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    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    Windtalkers
    Genre: Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 67 (Dec 2002) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, Peter Stormare, Noah Emmerich, Mark Ruffalo, Brian Van Holt, Martin Henderson, Roger Willie, Frances O

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 3.5
    DD Sound Rating: 5
    DTS Sound Rating: NA
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: 2.5
    Internet Links
    http://www.mgm.com/dvd
    Special Features
    Includes the teaser and theatrical trailer, and bonus trailers.


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): MGM Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): 1004026
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Rating Reason):

    		 Pervasive graphic war violence, and for language
    (Retail Price): $26.98
    (DVD Type): Dual Side, Dual Layer (DVD18)
    (Widescreen Edition): Yes
    (Full Screen Edition): Yes
    (Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
    (Running Time In Minutes): 134
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Regional Coding): 1
    (Theatrical Year): 2002
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 10/15/02
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): John Woo
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      DVD Picture Information

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      DVD Sound Information

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    (WSR Superb Sound Qualities): Subscribe Now!

      WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    In the brutal World War II Battle of Saipan, tormented marine Sergeant Joe Enders (Cage) is given the mission to guard native American Ben Yahzee (Beach), a young Navajo trained in the one wartime code never broken by the Japanese: the Navajo Code. "Windtalkers" is loosely based on a real-life WWII operation. (Suzanne Hodges)

    DVD Picture:
    The anamorphically enhanced 2.40:1 DVD exhibits a harshly contrasted picture that visually complements the war setting of the movie. While colors are well balanced, hues are stylistically desaturated. Images are sharp, and exhibit satisfying detail and definition, though shadow delineation is limited in the darker scenes. Edge enhancement can be quite obtrusive when apparent, but pixelization is minor. (Suzanne Hodges) Also includes a modified 1.33:1 version (not reviewed) on the disc

    Soundtrack:
    This Dolby Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack delivers, as anticipated, movie sound of excellent fidelity in all respects. The music score sounds great and liberally engages the spatial soundstage, with a full-bodied deep bass foundation, as well. Dialogue sounds convincingly natural, with good spatial consistency. But as expected, the winning factor is the very dynamic and powerful rendering of the many intense war sequences. Dynamic range utilization can be almost to the extreme, especially in a few scenes where the sudden onset of an explosion or gunfire is enough to lift you out of your seat. (Chapter 23 has a great example of this.) The sheer energy of the many fly-by sequences, detonations, and the like, can be enough to really challenge your system if you play back at or near reference level. Needless to say, there's enough deep bass energy in all channels, including the .1 LFE, to really give your subwoofer a serious workout. The entire dimensional soundstage is fully engaged throughout, with very dynamic and aggressive use of the surround channels. As well, back surround decoding results in substantial imaging of sound behind you, seemingly providing for an enhanced sense of dimension all around. The essential aspect of the production of this soundtrack is the sheer poignancy and often discomforting emotional impact of effect associated with war. Some great examples are the fly-by of bullets and their impact on bodies. And the gunfire and cannon explosions seem to have an authentic feel to their sonic character, their own

    This Disc Contains The Following WSR-Rated Superb Qualities:
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