Just a really excellent movie.

I challenge anyone to watch this movie and NOT be moved by the final 25 minutes. Director Michael Mann keeps the plot and brilliant action sequences moving along quickly, stopping only occasionally for a sweet romance scene or some governmental backstabbing. All in all, it's a well-structured and completely sincere adaptation of Fennimore's classic novel. This movie honestly has a few moments of true beauty.

Men of the world, trust me! I know what you're thinking: "Oh, it's based on an ancient novel and I bet it's 2 hours of weepy romance with maybe a bow and arrow or two." Not true. Last of the Mohicans (at least this version, anyway) is full of wonderful action scenes, realistic characters, stirring music, clever plot twists and some matinee-idol performances by two reliable and effective actors.

In the early 1700's, the British and the French are battling on American soil. This war has nothing to do with the Native Americans living there, except that their family and friends are continually being slaughtered in the ensuing battles. Needless to say, the Natives are none too happy with either side, yet wise enough to realize they can't win a war against these armies.

Hawkeye (Daniel Day Lewis) is a white man who was raised by Chingachook, the last true Mohican. He crosses paths with the beautiful Cora (Madeline Stowe), who is daughter of British Army Major Munro. As attacks from local natives escalate, and the ongoing war takes its toll, Hawkeye and Cora fall (yes, predictably) in love, only to be repeatedly separated by their enemies.

While on the surface, this is simply an adventure about the boy rescuing the girl, there's the obvious message about how the Native Americans were completely abused and murdered. As their homelands vanish and their families disappear, these men have to choose between fighting against the forces that have destroyed them, or serving for them. Of course, Hawkeye doesn't want either; he just wants to be left alone, until he (along with father and brother) must come to the aid of Cora and her suitor Heyward (Steven Waddington).

This movie works because it doesn't linger too much in any one place. It's a solid 2 hours, but it moves tightly. Even in the numerous dialogue scenes, there's quickness to the script. The plot drives itself forward respectably, between huge-scale battle scenes, tender (and few) romantic meetings, despicable bureaucratic machinations and some gruesome man-to-man combat.

High praise is also due to Randy Edelman, for providing this movie with a truly staggering musical soundtrack. Pay special attention to the music as you watch this one, especially during the finale.

Daniel Day Lewis provides his usually strong performance, although I don't really buy him as the action hero type. (Maybe it's the nose.) Madeline Stowe proves quite capable in an underwritten role, but she's damn pretty and that helps a whole lot.

Especially good was Stephen Waddington, as Cora's protector and jilted suitor. He's obviously meant to be a slimebag here, but the actor brings some realistic touches of duality, making it not so easy to call him the villain.

Wes Studi, as the truly evil Magua, nearly steals the whole movie. He's a warrior sworn to spill the blood of the white man, and the actor conveys pure anger with his eyes alone.

Last of the Mohicans is yet another wonderful "period piece/historical action epic" to join the ranks of Legends of the Fall, Braveheart and Glory. There's some sweet romance for the ladies, great vengeful bloodletting for the guys and lots of chases, escapes and treachery for the whole family.

As I stated earlier, the final 20 or so minutes of this movie are just wonderful moviemaking. Of course, you need to see what precedes it for the ending to make any sense or impact. Suffice to say that when Hawkeye walks into the enemy camp and Heyward begins bargaining for their lives, that's when you should turn up the volume and unplug the phone.
You can tell when filmmakers just want to get down to it and tell a GOOD STORY.

The messages and 'subtext' (America's early and horrible infancy, the exploitation of these natives) are fully on display here, only they're simply shown to us in the context of a smaller story, and the points still hit home. What it may lack in complete historical accuracy, it more than makes up for in simply excellent story telling.