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 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.
