--- title: "The Last of the Mohicans: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-last-of-the-mohicans/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-last-of-the-mohicans" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Last of the Mohicans (1992): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 12 reviews: 11 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like The Last of the Mohicans a good deal, and they like it for the same things. Daniel Day-Lewis’s Hawkeye is praised in nearly every review as the ideal fit for the part. The battle scenes, the ambush in particular, are singled out as brutal and well staged, and the landscape photography, credited to Dante Spinotti, is admired throughout. Several reviews describe the film as old-fashioned storytelling on a grand scale with a passionate romance at its centre, and count that as a virtue. The reservations are mostly about history and feeling. Radio Times finds some of the dialogue too contemporary; the Los Angeles Times thinks the excitement comes at the cost of emotional grounding; the New Yorker finds it solemn and silly while still enjoying it. Most agree it favours thrills over accuracy. The spread is narrow, with only one mixed notice: Collider admits the craft but says the film never came alive. ## The Telegraph — Marc Lee Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 December 2013. The review hails Michael Mann's 1992 film as a masterful opus set in the American frontier, with Daniel Day-Lewis delivering a career-defining performance as Hawkeye. It singles out the visually and sonically dynamic action sequences alongside the film's exploration of emotional landscapes for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10488089/Last-of-the-Mohicans-review-original-Telegraph-review.html) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls the film a stirring, wonderful epic full of old-fashioned storytelling splendour, grand heroism, thunderous action and an authentic central love story. They single out the meticulous historical detail, authentic performances (especially Day-Lewis as Hawkeye) and the director's committed vision. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/last-mohicans-review/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. The critic praises the exciting mix of high adventure, romance and history in a colossal, glossy package with well-staged action sequences and grandiose scale, while noting some dialogue feels too contemporary. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-udo8ta/the-last-of-the-mohicans/) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2015. The critic finds Mann’s film a rollicking and romantic historical epic that stands out for its lush visuals and passionate central romance. Day-Lewis’s commanding performance and the film’s visceral battle scenes are singled out for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/michael-mann-s-last-of-the-mohicans-is-rollicking-and-r-1798275747) ## Time Out — GA Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The critic views the film as an epic romantic adventure rather than a strictly historical account, praising Mann's rousing action, lyrical interludes, and stylish imagery as creating superior mainstream entertainment. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-last-of-the-mohicans) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 25 September 1992. Turan finds the film undeniably exciting and adrenalized but notes its impact comes at the expense of gentler virtues and sufficient emotional grounding. He praises the spectacular natural vistas and battle scenes. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-25-ca-1158-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 25 September 1992. Ebert finds the film an entertaining matinee fantasy and worthy successor to the 1936 version, praising Daniel Day-Lewis as the ideal Hawkeye. He notes it prioritizes excitement over full authenticity. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-of-the-mohicans-1992) ## Slant Magazine — Matt Zoller Seitz Rating 3. 30 July 2006. The review presents the film as a primal epic of survival and reproduction that transforms Cooper’s novel into a passionate story of bloodlines and desire. The director’s sustained visual and thematic comparison of land and women is highlighted as its central achievement. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/stay-alive-no-matter-what-occurs-sex-and-survival-in-the-last-of-the-mohicans/) ## The New Yorker — Terrence Rafferty Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 September 1992. Rafferty calls the film awfully, solemnly silly yet enjoyable and stirring, crediting Mann's skill at myth-making and visual style. He singles out the rock-star hair and landscape for their contemporary appeal. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1992/10/05/brave-acts) ## Variety — Lisa Nesselson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 August 1992. Festival review. Nesselson notes the film benefits from rich source material and good performances, with well-staged brutal battle sequences and fluid pacing. She highlights the casting of Russell Means and Patrice Chereau. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1992/film/reviews/the-last-of-the-mohicans-2-1200430476/) ## Eye for Film — Nick Da Costa Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 July 2010. The critic calls the film a swashbuckling masterpiece driven by a barnstorming central performance from Daniel Day-Lewis. Mann is praised for balancing action and mood while delivering robust set pieces like the ambush scene and a stirring score. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-last-of-the-mohicans-film-review-by-nick-da-costa) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 28 November 2010. The critic describes the film as a well-put-together, respectful adaptation of the source material in a classic Hollywood style, with gorgeous visuals from Dante Spinotti and a strong leading performance by Daniel Day-Lewis. However, it never came alive for him personally despite the practical accomplishments and pre-CGI craftsmanship. [Read the review](https://collider.com/last-mohicans-blu-ray-review-mad-max-robocop-blu-ray-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-last-of-the-mohicans.md