Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is a young man who works at a bar and has many skills, including understanding too much about history and being a general thief. One night while working, Nathan is approached by a stranger named Victor Sullivan, also known as Sully (Mark Wahlberg), a passionate treasure hunter. Sully seeks Nathan’s assistance to retrieve a large sum of gold, once belonging to the House of Moncada and lost for over five hundred years.
At first, Nathan has no interest but gets curious when Sully mentions he once knew his older brother. Nathan has a moment to reflect on the past and realises he too desires a wild adventure and accepts Sully’s invite. Now the clock is ticking as Nathan and Sully must race to find the large sum of gold, even more so before a wealthy man named Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas) attempts to steal back what he deems belongs to his family and bloodline.
Uncharted is based on a top-selling video game released exclusively on the PlayStation consoles for those who are not aware. However, fans of the popular gaming franchise are in for a minor surprise. This film serves as a prequel to the gaming series as we witness characters meeting each other for the first time. Key characters such as Nathan Drake are much younger than even the first game.
Sure, Uncharted is certainly familiar. Titles such as Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider and National Treasure have shown us it all before, but no matter, this film still manages to deliver a fun ride. Tom Holland as Nathan Drake is enjoyable, especially when performing many of his stunts- the most entertaining aspect of this feature. Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg share fun lines of dialogue throughout the film, earning multiple chuckles along the way. Hardcore fans of the gaming franchise may find the character here slightly disappointing as a much younger Nathan Drake does make odd mistakes and even, at times, stumbles and fumbles.
Visually, Uncharted looks wonderful and colourful. There are plenty of fun sound effects; however, the soundtrack was rather forgettable other than the touching Drake theme, which many fans will connect with. The action sequences here are a blast. While the first and second act feels more focused on finding maps, keys or even trying to conduct a minor heist, the third act was highly satisfying and wildly pleasing.
Overall, Uncharted might be familiar, but it’s still a fun time for newcomers to the series or those seeking a whole new adventure on-screen. Uncharted is packed with fun action sequences and witty moments, especially between Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg. Hardcore fans might find this prequel comes with minor disappointments, but in the end, the opportunity of greater things could come to the characters we love in future. Uncharted is certainly a film that doesn’t change the world of cinema. Still, without a doubt, it provides a stunning level of brainless adventure and entertainment.
6.9/10
17th February 2022
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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