Uncharted (2022) – Treasures, traps, and betrayals in an adventure

Uncharted It is an action-adventure film released in 2022, directed by Ruben Fleischer (Venom, Zombieland), based on the popular video game franchise of the same name developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, the film serves as a sort of “origin story” for the treasure hunter Nathan Drake, combining elements from several titles in the series and offering a completely new adventure on film. This is a clear commitment by Sony to establishing a film franchise based on its most successful gaming titles.

With international action, lost historical artifacts, and betrayals at every turn, Uncharted draws on the influences of classics such as Indiana Jones, tomb Raider and National Treasure, but with a modern, young and frenetic aesthetic.

Synopsis

Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is a young orphan who works as a waiter and occasionally engages in petty theft in New York City. Years ago, his older brother, Sam, disappeared after a failed treasure-hunting adventure, leaving Nate with memories and clues about the possible location of the legendary loot. Ferdinand Magellan, lost 500 years ago.

One day, Nate is contacted by Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg), a veteran treasure hunter who knew his brother and now seeks to complete the mission they both started. Although initially suspicious of Sully, Nate agrees to join him in a race against time to find the treasure before it falls into the hands of the ruthless Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas), a millionaire who believes he has the right to Magellan's inheritance.

Along with Chloe Frazer (Sophia Ali), a skilled thief with ambiguous motives, the group travels through Barcelona, hidden caves and secret ruins, solving historical puzzles, escaping deadly traps and facing multiple betrayals.

The search leads them to also confront Braddock (Tati Gabrielle), a ruthless mercenary, and culminates in a spectacular aerial and naval sequence in which the line between history and fantasy blurs.

Cast

• Tom Holland as Nathan Drake: A charismatic, intelligent, and agile young man. While he's not yet the experienced treasure hunter from the video game, his development is poised to become the hero fans know him as.
• Mark Wahlberg as Victor “Sully” Sullivan: Nate's mentor. Cunning, sarcastic, and untrustworthy, but with a more human side that gradually reveals itself.
• Sophia Ali as Chloe Frazer: Colleague and rival of Nate and Sully, introduced as a possible romantic interest and with her own agenda.
• Antonio Banderas as Santiago Moncada: Main antagonist, heir to a powerful family that financed Magellan's voyages.
• Tati Gabrielle as Braddock: Former military agent and current mercenary who leads Moncada's armed force.
• Tiernan Jones and Rudy Pankow as Young Nate and Sam Drake, in flashback scenes.

Reviews

The critical reception of Uncharted It was a mixed reception, with opinions divided between those who saw it as an entertaining adventure and those who considered it a superficial adaptation of the video game.

Positive points:

• Light entertainment and steady pace: The film manages to keep the viewer hooked with chases, puzzles and constant action.
• Chemistry between Holland and Wahlberg: Although with a more comedic than profound approach, their dynamic works on screen.
• Global production:Settings like Barcelona, mysterious caves, and flying ships offer a sense of adventurous scale in the classic style.
• Tom Holland demonstrates his versatility as an action actor, beyond the role of Spider-Man.

Negative points:

• Departure from the original tone of the video gameSeveral fans complained that Nathan Drake in the movie does not have the same sarcastic and mature personality as in the game.
• Weak villains: Banderas' character is wasted, and the antagonists' motivations are poorly developed.
• Predictable script: Many twists are obvious, and the dialogue tends toward formula.
• Excessive use of CGI: Although spectacular, some sequences lack realism and physical weight.

Public reception

Despite mixed reviews, the audience was much more favorable, especially among casual viewers or those less familiar with video games.

In Rotten Tomatoes, the film received around 40% by critics, but more than 80% public approval, demonstrating its entertainment value.

In IMDb, maintains a rating of 6.3/10, while in Metacritic, the “user score” was higher than the “critic score”.

At the box office, Uncharted It was a moderate success, with a global box office of more than 400 million dollars, becoming one of the highest-grossing video game-based films to date.

Technical and visual aspects

• Direction of actionRuben Fleischer gives the film a fast-paced, highly commercial approach. The action is more like a roller coaster of effects than a classic adventure with realistic tension.
• Scenography and setting: Places like the Barcelona catacombs or the hidden caves have good production design, although they lack mystique compared to classics of the genre.
• CGI and special effects: Sequences like the free-falling plane and the suspended ships were visually stunning, though with little believable physics.
• Soundtrack: By Ramin Djawadi (game of Thrones, Iron Man), offers an energetic but not particularly memorable accompaniment. Fans of the video game missed the iconic main theme, which only makes a brief appearance.
• PhotographVisually clean and colorful, very much in line with contemporary youth adventure productions.

Conclusion

Uncharted (2022) is a film that delivers on its promise: A light adventure, full of action, humor and treasure hunting, designed primarily to entertain a young, general audience. It doesn't seek to reinvent the genre or delve too deeply into its characters, but it does offer a fun cinematic experience.

For video game fans, this may be a disappointing adaptation in terms of tone and characterization. However, as an introduction to the world of Nathan Drake for a new audience, it has potential. Tom Holland demonstrates charisma and physical commitment, and while he's not yet the Drake of the video game, the ending leaves the door open for more faithful future installments.

In short, Uncharted It's like a roller coaster: loud, over-the-top, but also exciting. It's not a masterpiece, but it's a good start to a modern adventure series that could evolve and improve with future installments.