‘Mindless’: Real Army Vet Reacts to Taylor Sheridan’s Call of Duty Movie

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After years of attempts, video game adaptations are now finding success in Hollywood. Films like Minecraft and Super Mario Bros., along with TV series such as Twisted Metal, Fallout, and The Last of Us, have all proven that games can be successfully brought to the screen. Given this trend, and the established popularity of war movies, it’s not surprising that another game is being made into a major film.

Having served in the Iraq War and having some familiarity with the Call of Duty games, I worry the upcoming movie will be a typical action film that romanticizes war and heroically portrays its survivors. My experience with the games actually came during my deployment to Iraq – a fellow soldier had an Xbox and TV in our living quarters, and many of us, including those who had seen combat, would unwind by playing. Listening to people play, it became clear that the game’s only real link to actual warfare was the chatter during gameplay.

Peter Berg’s War Stories Haven’t Evolved Over the Years

Call of Duty

War has always been a popular subject for compelling stories, balancing excitement with emotional depth, as seen in classics like The Lord of the Rings and the Star Wars universe. Recently, as these types of stories become even more widespread, filmmakers focusing on war are increasingly prioritizing historical detail and realistic characters.

Despite ongoing criticisms and predictable storylines, some filmmakers continue to rely on tired clichés and overly positive portrayals of war. Peter Berg, directing the Call of Duty movie, took liberties with the true story, including a large-scale battle that never actually occurred. Apparently, the real-life experience of being injured and helped by local Afghan villagers until rescued by American forces wasn’t dramatic enough for the film.

One series is packed with exciting action, but it still feels realistic. This is partly because Rudy Reyes, a former Recon Marine who experienced the events firsthand, portrayed himself in the show. The miniseries recounts the invasion of Iraq – a year before my own deployment – and focuses on accurately depicting the events and the people involved.

These characters aren’t perfect heroes or villains. They’re realistic – they have weaknesses, show bravery at times, care deeply about what they’re fighting for, and often question their orders and leaders. Having witnessed a military deployment firsthand, I believe this approach creates a much more engaging story than simply focusing on action and tough characters doing heroic things for the thrill of it.

Call of Duty Was Popular During Iraq Deployments, Because It Wasn’t Like Real Combat

It’s understandable to be sensitive about how war and the experiences of soldiers are portrayed in movies, whether they’re based on true stories, books, or even video games. When video games are adapted into films, the most successful ones are usually those with strong, meaningful stories that would work even without the gameplay.

First-person shooter games are notoriously hard to adapt into film. While some have tried, with limited success in the first decade or so, they often struggle compared to other action movies. This is partly because the stories and how you play the game don’t usually feel realistic when translated to the big screen.

During my time serving, I mostly worked in support roles away from direct combat, and thankfully, I never had to use my weapon. Whenever I left our base – which we called ‘the wire’ – I was usually traveling safely inside a Humvee, like Tony Stark in the opening scenes of Iron Man, or in a helicopter. Also, the people I served with weren’t always frontline soldiers.

After the initial fighting ended, soldiers like those I worked with in Kirkuk often filled roles like truck drivers, mechanics, pilots, or engineers – whatever skills were needed. Most of the time, they dealt with long periods of boredom, tiredness, and frustration, broken up by short, intense bursts of violence, fear, and excitement. Unfortunately, these dangerous moments happened more often than they should have.

Playing Call of Duty felt like a simplified, and somewhat comical, version of real combat. When actual soldiers played alongside us at the base, their reactions and insights were both funny and surprisingly informative. It’s going to be a challenge to keep the fun of the game while also making it feel realistic, and that’s probably why…

Berg, working with Taylor Sheridan, could easily create a Call of Duty game that’s just a superficial retelling of another war story, barely resembling the franchise’s core identity. Alternatively, if they stick closely to the typical war genre tropes, fans might find it to be a predictable and over-the-top action movie.

Taylor Sheridan’s Contribution Will Likely Make or Break the Call of Duty Movie

Many movies prioritize flashy visuals over a meaningful story, and this film risks doing the same. However, if the Call of Duty movie is simply a non-stop action spectacle – particularly if based on Modern Warfare – it’s more than just empty entertainment. The common phrase “War is Hell” actually understates the reality. Showing violence as glorious doesn’t just desensitize people to its horrors; it actively makes things worse.

Glorifying soldiers without acknowledging their struggles or imperfections can actually be damaging, especially for veterans dealing with mental health issues like trauma or survivor’s guilt. Presenting them only as flawless heroes ignores the complex realities they face and can be unhelpful.

I think Berg’s work as a producer and director fits neatly into a certain pattern, but Taylor Sheridan is much more unpredictable. Some of his popular shows seem to celebrate the problems of wealthy, unpleasant characters without much concern for consequences. However, he also creates shows that are surprisingly thoughtful and complex, defying expectations. Take, for example, Lioness. The premise – female CIA operatives – sounds superficial, but the show actually offers a quiet critique of both the CIA and the War on Terror, suggesting they are deeply flawed.

Another potential benefit is that Taylor Sheridan might be inspired to create a realistic and thoughtful war story. His previous film, based on Doug Stanton’s book Horse Soldiers, didn’t quite achieve this. While aiming to honor a group of Green Berets and their Afghan allies in the early days of the Afghanistan war, it prioritized myth-making over genuine depth and emotional connection. The action sequences were accurate, but the film’s attempt to be respectful ironically prevented it from truly showing the humanity of the real people it portrayed.

Despite being a skilled storyteller, many of his characters, especially the women, are deeply flawed – not just imperfect, but genuinely awful people. However, he portrays these negative qualities as strengths. This approach could significantly improve the depth and complexity of Call of Duty‘s large cast of characters, making them compelling enough to transition from in-game cutscenes to a feature film.

However, explicitly detailing everything could frustrate longtime fans who enjoy creating their own interpretations and backstories. That’s why I think a Call of Duty movie is a risky idea. My personal connection to the games comes from my time serving in the U.S. Army, so I sincerely hope director Berg and screenwriter Sheridan can surprise me and make it work.

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2026-02-16 02:12