkeye is not Indian, he was adopted by the Mohicans, I think his parents died. But he is raised up with their ways, which I find fascinating.

Robin wrote: "Is there going to be another thread for the second movie, The Importance of Being Earnest? I finished watching the video last week and thought it was absolutely hilarious regarding Colin(Earnest) ..."

Yes, I've just started the thread for that film. Please paste these comments over there, Robin!

how do I do that, I will just delete this one and re-post on the other thread, Thanks, Rachel.

Alice's lover's name is Uncas! The bad guy Huron/Mohawk is Magua. Really amazing cast, very deep cast pool. Uncas is so awesome. Why didn't he find a smarter way to save her? I can't help lamenting that every time I watch. Why didn't Alice survive so Hawkeye could save her? I'm not a fan of suicide as a plot device. Isn't her sister Cora worth living for? I know the book is very different and, according to my sister, much worse. But I've watched that movie at least ten times. So well done. DD-L is one of my favorites. He's a method actor, no shock. Have you seen A Room with a View? Classic.