Customer Reviews

Windtalkers

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(46)
3 star:		(42)
2 star:		(48)
1 star:		(78)

 

 

Windtalkers is the story of two American soldiers (one played by Christian Slater, the other played by Nic Cage) who are assigned to protect two Navajo soldiers who work as windtalkers, transmitting messages past Japanese codebreakers using their code based on Navajo language.

Yes, there's a lot of violence. Yes, it's grim. The bodyguards, Cage and Slater, are instructed to kill the windtalkers rather than let them fall into enemy hands.

This is a big war movie, not quite on the scale of Saving Private Ryan, but somewhere between something that grand and magnificent and, say, Behind Enemy Lines. Cage and Slater do a good job with their parts, which aren't very fully fleshed out characters.

Woo's direction used to be so over-the-top and artsy... the fight scenes used to be like cartoons, with bad guy and good guy blazing away at each other with two pistols... the most violent scenes were often preceded by or accompanying flocks of birds taking to flight, and bullet-riddled bodies always seem to pirouet in slow motion before they fall down dead. Woo has left a lot of the old personal director's style out of this one, actually. There ARE a lot of bullets, and a lot of the fighting scenes are very unrealistic (true to old Woo there), and there is one scene very reminiscent of old John Woo, where a butterfly floats gracefully above a river then suddenly a bloody body falls into that river, destroying the gorgeous image, juxtaposing a graceful natural image with a gory violent one, etc.

ANYWAY, mostly this is a shoot 'em up war movie, and the old John Woo style is MOSTLY absent.

The story has that one feature going for it, the protection of the Navajo codetalkers, but otherwise it's a very standard war movie, in terms of plot. Still, this movie comes off surprisingly well.

If you're a fan of the American John Woo movies, like Broken Arrow, or Mission Impossible II or Face/Off, or you liked some movies recently like Black Hawk Down or Behind Enemy Lines, you ought to take a look at Windtalkers. It's not the best war movie of the last few years (I'd vote for Saving Private Ryan for that), or the best action movie, but it is entertaining and memorable...

As a nephew of a Navajo Code Talker, I would like to express my thoughts on WINDTALKERS.

First of all, if the focus of a Navajo Code Talker movie is supposed to focus on the Navajo Code Talkers and their involvement in WWII, why is the movie centered around Nicolas Cage's character while Adam Beach and Roger Willie play supporting roles?

Second, since a lot of folks are not informed about this part of WWII history, wouldn't it have been a much better movie if they showed the origin of the Code Talkers before they faced the horrors of war in the Pacific Theatre?

My uncle stood proud among the surviving Code Talkers as they were recently honored for their service in the Pacific. (note: at the beginning of the movie, he is the elder in the hat that talks to Yahzzie before he gets on the bus. He also served as technical consultant.) I'm sure after seeing the movie and having survived WWII, I doubt he enjoyed seeing the Code Talkers' back-burner depiction in the film.

Nice "action" movie, though.

Sure, it's overly melodramatic, and at times historically inaccurate, but if you've ever wanted to see John Woo try his hand at making an epic war film, this film is probably what you would have imagined. Woo reteams with Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater to bring you the story of Navajo American Indians who became code talkers for the United States during the battles in the Pacific. If this DVD is what I think it is, then it is Sony re-releasing a single-disc edition of the Director's Cut that was found on the 3-disc set released by MGM in 2003. Unlike many other "new cuts" released by studios, which incorporate only a few minutes of new footage, the Windtalkers Director's Cut includes 20 more minutes of footage, including scenes that beef up the relationship between Nicolas Cage and Frances O'Connor's characters. This is a much-needed addition, as their relationship in the theatrical version felt underdeveloped. Overall, I think Windtalkers is a triumph for John Woo. While it surely won't be regarded as his best work, there is definitely an audience for this action-packed war story of courage and honor.

I couldn't be more disgusted. a single well-trained soldier would survive just fine. Apparently someone working on the film told all the actors to charge and never take cover. The military advisor to this film must be as frustrated as myself. John Woo has really fallen far. Windtalkers, Face Off and Mission Impossible II don't even come close to his more famous HK films made with Chow Yun Fat. They're contrived, but not enjoyable. Woo has gone too far. This movie makes films like Battle of the Bulge or Anzio look GOOD in comparison!!

"Windtalkers" is another great WWII epic that depicts a little known and seldom-told story of the war: the Navajo Code Talkers. The film did not deserve the bashing it received by critics. One of the reasons it was bashed was because the film was a bit uneven in the editing. It jumped too much in some areas. But that has been cleared up thanks to John Woo's impressive "Director's Edition" of the film. The 134 Minute film has been extended to 153 Minutes, and is much more exciting and balanced in editing and emotion. This just proves that war films work better at a running time in excession of 150 Minutes! As for the DVD, it is incredible. Disc two features a documentary on the real Navajo Code Talkers as well as a Tribute that will have anyone tearing up. As for the rest, pure entertainment (Warning: the Special Features are almost 100% identical to the ones found on the "Pearl Harbor" Vista Series Director's Cut DVD, but this does not take away anything at all)! A must-own DVD!!!!
Movie Grade: A+
DVD Grade: A+

I have been John Woo's avid fan for years. I have been following his works since his directorial effort in HK namely, "A Better Tomorrow" starring Chow Yuen Fatt. John Woo is a very good story teller especially when it involves the unspoken honour of brotherhood, the final showdown between the good & the bad (especially when one's wittiness is matched by the other's deviousness). Compounded by his signature-style slow motion sequence, we have modern classic action movies in the making. Among his works in Hollywood, he was at his best in MI2 starring Tom Cruise, Face Off starring Nicholas Cage & John Trovolta, Broken Arrow starring John Trovolta & Christian Slater. Other works of his such as Hard Target starring Jean Claude Van Demme is rather pedestrian. I'm sad to say that Windtalkers belongs to the latter category. Mind you, this is John Woo's first exposure to combat movie. When his work is to be compared with Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan or even HBO's special, Band of Brothers, Windtalkers doesn't fare so well. John tries to squeeze as much action packed sequence into the movie & not compromising upon the character building exercise. All I can say is that there is too much battle repetition, & all characters in the movie are two-dimensional. In the end, when the main characters are slowly been killed off by those faceless Japanese soldiers, we don't feel for them. I'm feeling sorry for Nicholas Cage & Christian Slater as they are trying hard to save this movie from sinking further. Nicholas has got a demented face the whole time & one can't help but wonder if he's playing his character or if he's doubting his involvement in this movie. The actors who played the Navajo's codebreakers are genuine & fresh in their roles & they are convincing in their performance. This movie is over 2 hours long & one could wish for a tighter script. Even the love interest of Nicholas Cage doesn't go anywhere. Their relationship isn't explored fully but simply gone with the wind. A mediocre effort from an A class director. He's definitely out of his element & just hope that we haven't seen the best of his works yet!

I don't know much about what the code talkes did during the war but I find it hard to believe if they were so valuable that they would be on the front lines calling in artillery. Maybe massive troop movements, battle plans, or enemy movements but not simple things like that. Also I got sick of old Nick firig five shots only to watch five dead enemy soldiers fall to the ground. I also didn't know soldiers had no fear of enemy fire and rarely took cover. Maybe it was because the japenese just came screaming at the marines instead of firing at them. I could tell this movie would be awful wthin the first 30 seconds and I was right.

In true John Woo style, it's all action, action, action!
Sound mix and transfer are both very good.

Unfortunately the story and script are bottom-rung.
It kind of ends up looking like a montage of cool explosion scenes, stuck together with scenes of Cage trying to pull off the 'deeply disturbed' yet 'caring' battle veteran.

I'd recommend it for you sound freaks, you'll no doubt get off on the audio picnic (mind you it is only 5.1).
But for anyone looking for a deep, 'thinking persons' war flick, steer clear.

A, Platoon, Thin Red Line...even Saving Private Ryan it is certainly not.

Windtalkers is a movie with exceptional potential. You've all read about the plot, and it's limitless possibilities for drama and excitement. Unfortunately, in this age of "Band of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan" realistic-WWII dramas, Windtalkers blows.

First off, the main crux of the movie concerns the battle for Saipan. Saipan is a tropical island that was crucial to the Allies' Pacific effort in driving the Japanese back to their home islands. John Woo shows us scenes of aerial bombings over the Saipan war theatre that rival those in Saving Private Ryan, but midway through the film, we obviously lost some funding for special effects or travel, because the battles are obviously taking place somewhere in California. I felt like I was watching a remake of "M.A.S.H," with the fake props, rebuilt enemy garrisons, and obviously well-used ATV roads in the Cal desert. In fact, I saw so much sagebrush that I was hoping high students were watching, for fear that their already clouded understanding of geography would be further muddied.

Then there is the acting. The gentleman who plays the Navajo windtalker (Beach?) does a great job. In fact, he is the only bright part of the film. Nic Cage seems to be going after an Oscar in the first five minutes of the film, but looks like he would rather escape to his movie trailer during the remainder. I would be interested to see what movie he was set to film next, because he is obviously concentrating more on that.

The other characters are cliches that are predictable and nauseating. Casting is an issue. Who casts some guy with a stumbling French accent to play the platoon leader and commander? And where was the possible love-story between Cage's charcter and the nurse going? Why was Christian Slater in this? His character isn't pivotal, and could have been played by anyone.

Had Windtalkers come out, say, five years ago, it might have been decent. But with Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers paving the way before it, it simply can't stand up. In fact, it doesn't even come close to the historical accuracy and brilliant acting in both of those projects.

this could well be one of the most interesting releases of 2002....the factual stories of the navajos "code talkers" were classified until 1968 and only recently honoured by president bush with a white house presentation of congressional gold and silver medals.this was the only code not broken by the japanese in WW2 and i hope woo was able to use many young navajo actors to portray their revered elders who served their country with distinction after decades in which that same country had all but eliminated their native language...
for those of us non americans who have been priviliged to experience the respect these older navajos command in the areas around gallup,new mexico-especially during the annual "intertribal ceremonial"every august-we,also with a sense of respect,await the release of this story in whatever format that may be....trevor graham;australia