Purpose of War Games

On the surface, Peter Watkin's Culloden and War Games seem similar. They are both sponsored by BBC and both try to enlighten the viewers on history/future. However, just by viewing, War Games has a severely different tone that is not meant to educate but to enlighten. In Culloden, there were actual characters recreating the war scenes of Battle of Culloden. The film was shot as if it was taken from a news clip of the Vietnam war. War Games has a much more narrative feel. The use of titles cards within the film directs the viewer into the director's more obvious message; we have gone too far. Culloden just used interviews in the film. In War Games, unlike Culloden, the words spoken are framed by phrases such as "based on" to give a sense of authority. Watkins was using War Games to urge the public that we have damaged humanity twice and there will inevitably be a third time. There was no such urgency within Culloden. Though it had a moral message, it remained in the psudeo-reality. War Games so obviously played on the parody of documentary that the content was taken to a level beyond entertainment. No wonder why BBC decided not to air such a political film.