Much action, but a disappointment considering the title.

Rating: 6/10 (24 November 2003)

This movie was touted to be about the Navajos who used their language during the Pacific campaign in WWII. Being somewhat naive I expected it to be about just that and was ready to see the exploits of the Navajos during that era. WHAT A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!!!! There was very little about the Navajos, hardly enough to say they were even in the movie. And only a bare whisper of them using the language to baffle the Japanese. Too bad Christian Slater didn't lose his head earlier in the action. The outstanding actors here was obviously Adam Beach (playing Ben Yahzee) and Roger Willie (playing Charlie Whitehorse). Nicolas Cage did a fine presentation, as always, but no academy award. There were scenes where Ben gets on the radio, but speaks in English rather than Navajo and you wonder how it is the ones on the receiving end can believe its for real and not an enemy ploy. As indicated earlier, it was a disappointment that the Navajos who provided so much were once again relegated to second place. If you like so so WWII flicks you'll like this one, but don't expect to see much more than warmed over Thin Red Line and similar wastes of time.