Windtalkers

[mecurdius]

A good war movie.

Windtalkers is a movie about navajo code talkers in japan during WW2, it was originally supposed to come out november, but this is the last of the Sept. 11th movies that got set back, and by far the best.

The first battle scene is the best since saving private ryan, yes it actually compares to the D-day scene. but there was one stupid thing with battleships that makes it worse that it should be.

John Woo (director) does a very, very good job, the only problems were the editing, there were times when they would go slo-mo, and it didnt make any sense.

The indian actor, named adam beach, is a very good actor. Christian slater and his native american companion are also very good and have great chemistry. Nicolas Cage gives a solid performance.

The movie is good, and its a war movie, and we all love war movies. So go out and see this one, im sure its better than scooby do

[Raziel1]

i heard from Pete the movie guy great action little plot. and the drama was just ok.

[Steve]

Windtalkers is probably one of the poorest movies I've seen all year. It disproves everything i've ever defended about John Woo movies - it's now apparent to me just how tacky he really is. Avoid this movie, mofos. YOu'll be the better person for it.

[Raziel1]

HA. My point is now made.:yup: :laugh:

[Master Chief]

God dam it!!!! I was looking forward to this film for ages

[Golden Greek]

This is a film you are either going to love or going to hate.
There is no middle ground.

There is plenty of battleground though, and plenty of hype about graphic violence. I didn't think it was particularly gruesome for the most part and I've seen worse. I also read some negative reviews citing this as just an action film which lacked emphasis on Navajo culture. I disagree. I saw enough of what I needed to see and the story line moved along just fine. To delve any further into Navajo culture or the background of the characters would've strayed from the theme and slowed the movie.

Some of the Navajo Codetalkers were written about in various publications, and on CNN. Here's an excerpt from one of them:

Chester Nez was one man at the multiplex whose tears were real while watching the new movie "Windtalkers." The 81-year-old was one of the 29 Navajo men who were code talkers during World War II. "I couldn't even tell my family I had this job because that was classified by the U.S. government until the 1960s," he says. Nez helped create a special way of talking that the Japanese could not intercept during the war. He served as a consultant on the John Woo movie.

In the movie,American Marines such as Nicolas Cage are told to kill his code talker if there is any chance he could be captured by the enemy. "In real life, I certainly wasn't aware of that order during the war. I have heard rumors that was the case," says Nez. "No one has ever confirmed them to me." He adds, "No code talker was ever captured by the Japanese, so that could be the reason." Nez recently was given the Medal of Honor for recognition of his contribution to his country.

As for the movie, he says it is "very realistic."

All the Marine Navajo codetalkers who saw the movie agreed the film was realsitic and depicted the codetalkers accurately. From what I have read, there really isn't that much to tell. Perhaps the movie should not have hyped that element as much as it did. I have seen documentaries about the Navajo codetalkers on the Discovery the History channels. I think the material would make for a very dull movie.

There were a few things in the film to disagree with especially Nick Cage shooting multiple numbers of the enemy single handedly (but nowhere near the ridiculous degree of the "Rambo" films.) Still, I felt I was seeing something of Cage's character and what prolonged exposure to war has turned him into. Cage personified Marines in combat: to aggressively kill the enemy and be prepared to die at any moment. This W.W.II Pacific campaign saw much close-in fighting because the enemy was well entrenched; there is no shooting someone 500 yards away. It is brutal and bloody. It is war. It is how men kill and how they die.

On the whole, Nicholas Cage should be proud of his performance in this film.

The characterizations and the battle scenes were well orchestrated by director John Woo. I also felt the spirit and the glory the Marines established in W.W.II coming through. I felt as though I were watching the battle of Iwo Jima in some respects.

I was also impressed by the performance of Adam Beach. It brought a tear to my eye in the beginning of the film when he left his family to go off into the Marines. I saw a little of my own life in that scene.

Having served in the Marines I felt a great deal of pride and also was a bit pensive when I left the theater. Too many memories.

yup:

[Steve]

Originally posted by Golden Greek
There is plenty of battleground though, and plenty of hype about graphic violence. I didn't think it was particularly gruesome for the most part and I've seen worse. I also read some negative reviews citing this as just an action film which lacked emphasis on Navajo culture. I disagree. I saw enough of what I needed to see and the story line moved along just fine. To delve any further into Navajo culture or the background of the characters would've strayed from the theme and slowed the movie.

So a movie called Windtalkers that supposedly addresses the Navajo codetalkers but actually is about Nicolas Cage is acceptable because it doesn't stray from the theme? This movie is about people exploding and John Woo's talent for staging action scenes. Does it at all bother you that the most tried and true battle cliches are used so shamelessly?

What is the theme, by the way? All I saw were people blowing up and whooshing camera moves.


In the movie,American Marines such as Nicolas Cage are told to kill his code talker if there is any chance he could be captured by the enemy. "In real life, I certainly wasn't aware of that order during the war. I have heard rumors that was the case," says Nez. "No one has ever confirmed them to me." He adds, "No code talker was ever captured by the Japanese, so that could be the reason." Nez recently was given the Medal of Honor for recognition of his contribution to his country.

As for the movie, he says it is "very realistic."

Do you think it's realistic that two, let alone one, codetalkers were deployed on the front lines?

All the Marine Navajo codetalkers who saw the movie agreed the film was realsitic and depicted the codetalkers accurately. From what I have read, there really isn't that much to tell. Perhaps the movie should not have hyped that element as much as it did. I have seen documentaries about the Navajo codetalkers on the Discovery the History channels. I think the material would make for a very dull movie.

Yeah, dull. Almost as dull as another paint-by-numbers America-is-great flick with bodies exploding everywhere.


The characterizations and the battle scenes were well orchestrated by director John Woo. I also felt the spirit and the glory the Marines established in W.W.II coming through. I felt as though I were watching the battle of Iwo Jima in some respects.


I felt like I was watching every other **** war movie ever made, just with more blood.

[Golden Greek]

I am sorry you feel so negatively about the picture, however as one of many wartime veterans who defended your right of free speech, I respect it.

Unlike "Full Metal Jacket" where the recruit blows away the DI after recruit training and then himself, "Windtalkers" was more realistic.

From my experience, every vet I have spoken to who has seen this picture, loved it.

From every comment I've heard, the real Navajo codetalkers they all said it was very accurate and they too loved this film.

Perhaps this film was marketed to the wrong audience.
Rather than try to appeal to a young audience, perhaps they should've gone for an older market, in particular, those who served and could appreciate what they saw.

As for the title, I cannot judge this book by it's cover, but rather it's content. The content one must have some experience with to feel, otherwise the point is lost.

You are cinema? Sir with all due respect, I don't think so. How do I know that? I worked in the motion picture business for a good ten years.

Thanks for your input.

[Yoda]

I'll agree with that last part...I don't dig the sig. :nope:

[Steve]

Originally posted by Golden Greek
Perhaps this film was marketed to the wrong audience.
Rather than try to appeal to a young audience, perhaps they should've gone for an older market, in particular, those who served and could appreciate what they saw.

What exactly are you implying? That I somehow can't appreciate the sacrifices some people have made?


You are cinema? Sir with all due respect, I don't think so. How do I know that? I worked in the motion picture business for a good ten years.

My signature is a quote from Jean-Luc Godard. Do you know who that is? How about you, Yoda? Ten years in the motion picture business and 3 years of running a movie website couldn't have taught ya'll nothing, could it? :idea:


Mr. Greek, you also didn't answer one of my questions:

Do you think it's realistic that two, let alone one, codetalkers were deployed on the front lines?

*I'd like to add a subquestion: why did they need to use the code to direct the airstrikes against the Japanese artillery when the artillery couldn't be moved in time anyway?

[Yoda]

Yeah, I've heard of Jean-Luc Godard. Need some help getting off that massive horse? :rolleyes: The quote, however, is arrogant as hell.

Oh, and the site is two years old. :idea:

[Steve]

It certainly is...and that's why it's on my signature. It's comedy.

Jaysus, whassa' matta' with you people!? :frustrated:

[L .B . Jeffries]

Caught Woo's Windtalkers at the theatre and I'd say it's his best amarican film up to this point.

It's a little bit of everything from the war genre which makes it or gives it a mixed feel (Men on a mission, Small Unit, Western eliments, Esponage, Conflicts within the unit, racism and orders to do something they have a hard time doing.

The Three films it reminds me of the most are in no particular order
- The Searchers
- Hell is for Heroes
- Cross of Iron