Michael Mann's epic The Last of the Mohicans (1992) is finally heading to the United Kingdom thanks to Warner Brothers. Previously a North American exclusive release, the film will be available for purchase on October 8th. Exact technical specs and supplemental features to be included on this release are unknown at the moment.
Note: In the U.S., The Last of the Mohicans is distributed by 20th Century Fox Entertainment. Blu-ray.com has already reviewed the U.S. Blu-ray release here.
An epic adventure and passionate romance unfold against the panorama of a frontier wilderness ravaged by war. Academy Award 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 Native American allies that engulfs the majestic mountains and cathedral-like forests of Colonial America. Based on the American literary classic by James Fenimore Cooper.
Do we know if this is going to be the ORIGINAL theatrical version (as previously released on DVD in the UK)??
I mean... I've got no problem with Michael Mann wanting to do his varied Director's cuts... But I do have a problem with not being given the option, to buy the original cut.
(See also Conan the Barbarian, 1941, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly... And dare I even mention the original Star Wars trilogy...among others)
I have the American Blu-Ray and while I agree that it's too dark, it's not Aliens vs Predator Requiem dark. It looks beautiful as it was filmed in mostly natural light. But yes, even daytime scenes outdoors look like they were shot at sunset or something.
The Blu-Ray version is a little closer to the theatrical version, but a lot of great lines are still missing. Especially the line Cora delivers to Hawkeye under the waterfall.
Just wish that they'd release a Blu-Ray like Blade Runner & Close Encounters where they give you different versions threw seamless branching. There was a really nice cut of the movie that ran on cable last year. It was the theatrical cut with one new scene of Hawkeye & Cora leaving the Huron village. I liked those shots, it made the scene more dramatic.
It should be the theatrical cut. I have the Korean R3 DVD also from WB and that's the theatrical cut. It also had an isolated score although who knows if that'll be ported over to the Blu-ray.
The temporary packaging they've got at Amazon.co.uk has the dread words'director's expanded edition' on it, more's the pity. Of course, which of the two inferior director's cuts that is is anyone's guess.
