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Windtalkers (2002)
Released By: MGM Pictures, Inc.   Rating: PG-13   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: MGM Pictures, Inc.
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: John Woo
Language: English
Official Website: http://www.mgm.com/windtalkers/
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: 10/15/2002
Cast: Christian Slater, Adam Beach, Nicolas Cage
Published ID: 324948
UPC: 027616881335, 027616885739, 027616144003, 027616063380,
Plot: Loosely based on a real-life operation during World War II, this action-adventure from director John Woo stars Nicolas Cage as Joe Enders, a Marine traumatized by the loss of his entire platoon in the Solomon Islands during an ambush he believes was deadlier than necessary due to his indecision. Suffering from eardrum damage in Hawaii, Joe manages to be declared fit for duty once again thanks to a sympathetic nurse (Frances O'Connor), but his new assignment isn't what he expects. Joe is ordered to safeguard a Navajo soldier named Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach) because the military has developed a new secret code based on the near-dead Navajo language that is proving unbreakable to the Japanese. Any soldier that speaks Navajo is an immediate asset, including Ben and his pal, Charlie Whitehorse (Roger Willie). Joe's orders are to baby sit Ben during the invasion of Saipan, protecting him if possible, but -- if the code-talker's capture becomes imminent -- to kill him before he falls into enemy hands. Meanwhile, Charlie is to be guarded by affable harmonica player Ox Henderson (Christian Slater). Joe reluctantly accepts this new duty as a way to get back into the war, and in the ensuing carnage, his nearly suicidal acts of bravery make him a hero while Ben becomes paralyzed by fear. Determined to live up to Joe's example, Ben musters up his courage, even in the face of racism from a fellow soldier (Noah Emmerich), and ends up rescuing his own protector behind enemy lines by briefly posing as a Japanese soldier. Despite their growing mutual respect, Joe is eventually forced to take an action that threatens to shatter his bond with Ben, as the war's tragic losses strike closer to home for both men. Windtalkers co-stars Peter Stormare, Jason Isaacs, and Mark Ruffalo. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
A shoot 'em up war flick with a twist
Added 11/16/2009

This is a pretty standard action combat film, with the sole innovation that the plot focuses on the contribution that the Navajo windtalkers made to the War in the Pacific. Here, the windtalkers are rightly shown as dedicated Marines, fine young lads making a unique contribution. The combat scenes, while unrealistic from numerous technical perspectives, are well-done most of the time. The film would have done better to engage in more characterization of the windtalkers themselves. We never really get to know them, but the glimpses that this film affords the viewer seems to show that if it had gone further down this road this could have been an outstanding film.

The film to its credit does a serviceable job of at least acquainting the viewer with the invaluable service that these Navajos gave to America. These were clearly some of America's finest young men who answered the call at a fateful time in the nation's history.

Overall this film holds the viewer's interest, but more characterization, focused on the Navajos themselves, would have been welcome. RJB.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Windtalker history is minimal
Added 8/29/2009

When I first heard about this movie, I couldn't wait to see it. I even broke the "let's wait until it is on video" rule we have in our family and went to see it in the movies. Having studied the Navajo codetalker's history , I couldn't believe how minimized their contribution was in the film.
Instead of a history on how this program came about, the selection of the participants or in indepth look at how they fared afterward, we get "treated" to a poorly filmed movie about Nicholase Cage and Christian Slater. Big deal. I kept saying throughout the movie," and when are we going to focus on the navajo codetalkers?" A huge hype for a mediocre action film. Not worth your time.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Cage + Woo = Crap
Added 8/25/2009

This movie should have been good. But of course you have over acting king of crap Nicholas Cage and he is directed by slow mo dove guy John Woo. I like the idea of the movie. It should have been and could have been much better but it gets a one star from me cause the first time I watched it I thought it was awful. I have went back several times to give it another chance and it is just as bad. This movie sucked.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Movie Review
Added 8/20/2009

The movie was pretty good. Graphics were very good. Authenticity was also good. However, it took a long time for the movie to get to me. It was almost three weeks from the time that I ordered it until the time it arrived at my door.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Not sure how to describe this film...
Added 8/12/2009

You already know who directed it and who the stars are. So, I won't bore you with already kinown info regarding this film. All I will say is this, I have watched war films for over 30 years and was somewhat disappointed with "Windtalkers". I was not sure how a director like John Woo would visualize this film with his particular flare... but he did a fair job, considering he ended up making this film a strict action film with very little drama or character study... Don't get me wrong, Woo is an awesome director, but this was not his film...

Nicolas Cage, is a good actor, but this was the most over the top performance I've seen him do... and was disappointed with that. I think he could have done better, especially with a better script.

Christian Slater, for me was way out of place in this film. He just was not believable or seemed like a real person, but just an actor playing a character... This was not Slater's film...

All in all... this film was somewhat of a let down. There is no realism to the sotry or the characters. There is not chemistry between anyone. The battle scenes were of the Woo shoot-em-up style, but were almost way too long and anti-climatic without the intensity or realisim of "Saving Private Ryan"...

This film story of Navajo codetalkers in World War 2 would have been way better with a Steven Speilberg type director and a more character driven script and a little less on the shoot-em-up action...

A so-so film... nothing more, nothing less than that!

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
A shoot 'em up war flick with a twist
Added 11/16/2009

This is a pretty standard action combat film, with the sole innovation that the plot focuses on the contribution that the Navajo windtalkers made to the War in the Pacific. Here, the windtalkers are rightly shown as dedicated Marines, fine young lads making a unique contribution. The combat scenes, while unrealistic from numerous technical perspectives, are well-done most of the time. The film would have done better to engage in more characterization of the windtalkers themselves. We never really get to know them, but the glimpses that this film affords the viewer seems to show that if it had gone further down this road this could have been an outstanding film.

The film to its credit does a serviceable job of at least acquainting the viewer with the invaluable service that these Navajos gave to America. These were clearly some of America's finest young men who answered the call at a fateful time in the nation's history.

Overall this film holds the viewer's interest, but more characterization, focused on the Navajos themselves, would have been welcome. RJB.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Windtalker history is minimal
Added 8/29/2009

When I first heard about this movie, I couldn't wait to see it. I even broke the "let's wait until it is on video" rule we have in our family and went to see it in the movies. Having studied the Navajo codetalker's history , I couldn't believe how minimized their contribution was in the film.
Instead of a history on how this program came about, the selection of the participants or in indepth look at how they fared afterward, we get "treated" to a poorly filmed movie about Nicholase Cage and Christian Slater. Big deal. I kept saying throughout the movie," and when are we going to focus on the navajo codetalkers?" A huge hype for a mediocre action film. Not worth your time.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Cage + Woo = Crap
Added 8/25/2009

This movie should have been good. But of course you have over acting king of crap Nicholas Cage and he is directed by slow mo dove guy John Woo. I like the idea of the movie. It should have been and could have been much better but it gets a one star from me cause the first time I watched it I thought it was awful. I have went back several times to give it another chance and it is just as bad. This movie sucked.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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