DVD Movie Rating for: Windtalkers

4 Out Of 5

Movie Plot of: Windtalkers

WWII. Joe Enders, a decorated Marine who is by-the-book to a fault, is just coming back on duty (by cheating on his medical tests). "Ox" Anderson, much greener, is also getting the same new task: Protect the Navajo codetalkers (Ben Yahzee and Charles Whitehorse, respectively). While Enders is initially frustrated with his assignment, his respect grows as the codetalkers prove their worth in the brutal battle to take Saipan.

DVD Production Details of: Windtalkers

Studio: M G M, Inc
DVD Features:
Commentary by director John Woo and producer Terence Chang

Commentary by actors Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater

Commentary by actor Roger Willie and consultant Albert Smith

Theatrical trailer(s)

Never-before-seen director's cut with over 20 minutes of new footage

Personal on-camera introduction by John Woo

"The Code Talkers: A Secret Code of Honor" historical documentary

"American Heroes: A Tribute to Navajo Code Talkers" WWII tribute piece

"The Music of Windtalkers" featurette

Battle sequence multi-view of four key action scenes

Four fly-on-the-set scene diaries

"Actors' Boot Camp" featurette

Behind-the-scenes photo gallery

John Woo biography pages

John Woo liner notes

Widescreen anamorphic format

Number of discs: 3

Cast of the movie: Windtalkers

• Nicolas Cage.... Sgt. Joe Enders
• Adam Beach .... Pvt. Ben Yahzee
• Peter Stormare .... Capt. Hjelmstad
• Noah Emmerich .... Pvt. Chick
• Mark Ruffalo .... Pvt. Pappas
• Brian Van Holt .... Pvt. Harrigan
• Martin Henderson .... Nellie
• Roger Willie .... Pvt. Charlie Whitehorse
• Frances O'Connor (II) .... Rita
• Christian Slater .... Sgt. Ox Henderson
• Jason Isaacs .... Maj. Mellitz
• Billy Morts .... Fortino (as William Morts)
• Cameron Thor .... Mertens
• Kevin Cooney .... Ear Doctor
• Holmes Osborne .... Col. Hollings

Photo Gallery of the movie: Windtalkers

Click on one of the thumbnails to see the full size, high resolution photographs

WINDTALKERS

Reviews of the movie: Windtalkers

"Windtalkers" is one of those war films that loses its focus far too easily and this impedes the greatness it should have displayed. The titled characters (Adam Beach and Roger Willie) are two Navajo Indians from the Southwest who are trained to dispatch and receive messages in their native language to communicate to soldiers in the U.S. military during World War II and keep the Japanese from knowing what is being transmitted. Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater are the two Marines assigned to protect the two code breakers. The film goes way too much for actual war and battle sequences and this makes the movie just another combat picture that fails to tell the story that it should have told. Cage is given way too much air time. He is of course the star, but the movie focuses way too much on his past experiences in combat. The Indians lack the material needed to really make a lasting impression. Christian Slater is solid as he gives perhaps his greatest performance to date, but once again he is not given near enough screen-time or background. John Woo's expertise in the action genre makes the film feel very realistic, but this is a war film that should have been more like "The Thin Red Line" instead of "Saving Private Ryan" or "Black Hawk Down". This is a good film overall, but it should have been a masterpiece. 4 stars out of 5.

Having earned Hollywood's respect with blockbusters like Face/Off and Mission: Impossible 2, Hong Kong action master John Woo lends his signature style to serious World War II action in Windtalkers. Recognizing the long-forgotten contribution of Navajo "code talkers," whose use of an unbreakable Navajo-language radio code was instrumental in defeating the Japanese, the film serves as an admirable tribute to those Native American heroes. Unfortunately, it falls short of importance with its standard-issue story about a battle-scarred sergeant (Nicolas Cage) assigned to protect a code-talker (Adam Beach, from Smoke Signals), with unspoken orders to kill him if Japanese capture is imminent. This allows for an involving drama of hard-won friendship, but cardboard supporting characters suffer in the shadow of nonstop action that's as repetitious as it is technically impressive. Windtalkers is best appreciated as a more substantial vehicle for Woo's trademark ballet of bullets.