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MAR22063
Windtalkers (2002), NR
Analysis Date: June 17, 2002
CAP Score: 44
CAP Influence Density: 2.01
MinMax: -100





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SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:



If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary
/ Commentary likely using a mix of KJV and NIV.



WINDTALKERS (NR) -- I guess that is why Ecclesiates 3:8 states there is a time
for war.

Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Director(s): John Woo
Producer(s): Arthur Anderson, Terence Chang, C.O. Erickson, Tracie Graham,
Caroline Macaulay, Alison R. Rosenzweig, John J. Smith, Richard Stenta, Stephen
Traxler, John Woo
Written by/Screenplay: John Rice, Joe Batteer
Cinematography/Camera: Jeffrey L. Kimball
Music: James Horner
Film Editing: Jeff Gullo, Steven Kemper, Tom Rolf
Casting: Mindy Marin
Production Design: Holger Gross
Art Direction: Kevin Ishioka

Boxart ©MGM

The Internet Movie Database reported Windtalkers as Not Rated. Windtalkers
earned a CAP final score of 44 which places this movie well into the scoring
range earned by R-rated movies (54 and below of 100). As with all guts-n-gore
war movies, the central issues in Windtalkers are violence, language and
smoking/drinking. War is Hell. [Eccl. 9:18]

Though based on a true story, Windtalkers is still fantasy of entertainment to
make money. It is not file footage nor a documentary. It is actors getting paid
to display guts-n-gore to feed the same thing in us that makes us stop or slow
down at car wrecks hoping to see blood. Admit it. How many wrecks have you seen
in which you looked to see just busted tires or crumpled metal? In all my years
as a medic, seldom did I hear any bystander say anything about the busted car.
And while crawling around inside a busted car, you can tell at what the gawkers
are looking.

While Windtalkers is not as cinematically gory as Saving Private Ryan it was
indeed gory enough. Just like war. And there is a dilemma. That is how war is.
But is entertainment the place for it? Fathers could use this movie as a
teaching tool for preparing their sons for combat, but should we? I plan to rent
the tape when it comes out to show it to my 17 year old son but not to my other
kids younger than he and then only through the foul language filter. But I am
not your gauge. You are your own gauge for your children, hopefully guided by
the Scriptures [Eccl. 9:18, Prov. 20:18, Eccl. 3:1; 3:8].

Windtalkers is anything but the "... whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely ..." of Philippians 4:8. Though it maybe stretching things a
little (or a lot), if this were reality there certainly are matters of "...
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there
be any praise, think on these things." But it's a movie! But it is a "based on a
true story" about courage, self scrifice and bravery. Grrr. A true dilemma
indeed. I guess that is why Ecclesiates 3:8 states there is a time for war.

The Japanese were breaking our communication codes left and right.
Communications to support ordinance by the combat forces were being intercepted
by the Japanese and our Marines were getting killed because of the codes being
broken. A new code must be developed that the Japanese could not break. A new
code was developed based on the native tongue of the Navajo Indians. Navajo
Indians were recruited and trained to be code talkers.

Corporal Joseph F. Anders (Nicholas Cage) became the commander of a combat
outfit because of the loss of all its command officers. By following orders and
standing his ground, Anders lost his entire outfit. But he survived - barely.
Once recovered from his wounds, Anders was promoted to Sergeant. During Anders'
recuperation is when the Navajos were trained as code talkers.

The new code was so essential to minimizing loss of life and logistics among the
combat troops, each code talker was assigned a sergeant with orders that the
code must never fall into enemy hands ... no matter what the cost. Even if it
meant assassinating the code talker. Sergeant Anders was assigned to Private Ben
Yahzee (Adam Beach). This pair formed the center of the movie. Another sergeant,
Sergeant Peter 'Ox' Henderson (Christian Slater) was assigned to another Navajo
code talker of the same outfit, Private Charles Whitehorse (Roger Willie). These
sergeants had orders to protect the code. That was their primary task -- to
protect the windtalkers (a pet name given tot he code talkers themselves) and
thus the code. On June 16, 1944 on the Japanese Island of Saipan, the Marines
got a chance to find out if the new code worked.

As with Pearl Harbor, there was opportunity for the writers to throw in some
sexual immorality with the inclusion of nurse Rita Swelton (Frances O'Connor)
who took a shine to and a definite interest in Sergeant Anders during AND after
his recuperation, but the writers didn't. Thank you MGM et at! Another thing I
appreciate about the production is that the integrity and honor of the
traditional American Indian was accurately portrayed. The only sexual matter was
the brief partial nudity of a Japanese soldier as Ben stripped him to get a
Japanese uniform to steal a Japanese radio since his was blown to bits plus some
coarse joking/storytelling [Eph. 5:4, Deut. 5:11].

As it seems with all war movies, the "R" in Windtalkers is due to cussin',
drinkin', smokin' and guts-n-gore. It does seem also that fine portrayals of war
were made in the 50s without all this stuff. I guess moviemakers are not good
enough any more to make a really fine, quality war movie without the cussin' and
such graphic gore. Now that we can make such gore in and as entertainment, maybe
we ought to start thinking about whether we should. I have no doubt that such
gore is present in war but must it be regurgitated in and as entertainment? And
I am certain such talk is used during combat -- I'll bet even my father did and
maybe even I would -- but is that supposed to excuse it let alone in and as
entertainment? The listing in the Findings/Scoring section will provide all that
was noted. Note also as stated in footnote #3 that deaths by police action and
war are not incorporated into the analysis model as murder, thus the high
Murder/Suicide score.


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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)
If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ].
If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a
convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open.
Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate
between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page.

Eccl. 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much
good. Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things. Prov. 20:18 Every purpose is
established by counsel: and with good advice make war. Eccl. 3:1 To every thing
there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ... 3:8 A time
to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Eph. 5:4 Nor
should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of
place, but rather thanksgiving. Deut. 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the
LORD thy God in vain [vain: shav' {shawv}; false, emptiness, nothingness, lying,
worthlessness (of conduct)]: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that
taketh his name in vain.

*******Food for Daily Thought*******
1 Cor. 15:33 (KJV) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
(NIV) Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. Jude 4 For certain
men* whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in
among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license
for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. [*men:
anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female] Matt.
25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto [or for] one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto [or for] me. Luke 17:2 It would be better for him to be
thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause
one of these little ones to sin. [cause by teaching or example] Ps. 119:133
Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments. 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance
of evil.


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As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of
the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this
movie. FINDINGS / SCORING:





Wanton Violence/Crime (W):
uncountable matters of battle violence and gore much imagery of bullets gouging
flesh many deaths by explosion and stabbing many deaths by incineration much
injury gore flashback of the above gambling beheading

Impudence/Hate (I)(1):
63 uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary nine uses of the most foul of
the foul words cheating to certify fitness enjoying killing Marines fighting
amongst themselves in the combat zone

Sex/Homosexuality (S):
sex story sexual comment brief partial nudity, male

Drugs/Alcohol (D):
smoking, repeatedly drinking, repeatedly drunken revelry drunkenness

Offense to God (O)(2):
seven uses of God's name in vain with the four letter expletive and three
without

Murder/Suicide (M)(3):
none noted

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NOTE: The CAP Analysis Model makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up
"messages" to excuse or for manufacturing of justification for aberrant behavior
or imagery, or for camouflaging such ignominy with "redeeming" programming.
Disguising sinful behavior in a theme plot does not excuse the sinful behavior
of either the one who is drawing pleasure or example from the sinful display or
the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. This is NOT a movie review
service. It is a movie analysis service to parents and grandparents to tell them
the truth about movies using the Truth.



"There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent
programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between
violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people
know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately,
they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life
violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the
rest of the story. From our nearly seven years of study, I contend that other
aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of
"violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a
licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example,
"Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in
real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and
especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any
positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or
likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated
into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing
your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our
findings.















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(1) As noted in CAP Special Report-001, "Investigation Area and Scoring Trend,"
of the six CAP Investigation Areas, Impudence/Hate was the strongest presence in
all four movie classifications. It has a strong revelation about the
entertainment media.

(2) The use of the three/four letter word vocabulary without God's name in vain
is incorporated into the Impudence/Hate Investigation Area. The use of God's
name with or without the four letter expletive is incorporated into the Offense
to God Investigation Area. There is no duplication.

(3) Only portrayal of successful murder or suicide are incorporated into
Murder/Suicide. Portrayal of attempts to commit murder or suicide and deaths by
police action or war are incorporated into Wanton Violence/Crime.




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