Breech Clouts FTW
- Review By:
- PoseyDozer
- Date:
- February 21, 2010
- Movie:
- The Last of the Mohicans
- Director:
- Michael Mann
- Released:
- 1992
- Good Guy:
- Hawkeye
- Played By:
- Daniel Day Lewis
- Bad Guy:
- Magua
- Played By:
- Wes Studi
- MPAA Rating:
- R
- Family Friendly Ages:
- Older teens
Things I love about this movie:
Wes Studi as Magua, a Huron warrior seeking revenge against an English military officer and his daughters for the death of his own family. Emotionless and furious, strong and single-minded, no one in this film is scarier. And no one looks more convincing and intimidating in a breech clout and leggings.
The beautiful blue mountains of North Carolina as the setting for the story, especially when men in breech clouts and leggings are racing up their grey, rocky slopes with long rifles and war clubs slung across their backs.
The fiddle-driven score, particularly when accompanying men in breech clouts and leggings running through the green forests and up the beautiful blue mountain sides.
The battle scenes, where the men in breech clouts and leggings fight the Red Coats. I don't know my early American history that well, but the costumes and weapons, the fear and confusion, and the blue smoke from the rifles that partly obscures the action make the skirmishes appear authentic.
Not quite so great: Daniel Day Lewis. He looks marvelous in his breech clout and leggings, and he seems to be acting, but acting all alone. He never really connects with the other actors -- all of whom do a fine job. Of particular note: Russell Means as Chingachgook, who is the Mohican of the title; Eric Schweig as Uncas, Chingachgook's son; Jodhi May as Alice, who manages to look both frightened and in shock throughout most of the movie; and, of course, the aforementioned Wes Studi. Overall, a great action flick that holds up pretty well to repeat viewings.
