"You think too much."

Rating: 9/10 (20 July 2013)

The Film has one major flaw and that is the Title and the Pretense of being the Story of the Navajo Code Talkers that played a vital part in helping to win WWII. It is true that is the underlying Story here and it is given adequate Screen Time and is fleshed out enough to make its point. It could have been more accurately called Saipan or Saipan and the Windtalkers.
It is an arguable point of view and it is argued to no end by Critics and disappointed Movie Audiences that feel they've been cheated. Maybe. But the Movie cannot be faulted because it is the first to put the Native American contribution and their Code into the American Consciousness. Until this Movie it was little known or glossed over in History Classes.
There is also much dissent about all the bloodshed (Huh) in this Island conflict that was one of the most bloody of the War. Even a 10 second search can find that at least 30,000 Japanese (almost all who fought) and 3,000 Americans died and over 10,000 Americans were wounded. So the endless fighting, dying and bloodletting in the Film is Historically accurate.
But the Movie is much more than John Woo flexing his abilities as an Action Director (one of the best) it has Pathos, humor, and some thoughtful renditions of Wartime Characters and situations. This is a much better Movie than its reputation. There was probably a lot of Knee-Jerk reaction to this sensitive subject (WWII) and the Movie was true, albeit most likely mislabeled, to its subject and deserves a good deal of credit. Its also quite an exciting War Movie, maybe not the best, but certainly in the upper echelons. Severely Underrated.