An adaptation of what was largely considered the most cinematic video game ever at the time of its release, Uncharted wades into the well-charted territory of films based on video games. Where many of those mediocre entries have tried and failed to wow audiences, this adaptation manages to pull off what its predecessors could not which is to say it’s a solid adventure film that is enjoyable for audiences of all ages.
The film borrows from the basic premise of the video game with a young Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) and treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan working together to recover a 500-year-old lost treasure before the villainous Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas) can get his hands on it. What results is a quest for fortune and fame that takes viewers on an action-packed adventure through the jungle.
The Pentaverate (2022): Great To See Myers Back In Action
Should You Stream Uncharted?
A Slight Tweak Could Be Off-putting to Some Fans
In this adaptation, Drake and Sully are a bit younger than fans of the video game may be used to. This has to potential to alienate some game purists, but by making this choice, the film gets to explore the origins of these two beloved game characters. Instead of picking up with two grizzled thieves at the height of their skills, audiences get to see for themselves how Drake and Sully ended up in the world of Uncharted the video game and how they perfected the art of stealing.
This is a smart choice on the part of the filmmakers because it allows viewers unaware of the world of the game to be introduced to the characters in a unique way, making the characters easily accessible for casual moviegoers.
A Fun Ride
Uncharted is helmed by Ruben Fleischer, known for films like Venom, Zombieland, and Bad Trip, so he’s no stranger to taking viewers on an action-packed wild ride. And Fleischer’s inspiration for this wild ride didn’t stray too far from the source material with much of the action set-pieces mirroring the jungle terrain well-known by game fans.
Star-Filled Cast
Game fans seemed a bit skeptical of Tom Holland’s casting at first, with the choice receiving a lot of fan backlash based mostly on Holland’s looks. But seeing the finished product helped wash away any doubts that the young Holland could fill Drake’s well-worn shoes. Perhaps proving his action bona fides in the Spider-Man franchise went a long way in scoring that coveted fan approval.
But Holland isn’t the only attraction here. He’s backed by Mark Wahlberg as Sully and Sophia Taylor Ali as Chloe Frazer who both carry their weight. And Banderas really shines as the calm yet intimidating Moncada.
What Did Not Work
As one of the highest grossing films of 2022 so far, the Box office numbers show that audiences loved the adaptation, but critics…not so much. Critics gave the film mostly negative reviews, citing an uneven plot and predictable moments. Another element worthy of critique in the film is the handful of wonky VFX shots, a strange misstep given the film’s big budget.
Conclusion
Despite those missteps and less than stellar critical reception, Uncharted is a fun watch. With visuals and set pieces worthy of its cinematic source material, it’s an action-packed romp through the jungle that both game fans and newbies alike can appreciate.
Uncharted is streaming on Amazon Prime now.
On the hunt for something to stream this weekend? Subscribe now!