(rated R, 2 hrs. 14 mins)
Nicolas Cage re-teams with John Woo since “Face Off” for an obscure but important piece of World War II history during a time, 1942, when many Navajo Americans were recruited as Marines. Marine Joe Enders (Cage) is assigned to protect Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach) a Navajo code “windtalker”, the Marines new secret weapon. Against the horrific Battle of Saipan, when capture is imminent, Enders is forced to make a decision: if he can’t protect his fellow marine, can he bring himself to kill him in order to protect the code? The Navajo code was the only one never broken by the Japanese, and is considered to have been key in winning the war. Cage delivers a great role, at first heartless, until his growing concern matches the movie’s plot of bigger concern in act three. Gritty with bombs and bayonets the story offers nothing new to those weary of action and war movies (Black Hawk Down and We Were Soldiers). Originally slated for last November release and postponed now until Flag Day, as a result of 9/11.
