It’s a shame when a movie like windtalkers takes a interesting subject with all the makings of bloody good movie, and turns it into another piece of Hollywood action masala. The caper refers to the Navajo code talkers of WWII. (now days you see them in Indian reserve casino’s )
They were a little known but crucial group of soldiers who relayed information in the Navajo tribe language over the radio. In addition to being in another language, the code talkers used code words for terms like tank and artillery. The Japanese were never able to crack the code, since the Navajo language was unlike anything they had ever heard. This is a war movie, and it uses every single war movie cliche by the time the end credits come lumbering in.
As in all Hollywood mega stellar budgets flicks they make the star rating blunder, Instead of focusing on the Yahzee( Navajo code talker), it splits time between Yahzee and the mundane Joe Enders( Nicky cage, usually an awesome actor) , Yahzee’s protector. The secret of the code is extremely vital to the yanks, so each code talker has, in essence, a bodyguard. This bodyguard must protect the code at all costs, which means killing the code talker, if necessary.
Enders is recovering, physically and mentally from a harrowing battle where he watched many of his men die, which in return has left him shaky to say the least.. he is inwardly dealing with the fact that he survived and his men did not..
Yahzee’s exuberance for patriotism is the antithesis of Enders’ war weary persona. Yahzee also does not quite dig combat, so the initial gore of the battles horrifies him. Code talker Charles and his bodyguard Sergeant Peter (slater) are another pair in the same unit.
The Marines ship them to Saipan, and the movie chronicles the brutal battle for the island. Brutal is the only word that comes to mind.As in all modern war movies the level of violence reaches visceral hieghts. Bullets fly through soldiers, broken limbs flail in agony, and blood flies everywhere. After the Initial surround sound battering war sequence, the movie becomes surprisingly boring watching the unit try to slowly cover ground over Saipan.
Overall as a war flick, Windtalkers is decent, but other than the obvious shoot-em-up-charlie scene’s it’s a bit flaccid. The Navajo characters are treated with kid gloves throughout, making them a bit too noble, typical Hollywood P.C. Nick Cage was probably a wrong choice for this caper. A ‘C’ rating