Sony Pictures brought their Uncharted movie adaptation into homes this week in 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray and it’s a whole lot of fun.
The Movie
Uncharted 4K Ultra HD
Directed By: Ruben Fleischer
Written By: Rafe Judkins, Matt Holloway, Art Marcum, Jon Hanley Rosenberg, Mark D. Walker
Starring: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle
Release Date: May 10, 2022
Purchase [Affiliate Link]: https://amzn.to/3ssV0YN
I missed out on Uncharted when it originally hit theaters earlier this year (in part because I still found it hard to believe it was a real thing), but I’m really glad I got the chance to check it out for its home release. While I’m a huge fan of the Uncharted games, I wanted to keep an open mind with the adaptation. Generally speaking, I try to do that with all adaptations of books, games, and what have you.
That said, considering the numerous delays and director swap outs needed to finally bring this film to life, I wasn’t holding my breath for greatness either. Thankfully, Uncharted turned out to be a very pleasant surprise and I find myself eager for more.
The film isn’t a direct adaptation of any of the games released. Rather it tells a story of a younger Nathan Drake on his first globetrotting adventure in search of treasure. It details how he meets up with Sully, Chloe, and some other familiar names fans will recall.
After the disappearance of his brother, Sam, Sully seeks out Nate Drake in order to help him discover Magellan’s lost treasure. The result is a whole bunch of double-crossing, action, and witty quips throughout.
In short, I kinda loved it. It’s way more fun than it has any right to be. While I’m still not completely sold on Tom Holland as Nate, he does a pretty fantastic job embodying the elements that make that character so iconic. He’s quick with the one-liners, genuinely funny, sounds believable in how he solves puzzles, and solid with the action.
In general, everyone does a great job in the film, and making it work even when things get a bit fantastical. What I liked best, however, is that they managed to tell a story that feels like Uncharted, but doesn’t necessarily have to fit within the games. Technically speaking, this story could easily serve as a prequel to the games, and all the pieces (generally) fit. But it doesn’t have to. It does enough to set itself apart that I could see them doing more adventures without being hampered by the game canon.
I had so much fun watching this flick. It had me in fits of laughter and on the edge of my seat with the action. While it doesn’t handle the history/puzzle-solving as well, it’s highly enjoyable. Just turn off your brain and have fun.
Sight and Sound
Uncharted on 4K Ultra HD is absolutely gorgeous. The film takes us to a number of different locales around the world and each one stands out in stunning clarity. From seeing the fine details on the ancient carvings, to the bright lights of an unexpected rave, every pops. It’s a sharp image, with deep blacks that don’t crush.
The sound side of things is equally impressive. I loved hearing little noises, like the creaking of ancient wood, from “behind” me as they tried to solve a mystery. Things like this give a more immersive experience and makes it feel as if you’re in the thick of things with the characters. Combined with great dialog prioritization, and the technical aspect of the disc is hard to beat.
The Bonus Features
Uncharted on 4K Ultra HD comes with a Blu-ray copy of the film, a digital code insert, and these special features loaded on the disc:
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Behind the Scenes Featurettes
Becoming Nathan Drake
Big Action Breakdown: C-17 Globemaster
Charting the Course: On Set with Ruben Fleischer
Never a Dull Moment: Stunts & Action
The Buddy System
Villains, Backstabbers & Accomplices
Commentary with Director Ruben Fleischer
For a popcorn blockbuster, there’s a hefty amount of bonus content to sift through. The bulk of the bonus feature run time is taken up with the deleted scenes, but it does offer some fun behind the scenes interviews with the cast/crew. Personally, I loved seeing how the stunts were planned out (and seeing how involved Tom Holland is with them).
I don’t see much here I’ll likely come back to watch any time soon, but they’re better than many other featurettes these days…So I’ll take it.
