Chaitanya B. from VISALIA, CA Reviewed on 10/7/2010...
Beautiful and intense!
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CD Reviews
Buy the original
baraduk | Pequannock, NJ USA | 01/12/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Seeing as the movie and the original version of the score are two of my favorites of all time, I decided to give this CD a chance. Mainly, I was looking for an adaptation of the music that went more hand in hand with the film, since even the original varied slightly from the way it was presented (like omitting all bass strings from Promentory, which changed the mood of the piece dramatically).Unfortunately, this is just a recreation of a score that was already perfect and therefore left me unsatisfied. If I'm going to listen to Trevor Jones' and Randy Edelman's music, I'd rather get their interpretation as opposed to anyone elses. I also feel that the arrangement on this CD is too "clean" where the instruments stand out alone instead of creating the mood of the original.Don't get me wrong, the soundtrack for "The Last of the Mohicans" is one of the all-time best that I've heard. I just think that when something is perfect, you should leave it alone and enjoy it in that form. Go out and find the original because it is absolutely worth it."
Last of the Muzak--Please!
baraduk | 09/30/2000
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this new CD thinking it was a newly enhanced version of the movie soundtrack--expecting that since lot of nice technology is now in place since 1992, I could expect even better sound.What I got was the wonderful score turned into Muzak. Elevator Music. It is particularly evident in the Promentory scene (where the emotional, harsh violin bow-strokes of Alice's dive from the mountain ledge has disappeared from this overly symphonic take).I halfway expected "Moon River" or "The Windmills of Your Mind" to play in...If you love the music the way you heard it in the movie, you will be sadly disappointed. Stick to the 1992 soundtrack already released."
"A landmark score special edition, from the Original Motion Picture score, presented by Varese Sarabande, music by Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman, both top composers in their field. Rousing kinetic update of the James Fenimore Cooper classic, replete with evocative score, never to be forgetten themes, still ringing in your head.The film and score, are among the most popular in the last twenty years. Original soundtrack sold nearly two million copies and to this day, remains a bestseller. To celebrate a new directors cut, special edition on DVD, comes this special CD, of the much loved score. Varese spared no expense, 20 bit digital sound, cues never before available, sterling performance by the Award Winning - Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by Joel McNeely. It's a lush and romantic score, shades of "Dances With Wolves" and "Out Of Africa", truly a classic, within the realm of greatest scores ever composed for films.Entire album is priceless, a film score collectors dream, this continuation of the first soundtrack is outstanding. Varese this is another superb recording, well done, "The Last Of The Mohicans", continues with all its glory, "movie-music collectors" this is a keeper!Total Time:45:28 on 14 Tracks...Varese Sarabande 066161...(2000)"
Contrary to the bad reviews...
J. Lovins | 12/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This wonderful rerecording not only makes up for MANY mistakes on the Jones/Edelman original, but makes it quite cohesive as well. Where Trevor Jones was making the epic stuff, the studio decided to hire Randy Edelman to "humanize" the score. What Varese Sarabande and the RSNO do here is make it sound like one orchestra playing WHAT should have been one composers music. This version ousts the annoying Clannad track and dumps a couple of Edelman tracks in favor of more Trevor Jones' music. This collection isn't just for completists like me, but for anybody who loved the movie, it's epicness (not a word, but hey) and the scope of Trevor Jones grand orchestrations. Good job Joel McNeely, you are truly becoming a master!"
Tries really hard but just can't top the original
Rebecca Rockwell | Carpinteria, CA United States | 09/16/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I am a HUGE fan of the 1992 film version of Last of the Mohicans, and its score is one of my all-time favorites. I bought the original soundtrack the day I saw the film in the theaters back in '92, and I just bought this version tonight thinking I'd give it a shot. While this album tries really hard, it just can't improve on the orginal release. The sound quality is vastly inferior, both in that it is slightly tinny sounding and its emphasis on each individual instrument disrupts the flow and emotional mood of each piece. As I write this I am listening to this album's version of "Promentory," one of the film's finest and most emotional musical tracks, and this version is too overdone and a little harsh-sounding. Normally when I listen to the original score I am able to see images from the film in my mind, but not so with this version due to the distractions caused by the difference in the way it was recorded. I would recommend the original over this one any day--you'll get a more satisfying auditory and emotional experience from the first release."