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Kirachi
Colonial Settler
United Kingdom
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October 04 2007
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 Posted - February 21 2008 : 05:43:30 AM
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Well, there has been some talk of the differences between the movie and book recently and I was starting to wonder, would anyone like to see a movie closer to the book?
With Uncas in the starring role instead of Hawkeye?
I think it would be very interesting to see as they would feel very different.
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RedFraggle
Mohicanite
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October 13 2006
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Posted - February 21 2008 : 08:23:57 AM
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I would love to see a version of LOTM that follows the book, mostly because the book is so quirky that I don't see how it could be made into a successful movie.
First of all, Cooper's Natty Bumppo is an iconic character, an American legend on the scale of Johnny Appleseed or Paul Bunyan---but he's also a simple, illiterate country bumpkin who would rather commune with nature than with mankind, and more especially womankind. A sort of wilderness ascetic with no romantic feelings whatsoever (except for a brief period in Pathfinder), his character would most definitely NOT be a Daniel Day-Lewis.
The romantic lead of the movie would have to be--surprisingly--Duncan Heyward, a dashing young American who is willing to sacrifice anything to rescue his beloved, the frail Alice Munro. Incidentally, there would have to be a second romance woven into the movie, the odd sort of triangle created among Uncas, Cora, and Magua (who tries to force Cora, at knifepoint, to become his wife).
Then there's the character of David Gamut, who is entirely left out of Mann's movie. Gamut is an Ichabod Crane type figure, a physically and socially awkward individual who makes his living as a quasi-preacher and singing master. His penchant for breaking into inspired, religious song at random moments causes the Hurons to think him insane; because of their special reverence for those who are touched with madness, he is allowed to roam in and out of the Indian village at will after he, Cora, Alice, and Duncan are captured. His assistance is crucial for the rescue of Alice from the Huron camp, in a fantastic and somewhat comical scene featuring Duncan painted as an Indian medicine man and Hawkeye disguised as a bear. (See? Who says Cooper isn't great reading?  )
So, yes, I'd love to see a very literal adaptation of Cooper's novel into film. It has the potential to be a sweeping romance like Mann's movie, but it definitely wouldn't be a box office smash! |
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Irishgirl
Council of Elders
USA
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February 14 2006
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Posted - February 21 2008 : 09:12:51 AM
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| Just wondering Kirachi and Red did either of you happen to see "The Last of the Mohicans" series that came out on DVD last year. If you recall Rich had a contest and the winner won a copy. It was closer to the book I believe and I think you would enjoy it Red. |
IG |
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Fitzhugh Williams
Mohicanland Statesman
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July 17 2005
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Posted - February 21 2008 : 09:18:25 AM
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| I think the BBC version was much closer to the book, which makes me glad that Michael Mann's version was not. |
"Les deux pieds contre la muraille et la tete sous le robinet" |
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
March 14 2005
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Posted - February 21 2008 : 10:06:26 AM
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| Exactly RF, - anyone who's seen the movie, and read the book, would not confuse the two. |
you can keep "The Change" |
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Kyfrontiersman
Colonial Militia
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 18 2004
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Posted - February 21 2008 : 11:05:29 AM
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I've read several times through my research, that Cooper read about Daniel Boone in John Filson's book,
"The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucky to Which Is Added the Adventures of Daniel
Boon 1784." This is what made Daniel famous overnight, even in Europe. When Cooper read about Boone,
he was so taken that he wanted to pattern Natty Bumpo after him. At least this is what I've found
several places now. |
http://rumpingproductions.org/
"Kentucke, situated on the fertile banks of the great Ohio, rising
from obscurity to shine with splendor, equal to any other of the
stars of the American hemisphere." ...... John Filson |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
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Posted - February 21 2008 : 6:28:10 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Fitzhugh Williams
I think the BBC version was much closer to the book, which makes me glad that Michael Mann's version was not.
Although I have not read the book, I believe you are correct, Fitz. I have that version and the storyline is much more boring, IMHO. I did enjoy the production, but I really do prefer our movie version. |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman
USA
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August 16 2006
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Posted - February 21 2008 : 11:12:58 PM
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| Some movies are just better than the novels they are based on, although it seems pretty rare. A couple of others I can think of are: The Princess Bride & L.A. Confidential. |
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Kirachi
Colonial Settler
United Kingdom
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 04 2007
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Posted - February 22 2008 : 05:01:31 AM
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| I was thinking of buying the TV series but is it really that bad WW? |
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RedFraggle
Mohicanite
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 13 2006
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Posted - February 22 2008 : 07:37:45 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Kirachi
I was thinking of buying the TV series but is it really that bad WW?
I know this question wasn't directed at me, but the answer is YES.
I got the BBC series from Netflix last semester and I had a hard time watching all of it. The acting is pretty bad. Duncan's Scottish accent comes and goes, Montcalm's French accent is the worst faux-French I've ever heard, and there is no attempt on the part of the actors playing Hawkeye, Ching, and Uncas to disguise their British accents. I do have to say, it looks really funny to see a man dressed as a native American talking with a mannered British accent!
There are also a few scenes that reflect the women's lib debates of the 70's, I think. Cora, for instance, wants to tend the wounded men at the fort but no one will let her because she's a woman, and a well-bred one at that. (Never mind that women did sometimes act as nurses!) In the ensuing argument you just expect her to say something cheezy like, "Anything you can do I can do better!" It's bad. And totally unexciting. And the fight scenes are laughable. I understand that there was probably a low budget for the flick and that movies have come a long way since the 70's, but it's still pretty painful to watch.
Here are some screen caps of the characters if you're interested:
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Chingachgook, looking spray-tanned (Yes, his face is noticeably darker than his body throughout the whole movie.)
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Cora, who might have borrowed her beehive weave from Star Trek's Ensign Rand
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Duncan with a bad wig
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Magua, not as good as Wes Studi but arguably the best actor in the BBC version, even despite the polka dots
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Natty with 70's sideburns. Bow-chicka bow-now!
Also, the quality of the DVD is dark and grainy (or at least mine was), so I would suggest not buying it--at least not until you've rented it to see if you'd like it. |
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Kirachi
Colonial Settler
United Kingdom
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 04 2007
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Posted - February 22 2008 : 09:35:11 AM
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Bow-chicka bow-now indeed!!!!! wow
ROFL at pics! oh my, oh my I think I will pass for now.
Any pics of the guy playing Uncas? |
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RedFraggle
Mohicanite
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 13 2006
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Posted - February 27 2008 : 07:50:23 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Kirachi
. . . Any pics of the guy playing Uncas?
Well, he certainly doesn't compare to our Uncas. He spends the whole movie mincing around like a girl. Not a very convincing "savage." Plus, if you can believe it, his fake tan is even worse than Chingachgook's. Here he is:
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Kirachi
Colonial Settler
United Kingdom
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 04 2007
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Posted - February 27 2008 : 09:13:34 AM
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mincing around like a girl???
Oh my, I'm being tempted to watch this for it's sheer laughter factor!
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Stephanie
Gathering Sachemess
USA
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June 23 2002
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Posted - February 29 2008 : 1:58:53 PM
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| Red Fraggle, I'm not sure what's funnier, the pics or your comments! Thanks for posting these! |
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RedFraggle
Mohicanite
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 13 2006
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Posted - March 01 2008 : 7:16:57 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Stephanie
Red Fraggle, I'm not sure what's funnier, the pics or your comments! Thanks for posting these!
Thanks, Steph! Glad I could give you a chuckle (which is, after all, the best reaction to BBC's LOTM!). |
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lonewolf
Colonial Settler
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 12 2004
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Posted - March 16 2008 : 8:02:27 PM
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I read the book years ago, and then I went to see the movie starring Daniel Day Lewis! Sorry, this guy just isn't Natty Bumpo at all! What a dissapointment. Large chunks of the book were also left out!
Some characters in the book didn't even appear in the movie. Plus, the movie was shot in so many locations that the flora was so different from scene to scene, that it was obvious to all! Ridiculous!
The entire movie should have been shot in western Pennsylvania and in the forests of New York state! It would have been much more believable!
It could have been much better under a better producer and director. And don't hire the casting person who miscast the actors in this one! Maqua was the only believable character in the LOTM!
I haven't seen the TV version! Do I really want to?
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A new Last of the Mohicans?
