Ya'll know me!  Anything about WWII and I'm THERE!  Since Saving Private Ryan (a FABULOUS picture) , we have seen a resurgence of movies attempting to tell the story of this great conflict.  Some were a disappointment, like The Thin Red Line which just didn't seem to have the substance to meet the challenge thrown down by Private Ryan. Pearl Harbor was a little better but STILL not up to par.  Seems like the genre was on its way down in quality and beginning to get a little tired.  Well, that decline stopped Friday!  This picture is a fine effort to show us WWII and to tell a story that is long overdue. (rhyme unintended)

I already knew the story of the Navajo Code Talkers because I have read extensively on the war but most people have never heard of them and that's a shame. They were American Indians who played a HUGE part winning the war in the Pacific by using a special code that was spoken in their native Navajo language.  It TOTALLY confused the Japanese.  The enemy had broken our previous codes but were absolutely stumped by this one.  This is the story of Private Ben Yahzee (played brilliantly by Adam Beach), a patriotic Navajo who joins the Marines to fight for "His country".  He is "protected" by the battle hardened, combat wounded, highly decorated Sgt. Enders who doesn't like the job but does what a good Marine does.  HIS DUTY!

They have, what I guess, was a typical Marine squad.  A hardcore Sgt., a southern redneck Cpl., a hyperventilating Greek American and a farmer from Oxnard (Christian Slater).  Add to this the two Code Talkers and you have a bunch of Americans all trying to fight and live while also trying to understand each others' different ways.

The two things that had me a little worried about this picture were Director John Woo and Nicolas Cage.  I never liked Woo's style, UNTIL NOW. and though I have always liked Cage, I never thought he could act.  Well,
he was excellent this time out and convinced me that he WAS Sgt. Enders.  Slater was solid in the small role they gave him, but the standout performance was a guy named Roger Willie who played Pvt. Charles
Whitehorse, the other Code Talker.  Excellent performance!  There are many, MANY extremely well-done explosions and special effects in this picture, but none of that takes away from the great story, absorbing
characters, first-class acting and the brilliant direction of John Woo.  This all adds up to an instant classic.  Is it as good as Saving Private Ryan?  Hmmm?   If I HAD to vote, I guess Windtalkers would be second, but not by much.  I loved it!

"Pardon me. Sir, but I think I could best serve The Corps by killing Japs!"

RECOMMENDATION:  This picture starts off with a bang and I mean a  BANG!!!  Go see it but be warned,  it is rated R for EXTREME combat violence and gore (not Al) and is not for the young.  Grab up that WWII vet and treat him!

TWO HEROIC, BLOODY SAIPAN THUMBS UP!!!  (Semper Fi!)

Movie Review © 2002 by Terry Anderson