Following on from the online success of Find Makarov, Activision saw a chance to get some marketing and commissioned the makers to do a second film with a much bigger budget and a new storyline (the first film was essentially a replay of the game but in live action). This film is set before the events of Modern Warfare 2 even though it was released as a film long after that game and not too long before the third in the franchise. With the games publishers involved the story line fits well into the game, giving a bit more explanation how Price ended up where he was and a few other things. This immediately makes it better than the first film because it does have interest for fans of the story.
What really marks out the difference though are the effects – they are expensive and very well done. Strangely the film still has a feel of a fan-film rather than a Hollywood blockbuster but this is sort of part of the charm – that it is still a fan film even though it has the support of the developers. So the visual effects are good but unfortunately the short doesn't capture the intensity and scale of the battles in the game itself – understandable perhaps but I was a little disappointed seeing the team clear rooms and make their evacuation because it reminded me that when I play, it seems so much more exciting and sexy than here! A minor criticism though, but one that some other players may feel. The cast match the first film by virtue of not being particularly good; physically they do the action reasonably well but don't totally get the silky efficiency that I always feel the characters have in the game – but in terms of voice acting they are so-so. As before they are competing with the real voice actors and that is a losing battle – again for some reason Price's accent was terrible.
Overall though Operation Kingfish served well as another reason to get excited about concluding the story in MW3. The events are pre-MW2 so there are no spoilers for that game or for the new one, but the presence of Makarov reminds you of the personal stakes that the makers want the player to carry with them into the game. An enjoyable developer-funded fan-film despite its limitations in some departments.
What really marks out the difference though are the effects – they are expensive and very well done. Strangely the film still has a feel of a fan-film rather than a Hollywood blockbuster but this is sort of part of the charm – that it is still a fan film even though it has the support of the developers. So the visual effects are good but unfortunately the short doesn't capture the intensity and scale of the battles in the game itself – understandable perhaps but I was a little disappointed seeing the team clear rooms and make their evacuation because it reminded me that when I play, it seems so much more exciting and sexy than here! A minor criticism though, but one that some other players may feel. The cast match the first film by virtue of not being particularly good; physically they do the action reasonably well but don't totally get the silky efficiency that I always feel the characters have in the game – but in terms of voice acting they are so-so. As before they are competing with the real voice actors and that is a losing battle – again for some reason Price's accent was terrible.
Overall though Operation Kingfish served well as another reason to get excited about concluding the story in MW3. The events are pre-MW2 so there are no spoilers for that game or for the new one, but the presence of Makarov reminds you of the personal stakes that the makers want the player to carry with them into the game. An enjoyable developer-funded fan-film despite its limitations in some departments.