Barnes & Noble

Director John Woo and leading man Nicolas Cage, who previously collaborated on 1997’s Face/Off, reunite for this unusually tense, engrossing, character-driven World War II drama. It revolves around a little-known facet of WWII history: the use of Native American radio operators known as "code talkers," whose Navajo language was indecipherable to Japanese soldiers listening to the transmissions. Cage portrays Joe Enders, a shell-shocked officer detailed to protect Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach), his unit's code talker. If the enemy captures Yahzee, he could be forced to decode American radio messages and thereby impede the entire Pacific campaign. Christian Slater delivers a fine, understated performance as a fellow officer with a similar assignment, and character actors Peter Stormare, Noah Emmerich, and Mark Ruffalo lend able support. Woo’s elaborate battle scenes are graphic, much in the manner of Saving Private Ryan, but the violence isn’t gratuitous; war is definitely not glorified, and the inescapable jingoism is held to a minimum. Instead, the director emphasizes the uneasy relationship between the self-assured, friendly Navaho and the war-weary officer who realizes he might be forced to kill his charge to prevent his capture by the Japanese. The key to Windtalkers’ success is Cage, who keeps his flamboyant urges in check and imbues his tormented character with dignity. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

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

New York Observer

It's like the first 25 minutes of Saving Private Ryan stretched over two hours. I liked it a lot, but the weak and the skittish are hereby warned. Rex Reed

Product Details

• UPC: 027616881335
• Source: MGM (VIDEO & DVD)
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English, Français, Español
• Subtitles: English, Français, Español
• Time: 2:14:00

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Platoon/Windtalkers
• History 101

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