Search - Windtalkers on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Graphic Violence, Not For Children, Profanity, War Violence Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 10/15/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 14 mins Studio: MGM Total Copies: 109 Genres: War, War Drama, Combat Films See Also: Windtalkers [Director's Edition], Windtalkers [Director's Cut], Windtalkers [Blu-ray]

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, All Movie Guide

Nicolas Cage - Joe Enders
Adam Beach - Ben Yahzee
Peter Stormare - Hjelmstad
Noah Emmerich - Chick
Mark Ruffalo - Pappas
Christian Slater - Ox Henderson

Some box-office flops get the special treatment DVD, but that clearly isn't the case with Windtalkers, a disaster of epic proportions. Supplements are very slim here, with just a theatrical teaser and a few trailers for this and some other MGM films, such as Hart's War and a teaser for the Bond film Die Another Day. On the bright side, the image, which has both a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer and a severely cropped full-frame version, is wonderfully presented. From the golden brown of Monument Valley to the red of the free-flowing blood, colors are right on target. Detail is also strong and any distracting elements, such as grain, seem non-existent. Sadly, the sound is not up to par with the visual presentation. The 5.1 Dolby Digital track does show some interesting separation up front, but strangely enough for a war film, the back surrounds are never used in any meaningful way. Clearly, with some exceptions, this is a mediocre disc to an overall lackluster film. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide