|
WindtalkersRating:
Release Date: 15 October, 2002 Retail Price: $14.94 OUR Price: $12.99 You SAVE: $1.95! Cast: Complete Cast (18 total) |
Windtalkers Reviews
Good close quarter combat but a lot of hokum
I was excited about this movie when I saw the trailer in the theater. Since watching it on the big screen and buying it, I'm more dissatisfied every time I watch it. At first I appreciated some of the large battle scenes, with their sweeping views of the advancing Marines and the Japanese trenches and gun emplacements, and the use of correct weapons, vehicles, tanks and aircraft (even if the F6Fs are computer-generated). However, I judge most war movies by realism (I'm a 24-year retired Army veteran) and this one lacks it in key areas.
Of course, the Navajo code talkers are what make this movie unique and are the basis for its whole premise. Great care is exercised to prevent them from falling into enemy hands (the whole premise of the movie) so the code cannot be tortured out of them. However, the Marines then go out of their way to place them in the most exposed, dangerous positions. Enders violates his orders by allowing Ben to pose as a Japanese soldier, placing him in a situation where he is in the greatest danger of capture (why couldn't they have just called in artillery or air to take care of those positions?).
As a plot device, the director wants the code talkers to save the day by passing critical information to the naval fire support teams. However, there is no reason to send calls for naval gunfire, artillery or air support in code, since they are only divulging the enemy's location, not friendlies'. In fact, that would only delay getting the needed support. Also, anyone in the platoon who could read a map and send coordinates on a radio could have sent the calls for fire - didn't have to be done only by the code talker, yet everyone seemed to think only he could do it.
There is far, far too much use of fire in artillery explosions, a regression to earlier war movies that I thought today's directors had moved beyond (unless caused by incendiary shells or secondary explosions, very little flame is produced by artillery explosions, which do damage mainly by blast and shrapnel) to the point of being a distraction. Another regression is a few appearances of the "Hollywood hundred-round magazines", although at least the movie shows guys reloading. The Marine column taken under fire by the Japanese artillery at the end of the movie never attempts to disperse, move off the road or take cover. Again, they can only be saved by a radio call from codetalker Ben, when any of the guys in the column under attack could and should have called for fire or air support themselves, instead of getting killed for 15 minutes while the remains of the recon platoon fought over the radio. Same goes for the time that their own unit comes under friendly artillery fire. On several other occasions, the unit appears to exercise poor tactical judgement, mainly for the director's purpose of allowing more Marines to get killed so as to show the "horrors of war". Any unit that was attritted in combat as much as Enders' was would have been pulled off the line, not required to fight on with only half a dozen men.
It's also not clear what is the actual mission of the unit - is it a recon unit (as seems to be the case) or is it part of a main force infantry company (since they are in the main assault earlier in the film)? And where are their officers? The highest ranking guy in the unit appears to be the gunnery sergeant.
Accuracy of weapons and uniforms is a strong point of this film (even to having Enders use the earlier M1928 Thompson SMG with a drum magazine in the opening 1942 Guadalcanal scenes) and there is some riveting close-quarter combat (sure wish they had let the gunnery sergeant USE that trench-sweeper shotgun he carried). Too bad they could find (or afford) only two tanks to support the main attack, but it was great to see the Sherman and M5 Stuart in action.
I liked most of the performances - perhaps Cage's wasn't one of his best (he does seem to overact here sometimes) but I wouldn't rate it as bad as some of the earlier reviews (but I haven't seen that many of his other movies). The other main characters are pretty good, and it was a nice touch making the "gunny" have a Scandinavian or whatever accent. This film would have benefited greatly from a good ex-military technical advisor or two and/or a director who listened to them.
Taught me a lot about history
I have read lots of the reviews from other customers, and all I have to say is, if you can't spell, how can you even rate a movie?I like this movie because it tells me about a time in history that I knew nothing about. It gives credit where credit is due, to my Native American brothers who were heroes once again.I was very pleased with the cast and thought they did an excellent job in the portrayal of the characters they played.Also, have you ever directed a movie? It is a difficult job, and should not be criticized unless you have done a better job in your life.And all I have to say is Adam Beach you rule! I would like to see him in more movies.
More Customer Reviews (48 total)
You like Windtalkers?
|
