As somebody who has played and loved all of the ‘Uncharted’ games on PlayStation, I have to admit to entering the cinema with more than a little bit of trepidation, particularly given the litany of game-to-movie failures in history.
Thankfully, ‘Uncharted’ is a more than enjoyable ride – providing just the right amount of nods to the games, while developing its own story and strength as a stand-alone film.
As we follow a young, inexperienced Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) get sucked into the tomb raiding lifestyle after an encounter with treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg), ‘Uncharted’ takes us on a journey to find lost ancient treasure – unlocking clues along the way, while the baddies are following in tow.
‘Uncharted’ starts with a full-blown action scene that gets the blood pumping, but it’s too quiet between the bigger scenes as it desperately tries to develop the relationship between Nathan and Sully.
Holland delivers a fine performance as Drake, finding the balance between the naive pickpocketer he starts out as and the international treasure hunter he develops into.
While Wahlberg’s performance is great, as a fan of the games, I struggled to liken him to the Sully we all know and love – he’s too young, and not as wearied as our beloved game character.
All in all, it’s one of the better game-to-movie adaptations and plenty of fun. You won’t be disappointed.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.