Windtalkers Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Windtalkers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 1, 2018

Though it actually aired on PBS quite some time ago, my regular viewing duties with regard to my review queue kept me from watching GI Jews: Jewish Americans in World War II (note that the link is to a DVD; no Blu-ray version seems to have been released) until just a couple of days ago. It was kind of a “personal” watch for me, since my own father was a member of that particular tribe (pun of course intended), and the battalion he commanded had quite a few Jews in it (including his Chaplain). But because of some of the reminiscences in the documentary shared by still surviving Jewish vets about the discrimination they faced, something obviously also experienced by many African American fighters during World War II (repeatedly referred to in the documentary as well), the subtext of “who is American and who isn’t?” kept occurring to me as I rewatched Windtalkers in both of its versions in preparation for this review. In a way it’s almost laughably ironic to question who’s a “real” American when talking to a Native American, but there’s a roiling feeling of barely contained bigotry that rears its ugly head, at least in sporadic moments, at various points in Windtalkers. The film is perhaps more solidly entrenched in another wartime staple, namely camaraderie, once again (as is often the case in war movies) between folks with radically different backgrounds. But the whole Navajo codetalking history lesson that Windtalkers also provides, however fitfully at times, gives this film a lot of its rather unique ambience. Director John Woo also delivers some of the most disturbingly visceral battle sequences this side of Saving Private Ryan, making this the rare war film that will probably please both adrenaline junkies and those looking for a little bit more to engage them intellectually and emotionally.

Windtalkers received a very early Blu-ray release way back in 2006. For those wanting a plot summary, Michael Reuben’s Windtalkers Blu-ray review provides an apt description. Michael can also claim “prophetic” powers, since he closes that review by stating, “We just need a new version, properly mastered and encoded and preferably with both the theatrical cut and Woo's director's cut,” all things this new MVD release provides.

Windtalkers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots 1-10 are from the Theatrical Version. Screenshots 11-20 are from the Director's Cut.

Windtalkers is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of MVD Marquee Collection, an imprint of MVD Visual, with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.41:1. Two of the technical shortcomings Michael mentioned in his Windtalkers Blu-ray review have both been handled here, with both the "new, improved" codec of AVC (well, it was back in 2006, anyway) being utilized, and BD-50s offering decent "real estate" for both versions of the film, each on its disc, and neither disc "burdened" with a ton of supplements (with those supplements in less space intensive standard def, to boot). Virtually all of the issues Michael detailed with the now long ago original Blu-ray release have been at least ameliorated if not completely eliminated here, and detail levels were in my estimation well above average throughout both presentations, even given Woo's almost manic camera style. The slightly soft, almost smeary, look of the original MGM version is definitely improved here, with much more pleasing clarity and a better baseline of detail levels across the board. The Director's Cut looks a tad darker overall than the Theatrical Cut, something which may add to the perception of a slightly coarser grain field. My hunch is the Director's Cut may have been cobbled together utilizing some elements in less than optimal condition, and the Director's Cut does at times show considerable (if transitory) roughness that is not as noticeable in the Theatrical Version (see screenshots 18 and 19 for two examples).

Windtalkers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Did someone say "fake news"? I've been peppered with a surprising amount of private messages asking about the audio on this release, and it seems that some misinformation has been running rampant on the good ol' internets (what else is new, right?), something not helped by some clumsly labeling on MVD's part. The Theatrical Cut of the film features English audio in either DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 or LPCM 2.0, with a Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 track and a French LPCM 2.0 track that is listed as a Dolby track. The Director's Cut features English tracks in Dolby Digital 5.1, LPCM 2.0, and a French Dolby Digital 5.1 track. Michael felt the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the original MGM release was one of that version's high points, and the lossless surround track continues to impress again on this release. The film has an impressively gorgeous score by James Horner that utilizes both elegiac and boisterous orchestral cues as well as some evocative ethnic instruments, and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track provides both spaciousness and ample support for the wide dynamic range on display. The battle sequences of course offer a glut of surround activity, with some really forceful bursts of LFE. While it's unavoidably going to be a disappointment to fans that there's no lossless surround track on the Director's Cut, to my ears the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is rather forceful within its own confines (and with notably higher amplitude and overall punch than the French Dolby Digital 5.1 track also on that version), and at least there's an LPCM 2.0 track on the Director's Cut.

Windtalkers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One contains the Theatrical Cut and the following supplements:

• Code Talkers: A Secret Code of Honor (480i; 23:14) is a really sweet piece featuring some actual Native American "windtalkers".


• American Heroes: A Tribute to Navajo Codtalkers (480i; 9:01) is another fascinating bit of history, with lots of archival stills.


• The Music of Windtalkers (480i; 5:02) focuses on the film's evocative score.


• Trailers contains Windtalkers' Teaser Trailer (480i; 1:25) and Theatrical Trailer (480i; 2:19), along with Trailers for a number of other MVD Releases.

Disc Two contains the Director's Cut and the following supplements:

• Actors' Bootcamp (480i; 15:06) looks at the training regimen the performers underwent in preparation for the shoot.


• Fly on the Set Scene Diaries offer behind the scenes looks at:

  Marine March on Saipan (480i; 8:55)

  
  

  Bazooka (480i; 4:34)

  
  

  Friendly Fire (480i; 6:40)

  
  

  Village Ambush (480i; 3:29)

• Audio Commentaries can be found under the Setup Menu:

  Audio Commentary with Director John Woo and Producer Terence Chang

  
  

  Audio Commentary with Christian Slater and Nicolas Cage

  
  

  Audio Commentary with Roger Willie and Albert Smith (Smith is a real life Navajo Code Talker and provided technical advice on the film)

Windtalkers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As Michael mentioned in his Windtalkers Blu-ray review, some audiences may have come to this film expecting a bit more in the code talking department, when Woo may have been more interested in providing jolts of adrenaline rather than an exhaustive history lesson. That said, the whole code talking aspect is fascinating, and the film's emphasis on partnering across cultural lines is probably only more relevant in today's increasingly tribal society. When MVD announced its expanded Blu-ray lines, including the MVD Marquee Collection, they promised to revisit titles that they deemed hadn't initially received the kind of quality releases that may have been deserved. While there are still things to nitpick about this release, there's little doubt that technical merits are improved overall, even if the Director's Cut wasn't granted lossless surround audio. MVD has also provide most of the previously available supplements. Recommended.