Yes the gunship level is very strange. There are also some other parts of the game like being forced to shoot sleeping soldiers which are rather questionable. I really like liked this german video review which pretty much sums it up:
http://mtv.de/overdrive/index.php?name=highlights&id=68337
(just jump to part 3)

So in the end I think it's not about realistic graphics but about the scenario you play and if you think that it's ok to kill some moving stick figures while getting coll "Hell yeah - good job!" sound bites or killing helpless soldiers, well...

Enjoy your meal
Toast