Tom Holland, at the moment, is one of the biggest movie stars in the world. It’s not just Spider-Man’s astronomical success that has contributed to it, it is also thanks to this little film he made afterward called Uncharted. I am a gamer, and I have previously played the series of video games on which the film is based on, and the series itself already feels cinematic, action-packed, and full of character. I noticed a lot of easter eggs with nods to the games within the film, but at the same time, the film felt new and fresh enough to appease newcomers as well. The result is a well-balanced film.
Mark Wahlberg plays Victor “Sully” Sullivan, a man who recruits Nathan Drake, who is played by Holland, for a mission which Drake is keen to assist in - to find some lost treasure. The premise and the story is very reminiscent of other adventure films such as Indiana Jones and Lara Craft: Tomb Raider. The latter of which is one of the inspirations behind the game, and it is to be forgiven to make these comparisons as without those films we wouldn’t have had the first Uncharted game back on the PS3!
Considering how long the series has been around, it does feel a little late to bring this franchise to the big screen. So here’s a little history lesson for you, Uncharted has been in deep development for a long time, so long in fact that Mark Wahlberg was going to play the titular role of Nathan Drake at one point. However, so much time has passed that he instead got the role of the “older sidekick” instead. Ouch! The chemistry and dynamic between Sully and Drake is electric and absolutely hilarious, especially with one scene set in a restaurant being a highlight of the film, where the two characters are forced apart temporarily. The story is very brisk even though it is a long film. It is a contradictory statement to make but there is so much going on and the plot advances so fast that they forget to let the characters breathe a little bit.
There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, but the highlight is the globe-trotting aspect of it. The scope is similar to the games where the vistas and historical culture of the towns and cities they visit are all important to the story. The supporting cast and the antagonist, played by Antonio Banderas, all have fun in their roles with a lot of action and stunt work copied from the games so die-hard fans of the series will have a lot to enjoy too.
For those who are not fans, or haven’t heard of the games at all, Uncharted can feel a little predictable and very similar to the touchstones on which the film is based. You will be thinking the Indiana Jones theme will kick in soon only to forget what film you’re watching. Tom Holland has a great big-screen presence though and thanks to him the film does stand above the others which Uncharted imitates.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Uncharted is not genre-breaking but it’s a great ride. From start to finish you will be glued to your seat, soaking in the locations and the action as the film shifts from one set-piece to the next. Holland and Wahlberg are a match made in heaven, and it sets itself up for any future installments. If you have or haven’t played the video games which the film is based of you will find something to enjoy with Uncharted.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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