Windtalkers [WS] [Blu-ray]

Director: John Woo John Woo

Overview

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.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/28/2006
UPC:	0027616063380
Original Release:	2002
Rating:	R
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:14:00

Special Features

1080p HD Resolution provides dazzling, unparalleled picture quality.; Lossless Audio delivers the purest digital sound available.; Smart Menu Technology floats on-screen during palyback so you never leave the film.

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Nicolas Cage	Joe Enders
Adam Beach	Ben Yahzee
Peter Stormare	Hjelmstad
Noah Emmerich	Chick
Christian Slater	Ox Henderson
Roger Willie	Charlie Whitehorse
Mark Ruffalo	Pappas
Brian Van Holt	Harrigan
Martin Henderson	Nellie
Frances O'Connor	Rita
Jason Isaacs	Maj. Mellitz
Billy Morts	Fortino,Fortino
Cameron Thor	Mertens
Kevin Cooney	Ear Doctor
Holmes Osborne	Col. Hollings
Keith Campbell	Kittring
Clayton Barber	Hasby,Hasby
Scott Atkinson	Camp Tarawa Staff Sergeant
Jeremy Davidson	Marine
Brian F. Maynard	Corpsman,Corpsman
Albert Smith	Navajo Man
James Dever	Field Hospital Colonel,Field Hospital Colonel
Vincent Whipple	Navajo Instructor
Jim Morse	Marine Recruit
Chris Devlin	Sgt. Code Instructor
Jeff Davis	Tech Sgt.
Glen Begay	Radio Codetalker
Ross Lasi Tanoai	Eddie the Bartender
Brian Kasai	Japanese Intelligence Officer
Hiroshi 'Rosh' Mori	Japanese Radio Operator
John Takeshi Ichikawa	Japanese Bunker Commander
Christopher T. Yamamoto	Japanese Bunker Gunner
Marc McClellan	Marine Artillery Commander
Steve Tanizaki	Japanese Artillery Commander
Malcolm Dohl	Battleship Codetalker
Darrel Guilbeau	Battleship Petty Officer
Aaron Yamagata	Tanapag Boy
Victoria Chen	Tanapag Mother
Jon Michael Souza	N.C.O. Officer
Carissa Jung	Tanapag Girl
Wataru Yoshida	Japanese Artillery
Junya Oishi	Japanese Artillery Sighter
Jiro Koga	Japanese Artillery Gunner
Lynn Kawailele Allen	Hula Dancer
Tina Leialoha Gube	Hula Dancer
Alewa T. Olotoa	Hula Dancer
Llima Pumphrey	Hula Dancer
Lena Savaiinaea	Hula Dancer
Kaliko Scott	Hula Dancer
Hiroshi Morie	Japanese Radio Operator
Malcolm Dohi	Battleship Codetalker
Emily Mortimer	Actor
James Horner	Composer

Technical Credits

Joe Batteer

John Rice

John Woo	Director,Producer
Joe Batteer	Screenwriter
John Rice	Screenwriter
C.O. Erickson	Executive Producer,Producer
Terence Chang	Producer
Tracie Graham	Producer
Alison Rosenzweig	Producer,Producer
Phil Corey	Special Effects
Jan H. Aaris	Special Effects,Special Effects
John Frazier	Special Effects
Kevin Lingenfelser	Special Effects
Mindy Marin	Casting
David Simmons	Special Effects
Brian Smrz	Stunts
Tracie Graham-Rice	Producer
David Altenau	Special Effects
Lee Alexander	Sound Effects
Christopher Assells	Sound Effects
Christopher Barnett	Sound Effects
Burtis Bills	Sound Effects
Bryan Bowen	Sound Effects
Stephen Traxler	Producer
Derek Ledbetter	Special Effects
Keith Haynes	Special Effects
Fred Apolito	Special Effects
Marc Banich	Special Effects
David J. Barker	Special Effects
Gary D. Bierend	Special Effects
Roy K. Cancino	Special Effects
Michael Clarke	Special Effects
William Dawson	Special Effects
Kim Derry	Special Effects
Ante Dugandzic	Special Effects
John Fleming	Special Effects
Edward Gettis	Special Effects
Daniel Murphy	Special Effects
J.D. Schwalm	Special Effects
Mario Vanillo	Special Effects
Daniel Yates	Special Effects
Ross Young	Special Effects
Douglas Ziegler	Special Effects
Tsuyoshi Abe	Stunts
Job Alonso	Stunts
Todd Peterson	Stunts
Gary Bierend	Special Effects
Arthur Anderson	Producer
Caroline Macaulay	Producer
Richard Bryce Goodman	Sound/Sound Designer
Bryan Bowen	Sound/Sound Designer
Bruce Tanis	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

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.