Review of Last of the Mohicans (DTS)

Introduction

The first time I saw Michael Mann’s “epic adventure” starring Daniel Day Lewis and Madeline Stowe, I really enjoyed it, remembering some spectacular action, fantastic scenery and a superb score.

I’ve been thinking about buying the film on DVD for a while, and the lure of “Last of the Mohicans” sporting a DTS soundtrack was too much…

Video

The video is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and is of a high standard throughout the film, displaying no obvious grain or dirt, with the colours vibrant and the image stable.

Visually, the film is fantastic, very well made, with excellent use of locations and very impressive sets. As far as the effects go, there are plenty of explosions during the fort battle, and plenty of gunfire etc – all of which looks very good.

Audio

As I`ve already said, I am a fan of this film, having seen it on video a number of times, with the soundtrack notable even on VHS - so the DTS soundtrack on this DVD really appealed to me and I have to report that it is a mixture of pleasure and pain.

The pleasure comes from the rousing score and fantastic sound effects – with gunfire and explosions moving all around the soundstage – all of which is reproduced with tremendous power and range.

The pain comes from the dialogue – which is muffled, set far too low and in some scenes it is extraordinary difficult to hear what is being said. This means that even with the centre channel adjusted significantly upwards, you really have to concentrate on what is being said, and it RUINS the enjoyment of the film.

The soundtrack warrants a 9/10 score, but the poor dialogue drops this to 5/10 – very disappointing.

Features

Absolutely nothing extra is on offer.

Even the insert in the Amaray case is a single sheet and only contains the chapter breaks – there’s not even any production information.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a beautifully made film, which is rewarding, but is badly let down by a poor quality dialogue track.

In general the characters are well played, although some of the accents leave a lot to be desired. There is plenty of action, which is well presented and the film is brutal at times, which may surprise some first time viewers.

The excellent picture, score and sound effects are let down by a bad dialogue track and no extras, so unfortunately, as much as I tried to be pleased with my purchase, I struggle to recommend this disc.