Uncharted began life as a popular video game series before being adapted for the big screen.
The popularity of the “Treasure Hunt” genre has waned since the 1980s when hits such as Goonies and Romancing The Stone were popular. This film, however, resurrects the genre by delivering a dynamic action movie and bankable talent.
THE CAST OF UNCHARTED?
Tom Holland is perfect for the role of Nathan Drake. Sully, Mark Wahlberg's (The Fighter) gruff but lovable mentor, is also great. As the film's villain, Antonio Banderas delivers a fun performance.
To balance out all that macho energy, we have Sophia Ali and Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope), who add some female flare to the proceedings.
UNCHARTED OFFICIAL TRAILER
IS UNCHARTED WORTH WATCHING?
The movie is not without its flaws. The plot is pretty thin and predictable. But, let's not pretend that the Indiana Jones scripts were masterpieces either. We're here for fun, and Uncharted delivers in spades.
I watched this movie with my young daughter, and she loved it. However, I suspect any film with Tom Holland in the lead would be a hit with her. Obviously, the choice of Holland in the prominent role was a canny move by the studio.
That said, Uncharted is a lot of fun. It's not going to change your life, but it's a great way to spend two hours, especially as there are fewer and fewer movies these days which the whole family can enjoy together.
UNCHARTED CRITICISM
I was surprised to see that Uncharted scored only 40% on Rotten Tomatoes. So much of the online criticism of the movie seems at odds with the audience's reaction. There is a strange phenomenon among professional film critics to judge a kid's film like an entry at the Sundance film festival.
Uncharted is not Citizen Kane, but it's also not trying to be. Instead, it's a fun and exciting adventure that is exactly what it sets out to be. And, in my opinion, it succeeds admirably.
Arguably the box office takings are the best judge of the success of a film. Uncharted had a budget of $120 million and, to date, has grossed over $400 million worldwide. So, I think it's safe to say that the audience loves this movie, even if the critics don't.
My advice? Ignore the naysayers and go watch Uncharted for yourself. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
