Uncharted movie review
Very very minor spoilers ahead for this one
If nothing else Uncharted is a fun movie. It's a pretty good adaptation, it isn't a perfect copy of the game but a very good attempt at adapting it for a new audience.
If you're a fan of the Uncharted games (who isn't?) then you'll come away from this one happy. The Uncharted movie captures the spirit of the franchise perfectly, it's lighthearted fun at it's best. The story fits right in with the franchise too, the movie is basically a mashup of games two, three, and four with little changes here and there to keep it feeling new. Certain characters have faced certain tweaks which is something that I personally was very sceptical about, but it definitely paid off which was great to see.
Back when the cast was announced the reaction was overwhelmingly negative and I can totally see why (I thought casting Mark Wahlberg as Sully was an absolute crime), but I was surprised at how good everyone was in the end. Tom Holland was a great choice for Nathan Drake, he's not exactly like the character we know and love but he fully captures what makes the character so great, he has all of the signature outfits, the quips, and the charm that you would hope for and expect. Mark Wahlberg is better than I thought he would be too, Sully is a very different character in the movie but they've definitely left room for him to grow into a more familiar version of himself in sequels and there are little signs of it by the end of the movie that suggest that there is a solid character ark planned for him too. Chloe Frazer is played by Sophia Taylor Ali and the same can be said again, while there are changes made to her character the core themes all remain the same. There are new characters too, and unsurprisingly they feel slightly weaker, the villains are brand new characters and for the most part feel a bit unmemorable, the film is at its best when it isn't focusing on their presence.
The plot is as you would expect, its a race to find a long lost treasure with a little Sam Drake subplot thrown in . That's it. There isn't too much in the way of plot, but that's no bad thing. For the most part the story seems to be in service of the action rather than the other way round and I think that's ok, nobody goes to see Indiana Jones for award winning writing and the same principles apply here. Sure it might be nice to see a little bit more substance but I'm sure that will come with sequels, the games only got stronger in this aspect too. If you're looking for a serious and meticulously written movie then this isn't for you, but if you're looking for great action and a fun time then you won't be disappointed. Story wise Uncharted is exactly what it needed to be, fun. So many previous video game adaptations have fallen down in trying too hard tobe different and interesting so I'm really pleased with the fact that Uncharted stayed true to what made the franchise so great in the first place.
This one clocks in at about two hours (including both credit scenes) but it felt more like half an hour. The film zips a long from set piece to set piece at breakneck speed, exactly like a condensed version of the games (so exactly like the games) but when it feels like it's just getting started it's over. Honestly that's my main complaint, it just didn't feel like there was enough to it, I was left wanting more (the end credit scenes promise sequels so this problem will solve itself). Uncharted as a property would be better suited to a show with a season for each game rather than a movie, it would have more time to build itself up and thats's exactly hat it deserves. If anything this is a good problem to have, Uncharted 4 was exactly the same, it's quite short but unlike many movies it doesn't overstay its welcome (the Irishman could learn a thing or two from this). If a movie leaves you wanting more is a pretty good indicator that what was there is at least entertaining and this is definitely the case for this one.
There are some great moments and references for longtime fans too. The Nolan North cameo was great to see (maybe we'll get a Troy Baker appearance in the Last of Us), as was Sully's moustache even if it was only there for two minutes (what has the world come too? The fact that I'm putting a moustache down as a good point in a review is pure insanity), and the plane sequence felt like it was ripped straight from the games. If you're the kind of person who likes fan service you'll be very happy watching this.
Uncharted is a great example of how to make a video game movie, it knows what it is and it owns it. There's something for everyone in it whether you've played the games or not, it's just a solid action adventure film and nothing more. It's by no means a perfect movie, it's a little cheesy, the story isn't anything special, and the villains aren't amazing but none of that matters at all, it's pure fun. I'm giving the Uncharted movie 7.5 out of 10, it's a solid first outing and I'm very much looking forward to the many inevitable sequels that will be coming in the next couple years. It doesn't really put a foot wrong, the only faults I can pick just come down to wisihing for a little more. If you're looking for an easy to watch bit of fun you can't really go wrong with this one.
