MovieChat Forums > Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) Discussion > Slight political messages?

Slight political messages?

posted 14 years ago by SEAL412
7 replies | jump to latest

spoilers.

There are a few moments in the game where I feel there are some political or social commentary. They are very small but I feel that they were put there for a reason since most polls suggest Americans are for ending our involvement in Afhganistan and Iraq.

Here are some:

1) After President Al-Fulani is killed, we do the mission to recuse Nikolai, and Captain Price says "We take care of our friends"... insinuating that Al-Fulani was an American ally and the US let him hanging... or insinuating that the US tends to alienate its allies.... I dont know you decided

2)At the end of the same mission, Price says the American invasion begins in a few hours and Nikolai says "The Americans are making mistake, they will never catch Al-Asad alive".

Lo and Behold all the Marines in Asads country are killed and its the SAS who catch him in Russia... almost making the US mission moot... this is reiterated by the fact that Sgt. Jackson dies. All the effort and missions lead to the inevitable death. Was it in Vain? Once again you decide.

I love this game and our troops, but I've played this campiagn like a hundred times and I cannot help but notice these small moments.

Any thoughts?

[–] RonSwanson 14 years ago

Maybe or maybe you're reading too much into it. But you do have some valid points.

[–] SEAL412 14 years ago

yea. like i didnt notice it at first, but after playing the game sooooo many times i was like "wait what?"

[–] Banjo_oz 14 years ago

When playing, my brother was there and we actually laughed out loud at Price's line... it was very unexpected in an American game, yet perfectly suited the character, and sadly mirrored the attitude of the US and a lot of other nations that tend to forget their POWs and allies when its inconvenient.

Political or otherwise, I imediately liked the SAS team and thought IW took a really ballsy move making the most likeable and "heroic" characters in the game NOT Americans... I'm an Aussie, and playing as a US or Brit doesn't bother me, but it was wonderfully refreshing, especially given the subject matter, genre and target audience of the game.

The fact they let Jackson and the US Marines die (and "fail") made the levels all the more meaningful and brave, IMO.

[–] SEAL412 14 years ago

After playing MW2, (spoilers) I think these small politcal messsages have weight. The Fact that an American General staged an attack so that the Russians would fight the US. Then he kills Roache and Ghost and then in the final few mission, u play as a brit killing american troops.

I feel there is a message there

[–] Banjo_oz 14 years ago

My two biggest disappointments for MW2's plot were 1) not killing Makarov (but I understand why saving him for MW3 is worth this), and 2) I was really hoping that Shepherd would somehow pit Ramirez and co (yes, even if that's a little far-fetched) against Soap and Price, and you'd get to play both sides of the same battle! Or at least, you'd get to play a near-to-last mission from the POV of one of Shepherd's men; most of these guys would be just following orders, and wouldn't be "bad guys"... but like the Russians and other soldiers you're usually killing, it's not about good or bad by that stage, just about which side you're on.

After all the player character deaths and plot twists IW have pulled with MW1&2, I think having the player actually be the one to kill another of their playable characters would be the next big "WTF?!" step! :D

[–] hotnoodletuna 14 years ago

The most interesting plot twist would be to put you in the position of playing as a russian fighting American or British soldiers. Just a guy following orders without any of the bigger plot baggage put in these games. The message being, it isn't about right or wrong when you are on the ground fighting. It is only about living or dying and following orders

[–] Seriona1 12 years ago

As an American and a person who follows history, this game betrays US military foreign policy realistic. UK was well known to go out of its way to protect its allies during obviously and pointless defeats during the Cold War. The US was known for doing the same but would abandon their allies when the US began to see the toll on their military. Just prime examples are Vietnam and the Gulf War. Where in 72, the US told South Vietnam and SEATO, we are leaving, here is some equipment for you, best of luck and in the Gulf War, where the US told the resistance, we shall help you over throw Saddam so fight and the decided after to abandon that help.