Windtalkers (2002)

Nicolas Cage stars as a battle-damaged US Marine tasked with protecting a Navajo code talker (Adam Beach) during the conflict between the Americans and Japanese at Saipan during World War II. John Woo directs, and Christian Slater, Mark Ruffalo and Roger Willie boost a strong cast. 

It’s a violent and bloody drama that occasionally seems trashy (I would have ditched the slow-motion shots and intrusive music), but gains depth from focusing on strong characters and introducing some philosophical and ethical questions. 

Cage is highly watchable, as always. He just “has it” – whatever “it” is. 

Surprisingly, the film lost $38 million and received mixed reviews.