A Review of Uncharted From Someone Who Has Never Played Uncharted

From one Tom Holland blockbuster to another, I’m starting to wonder if that man will become the saviour of cinema. Uncharted in my opinion is a tricky one to write about, as are most cinematic adaptations. Looking on the internet, you will find a myriad of conflicting opinions, from the fans who know the game to people like me who truly were only there because Holland was topless in the trailer. It was easy to spot between the two, many teenage boys who must’ve played the entire game through twice to me and my best friend who were sat there squealing like children over how pretty Tom Holland looks. We’re easily pleased.

Uncharted is a prequel to the well-loved game franchise, following a young Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) as he first encounters treasure-hunter Victor ‘Sully’ Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) on his adventure to find the lost treasure of Ferdinand Magellan, a quest Nathan Drake was first introduced to as a teenager by his brother Sam. The resurface of the adventure and Sam’s involvement in it after Nate believing him lost (or gone), leads to Nate and Sully teaming up in a buddy comedy style journey.

I have always been a strong believer of it’s better to go into adaptations blind, because then you’re enjoying the film without actively looking for faults and different from the source material, especially when you have no interest in the source material in the first place (my gaming interest not treading beyond Mario Kart and The Sims). And I can argue this confidently after years in the Harry Potter fandom in which I watched the movies, loved them, read the books, rewatched the movies, and then started nit-picking at every diversion. Despite this philosophy, I did come out of this movie thinking that maybe I’d have felt more of the highs if I had just known the story.

I also think there’s the greatest sense of satisfaction when you can pick out references and parallels in cinema, in this movie especially the opening sequence of Nate dangling epically from falling plane cargo which I later found out was directly taken from the game. In the moment, it was a beautiful shot, but having that knowledge. Quite simply it hits different.

The movie does well to include all audiences though, it’s a fun, accessible action-adventure comedy. The movie explains any plot point a clueless idiot like me would need to enjoy it. And there are many many scenes of Tom Holland topless or wet or topless and wet and swearing. As I’ve said I’m easily pleased!

The cinematography is wonderful, a multitude of aesthetically pleasing sets that add to the genre, the humour is quick and very typically Mark Wahlberg. Both actors give a performance to remember, Nathan Drake’s character playing to Tom Holland’s skillset after years of playing the similarly quick witted and unassumingly smart nerd that is Peter Parker. Sophia Taylor Ali and Tati Gabrielle also add another level of hilarity, and they raise the stakes for Holland and Wahlberg in a way that is refreshing for female leads.

Uncharted can be simply described as a mix between Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones and Red Notice. A funny and more than enjoyable movie but the epitome of its genre and nothing too special for such an infamous game franchise.