Windtalkers (2002)

Director: John Woo

Writer: John Rice, Joe Batteer

Cast: Nicloas Cage, Adam Beach, Christian Slater, Peter Stormare, Brian Van Holt, Roger Willie, Jason Isaacs, Frances O'Connor

Synopsis: John Woo lends his signature style to serious World War II action in Windtalkers. Recognizing the long-forgotten contribution of Navajo "code talkers," whose use of an unbreakable Navajo-language radio code was instrumental in defeating the Japanese, the film serves as an admirable tribute to those Native American heroes. Unfortunately, it falls short of importance with its standard-issue story about a battle-scarred sergeant (Nicolas Cage) assigned to protect a code-talker (Adam Beach), with unspoken orders to kill him if Japanese capture is imminent.

This allows for an involving drama of hard-won friendship, but cardboard supporting characters suffer in the shadow of nonstop action that's as repetitious as it is technically impressive. Windtalkers is best appreciated as a more substantial vehicle for Woo's trademark ballet of bullets.